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What are the simplest long-term visa options for staying in Thailand with minimal time commitment?

ED VisaVisa OptionsThai Elite VisaMarriage VisaRetirement VisaSTV VisaVisa OverstayCOVID-19 Visa ExtensionsImmigration HelpExpat Visa Rules
Dec 25, 2021
3 years ago
Garry ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
What's the simplest way of staying in Thailand long-term with the least time commitment?

ED Visa with language school? Don't want to spend more than 2 or 3 hours a week though.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses options for long-term stays in Thailand with minimal time commitment. Suggestions include the ED Visa for studying part-time, Thai Elite Visa for those able to pay a hefty fee, marriage visas, and retirement visas for those over 50. Comments reflect a mix of serious advice and humor regarding overstay scenarios, emphasizing the importance of complying with visa regulations and recent changes related to COVID-19 extensions.
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James ***********
Covid19 extensions in 2022. Laos or Cambodia border visa runs after that. It works best if you travel and stay a few months in another country each year. It worked for me last 5 years.
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@James **********
 not so easy last 24 months.
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@James **********
 "travel and stay a few months in another country each year" - that part not so easy. Covid extensions - wonderful stuff. I wasted an ED visa, having signed up in a panic in the days before the ruling. Still, I'm grateful to be here and grateful to the country of Thailand to allow my stay 🙏
3 years ago
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James ***********
@Dan *******
 I thought the last 24 mo should be the easiest due to the non-stop covid19 extensions. I am not aware of anyone who was declined a covid19 extension in Thailand since the start of the pandemic.
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@James **********
 There was a young woman on a Philippines passport refused a covid extension in front of me. Can't be sure of the details.
3 years ago
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James ***********
@Dan *******
 alright I see. May be Filipinos and some other nationals might be getting a different treatment than the westerners. Almost all Filipinos rely on income in Thailand, that might be the reason. I think covid19 extensions will continue until the end of 2022 and tourists from Europe, USA, Australia etc will easily benefit. Once border pass becomes safer then visa runs will be the way to go for me
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@James **********
 I hope you are right 👍
3 years ago
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Dan ********
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Brian ********
Elite visa is the best option if you have ฿600,000 spare
3 years ago
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James ***********
@Brian *******
 one needs to be either filthy rich or in suicidal desperation to pay that fee
3 years ago
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Brian ********
@James **********
 its an option if I wanted to spend time in Thailand then I would pay the 600,000B rather then leave 800,000B in a bank account for visa purposes
3 years ago
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Brian ********
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Felix ******************************
@Brian *******
 That's the most inefficient use of 600k baht I could think of. Yes it buys convenience and peace of mind, but the savings you gain if you wanna jump through a few more hoops are huge.
3 years ago
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Nick ************
@Brian *******
 the elite Visa is the biggest RIP off ever.
3 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Nick ***********
 you not enjoying it? I think it’s great
3 years ago
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Nick ************
@Narelle ***********
 no. I just pay for my annual extension and save a pile of cash.
3 years ago
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Narelle ************
@Nick ***********
 depends on visa type and age I suppose. I personally took elite before I turned 50 and it’s nice to have the peace of mind knowing that I won’t have to jump through hoops like some of my friends seem to need to each year for their retirement visa renewals.
3 years ago
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Narelle ************
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Nicolas ********
I been here 6 months on COVID extensions...
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@Nicolas *******
 but how did you get in to the country ?
3 years ago
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James *******
Since it started for me.
3 years ago
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James *******
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James ********
3 years ago
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John ********
Be buried there
3 years ago
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Keven ****
ED visa is for studying part-time. Why would you get a whole visa for studying 2-3 hours a week?
3 years ago
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Keven ****
@Toohotma *******
 You replied and then left. And don't use the "Reply" button so I don't get a notification when you reply.

Either you did:

- 1-on-1 private lessons (fewer hours)

- Much less then 1 year (short-term)

- Or studied when immigration requirement of # hours were lower
3 years ago
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Helpful ********
Keven Je I've had three different ED visas. Only did 4 hours a week. 2 hours twice a week.
3 years ago
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Garry ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Toohotma *******
 Cool. Where was this?
3 years ago
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Keven ****
@Toohotma *******
 What year was that? The minimum # of hours were changed not that long ago (because of people abusing ED visas).
3 years ago
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Helpful ********
About a year and a half on the first two combined. Had to cut one short. Just started the third, but for an actual university, so I will definitely be attending more than 4 hours this time.
3 years ago
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Keven ****
@Toohotma *******
 You got two private school ED visas back-to-back? And a third ED visa for university study? Three back-to-back ED visas?
3 years ago
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Keven ****
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Keven ****
@Toohotma *******
 How many months total (for 1 ED visa)? Thai or combat? Group or private lessons?
3 years ago
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Keven ****
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Keven ****
You need to study a minimum of around 8 hours per week to get an ED visa (fewer for private 1-on-1 lessons). Missing too many classes will result in the visa being revoked.
3 years ago
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Keven ****
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David *********
Having contacts in high places 😎
3 years ago
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Daniel ************
pure overstay - no 90 days reporting needed as well - 😛
3 years ago
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James ***********
@Jay ****
 I think about $10 a day. It hurts.. Last year, I overstayed about 10 months in Turkey.. I paid less than $150 while leaving the country.. Sweet
3 years ago
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James ***********
they caught a farang bar owner last year.. he was overstay 19 years! How do Thai punish this?
3 years ago
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Gwydion *******
@James **********
 20k fine, deportation, blacklist 10 years.
3 years ago
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Gwydion *******
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Todd *********
@Daniel ***********
 fair point
3 years ago
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Charles ************
@Daniel ***********
 explain this process 👀
3 years ago
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Terary **********
@Daniel ***********
 I often wondered if I fly into a neighboring country, cross the border illegally, and just stay in Thailand. When I needed to leave I could back to the other country and get in trouble for overstay, or go to a different country illegally and claim I didn't get stamped.
3 years ago
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Len *****
@Terary *********
 so many options, so few who dare
3 years ago
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Daniel ************
@Terary *********
 as a neighbour from

these countries you can do it ... they usually pay the Army control 100 when enter and 100 when going - as a foreigner it wont work -
3 years ago
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Daniel ************
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David *********
@Daniel ***********
 😂 joker! Love it
3 years ago
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David *********
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Mark ******
Retirement visa if you’re over 50
3 years ago
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Michael ********
In Thailand already ED visa

Out of Thailand STV but insurance and other criteria to meet.
3 years ago
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Jeffrey ************
Thai Elite visa
3 years ago
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Johannes *******
marriage
3 years ago
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Terary **********
Do you necessarily have to study Thai? I could study Spanish? I might be able to guess/pass immigration tests.
3 years ago
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Terary **********
Yeah... maybe not. I think the rule is that you have to study.. Not necessarily study Thai language. If I could study Spanish I could probably past the first year tests. Also, I might actually study Spanish.
3 years ago
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Dan ********
@Terary *********
 I find Spanish not so useful when living in Thailand, or anywhere else in Asia. It's Thai language. There is a Muay Thai ED Visa, and a self defence ED visa, that from just a single school in Chiang Mai .
3 years ago
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Dan ********
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Dan ********
@Terary *********
 I don't think you'd pass Thai immigration testing by speaking Spanish, to be honest.
3 years ago
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Dan ********
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Maxim **********
Garry Jang ковид продление

Либо потерпеть до 50 лет
3 years ago
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Garry ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jo ******
 i said simple lol
3 years ago
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Chris ******
@Garry *****
 lol. Thai Elite visa would be far cheaper 😁
3 years ago
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Chris ******
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Michael ********
Elite visa pay and stay
3 years ago
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Garry ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 ah true. 600k probably not worth it for me rn
3 years ago
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Todd *********
@Garry *****
 it’s a good idea if you hate your bank account. Otherwise - makes no sense
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Todd ********
 he asked for easiest way
3 years ago
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Michael ********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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