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What are the best visa options for staying in Thailand for one year if I'm under 50?
Sep 5, 2021
5 years ago
Markus ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello everyone,
I want to come to thailand in october for one year. I am 35 so the retirement visa doesnt apply to me. The best option i found so far is to apply for tourist visa and then leave the country every 90 days for a visa run. Is there any better option?
Many thanks in advance for all your help
I want to come to thailand in october for one year. I am 35 so the retirement visa doesnt apply to me. The best option i found so far is to apply for tourist visa and then leave the country every 90 days for a visa run. Is there any better option?
Many thanks in advance for all your help
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is seeking advice on the best visa options for staying in Thailand for one year, given that they are ineligible for a retirement visa as they are under 50. Numerous suggestions are made, including a tourist visa followed by frequent visa runs, the possibility of applying for an education visa or a volunteer visa, and the impact of current COVID-19 restrictions on these options. Several comments highlight issues with visa runs during the pandemic and question the legality of currently available extensions.
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.
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I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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เอ็ดเวิร์ด *******
If you’re dead set on coming in August, your best bet would be educational Visa muay Thaii visa or volunteer Visa
James ********
@เอ็ดเวิร์ด ******
it's already September Reply to
James ********
Reply
Markus ********
ORIGINAL POSTERFrom switzerland i think i can go for 45 days with visa exemption. If i come with this exemption is it still possible to make a ed, volunteer or even the covid extension?
James ********
@Markus *******
you will get added 30 day extension at Thai immigration for 1900 Thai baht = 45+30=75 days. Anything else depends on what is available at that time.
Reply to
James ********
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Arron *********
ED Visa then you wouldn't need to leave the country.
Stanley ********
Don't need to leave or worry. Now it's Covid automatic extension and an agent can arrange anything
Donna **********
Contact trunk travel
Brian ********
Education visa ?
Danger ******
This might be an option for you
Dieter *********
@Danger *****
volunteer visa...The man who saves dogs group..is short on volunteernteersMilos **********
Danger ******
@Dieter ********
what does that cost???Reply to
Danger ******
Reply
James ********
@Danger *****
and are the fees shown the TOTAL COSTS including the Ed Visa ???Todd *********
@James *******
good point Chiangmai is around 40-45k currently for a one year ed visa at a language center.Reply to
Todd *********
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Sami ******
STV is the best option
Frédéric ******************
@Ossama *****
no more stv since July.James ********
@Ossama *****
no longer issued as the law allowing the STV expires September 30thReply to
James ********
Reply
Chris **********
Thai elite is a option
Chris **********
Disagree. I get peace of mind and easy access for 20 years. And I am over 50 , took it vs retirement.
Stanley ********
Total rip off. Nothing they offer can not be had for a fraction of their selling price
Reply to
Stanley ********
Reply
Danko *************************
TV, then Ed
Ray *********
One year? Get an education visa. Muay thai or thai language are the most common.
Greg ******
@Ray ********
Even a real college.Reply to
Greg ******
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James ********
Not possible to do border runs during the lockdown of all land borders. And no neighbor country is accepting foreigners to enter.
Larry ********
Maybe go to Mexico and Guatemala instead? You are fighting an uphill battle. You are attempting a difficult task when there are many cheap alternatives
Channel **********
@Larry *******
Leave this group. Your comments and opinions are not appreciated...byeTorleif ************
@Channel *********
yes it is 😂🤣😂....Reply to
Torleif ************
Reply
Steve ******
@Larry *******
mexico is 6 months then you can overstay as long as you want for $30Reply to
Steve ******
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Oliver *************
You Cannot indefinitely Keep Doing a 90 Day Visa
Stanley ********
Yes you can. Very easily if you know how and you are from UK. My friend changed his name by a thing called " deedpoll" 18 times. He became a totally different person anytime questions were asked. And he " lost" one of his passport allowing him the ability to switch. Easy peasy . I have seen convicted criminals who were blacklisted return. They laughed at me when l said they would be booted out( l was prison visitor ) and taught me a trueism... It's like trying to get laid here. Always a hand out ready to help
Oliver *************
Ok if You Say So Maybe During COVID but Normally Wasn’t Aware that you Could Am I Correct on this or Not ?
Bobby ********
Oliver Roy Sparks. You have never been able to keep extending 90-day visa inside the country. People would extend their stays 90 days at a time by leaving and re-entering, by applying at a consulate. Border closures and covid have stopped that. The STV in some ways replaced it as became the first visa which could be extended every 90 days in-country, but that visa is now running down.
Oliver *************
@Bobby *******
I Did Six Years in on a Tourist VISA Legally Bobby ********
Oliver Roy Sparks. How?
Reply to
Bobby ********
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Troy *******
@Oliver ************
yes. You can.Matthew *********
@Troy ******
no you can’t!Michael *******
@Troy ******
just be careful the authorities don't catch up with you.You are being taken for a ride by the agent. If you applied for 'genuine' 60 day Covid extension. You would be exposed as an illegal stayer.
Why pay 5000 when you can get it'legally' for 1900..tick tock....
Bobby ********
Troy Bakes. You can't. You're probably on a 60-day covid extension. They could finish at any time
Stephan ***********
@Bobby *******
I wonder how his agent "legally" managed the big gap between his exemption and the start of the amnesty last year... 🤔Bobby ********
Stephan Studtmann. Amnesty ran from April to October last year, finishing on October 31. It didn't need managing as it was a free for all. When amnesty finished, immigration introduced the 60-day covid extensions, which you could get yourself for 1900 baht, but which agents were advertising quite openly on Facebook for 9800 baht (the price has since dropped). Gullible farangs got sucked into this extortion and to this continue to pay large sums of money to agents for this simple process (agents of course are loving it).
Rogerio ******
@Bobby *******
yep I paid 6000thb the first two times before I just did it myself. In fairness I guess it did save me the trip to Pattaya from BKK. But after the first two, I just used it as an excuse for a road trip and some seafood by the beach.Reply to
Rogerio ******
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James ********
@Troy ******
try to do it when they open borders... The new online Thai immigration system will FLAG you for denied entry. The days of border runs and visa runs will stop the entry abuser. Thai Foreign Ministry and Thai Immigration are linked via the new online portal for all visas and entries into Thailand
Oliver *************
@James *******
That is What I Was Trying to Highlight Troy *******
@James *******
even though I didn't know that and bobby is right about the covid extension, the fact remains, here in Thailand, corruption is not part of the system.. it IS the system. There's half a million farang living here permanently, there's zero chance that the people collecting that cash are going to give it up.Bobby ********
Troy Bakes. Very few get caught out but when they do the penalties are harsh. I know of only two personally, but it's unlikely either will ever return to Thailand as they are now both 60+ and have very long bans on returning. No farang lives here permanently. It's a yearly extension. Mine costs me 1900 baht a year, and I laugh when I see the ridiculous amounts people are paying agents just to stay here, and most really believing they are completely legal. The agents are going to love it when the covid extensions finish, and they start selling their 50,000 baht volunteer visas, and hoping to God (or Buddha) that immigration don't start asking to look at them!
Reply to
Bobby ********
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Ray *********
@Troy ******
used to be that way, I think it was the year before covid that they started limiting people to 180 days in country each year. Reply to
Ray *********
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Markus ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you everyone 😊 i am very grateful for the information
Troy *******
None of the above is correct. My wife and I entered on a visa-exempt (which is essentially not having a visa at all for 30 days) - we've now been here for 2 years. We just pay a visa agent 5000 every 2-3 months to have it extended again and again and again. No issues, no complications, completely legit,legal and valid.
Michael *******
@Troy ******
nothing through an agent is legal. You should be aware of that sir 🤔Stephen *******
@Michael ******
It can be legal if they accompany you to immigration and help with paperwork and translation issues. But this ain't legal.Troy *******
@Stephen ******
fwiw my wife got her work permit last week, so that required a visa change and the WP issued. We were at Chang Wattena and the MOL for most of 2 days but not a single question was asked by anyone.Reply to
Troy *******
Reply
Steve *******
@Troy ******
It aint 'legal or legit '. Your extention of stay is most likely fraudulently obtained. 5000 every 2 months? It's only 1900bt a year. You're being ripped and staying illegaly. They'll bleed you dry and leave you holding the baby. You're f*cked going down that route.Darren ******
@Troy ******
I think u are a troll.U talk out of ur ........ on everything in here. Haha.
Show us the stamps in ur PP.
Troy *******
@Darren *******
oh good one genius, that's my thing... I'm so bored and stupid in life that I spend my time Trolling Facebook, I offer fictitious visa advice and even more rediculously my IQ is so far below yours that I'm PRO-VAX which clearly shows how stupid I must be..... should I screenshot our last chat for all to read? Darren ******
@Troy ******
wow u read my mind hahaReply to
Darren ******
Reply
Barry *******
@Troy ******
if you’ve been here since September 2019 then if i’m correct the very max you could stay on visa exemption would have been 30 days + 30 day extension + 7 day notice to leave the country. All of this would have expired before COVID times.
Therefore not so sure how legal it is.
Salvador *******************
@Troy ******
are you sure it's legit? I hope you can give me some information, I will be back in bkk in October NovemberGooddy *******
@Troy ******
on what basis is extending a 30 day visa exempt for 2 years legit ???Stephenie **********
@Chris *****
its BS Reply to
Stephenie **********
Reply
Daniel ************
@Troy ******
well its covid visa time now - Troy *******
@Daniel ***********
sure is. tourist visa is big step up from visa-exempt. He'll be fine.Bobby ********
Troy Bakes. You can do it yourself for 1900baht, but there's no guarantee these extensions will continue
Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Ted ********
quarantine currently required every time you return.
Ryan *********
Enter on the tourist then get the volunteer visa for a year easily. It’s easy when you are here.
Steve ******
@Ryan ********
Cost about through an agent?Ryan *********
@Steve *****
15 months was 58,000 in total through a very reputable agency. Petar ***********
@Ryan ********
Please, can you tell the name of the agency, or if you want to send it to pm?Bobby ********
Ryan Goodwin. Reputable agency? 🤣🤣🤣.
Reply to
Bobby ********
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Bobby ********
Steve Cole. They cost 50,000+ baht, and cost more in you're caught out. These agency volunteer visas are not legit.
Reply to
Bobby ********
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Bob **********
ED visa or elite visa borders aren't open yet no border runs
Ian *******
Also if you come back in on a tourist VISA , you will need to apply for it at a Thai Embassy in the country you are in and to do that in another country means a 21 day wait at least in the country too.
Sam *********
Maybe an Ed visa? Can’t people basically just stay indefinitely now with Covid (half joking)
Stuart *********
Your best hope is that that they keep selling the “unable to travel due to Covid” extension. Currently the last date for this is 27th September but may well be extended. We just don’t know yet if it will. These are valid for 60 days.
Jo *********
@Stuart ********
do you need to actually prove you can t go home?Daniel ********
@Wei ***
if you have been here since the start of the pandemic, it’s been fairly easy to extend. They don’t ask for anything anymore. Jo *********
@Daniel *******
Do you know how long in advance they notify the public that it will be possible to extend? Daniel ********
It says in your passport how many days you have. You can renew 15 days before the due date.
Reply to
Daniel ********
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Stuart *********
@Wei ***
depending on where you apply practically nothing. Some offices are asking for a letter from your embassy saying they won’t issue letters, or proof from a website stating so, but many just need you to fill out a form stating so. Jo *********
@Stuart ********
thanks so until when the 27th september extension is valid? End of december? Stuart *********
@Wei ***
you can apply up until the 27th September, adding 60 days to your stamp. That would take you to late November. After that we just don’t know. They may extend the date or they may not. They probably will but no guarantee. Jo *********
@Stuart ********
thanks for the infoReply to
Jo *********
Reply
Rogerio ******
@Wei ***
just gotta be in Thailand. They just re-issue the visas no questions. Reply to
Rogerio ******
Reply
Jo *********
@Stuart ********
what do you need to benefit of those?Reply to
Jo *********
Reply
Stuart *********
Visa runs aren’t an option these days. You need a certificate of entry from a Thai embassy or consulate to get in.
Rob ***********
@Stuart ********
they'll be back soon enough though Reply to
Rob ***********
Reply
Steve ******
Leave the country for where?
Steve *******
@Steve *****
Well if I'm not mistaken you can leave Thailand for just about anywhere in the world!Pat *****
@Steve ******
and come back and do quarantaine in a asq after you got a COE?Steve *******
@Pat ****
Yep, as it stands. All the talk is 'fully open' by mid October according to Prayut.John ******
@Steve ******
will not be open fully for a long timeSteve *******
@John *****
According to the PM "fully open" by mid October.Andy ********
@Steve ******
unfortunately you are taking the 100 day comment that was made over to months ago literally. If you believe that it will happen then that is fine.Pat *****
@Steve ******
cross fingersReply to
Pat *****
Reply
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