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Is it possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year with visa regulations?

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May 9, 2024
6 months ago
Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello, Is it possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year? 3 months in 3 months out and then 3 months again in Thailand? Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Yes, it is possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year, typically by using a combination of a 60-day tourist visa followed by a 30-day extension, allowing for up to 90 days initially. Many expats discuss strategies including obtaining a second tourist visa after leaving the country or utilizing neighboring countries for quick visa runs (border runs). While scenarios can vary based on an individual's passport and immigration history, the consensus among commenters is that as long as you follow the visa rules and plan your exits properly, remaining outside of Thailand for sufficient time between entries can help avoid issues with Thai immigration.
Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you all for your answers. Good to get re-confirmation from so many. Will turn off the comment section now.
6 months ago
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Bob **********
Yes
6 months ago
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Thomas *******
Yes
6 months ago
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Michael *******
Yea. Just done it!
6 months ago
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Mike ********
I do it all the time. 3 months there 3 months in US. I get 60 visa then extend for 30 days or leave Thailand for a visit to a near by county then get a free 30 more days.

Make sure you leave by your 60th day or early
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike *******
 Thank you so much.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
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Paul *******
It’s exactly what I do. 2x tourist visa extended
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
 thanks
6 months ago
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Paul *******
@Lopsee *********
 spend the other 2x3months in Spain. Heaven 😍
6 months ago
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Paul *******
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Jj ****
Yes
6 months ago
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Floris ***************
6 months ago
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Floris ***************
Can't people read??
6 months ago
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Garry ********
From my understanding you can fly in and out as often as you want, get 30 day on arrival,, fly back out then come back in the next day and repeat I have flown in 8 times in 1 year no problem, but normally 1 or 2 weeks before returning, or you can 60 day or 90 day visa's, retirement visa, marriage visa, the options are really endless, but there are plenty of people in this group that will stear you in the right direction.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garry *******
 damn that's a lot of flying in and out. As long as we get to stay in Thailand 6 months outta a year, we are okay with that 😆
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garry *******
 thanks.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
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Henrik *****
When going to Thailand for 31 - 60 ( 90 )days, the 60 days touristvisa is the best option.

It is cheaper than visa excempt + 30 days extension.

No need of a onward ticket ( 90 days 1 onward ), if returnticket within 60 days.

It is easier to apply from the comfort of your home.

thaievisa.go.th

Not wasting holiday time to find, go to and waiting at a immigration office ( 90 you would need that ).

Then no need to leave Thailand in up to 90 days.

It is strictly forbidden to work on touristvisa, also including online.
6 months ago
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Lee *********
@Henrik ****
 do you need proof of onward with 60 day tourist visa? Thanks
6 months ago
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Yorgos **************
@Henrik ****
 ,why cheaper? 30 days exception cost 0 and 30days extension costs 1900baht. 60days visa and 30days extension costs less than 1900bt?
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
 thanks. For few years we don't want to live full time in Thailand but see how it works out for us but would prefer to live in Thailand for at least half the year so we are okay with leaving the country for few months and then returning.
6 months ago
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Ziggy ******
@Henrik ****
 Not cheaper than the 30 days extension if travelling on a NZ passport
6 months ago
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Henrik *****
But for the rest of the world it is.
6 months ago
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Bart **************
That schedule should normally work.
6 months ago
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Marc ********
Yes
6 months ago
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Brown ********
Yep exactly as Jan said. If only 6 months a year, you won't have issues with immigration
6 months ago
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Rene ******
@Brown *******
 and would [6 out, 6 in (by borderbouncing] likely to be a problem?
6 months ago
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Brown ********
@Rene *****
 you'd have to either get a metv 6 month visa or do a setv for 60 days, a extension, a border run, a 2nd extension and a 2nd border run in that order for a 6 month stay. If you did this after spending considerable time outside Thailand then I doubt you'll have issues with immigration denying entry for living in Thailand on tourist visas etc
6 months ago
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Rene ******
@Brown *******
 yep, I did this (60+30//30+30//30) and want to come back in 6,5 months :) fingers crossed that I get in without problems
6 months ago
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Brown ********
@Rene *****
 you'll have no worries getting in being outside the country for 5 months
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brown *******
 ummm was thinking 3 months in Thailand...3 months somewhere else and then back to Thailand for 3 months?
6 months ago
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Brown ********
@Lopsee *********
 easy done. Get a setv visa and then extend 30 days for your 3 months then get another setv in the country you travel to after you leave Thailand
6 months ago
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Brown ********
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Garry ********
@Rene *****
 I think you can only do a land border bounce twice in one year , no restrictions if you fly though. Double check but pretty sure that's right.
6 months ago
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Brown ********
@Garry *******
 100% correct
6 months ago
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Brown ********
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Ziggy ******
@Brown *******
 Mr Immigration
6 months ago
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Brown ********
@Ziggy *****
 huh?
6 months ago
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Brown ********
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brown *******
 thanks.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
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Jan ******************
If you apply for a 60 days tourist visa at the thai embassy/consulate where you stay/live, you can also get a 30 days extension at your local immigration in Thailand, in total 90 days. And two tourist visas in a year should be no issues.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
 thanks.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
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John **********
Yes it's possible but that will depend on your circumstances and passport
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 circumstances and passport as in?
6 months ago
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John **********
@Lopsee *********
 passport nation, age etc
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 we are hoping to do that until husband can apply for retirement visa....he is in mid 40s. Kids are under 16. 4 of us have 3 different passports.
6 months ago
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Dave **********
@Lopsee *********
 I will only do that if you are home schooling those children.
6 months ago
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John **********
@Lopsee *********
 sounds pretty disruptive for the kids. If you're kids can get ED visas and attend school both you and your husband should be able to get guardian visas based on that and wouldn't need to do 3 months in and 3 months out (that's going to be difficult to sustain for
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years).
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thanks but ED visa is not an option for us as the international schools are too expensive 😆 but kids are used to traveling and living in different countries. Digital nomads
6 months ago
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John **********
@Lopsee *********
 a guardian visa isn't an option anyway if you intend to work in Thailand as you can't hold a work permit on it. The same is true for a retirement visa. Just an FYI, it's also now very difficult to get a a dependent visa based on a non-o visa for retirement so your husband might need to get a non-oa visa from his home country
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thanks.
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
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Mark ********
Yes
6 months ago
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Lopsee **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mark *******
 thanks.
6 months ago
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Mark ********
@Lopsee *********
 🙏 welcome.
6 months ago
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Mark ********
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