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Unanswereda year ago

What are the best options to convert a tourist visa in Thailand?

Ryan ******
asked Aug 14, 2025
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Hi everyone... Can someone please guide me .. I'm on tourist visa in Thailand.. but now looking to convert my visa in low cost to maintain my legal status in Thailand...

Can you please tell me what are the best options I can have.....
Summary so far
The user seeks guidance on converting their tourist visa in Thailand to a more sustainable option while maintaining legal status. Various comments suggest options such as the Thai Elite visa for 2 million baht, LTR and DTV visas, as well as retirement visas for those over 50. Financial aspects and requirements for these visas are discussed, such as needing funds in a Thai bank account and specifics on the cheapest options for extending a tourist visa.
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Kevin *********
Kevin *********
Are you hoping for Thailand to fund the rest of your lifestyle? You sound like you are waiting for donations.
Graham ******
Graham ******
Do you have a Thai bank account in your name only?
Ryan ******
Ryan ******
OP
@Graham *****
actually I don't have any bank account here
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Ryan *****
You are like a bloody tourist, a wanderer.
Max *************
Max *************
@Graham *****
This guy hasn't answered one question so far. 🤔
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Max ************
Must have been a good night in Pattaya 😴
Max *************
Max *************
@Graham *****
I guess so. Why ask for help and then not a word? I don't get it. 🤔
THAI ******************************
THAI ******************************
You might want to provide more details, like your age, how long you plan to stay, whether you’ve already extended your TR, and how many days you have left.
Ryan ******
Ryan ******
OP
@THAI *****************************
age 25 , 1 year plan to stay... 40 days left in visa
Henrik *****
Henrik *****
Read the website of the Thai Embassy, and se which visa you can fullfill the requirements of.
Scott *********
Scott *********
Use agent
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
Cheapest option 1900baht extent for another 30days.....DTV need to have at least 500k baht equivalent in bank acct ......the rest of the options is going to cost more
Ryan ******
Ryan ******
OP
@Jesper ******
ok thanks
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Jesper ******
all non-immigrant Visas cost 2000B in Thailand, the DTV costs a minimum of 10,000B (sometimes much more) outside Thailand, how is that cheaper?
Jesper *******
Jesper *******
@Graham *****
the nonO needs 800k and yearly 1900baht....if plan properly and apply at home DTV might be cheaper than nonO without holding funds in thailand
Todd *********
Todd *********
Thai Elite, LTR visa, DTV, retirement visa if over 50 all worth looking into and choosing best for u
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
Thai Elite visa . Only
*****
00 bht
Roland ********
Roland ********
@Andre **********
Best answer. It's just funny money anyway, it's not Euros.
Nev ********
Nev ********
@Roland *******
it’s all money buddy, you start thinking it’s Monopoly money you’ll run out pretty quickly.
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
Might be a waste of money, that's not my problem
*****
Max *************
Max *************
@Andre **********
Keep telling yourself that. 😂
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
Max *************
Max *************
@Andre **********
The cheapest 5 year Elite cost 650k baht but still not priceworthy.
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
@Max ************
20 years without hassel . Come and go as you want no 90 days reporting
Mark **********
Mark **********
@Max ************
Yay you had a good time at immigration, want a cookie? I had five trips there that went easy enough but catch someone in a bad mood and see it change. Or maybe they’re just easy on you if you’re old and on a retirement visa? 🤷‍♂️ I was just told by them that you MUST file in person tm30 within 3 days of entering Thailand. That’s not the real law, it’s 24 hours and online is 100% legal. They also gave me a run around because my tm30 didn’t have a check out date. My visa doesn’t require me to leave though and I don’t have one. I got to hear the sub inspector yell at the gentleman behind me for trying to ask what form to use, “your mind no open I no help you”. 😂 I could go on but I saved that for the formal complaint, and Thailand privilege services were very sad to hear about my experiences. Glad you have better but why feel the need to discount mine? Jomtien is known for being a particularly annoying place by having its own way of doing things.

Also I’m happy with my privilege visa, never having to worry about maintaining dtv requirements for renewals is good for me and I never have to leave the country or border bounce. For some of us, the $3000 usd a year privilege visa is honestly not very expensive and relatively hassle free compared to other options. And I can still passively own a Thai company or work remotely. Also DTV didn’t exist when I moved here. 🤷‍♂️😂 Maybe try to be aware enough that maybe your experience isn’t shared by all?
Max *************
Max *************
@Pui ****
The Elite visa is going down as we speak because of the DTV. Paying a lot of money for a crappy visa when there aren't any real advantages, is imo just a waste of money.
Max *************
Max *************
@Mark *********
You don't know much about immigration offices in Thailand,do you? Jomtien immigration is one of the smoothest. There are no strange requirements what so ever when it comes to extensions based on retirement. I'm in and out in less than 10 minutes every year. So,if you don't know what you need from your bank or what copies you need, don't blame immigration. Just saying.
Ron ******
Ron ******
@Andre **********
It's one day a year to do your annual extension for 1900 baht. Throw in a multi-rentry permit and all up 5700 baht. Seems you're paying a lot for little gain.
Linda ******
Linda ******
@Mark *********
90 days reporting is a must even one on elite visa.
Pui *****
Pui *****
@Max ************
why do you assume anyone else on the elite visas is old enough to be a retiree within the 20 years?
Mark **********
Mark **********
@Max ************
I’m not 50 yet and the dtv didn’t exist when I moved here. 🤷‍♂️ But getting a yearly extension and online reporting makes it mostly hassle free. Jomtien immigration is no more fun though 😂
Bobby ********
Bobby ********
@Max ************
what visa do you have?
Max *************
Max *************
@Andre **********
20 years of wasting money. I prefer paying 1.900 baht/year as a retiree, meaning a total cost of 38.000 baht for 20 years. Why should I come and go and pay for a basically useless not priceworthy Elite visa? Please tell. And 90 days reports can be done online.
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
Yyes thats the difference between 10 and 20 years . I'm on my 16 th year now . Working great
Mark **********
Mark **********
@Andre **********
maybe if you have an old type? But I have the ten year privilege and I absolutely do have to 90 day report. They even send out a calendar because I can use their agent to do it…
Andre ***********
Andre ***********
Mark **********
Mark **********
@Andre **********
you do have to 90 day report now
Max *************
Max *************
Age and nationality? Financial status? Still working or retired?

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