What are the best ways for my family to stay in Phuket, Thailand for a year while training in Muay Thai?

Sep 4, 2023
a year ago
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi!

Myself, my partner and our 2 year old want to move to Phuket, Thailand for 1 year. We want to learn Muay Thai and just live aboard and have a break from Australia and live off our savings.

Can anyone give me tips on how to go about staying there for that long and all the other bit and bobs we will need to sort out.

Thanks in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on how to relocate to Phuket, Thailand for a year to learn Muay Thai with their partner and toddler. Suggestions include applying for an education visa through a Muay Thai school, exploring various visa options, considering the cost of living, and tips on finding accommodation. Notably, it's highlighted that certain visas allow for extended stays and that children under certain ages have different rules regarding overstays. Engaging with local gyms and researching online for immigration specifics are also recommended.
Rob ********
I’m inclined to agree with you sav , by the time you go through all Thai government info your lost , well I am , been coming here 30 years on of and I get lost. , at least someone here can point you in the right direction ,. Still got to go through thai applications etc but at least you have an idea , not flying blind , good luck , maybe try Phuket visa advice .
Anton ********
What does it mean "savings"?

They have 2 year old child and savings enough to live abroad for a year without working... F my country 😭
Suzanne ******
Retirement visa if u are 50
Linnea **********
Don’t get too many stamps in your passport before applying for a ED visa (for example) as they often deny you then and ask you to get a new passport.

Try to find a contracted house/apartment as they are the cheapest. Most contracts span for at least 6 months but sometimes you can find 3 month ones too. Usually find these on Facebook marketplace, but if you have local contacts in the area you want to live they will usually know someone. It’s always good to ask thais too as they usually ”know someone” and you tend to get more fair prices that way. We paid 10 k for a pretty big apartment with an upstairs that we found through a thai contact. You can definetely find a small house for that price (or less depending on area) if you look around.

Remember that areas like Phuket may be nice but its harder to make your money last there. A place like chiang mai for example has a good Muay Thai scene but way less expensive.

If you’re smart and shop at the markets/eat at thai places you can live pretty cheap most places though.

If you need stuff I recomend ordering from Lazada, saved me quite a bit of money buying household items and even furniture through there.

Make sure you get a bike or car as taxis and such get expensive.

Remember that prices of accomodation can vary A LOT if you arrive during high vs low season in certain areas.

It can be good to test out a few gyms before you pick one as it can be hard to know what you might be missing if you have only been to one.

Good luck ! 🙌
Samantha *******
If you decide to go to Chiang Mai.
@Bangarang *******************
offer a 12month Muay Thai Visa.
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Samantha ******
thank you!!
Juanita *******
Love this idea! Good on you
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Juanita ******
thanks so much!! I mean why not you only live once 🥰
Juanita *******
Billy *******
Stay 6 months in Chiang Mai, Pai, 6 months somewhere else. Or 3, 3, .... Why not explore. I know we're brainwashed to plunk ourselves down for 20 years but that gets boring real quick in retirement.
Verity *********
Hey Sav, have a look online at what gym in phuket you want to train at... many of them offer the muay thai edu visa! That will last a year.
John ********
Get in touch with the muay thai schools in phuket

They will help you with the information for you
Tainui ********
There's a Muay Thai visa which means you can stay for 1 year (3 monthly check ins) but main reason is to study/train Muay Thai. Some available in Phuket I think, I can ask my girlfriend who works for the Pattaya Muay Thai visa team if they have a connect up there.
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tainui *******
that would amazing if you could do that! I will send you a message ☺️
Thek *****
What did the plethora of Thai government immigration web pages presented in English tell you? Did any of them say "Go to Facebook for further information"?
Chris ******
@Thek ****
sarcasm....= The lowest form of wit.. Apparently.
Thek *****
So would you be equally outraged at those who deliberately post garbage advice here to boost their own self esteem?

This FB forum should be encouraging those who come here for advice to go to the correct source of information, and to believe the garbage advice of the ill-informed.
Todd *********
@Thek ****
luckily, we all understand that you are not a good source of information. And have no clue what you are talking about
Brown ********
@Thek ****
why waste time writing this shit. These pages exist so people can get a little bit of a heads up on how Thailand works. Just pointless trolling man. Just scroll on ffs
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Thek ****
this page is called “Thailand visa advice” clearly I’ve googled information and thought a Facebook page with real people and their experiences would help me abit further. Thanks for taking the time out of your day to make a pointless comment 🤡
Mike ******
@Sav *******
don’t lower one’s self to reply …to trolls that need to boost their egos ..

Ignore his reasons for being what he is ..and come enjoy Thailand ..

If you don’t mind stacking up against the hardened Muay Thai students and instructors 👩‍🏫🙏🏻🙏🏻🤷‍♂️
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike *****
so very true! Haha we are very eager to train at the gyms there! We train here in Australia but would be such an amazing experience to do it in Thailand 😍
Joey ***********
@Thek ****
sometimes actual experiences are more helpful than outdated government immigration web pages.
Thek *****
@Joey **********
Rubbish. Those "outdated" government websites are the source of knowledge that people should be heading to for information people can rely on, not the information born of the imagination of some FB author. The absolute garbage that people post on this (and other) Thailand websites that purport to be "fact" rather than their own imaginary version of "fact" is staggering.
Todd *********
@Thek ****
get that rubbish outta here. what is more staggering is the gong show of provincial and international Thai govt information that wildly differs in application and writing.
Clarence **********
@Thek ****
I think because it is an open forum and they can ask questions here as a result. If the answer is always “Google it” then what do you see as the purpose of having these FB groups or been a member of them?
John **********
You can't just tip up here and stay for a year. You can get almost 9 months out of a multi entry tourist visa but have to leave Thailand and return every couple of months. You could both possibly get ED visas for learning Muay Thai but will both have to attend classes. You won't get a year out of border runs. Basically there's no easy answer for you
Lee *********
@John *********
oh yea I got 5 years out of mine
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
thank you for the advice! 🙏
Brandon ************
Find a school that will support an education visa. Register and pay for classes for you and your partner. Get documents from them to apply for an education visa.

Children under 15 aren't fined for overstay and children under 18 aren't banned for overstay. So you'll enter with your child receiving visa exempt entry and then let your child go on overstay.
Sav ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
thank you! Appreciate it 🙏
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