What are the regulations regarding the multiple-entry Non-O visa for Brits in Thailand?

Sep 16, 2022
2 years ago
Wyn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can someone explain the O visa multiple entry.Can you stay one year every 90 days and is it available for Brits. Thx
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The Multiple-entry Non-O visa is valid for one year and allows the holder to stay in Thailand for 90 days per entry. To maintain a presence in Thailand for a year, the visa holder must leave and re-enter the country every 90 days to obtain a new 90-day stamp. This visa is available to British nationals, who can apply for it at the Royal Thai Embassy in the UK or potentially at other Thai consulates abroad. Nonetheless, there are distinctions between this visa and extensions of stay, where the former does not require 90-day reporting if the holder is not in Thailand for over 90 consecutive days.
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.
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Ken ********
On a non O you just have to do a 90 Day report to immagration at Phuket drive-through takes less than 20 minutes
George *************
@Ken *******
That's a requirement for an extension of stay of a Non-O visa. The OP has a multi-entry Non-O visa, which is different. He will not need to do 90-day reporting with his visa, but will need to leave Thailand and re-enter in order to get another 90-day permission to stay.
Ken ********
George *************
@Ken *******
Original Poster, author of the question.
Ken ********
@George ************
my first 2 marriage extensions were multi entry because we traveled was either leave for a trip or do a 90 day report my choice just had to do the 90 day report 90 days after I entered the country.

Last 2 just extensions because of Covid we didn't or couldn't travel so I save the reentry permit costs
George *************
@Ken *******
The terminology surrounding visas and extensions is confusing, sometimes ambiguous, and inconsistently used.

What you reference in your first paragraph is indeed an extension of stay (marriage). An extension of stay does not allow you to re-enter the country unless you purchase a single or multi-entry re-entry permit. So it sounds like you purchased a multi-entry re-entry permit (3,800 baht) which would work exactly as you say. If you leave the country before you reach 90 consecutive days in Thailand you don't need to file a 90-Day Report (because you would not have been in Thailand for 90 consecutive days).

With your last two extensions, it sounds like you have decided not to purchase any re-entry permits and thereby save the costs of those re-entry permits. So every 90 days you do a 90 Day report to the immigration office.

What I think the author is talking about having is an actual Non-O visa (rather than an extension thereof). An actual visa can be single or multiple-entry and it sounds like the author has a multi-entry one. As long as his visa is valid he does not need to purchase a re-entry permit. He merely enters Thailand on his multi-entry visa and gets 90-day permission to stay. This happens every time he enters Thailand as long as his visa is valid. He is never required to file a 90-day report because he isn't supposed to ever be in Thailand for more than 90 days. That would only change if he were to apply for an extension of his Non-O visa and then we would be in the realm of your first paragraph.

Visa and extensions are sometimes used interchangeably (even by immigration) but it obscures their fundamentally different natures. Visas get you into a country and result in you being given certain permission to stay a number of days. Extensions do not get you into a country. You need a separately purchased re-entry permit to do that. People on visas that result in 90-day permission to stay never have to provide 90 Day Reports (because they're not supposed to be in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days) while people on extensions of stay do need to do this. So it's important to determine if you are here on a visa (e.g., Non-O) or an extension of stay derived from entering on a visa (e.g., marriage or retirement extension). The rules for visas and extensions of stay are different. However, given human nature, it's easy to refer to anything as a visa because it's a nice short word, but it fails the capture the distinction between visas and extensions.

If the author is here in Thailand on an actual visa (Non-O), not an extension derived from a visa (say marriage or retirement extension) he will never need to file a 90-day report nor will he need to purchase a re-entry permit. If he applies for an extension of stay then those two things will come into play, 90-day reports, and needing a re-entry permit to re-enter Thailand.
Steve *******
It's not issued for marriage or being over 50 in the UK, I'm not sure about voluntary work. Only single entry avaliable.
Martin *********
If your looking for an O-non

Are you over 50 ?
Claude *******
As a British,can you get it only at the Royal Thai embassy in the UK or can you get it elsewhere ?)
Steve *******
@Claude ******
The multi-entry non imm O isnt issued in the UK anymore. Single entry only.
David *******
@Steve ******
it’s back on the website now. £150 rather than £60. When you apply online a box comes up for you to choose between Single and Multiple
Steve *******
@David ******
I dont think it's avaliable for over 50(retirement) and it's not avaliable for marriage. Maybe avaliable for volunteering or dependancy.
David *******
@Steve ******
it is now available for over 50. I applied for the single entry recently and had the option of the multiple. I know someone that was issued the multiple yesterday.

The current page on the website shows both the fees and the visa types:

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Steve *******
@David ******
That's new then, it wasnt avaliable for over 50's earlier this year and hasnt been since around 2015. I was told by the RTE London single only and extend in Thailand or get the OA visa.
David *******
@Steve ******
Yes, it seems to have reappeared towards the end of August.
Michael ********
@Claude ******
you can get visa from whatever country you are in if you meet whatever requirements they have.

I am British and in last 35 years I have only once got a visa from the UK
Brandon ************
The Multiple-entry Non-O visa is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued. You will receive 90 days inside Thailand every time you enter. So if you want to stay a year, you would have to leave Thailand and re-enter every 90 days when you would get another 90 day stamp. If you make your last exit and re-entry right before the visa expires, you can get about 1 year and 89 days or so out of it.
Wyn **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thanks can you apply for it in Thailand?
Brandon ************
Karan ******
@Brandon ***********
the last time I entered they stamped me in with the expiry date the same as my visa expiry! I queried it but they just said ‘visa ends on this date’!! No more extra time it seems… 😥
Stephen ******
@Karan *****
where did you go so I will know not to ever go there?
Karan ******
I have a non O visa with a work permit … does that make a difference?
Sid *******
@Karan *****
If you have an Non OA your re entry stamp is based on your Insurance expiry date that is tied to your Visa. Non OA is the only Visa that requires health insurance for the duration your Visa.
Brandon ************
@Karan *****
that's not normal. Your entry is based on the visa type normally, not the visa expiration date. For example if you enter the last day a tourist visa is valid, you'd still get stamped in for 60 days.
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