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What are the visa options for a 6-month stay in Thailand with possible border runs?

Visa Requirements Thailand Visa Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV)Border Runs Visa Extensions Dinosaur Visa (DTV)

Jul 18, 2025

a day ago

Ian ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Just a bit confused by visa requirements and a bit of friendly advice would be appreciated, I am the original dinosaur. 

I am looking at coming to Thailand towards the end of October and staying until some time in April. 

I think that the 6 month tourist, Multiple Entry is probably the Visa I require? 

My main issue with this is, it looks like you need to leave the country every 60 days, so I would need to do a border run twice to be able to stay for the nearly 6 months, is this correct? 

If there is a better visa, or way of doing it, your advice would be appreciated. 

Have a good day x

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on visa requirements for a stay in Thailand from October to April. They consider the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa but are confused about the need for border runs every 60 days. Comments suggest alternatives like the DTV for longer stays with less frequent exits and provide clarification on extending the existing visa.

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Robert *********

No ,you do a 30 day extension after 60 days .

You leave the country once every 90 days .

I do it every year

20 hours ago

Ar *******

@Robert ********

My friend did that last year and return after one month and hassle from immigration at airport had to do a lot of talking to get into country from uk so be careful , so many horror stories

19 hours ago

Robert *********

@Ar ******

done it for twenty five years .

13 hours ago

Shaughn ***********

@Ar ******

your friend most likely had a lot of recent history in Thailand that flagged him, or wasn't coming in on the METV that the original question was about

18 hours ago

Ar *******

@Shaughn **********

he came in September to December extension of 30 days to 60 days then went home to uk for 5 weeks and returned late January that’s when he had the hassle , the I O lady gave him a real hard time .

16 hours ago

Reply to

Ar *******

Peter *******

Ian you can extend your 60 days by 30 then do a border run. Get another 60 days + 30 day extension and that is your 6 months

a day ago

Ian ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Peter ******

Are you talking about the visa free 60 days? Do you think that I would get away with doing that and getting the second extension? What exactly does a border run entail? Are there specific points in the border that you need to go to? I will be based in Chaiyaphum. Tia

a day ago

Peter *******

@Ian *****

you can do this on METV with no hassles at the border. The border can be with a neighboring country or by air. It is possible to do the same utilizing 60 day visa exempt but can possibly be hassle on re-entry at the border.

21 hours ago

Shaughn ***********

@Ian *****

you can do this with your 6 month METV that you were first asking about. You not limited to 60 days on that visa. One border bounce with 2x extensions (one from each entry) will get you your 6 months. Probably the least hassle visa to get in the current times for what you are wanting to do so long as you meet the financial requirements of the visa of your home embassy

21 hours ago

Wannikea *********

@Shaughn **********

to add, you must show proof of need for the METV so, a ticket out within the first 60 days you'd be stamped in for, and a ticket back sometime after that.

21 hours ago

Ian ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Wannikea ********

surely I need METV because I am a tourist and they don't do a 6 month visa where I do not have to leave the country in that time. That is the proof. All I want is to look around their country for 6 months, quite happy to have a return ticket to leave within 6 months, can show proof of finance for the trip. It almost feels like they don't want people to visit and spend money finding out about their history and customs.

18 hours ago

Wannikea *********

@Ian *****

for the METV you need a ticket out within the first 60 days and then a return ticket to Thailand sometime after that, and of course you can show your ticket home in 6 months, actually you can get almost 9 months out of this Visa if you time your border bounces correctly.

11 hours ago

Reply to

Wannikea *********

Garrett ***********

Hey Ian, would recommend you take a look at the DTV. It's 5 years and you need to leave every 6 months. About the same price as the METV.

a day ago

Garrett ***********

****************************************************************

21 hours ago

Ian ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Garrett **********

Would I need to do anything to qualify for that, I am 66 years old, Tia

a day ago

Graeme ******

@Ian *****

if you look at getting a DTV you would need to apply using a soft power which means either a course in muay thai, cookery or medical treatment. Where are you staying in thailand? Easiest is muay thai from an approved gym can be 12k baht for the course but they are usually flexible about when you go so can be managed to.suite you. Have you been to thailand before. If so how often as this will determine whether you will breeze through immigration or have a little trouble

a day ago

Ian ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graeme *****

I will probably be spending most of the time based in Isan, but will be doing a bit of travelling. Not sure that Muay Thai for a 66 year old is a great idea 😂 A cookery course might work. I was in Thailand in March for a month, first time in about 10 years.

a day ago

Graeme ******

@Ian *****

DM me and I'll explain

17 hours ago

Reply to

Graeme ******

Andrew ********

@Ian *****

DTV requires 500k baht in savings around 12k USD but you also have to demonstrate reason like remote working medical treatment or classes you can apply for 1 yr tourist visa with multiple or one entry

a day ago

Wannikea *********

@Andrew *******

there is no one year tourist visa, there is a 60 day +30 extension, or the METV 6 months, 60 day+30 then bounce.

21 hours ago

Wannikea *********

@Andrew *******

about $16-17,000USD

21 hours ago

Reply to

Wannikea *********

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