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What are the best visa options for American families to live in Thailand for a year or more?

Visa options Long-term stay American expats Education visa Non-immigrant visa Digital nomad International schools Home schooling Cost-effective living in Thailand

May 13, 2024

6 months ago

John ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

What is the most cost efficient way for my family and I to stay in thailand for a year or more. 

We are American.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An American family seeking to stay in Thailand for a year or more has several visa options. The Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) allows for extended stays with multiple entries, while enrolling children in an international school can lead to an education visa for them and a Non-Immigrant O visa for parents. Despite challenges like requiring significant registered capital for business visas or the lack of a digital nomad visa for remote workers, alternatives like teaching English are viable. Overall, community members suggest investigating all visa types and considering practical and economic factors.

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Yiba *******

Malaysia indonesia philippines offer more flexible visa options if you want to check...

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Brad *******

Suggest you look at Malaysia vs Thailand. I believe it's more welcoming for someone in your shoes. Most Americans are clueless about Malaysia, but, for one thing, it's the tech capital of SE Asia. Very advanced well developed country. Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown Penang are both fantastic options, just as low cost, actually I think lower than BKK.

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Jimlim *******

Hello John, do not be discouraged with some of these comments. I am an American. I chosen to retired here 3 years ago. Before I came to retire, I asked many questions in the forum like you are doing. I found some good people and good answers. I agree with

advice. A little advice about coming to live in Thailand or any other country-have a good mental attitude, smile. You will be fine.

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Audrey *******

Thé easiest is to register your children in an international school and they will get Ed visa while you both get an O non immigrant visa.

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Jorge ****

You can work teaching English. See the website "Dave's ESL cafe" or "Ajarn dot com". Many expats have been here for years doing that. You get the visa, work permit, salary, occupation... downside: it's a 9-5, M-F job.

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John *******

Most dream of M-F these days 😆

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Jorge ****

****

too! 🤣

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Jorge ****

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Ernesto ********

More trouble than it’s worth

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John ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ernesto *******

what are you referring to?

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Ernesto ********

@John ***********

sorry but your request isn’t simple. America is a great country. Norman , Oklahoma is not. I hope you visited Thailand before and have experience there. Good luck with what you are seeking. I spoke the truth.

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Ernesto ********

@John ***********

uprooting your kids to a borderline third world country to piggyback on their educational visas is a lot of trouble for one year. Your family will give up too many concessions. If you HAD to for work , then I understand but you say you have money and are semiretired. Anybody with real money lives somewhere else.

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John ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ernesto *******

sir I'm here for simple advice not your opinion of me or my worth. I never brought up that we wanted to get out kids ed visas. We plan to home school.

I could have been more clear. I want advise on the most simple and economical way to stay. I don't want to mess with border runs and constant check in. I qualify as a digital nomad already as well as could set up a business to issue my own work permit for said business which is the same work that qualifies me for digital nomad.

America is turning bad quite quickly and yes the only way I we can semi retire and focus more on family is moving to a beautiful low cost place with great people like Hua Hin. Thank you for any further positive input

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Kool *******

@John ***********

you are aware that there is no digital nomad visa option. There is a remote workers visa, that requires you making at least bt80,000 a month for at least the last two years, and the company you remote work for having a yearly gross revenue of at least US$100million. If you start your own business you will need at least bt2million in registered capital, hire at least 4 Thai employees that you pay wages and social security on in order to meet the requirements for your work permit, and can only own 49% of your company. There are business structures to get around the last two elements, but not the bt2million in registered capital. Just so you are clear, there is no digital nomad long term visa option.

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Kool *******

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Henrik *****

Take a look at the nearest Thai embassy website, to learn about the possibel visa options.

But it will not be easy.

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Yorgos **************

We are american? Hahahaha . I am Germans

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Bob **********

@Yorgos *************

Ha Ha who won 🙏🙏🙏

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Yorgos **************

, grammar

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Luke *******

@Yorgos *************

is that grammar wrong?

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Luke *******

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Jan ******************

If you enrols both children in an international school approved for a one year ED visa, you might “piggyback” them on a dependent visa. Each for one child.

A METV -six months multiple entries tourist visa- is an option and gives up to nine months in Thailand.

Since you’re not past 50 years a retirement visa is not an option.

Then there’s something called Thai privilege visa for longer stays, quite expensive and you’re formally not allowed to do any work.

Then there’s a Long Term Residency visa if you qualify.

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Jim ********

What do you intend doing in Thailand? Work? Study? Holiday?

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John ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I want to semi retire. Eventually I'm sure I will want to start a business. I'm an entrepreneur. I have some passive income as well as will have capital. I will not want to work right away though so I'm not sure if starting a business would be right until later. I am under 40 am married and 2 young children

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Jim ********

@John ***********

So until you're 50 you're going to be jumping through hoops to stay here unless you get the Elite Visa (or Privilege as it's now called), or Long Term Resident Visa (which has some very stiff criteria). You need to look into education costs in Thailand, these can be very expensive for international schools. That's where you should start your research.

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Jim ********

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Nick ************

Ages?

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John ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nick ***********

38, 28, 12, & 6

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John ************

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Us *****

METV

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Us *****

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