What are the Visa Options for Staying in Thailand for Less Than 6 Months Without Leaving?

Question

I asked the Thai Embassy in Denmark witch visa they would recommend if I wanted to stay in Thailand for little less than 6 months,…they recommend an METV visa,…so I applied for that and got it as an E-visa,…
So according to this I have to leave the country on 28 of January ( visa-run ),…I’m not sure I can cross any land boards,…and I’m not really interested in living the country at all,…having in mind that I could run in to some quarantine time going to let’s say Malaysia by air and then again coming back to Thailand after a very quick stop over,…hopefully a matter of hours.
Is it possible to avoid this hassle and get another visa,…an STV visa ?
I have the medical record document from my doctor in Denmark showing no diseases, and the clean criminal record from the police in Denmark.
2 things that are different to the METV visa.

Do you have any other options I could try so I don’t have to leave Thailand.

I’m 67 years old, but not retired.

Ask Thailand · Answer

The individual inquired about options to stay in Thailand for less than six months using a METV visa obtained from the Thai Embassy in Denmark. They expressed concerns about needing to leave the country for a visa run while seeking alternatives like an STV visa due to quarantine uncertainties when crossing borders. The discussion included details on the differences between METV and STV visas, emphasizing that the METV allows a stay of 59 days with a potential 30-day extension, while the STV allows for a 90-day stay with two extensions possible, all without needing to leave Thailand. Additional advice was offered regarding potential border bounce locations, although current travel restrictions were noted.

Michael ***************************** · Answer

Thank you everyone!

Last question or thought,…should I go to Penang,..Malaysia or Kuala Lumpur and try to get a STV visa.

Robert ******* · Answer

You want to stay maximum 6 months, so lets see about this.

It looks like to me you already have this visa and used it it to be inside Thailand. As you wrote Have to leave Thailand 28 Jan.

Bobby ******** · Answer

Keep in mind there's no such thing as a "retirement" visa. There is visa based on being over 50 years of age. You do not have to be retired to obtain this visa, although there is financial criteria to meet

Ellie ******* · Answer

Points of difference you may be interested in are:

METV: you will be stamped for 60days on entry into Thailand. You may be able to apply for a 30days tourism extension once, then you need to leave.

It is a multiple entry visa, you can enter Thailand as many times as you want during its valid of 6months from issuing date.

STV: you will be stamped for 90days on entry into Thailand. You may be able to apply for a 90days STV extension twice without leaving Thailand. After a total of 270days, you need to leave.

It is a single entry visa, you can enter Thailand once on it during its valid of 3months from issuing date.

Currently, I'm not aware of any country around you that you can leave within just a few hours. You need to keep watch for that. At least you need to meet the requirements to enter that country.

There was a report about a short trip to Cambodia as a kind of "border bounce", but it still was a week trip.

Benjamin ****** · Answer

The multiple entry tourist (METV) visa is designed for people who are touring Southeast Asia for 6 to 8 months, and not long stayers 🙁

The METV is valid for 6 months, and on entry, allows a person to stay for 59 days. A person can go to the immigration office and apply for a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism for 1,900 THB. After you get that stamp, at the end of the 30 days, you'll have to leave the country and return.

If you're interested in the border-bouncing option, it's possible to do the bounce at the Cambodian border for now.

Can you get a long-term visa/ extension of stay that actually fits your needs inside Thailand? I don't know, since valid visas can not get cancelled inside Thailand (or at least, I never heard of it happening).

What are the Visa Options for Staying in Thailand for Less Than 6 Months Without Leaving?

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