Is using a combination of tourist visa exemptions and extensions a good option for staying in Thailand for less than 180 days per year?

If you search here, IO seems to be flagging folks coming in after the first 30 days extension. “You have 90 days as a tourist. Why do you need more time?”

Makes sense. I have done the same.

NO. Better to get a DTV or another visa type you qualify for. A tourist visa or exemption should ideally only be used for multiple short stays well under the limit or for one stay up to the limit plus extension

Yeah its a good option. It's very cheap as well. To stay 6 months that will be 2 x extensions and 1 border run.

3800 baht for the 2 extensions and use a land border run company it's between 3000-4500 baht depending which border.

So you are looking at about 8000 baht per 6 months stay with no issues.

If you can get a DTV for being a remote worker then it's your best option cause you only have a one off cost of 10,000-12,000 approx for the application fee.

If you need to use the soft power way then you will have to pay 10,000-12,000 for the application and also pay for a course which could be anywhere between 10,000-30,000+ baht.

Your choice bro ✅

Immigration have stated people should apply for the correct visa to be in Thailand. Now this is very much open to interpretation. In the past what you describe was no issue and I did it for longer. A pal just did the whole of last year doing what you describe with land border bounces. The ETA does not have a date for implementation yet but Thailand insists it is coming. This means Visa Exempt will be "Applied" for in advance and patterns may show up.

Forget about that idea 💡

Get the DTV visa...

You'll be glad you did 😉

Are they back to back?

That will depend on the goodwill of immigration when crossing the border or extending. You're not supposed to alternate between exemptions and extensions repeatedly, but some do. A big warning: many are now being required to move to DTV when caught.

Yes. Big deal with the dtv is multi-entry imo