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What are the best visa options for a Canadian and his Filipino girlfriend to stay in Thailand for a year?

Visa OptionsThailand ImmigrationRetirement VisaNon-O VisaTourist VisaBorder BouncingFilipino Visa IssuesDependent VisaExtension Techniques
May 28, 2024
7 months ago
Andrew *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am a Canadian and my Philipino GF are here. We entered without a visa and have already extended once.. We are going to Laos next week and then re-enter. We would like to stay here for a year and have heard so many different story's its hard to figure out what is the best option. I am 69 years old and she is 46.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A Canadian expat and his Filipino girlfriend are looking for ways to extend their stay in Thailand for a year without applying for a visa. They previously entered Thailand visa-free and have already extended their stay once. Suggestions include applying for a retirement visa, possibly utilizing a non-O visa for the girlfriend as a dependent if they marry, or considering educational visas. However, challenges exist due to age differences and regulations on border bouncing, especially on land crossings. The conversation also highlights the need to verify visa options with the Thai embassy and the potential benefit of flying into Thailand for longer extensions.
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Cristina *****
I am a Filipina and i think the best thing to do given your situation is exit via plane apply for an extension online before entering thailand because Instead of the usual 30 days, that will give your Filipina GF 60 days.

You may just need to do this multiple times a year to achieve the 1 year stay you wanted.
7 months ago
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Christopher ********
They are cracking down on the border bouncing so you’ll buy a visa. Entries by air are not limited like land crossings.
7 months ago
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Ken ********
Where's Todd Daniel , as he left the group
7 months ago
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Alma ***************
Or marry you Filipino gf and you can get 1year visa to stay in the philippines
7 months ago
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Andrew *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alma **************
 i am already a permanent resident in the Philippines. I am here to get away from that dump.
7 months ago
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Alma ***************
@Andrew ********
 I feel sorry that you considered the Philippines a dump..
7 months ago
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Andrew *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alma **************
 Are you in Thailand?? If so why??
7 months ago
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Andrew *********
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Alma ***************
Just keep doing border bounce if you do not want to put 800k..
7 months ago
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Terary **********
I think you can get a retirement visa, marry her, she can get on with your retirement visa.. That or border bounce.
7 months ago
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James **********
I would check out a number of neighboring countries and see your best options if I was in the same boat. Chok Dee
7 months ago
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John **********
You're not going to be able to stay a year on tourist visas. You could get a retirement visa but your girlfriend will have to do something else. Perhaps study for a year, or go back to the Philippines and get a multi entry tourist visa if she can which would give her the best part of 9 months with a couple of border bounces
7 months ago
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Todd *********
@John *********
 in all fairness though, ten months at least, is easy on tourist visas alone.

The multi entry for her is a good idea. But doesn’t help him at all
7 months ago
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Todd *********
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Brandon ************
Have your girlfriend contact the Thai embassy in the Philippines and ask them if they offer the non-O trailing spouse visa.

This would let you apply for a retirement visa since you're over 50, and then your spouse could be a dependent on your visa.

Not many embassy offer this anymore though, so she'll have to find out directly from the embassy.

If that's not an option, it's going to be difficult to bridge the 4 years until she is eligible for a retirement visa. She could potentially get about 2 years from education visas, but then you're still 2 years short.
7 months ago
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John **********
@Brandon ***********
 girlfriend implies they're not married so that's not going to work
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Andrew ********
 my suggestion only works if you're married. If not then she's completely on her own for a visa.
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
@John *********
 you're right, I missed that
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
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Andrew *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Is there such a thing as a one year tourist visa??
7 months ago
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Rob **********
@Andrew ********
 not there is not such a thing.
7 months ago
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Frank **********
@Andrew ********
 no.
7 months ago
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Frank **********
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Craig *********
You have 800k baht?
7 months ago
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Andrew *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig ********
 yes but i would rather not drop it for a visa for a year.
7 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Andrew ********
 Todd's advice is a good way to get denied entry for abusing tourist entries.
7 months ago
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Ken ********
@Brandon ***********
 good to know Brandon
7 months ago
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Carsten ************
@Brandon ***********
 probably next year, but for 1 year it will work
7 months ago
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Carsten ************
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Todd *********
When in Laos, get 2x 60 day tourist visas. And re-enter. Both can be extended by 30 days.

After the 90 days, do a border bounce with local agency and re-enter visa exempt. This can also be extended by 30 days. That gives you 150 days. But you will have used up your 2 annual land entries. So fly out and get another 60 day TV and extend on return. Then border bounce again in 2025. It’s all pretty manageable.
7 months ago
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Joie *****
@Todd ********
 which city in Laos to apply for the 60 day tourist visa? Can anyone share the application process? Thank you. 🙏
7 months ago
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Todd *********
@Joie ****
 I think you can only go to Savannakhet or Vientiane. Someone here should be able to give you more recent info for the process in both
7 months ago
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Joie *****
@Todd ********
 thank you.
7 months ago
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Joie *****
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