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What are the best visa options for an expat moving to Thailand with a partner and child while working online?

retirement visaLTR visaSMART visafreelance workimmigration advicevisa runsguardian visamultiple entry visaThailand coffee business
August 18, 2023
a year ago
Louise ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Moving out in December. My partner can get the retirement visa which we can put our son on and we have proceeds from house sale for finances so that’s covered.

It’s myself that has visa issues. I will work online teaching marketing for my salary but not Thai company and they won’t support work permit as I’m classed as freelance. I’m applying for the SMART Start up program also with my business.

Do I get a single entry and try visa runs till I can secure work permit? Is this possible. Want to do legit as long term move and prefer to be above board.

We may also buy coffee bar and apartment but want to be on the ground first before that.

Any advice from current residents would be really welcome.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster plans to move to Thailand with a partner and child, seeking advice on visa options. The partner qualifies for a retirement visa, but the poster faces challenges working online as a freelancer without a Thai work permit. They explore options like the SMART Startup Program and express a desire to do things legally. Community responses suggest considering the LTR (Long-Term Resident) visa or a multiple entry visa as potential paths, along with advice on obtaining a guardian visa for their child attending school. Key points include the need for legal compliance and practical suggestions on managing visa runs.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
David *********
Look into LTR
a year ago
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Eri ************
LTR
a year ago
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Noppakhun ***************
Family visa

Educational visa (language school online)
a year ago
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Gary ************
LTR is recommended.
a year ago
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Vic *********
Unless you have a ton of patience and time to waste, get a visa agent. DM me, I will refer you to mine.
a year ago
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Terary **********
I suggest you look into Multiple Entry Visa. You can get 90 days out of them. That is plenty of time to figure out your next move. METV still require border bounces but that is once every 90 days.
a year ago
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Dianne *****
You can't put your child on your husband's retirement visa. If your child attends international school (expensive) you could put yourself or your husband on a Guardian visa. Need to have 500,000 baht in the guardian's bank account to be eligible for this visa. Someone else posted in the last week considering opening a coffee shop and was told that Chiang Mai has over 1000 coffee shops. The market is pretty saturated unless you can offer something different to your competitors. In the past 7 years I've lost count of the number of coffee shops that have gone broke
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
You could get the multi entry visa to start with. That would give you 6 to 9 months of no worries. You WOULD need to leave Thailand at least 2 times. Maybe that will give you enough time to figure out a better option. You technically can't work on any tourist visa (including Elite).
a year ago
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Louise ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mitchell ******
 thank you. I was thinking this and then working it out on arrival and set up
a year ago
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Louise ********
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Deanna *******
Put your son in school, and get a guardian visa on his ED visa. Only one parent can do this, so it works out.
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
@Deanna ******
 I was thinking this as well. But I don't know much about the ED visa.
a year ago
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Deanna *******
@Mitchell ******
 Will your child be going to school in Thailand? If so, ask the school they will be attending what's involved. Normally, the school handles the paperwork. Good luck!
a year ago
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Louise ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Deanna ******
 yes looking at that now as an option for me to get visa. Though the 10 year retirement visa does say spouse and kid under 20 on the website! So maybe another option
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
Sorry, Not for me. For OP. But good advice. :)
a year ago
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Mitchell *******
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Brown ********
Eventually tourist visa border runs will result in denied entry. I think talking to an agent is the way to go
a year ago
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Louise ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks. I got a 6 year old kid and selling our home whilst setting up a business. Need and want to do it legit. Don’t want to be looking over my shoulder all the time. Sure I can probably save but would rather respect the countries law 👌and not hamper my business either
a year ago
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Martin *****
Just get a visa agent instead of paying a million baht for a elite visa for 5 years. Probably will cost you around 12.000 baht a year. Do the math
a year ago
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Martin *****
I know a good agency in pattaya
a year ago
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Mattias *******
@Martin ****
 Do you have an agent to recommend?🤔 you can pm if you have .
a year ago
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Martin *****
@Mattias ******
 . Where are you staying?
a year ago
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Mattias *******
@Martin ****
 Right now i am in europé have to go back becouse my visa finish .
a year ago
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Mattias *******
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Sam *********
@Martin ****
 some people would rather do it above board.
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Martin ****
 She says she wants to stay legal.
*****
baht is simply paying a bribe to an immigration officer
a year ago
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Martin *****
@Steve *******
 . Yup but thats what a lot off people do. Fast way to get a visa with out any problems. Thats how the system works in Thailand
a year ago
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Elisa **********
@Martin ****
 you can get problems in the future, such as being rejected from the Elite program after. (As it happened with the ED visa and Voluntary visa)
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Martin ****
 It's irrelevant. The OP has indicated they want to do it legally, and you're jumping on it saying "pay bribes and you'll be right". I've been in Thailand for 23 years. Stayed legal the whole time, never paid one cent to an agent. Costs me 1900 baht per year for extension.
a year ago
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Steve ********
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John **********
The LTR visa is what you want if you wish to avoid the SMART option. It's the only one that supports freelance work outside of Thailand. You're not allowed to work on an Elite visa.
a year ago
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Elisa **********
From what you said, I think elite might be the best option, you can dm me I had a similar experience and I eventually chose the elite. Smart and LTR are very difficult to obtain.
a year ago
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Louise ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Elisa *********
 thank you. I’m trying to navigate the elite as covers whole family but can’t work on it!! It’s a minefield. I’ll DM you 🤩
a year ago
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Jarek ************
@Louise *******
 most people working for companies out of TH do not have work permit/proper visa. They just don't like to talk about it so that other snowflakes don't freak out about it 😂
a year ago
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Jarek ************
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