Is Thailand still a viable option for expats seeking short-term stays and affordable visas?

May 20, 2023
2 years ago
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I used to live in Chiang Mai back when endless visa runs were a thing. Well, they were just starting to crack down, so I did have to start going to Lao and get a visa there.

Anyways I am 30 and not wealthy or anything. And was planning to move to SEA with my partner. Is Thailand still in any way a viable option?

Even if there is an affordable 3-6 month option I would be curious to hear what the situation is nowadays

Thanks!!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the viability of living in Thailand as an expat, especially regarding visa options available for a duration of 3-6 months. Various comments highlight that traditional visa runs are becoming more restricted, making short stays challenging. The Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) is suggested as a preferable option, allowing stays of up to 9 months with appropriate documentation, while the Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) provides a longer initial stay with the possibility of extensions. Many expats recommend maintaining a travel routine across borders to avoid immigration issues and discuss alternative routes for staying longer, like studying or teaching English.
Cliff *********
Do some research dude. This is discussed every single day.

How will you support yourself and your partner?
Erin ***************
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John *******
Philippines is probably a better solution but the food is sht not as good as thai food
Xjwhudkwhry ********
@John ******
thai food is shit too, i guess you're one of those who can tell the taste of one shit from the other lol
James **************
@Xjwhudkwhry *******
maybe your taste buds are shit?
Robert **********
If you have a university degree you could teach school
Cory **********
I have many friends who are not married to a Thai under the age of 50 living in Thailand for years. One has a volunteer stamp. another has an ED stamp. I believe it’s around 40,000 to 50,000 baht a year. However after 3-4 years I would feel immigration would say no more? After three years probably would want to explore more countries.
Frank **********
@Cory *********
Volunteer visas are pretty much history now I believe.
Cory **********
@Frank *********
I heard that as well. two gentlemen were volunteers at central festival immigration back in March. They said they have to do 8-10 hours a week volunteering helping and get a visa. Cool dudes both from America helped with my paperwork. I believe it’s with a Christian organization called the foundation? Forgot the name. Someone else I believe suppose to be volunteering with animals, idk, it’s a complete scam they do zero volunteer work, however he is still here. Blocked that dude last month he was mr. Negative.
Paul *******
@Cory *********
Those are legitimate volunteers, who can continue to avail themselves of a volunteer visa, as opposed to the scam ones you simply paid money for.
Mitchell *******
You may have to have a 2nd place besides Thailand that you can spend a month at, in between Thailand visas and extensions. (Or be a true tourist in between visas). But I think it will get hard if you are not moving about Thailand as well.
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mitchell ******
so just a month out each time is sufficient?
Mitchell *******
I say a month only because if you only spend a day or 2 then return on visa exempt, you will 1. Not have time to get a visa, and 2. It is the short trips that will start people asking questions quicker.
Sab *****
@Mitchell ******
I second that, moving between BKK, KL & Singapore and don't have issues. Love each of these places. The easiest to solve your immigration issues is by basing yourself multiple places. Make friends with other nomads so you can swap condos everytime and your rental expenses stays low.
Klaus ***********
Somebody out there with METV experience? What did u out as a reason or see as one? Would “extended traveling in Asia with the majority spend in Thailand over the next year “ count as such ?
Christian **********
@Klaus **********
I've successfully applied for 3 METVs and have used "tourism and travel" as my reason.
Rich ****
@Klaus **********
Yes you can just say "tourism" and you also need a hotel booking or invitation
Falcon *******
sadly, still have to say that Thailand is still a good place to live, we have to try to beat the systems now and then.
Jorge ****
If you can get a bachelor's (4 yr) degree in English, and preferably a Post Graduate Education Certificate, you can usually stay one year at a time in most Asian countries working as an English teacher. The work is easy (though it requires dedication and responsibility), pays more than what the locals earn, and usually can work up to age 60 in LOS. Many do this and have lived in Korea, PRC, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi. If USA citizen, don't even have to pay income taxes on the first $100k (+/-). Go to college, at 30, you have time. Good luck!
Paul *******
@Jorge ***
I've never heard of an age limit for foreigners. I've known foreigners in their 60s teaching at Thai schools. Often the only ones they can find. Age isn't an obstacle. Not having the right qualifications could be though.
Jorge ****
@Paul ******
a few years ago, I worked for an English program manager who was nearing 70 but the problem was that the school had to ask special permission for the dept of labor to continue renewing his WP. In LOS, 60 is considered old. Many locals are not wanted after 40. Some then return to their villages or resort to do menial work.
Paul *******
@Jorge ***
I think that attitude is changing and remember, foreigners aren't treated the same as Thais. 15-20 years ago, a lot of job ads had age ranges of usually not over 35 or 40 (jobs for Thai nationals). These days, they're either a lot more flexible meaning the age limit is 45 or 50 or they've removed the age limitation.

Thais are getting older and menial labor is obviously not something the elderly excel at, hence why one sees more and more older Thais working than in the past.
Jorge ****
@Paul ******
am sure attitudes are changing, hopefully for the better. A few months ago I met a 40 something factory supervisor who had been on the job >10 yrs. She was let go and now is doing traditional Thai massage for a fraction of her old salary.
Michael ******
@Jorge ***
Just be mindful that most of those jobs don’t come with a pension.

So once you’re deemed to old to work, you’re screwed unless you saved up a lot of money.
Michael ******
I’ve only worked in English programs, because I’m not a native speaker.

The school I worked at, pension wasn’t a part of the deal.
Gabriel ********
@Michael *****
I’ve been working in Thai international schools for 16 years and a pension is always part of the deal
Jorge ****
@Gabriel *******
of course, you can always negotiate what you want, but I've heard Thai professionals complaining that their government pension is 300 THB/mo. Not to drag this, but is there a foreigner drawing a Thai pension, gov or private?
Gabriel ********
@Jorge ***
if by “pension” you mean an account that both you and your employee contribute to over the course of your tenure at a company that is then redispursed after your retirement then yes, there are millions of Thais and foreigners that collect pensions in Thailand…there are public versions of this-military, police, teachers and private versions that are available through any bank and utilized by all private companies of any size…the 300 thb is a government pension guaranteed to all Thais at 60 and reserved for the unemployed and day laborers
Jorge ****
@Gabriel *******
well thank you for the clarification. Years ago I heard TEFL teachers complaining that they could not get pensions upon retiring. I myself have never heard of such a case where foreigners could get money after no longer working in LOS. Times are a changin'. 😀
Gabriel ********
@Jorge ***
it’s been like this for decades…tefl teachers generally make very little money and would have a hard time contributing to a private retirement fund…these tefl schools also open and close very frequently so ownership may not opt to set up a provident fund account for them….legitimate companies in Thailand all utilize retirement programming as it benefits them financially too
Jorge ****
@Gabriel *******
now that you mention this topic, about 6 yrs ago I met a Thai teacher who complained the gov was phasing out the retirement pension for them and in place giving them a lump sum. That was also the last year I worked at a gov school and there was never any mention of pensions. All of the foreign teachers were there by yearly contracts, renewable. I do remember clearly that the school could not give me the health insurance coverage the rest got, on the grounds that I was over 60. Again, it has been a few years. By the way, how much is the average pension a foreigner gets these days?
Gabriel ********
@Jorge ***
totally depends on their position….my Thai father in law was a low ranking military guy for 40 years and gets 50k thb per month for life….I retired as a principal from a bkk international school and took the whole payout which was 5% matching my contributions over my tenure
Jorge ****
@Gabriel *******
well, that's nice. You did well. Thank you for the update.
Michael ******
This is very true and solid advice.
Jorge ****
@Michael *****
so planning and strategy come into play: work in high paying countries and save (or invest) money for retirement, then when old, spend the money where it returns the most. Many people do not seem to prepare. They want to spend the best money earning years sitting idle by a beach in paradise and not be ready for the time one is old and unemployable.
Todd *********
@Jorge ***
that's how I'm still here lol 🤓 tutoring is even easier than teaching less hours same pay
Jorge ****
@Todd ********
I've known TEFL teachers who earned ~100k THB/month, with WP and Non-B visa to go! But they worked 60 hrs/week. Not my style. I did 40 hrs/week and lasted ~15 yrs at it.
Gabriel ********
@Jorge ***
if one has the PGCE or USA teachers license as you mentioned they can make well over 100k per month as a salaried position while working a normal western 187 day school year pretty easily….only a crazy person would do tefl work w those credentials
Jorge ****
@Gabriel *******
sorry, I meant to say 100k per month, not per year. Already corrected the post. Tnx!
Gabriel ********
@Jorge ***
gotcha, to be sure there are many certified teachers in Thailand making 100k per month…that’s midrange for a licensed British or American teacher in Thailand…there are several schools that pay over 200k thb per month w those qualifications and a good amount of experience…I feel like it’s important to really remind people about this so we all understand what’s available in Thailand for licensed educators is commensurate w our value and similar to our home countries in terms of salary
Bob **********
You’ll need a reason for a METV but a SETV gives you 90 days with extension and off to Laos and get one more wouldn’t push it much after that
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
single entry tourist visa
Bob **********
@Murray *****
Yes versus a multi entry which you can only get in your home country also Vietnam is asking for 6 months of bank statements while other countries are asking 3 months,to obtain a SETV
Paul *******
@Bob *********
what exactly is the SETV? Also, do you know if manatoryTV travel insurance is required with either of these visas ( METV and SETV)... like it is with a non OA.
Paul *******
I certainly wont correct you as I dont know about this SETV...What do the letters stand for?
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
SETV appears to be the same as it's been for a while. It's a 60 day tourist visa, that you can then extend for 30 days just like you would if you arrived visa free and were doing an extension.

Correct me if I'm wrong
Bob **********
@Murray *****
yes that’s correct 1900 baht SETV is a single entry tourist visa and no insurance is required for this visa
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
would tacking on a visa free entry at the beginning, and then doing 2 Laos runs be pushing it already?
Murray ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
just wanted to make sure this question didn't get buried in other comments if you wanted to respond
Alistair **********
@Murray *****
the proof required for a METV is a flight out and back in to Thailand after your initial entry. Get an METV, much better than single entry Tourist visa.

You can do 2 visa exempt land border runs per calendar year. This will give you 30days per time, which can be extended for 30 more days at immigration. Search for friendly border crossing or use a border run company to basically guarantee entry.

You shouldn't encounter issues till you hit around 180days in the country. That's when immigration tends to ask more questions. Airports tend to be where you encounter issues
Michael *******
Jeremy ********
You can apply for the 6 Month METV visa if you qualify for it, you can obtain this in your passport holding country(s) or a country where you are resident of, you can get 9 months out the 6 Month visa with a border bounce around the expiration date....there is the 60 Day SETV for 1,900 THB and extend it for 1,900 THB for a total of 90 day in Thailand...you can apply for multiple SETV's in a row however you most likely will get denied if you try to get 3 in row from the same Thai Embassy/Consulate... you get 2 land border crossing per calendar year (01 Jan - 31 Dec) and each one of these can be extended for 30 days at your local immigration office for 1,900 THB...there is no official amount of Fly Ins at airports but eventually you will get that one over zealous Immigration officer that says otherwise, all Visa waiver stamps can be extended for 30 days at your local immigration office for 1,900THB...prices are still pretty cheap here and the weather is still tropical...good luck
Nándor ********
@Jeremy *******
is it a wise thing to say that you have a girlfriend there and visiting ? Or they rather want to hear that you are tourist when fly in with the 30 day visa exempt after a few times?
Nándor ********
Do you know if i still have the option for the 2 times per year land border cross if i already flied via airplane 3 times this year ? On visa exempt
Jeremy ********
@Nándor *******
I’m sure that they hear that at least a 100 times a day and are indifferent to it by now…
Alistair **********
METV would be the best option to give you up to 9months. Otherwise, ED visa is another option but involves actually attending classes. Not many cheap options for under 50yo these days
Brandon ************
Living in Thailand on short term stays is not an option as you'll be stopped after 2-3 times and eventually denied entry.

The ED visa and studying is one option for up to a year but after that you're about out of options.
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