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What is the availability and situation of the STV Visa for Thailand?

STV Visa Thailand Visa Regulations Visa Extension Tourist Visa NON-O Visa Immigration Expat Advice Covid-19 Travel Restrictions

May 30, 2021

4 years ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Does anyone know how long the STV Visa will be available? 

I had heard several months ago that September of this year they will stop offering it??

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The Special Tourist Visa (STV) is suggested to be available until at least September 30th, 2021, but there are concerns about its actual usability and the strict conditions imposed for extension. Users discuss challenges with the STV, sharing experiences and suggesting that alternatives such as the NON-O visa or regular tourist visas might be more practical for longer stays in Thailand. Many expats are considering their options due to travel restrictions and the ongoing pandemic, expressing a preference for obtaining a retirement visa or looking to move elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

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.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Ezmerelda ********

Michael, have you thought about this. There are 2 options for you to consider.

1. Enter Thailand on regular tourist visa. This will give you 2 months. You get this from Thai Embassy.

2. Go to Thailand on a visa waiver. This will give you 45 days (includes quarantine time). For both scenarios you need COE.

We are planning on using #2 to enter Thailand.....if flights are available. Once we get back in we will apply for O retirement visa...If you are goung for a retirement visa you need to do this asap...once in.

SEE YOU BACK IN THAILAND........but we are hoping VN willextend once again.

We also do not want to go back to the west......

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Ezmerelda ********

Michael, you can get an O visa...in Thailand...YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET IT IN AMERICA, that is what I'm trying to tell you! You are talking about an OA Visa which is only obtainable outside Thailand, but O VISA is obtainable inside Thailand. .....so long as you meet their requirements.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ezmerelda *******

Thank you so much for this amazing and helpful 🙏🏽

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it’s also stressful

I came here from Thailand March 1, 2020 on a three month visa planning to be back with my vehicle and Condo on June 1, 2020 I came here from Thailand March 1, 2020 on a three month visa planning to be back with my vehicle and Condo on June 1, 2020

my vehicle is now in storage and I have lost my lease on my condo

and all my belongings are in long-term storage in Chiang mai

I have gotten quite comfortable here in da Nang city

and have fallen in love with Vietnam but unfortunately there is no where to stay here long term that I know of?

somebody mentioned that you can get a one-year tourist visa only for Americans but must obtain it back in America?

I have never heard anyone on his visa websites mentioned this?

anyway

I do need to get back to Thailand on a long-term basis not just a short two or three month journey

regarding the retirement visa I

have my funds back in America and I’m not going to move them to Thailand

so obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand is not an option

I only stay in Thailand nine months each year that’s why that special tourist visa seemed appealing but now researching it it doesn’t work so much

I think eventually I will have to return to California and obtain my retirement visa from the

Royal Thailand

embassy in Hollywood

but I was hoping to stay here in Vietnam long enough for vaccinations to be distributed here in Southeast Asia

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Michael *******

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Okay good to know

I'm currently living in Vietnam but there is a mass Exodus of foreigners as the government is denying many fraudulent business visas as well as what I'm staying here on is a tourist visa that has been generously extended for the last 14 months since I arrived on March 1st 2020

So I was trying to decide where to go from Vietnam but seems South East Asia is on fire with covid currently so probably my best option is to go back to my home country USA which although I love my country I'm dreading on returning there

I sold everything I owned 7 years ago and have been living full-time in Southeast Asia

So when I return to America I will more than likely just stay for one month and obtain my one year retirement Visa as I have done previous years

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Steve **********

@Michael ******

Try Bali.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Steve *********

yes my original plan was to stay here in Vietnam until vaccines were distributed in Thailand to make travel restrictions less burdensome

but Vietnam is now asking foreigners to leave, I have definitely had Bali on the radar as I usually travel there for four months each year anyway

but to stay there longer than two months I would need a social Visa

but not sure if I could get in currently

I have heard that the island is not allowing anyone in until after July

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Michael *******

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Benjamin ******

@Michael ******

If you qualify for a one year visa, you should be able to apply and get that visa in Vietnam. OR, enter on a single entry tourist visa and purchase the non-O visa inside Thailand.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

I really like it here and da Nang Vietnam but it does not offer retirement visas

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

I don’t want to move my money to Thailand for a retirement visa

I am only in Thailand for nine months each year, that’s why I was thinking of the STV

Visa

but sounds like the retirement is as a better option,

when I obtain it in America I leave my Funds in America

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

Vietnam does offer 1 year tourist visas to Americans.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

From my exploring this on the internet it seems that this Visa is no longer offered

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

USA is the only nationality eligible for 1 year tourist and business visas. The visa needs to be obtained outside vietnam though.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

This is amazing news I somehow have not heard anyone on the Vietnam Visa Facebook page mentioned this type of Visa ?

And yes it looks like you need to obtain it in America

But it also states that you need to leave every 30 days for renewal?

I don't think this Visa will be usable for the near future because the borders are closed and once they do open I'm not sure they will let people come in and out so easily

But thank you Garrett 🙏

I really like it here in danang

But for now this is not an option probably until next year

So I will focus on getting back to America and obtaining my 1-year retirement Visa

I'm wondering if it would be possible to obtain both 1 year visa for Thailand and when your visa for Vietnam during the same year and split my time between the two?

What do you think?

Of course this would be after the vaccinations have calmed the travel restrictions down

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

It's every 90 days you need to leave, not 30. And it can obtained at any Vietnamese embassy (there's one in Bangkok). You can have active visas in multiple countries.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

well this sounds very interesting, I would love to do this to back and forth countries once the vaccination comes down travel restrictions

But the rental contracts might be a bit challenging, needing to find condos/ apartments that will do 3 months lease, or perhaps I will do 6 months in each country?

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

This is a message that she sent my friend last night who was given a one month grace. Visa and then told there will be no more tourist visas

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

I have not heard of this and I'm just curious why so many people are not talking about this and obtaining it?

I deal with a Visa agency called Lynn visa

Who is probably one of the most popular and used Visa agents here in danang

And she knows nothing about this?

Do you have the link for this one year visa for Americans?

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George *************

@Michael ******

True you can leave your funds in the US with a Non-OA, but you do have ongoing health insurance requirements with insurance companies approved by Thai immigration with a Non-OA (and extensions therefrom) which you would not have with a Non-O obtained in Vietnam or in Thailand.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@George ************

yes unfortunately Vietnam does not offer retirement visas

I always buy insurance wherever I’m traveling anyway

I currently have a policy with Pacific cross of Vietnam

Pacific cross also has a company in Thailand which I will obtain

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George *************

@Michael ******

Think it needs to be one of these companies, one of which is Pacific Cross.

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

You may be able use other insurance but it requires you to get your insurance company to sign a statement promising that they cover the requirements demanded by Thailand, not an easy prospect.

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George *************

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Benjamin ******

DO NOT GET THE STV!

The embassies/ consulates are issuing them easily. The immigration offices are very hard nose about getting the extension of stay.

There is a report in Phuket that an immigration office issued the extension for only 70 days - up to September 30th.

IF you get the STV, expect to stay no longer then September 30th. If you get to stay longer, consider it an unexpected bonus.

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Stuart *********

I’m not sure anywhere is still selling that visa. It was a crappy option anyway with having fo have fully paid up insurance and accommodation for your entire stay. Also If you don’t enter on it before July (3rd I think) you can’t renew it so makes it pointless. Far better to enter on a tourist visa or visa exempt if allowed and extend in country.

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Darren *******

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Darren *******

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