Should I choose the 6-month MET visa or the Non-O visa for an annual stay in Thailand?

I use the non-O (retired, over 50). Works fine, gives me 6 months each year (2 x 90 day stays)

If you want 3 months get a non-o based on being over 50, showing funds in your home country.

If you want 6 months, METV will work with at least one border bounce.

I’d go with the METV if your plan is simply to spend around six months in Thailand each year.

The advantage people sometimes miss is that each entry gives you 60 days, and before that expires you can normally go to Immigration, pay ฿1,900, and extend for another 30 days. So one entry can effectively give you 90 days.

You can then leave Thailand, come back in while the METV is still valid, and receive another 60 days, again with the option to extend by 30 days.

So for a six-month stay, it can work very neatly:

60 days + 30-day extension → leave/re-enter → 60 days + 30-day extension.

A Non-O makes more sense if you specifically want to move towards retirement status or another long-term non-immigrant arrangement. But if the intention is simply six months in Thailand and six months back home each year, I’d personally choose the METV. It fits the purpose better and avoids unnecessarily setting yourself up for the retirement-extension requirements.

Same here, we want to do the same, don’t forget if you stay 6 months it affects your age pension.

Non O will give only 90 days unless you get the one year extension of stay.

METV will give you the 6 months but you will have to leave Thailand then return.

I'm going to follow for info on this. As my husband & I ( both 68yrs young)want to get out of the Aussie winter 🥶 for 3-6 months & stay in Hua Hin.

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