I have been living in Thailand for 6 years and have always been on a Non-B visa.
I had my son during the first lockdown, so stopped working and decided to go onto the covid extensions, as they were the most practical option for us, especially as he didn't have a passport.
With the end of the available extensions on Non-B visas, we have left Thailand to Europe, as it was the only option viable for me and my baby at this time.
I'm now trying to figure out the best visa option to return home to the rest of my family.
We have decided to relocate from Thailand in June, so I only need three months in the country, but I can not do visa runs to neighbouring countries, due to the difficulties of entering with a baby at this time.
I hold a UK passport and was hoping to enter the country on a FREE VISA EXEMPTION and then extending for two months.
Is this a confirmed possibility?
The only other option I can see is applying for a 60 day TOURIST VISA and extending a month, but I can only do this in the UK and am currently in my family home in Spain, and would rather avoid travelling again.
I'm struggling to find any good information about extentions on the Visa Exemption Rule or the official difference between that and a Visa on arrival VOA (which I know can definitely not be extended).
I'm worried I will be issued the wrong visa and will not be allowed to extend and will have to leave my life, pets, family and income again whilst I sort it out.
I also hold a Brazilian passport so am considering entering on that, as it says the Bilateral Agreement offers 90 days, however it also say it could be 30 days, so I'm unsure how to proceed there either...
Any information on the points above, or any alternative suggestion, would be greatly appreciated as everything on the government and embassy websites are completly out of date and I've been sat on hold to the London embassy for almost two hours already.
Thank you in advance for your help getting us back to our family. 🙏🏾
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the challenges faced by an expat mother, holding both UK and Brazilian passports, who needs to return to Thailand for a short stay of three months with her baby. She shares her previous experience with Non-B visa and COVID extensions, and her concerns about visa options. Comments suggest that she could potentially enter Thailand on a Visa Exemption or apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa from Spain, noting the availability of an eVisa option. Suggestions also include checking with the Thai consulate for specific visa processes and considering different entry conditions based on her Brazilian passport.
A big question that can make a big difference in what visa you can get, are you married, and if so is your husband working in Thailand on a type B visa with a work permit, or is your husband Thai, if you are married? If so you have spouse, and dependent visa options.
I am not married and my partner is Italian on a Non-b visa. As we are only staying 3 more months in Thailand, we decided not to go through the hassle of getting married and doing a dependent visa option as its very complicated and expensive.
Are you sure you can't apply for a 60 day tourist visa from Spain.? The 60 day tourist visa is now an evisa you don't have to take your passport to the embassy. You just upload your docs and info on line then they email you the 60 day visa. Print it out and hand it to immigration and they stamp your passport. As its now an evisa you may be able to do it from Spain using your UK passport. I went on a 60 day evisa and extended 30 days in Thailand without any problems but admittedly I was in the UK when I applied on line. Why not try it anyway from where you are?
In theory holders of Brazil passports can get 90 days on entry. I don’t know the specifics of that but maybe some Brazilians who have done so can confirm.
You might be able to get a tourist visa from the embassy in Madrid. I’m not sure of their rules for non Spanish citizens.
Try contacting the Thai consulate in Gibraltar. The guy there is super nice and I’m sure he could sort out a tourist visa for you
it’s a number of years since I’ve been to the Gibraltar consulate but from memory the guys name is Mark. If you know the layout of Gib then he’s about halfway from the runway to Morrisons.
Don’t worry about being given a “wrong visa type” I.e VOA rather that tourist visa. Visa on arrival is only available to citizens of certain countries (China, India, to name a couple) who come here with no visa and pay for the visa at their arrival port.
My worry was around a VOA and a Visa exemption. Good to know that that won't be an issue, but I still can't find information on whether a exemption visa can be extended or not.
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