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What is the best long-term visa option for Kiwis wanting to stay in Thailand periodically without high costs?
DTV VisaNon-O VisaRetirement VisaVisa Application CostsExpat IssuesThailand Visa RulesVisa Extensions
Dec 12, 2025
5 months ago
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI have tried multiple times to submit my question about our situation which is obviously too complex for anyone to answer. But I will try again. Everyone is saying “Just get the right long term visa”and we would if we could. We are Kiwis so our visa application fees are literally four times the cost of every other country. Yes $2,000 for DTV or Retirement. DTV is not a great option for us because while we qualify for it, (I have ongoing contract software dev work) we do not know if we will want to keep going back for five years. So a rip off if we only use it once or twice for two months stay(s). Retirement is just a complete rip because we have to keep reapplying for it every year if we do keep going back to Thailand. We spent 140 days there this year and planning two x 60 day stays in 2026, who knows for 2027. Can’t work out what to do. Given the costs, what would be the right visa for us?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A Kiwi expat is seeking advice on long-term visa options for Thailand, expressing frustration over high application fees and the complexity of their situation. They are considering the DTV and retirement visas but are unsure which would suit their flexible travel plans. Commenters suggest alternative strategies to apply for visas, emphasizing the convenience and long-term benefits of the DTV visa compared to the recurring costs of the retirement visa.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
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David ********
Literally the DTV.
Ralph *******
You work in software development and are concerned about the cost of $400 a year? Unbelievable.
Jordan *****
@Ralph ******
you can easily get a rejection on an application that would be approved when applying from a country like Vietnam, so I understand why some people are reluctant to spend that kind of money when the approval system is so arbitrary.Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ralph ******
oh right. Yes that would be all good. Except we really don’t know if we will want to keep going back beyond 2026. Our family circumstances keep changing so that’s a lot of coin for what just two entries. 🤷♀️June ***********
@Joanne ********
then stay homeDavid *******
@Joanne ********
if you cannot predict or plan your family circumstances how do you expect strangers in the internet to do this for you 😂😂😂Reply to
Kay ********
Reply
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ralph ******
$4000 not $400Ralph *******
@Joanne ********
You said $2000. And that’s over 5 years so $400 a year.Reply to
Ralph *******
Reply
Shawn ********
So because the DTV is too expensive your lost and confused 🤔….
Masha ***********
@Shawn *******
DTV costs next to nothing if you can gather the documents. Instead of making a fake visa at the border that can get you turned back.Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Shawn *******
because we might only use in 2026 for 2 X 60 day stays. After that, who knows.David *******
@Joanne ********
for goodness sake if you don’t even know your plans how do you expect anyone to give you reasonable advice. You have been given sound advice here but you keep knocking it back. You are over complicating the whole issue.Shawn ********
@Joanne ********
then you don’t need a visa at all, you get 60 days per visit with 39 day extension.. twice a yearReply to
Shawn ********
Reply
Gary **********
Just get a tourist visa for 60/ 90 days ...that's cheap enough
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gary *********
might be the best suggestion here.Reply to
Joanne *********
Reply
Alain *******
I don't get it. You say both visa are the same price. So why don't you take the most convenient one ? You said yourself that you don't want to keep reapplying, so the answer is obvious: DTV
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alain ******
except that it is not likely we will keep doing this long term. 2026 yes. Beyond that…who knows so 4,000NZD is a lot to pay for 2 x 60 day stays which have been exempt up until now. And may still be but cannot be guaranteed. 😫🤷♀️Sea *****
@Joanne ********
Don't bother with stupid visa, just keep using exemptions and extensions you'll be good for 90 days + 60 days every year IF YOU WANT. There's also a lot of other nice places to visit...Reply to
Sea *****
Reply
Bonnie *******
We are from America and facing the same problems. We don't want to tie up our money in a retirement visa. We don't want to pay the entry fee to come back in. We just want to come 2 or 3 times a year and stay for a few weeks.
Bill *********
@Bonnie ******
Getting the retirement Visa and "tie up money" is just the cost of the privilege of being long-term in Thailand with no issues. If you really want to be here then that becomes trivial in the whole scheme of things. You can get your money back if you discontinue coming to Thailand.David ********
@Bonnie ******
then what’s the problem. Americans get visa exemption for 60 days with option to extend for an additional 30 which if you’re only staying a few weeks no need t extend. If you’re leaving and coming back a couple of months later, not doing border hops then you don’t need a visa at all!
Bonnie *******
@David *******
unless they start saying we can only come in twice or saying we should get a real visa or some other rule that they come up withDavid *******
@Bonnie ******
if you keep playing ‘unless they …’ game in your mind you will never do anything. You may not even live until next week for all you know.Doug *******
@Bonnie ******
You wrote: “We just want to come 2 or 3 times a year and stay for a few weeks.”That makes you tourists. So no problem with just getting your 60 days for two visits. Likely no problem with a third visit either but other people here can answer that better than I can.
Micah ********
@Doug ******
They'd likely have no issue with a 3rd entry since they aren't maxing the first 2 stays, but certainly applying for a tourist visa after getting the 2 exempt entries would be an easier and cheaper solution for that.Reply to
Micah ********
Reply
Lynnette *******
It's not too complex for anyone to answer if you say what it is you are wanting to achieve and do. Seems you are uncertain and say you don't know what to do. If you want flexibility to visit for several months every year then DTV might suit. The retirement also gives you enough months in the year to come and go.
Lynnette *******
You're making it harder than necessary. Leave NZ and go to another country for a few weeks and apply from there for DTV or the Non-O retirement visa: which gives you time to enter and open bank account to deposit required funds. Then apply for an extension of 12 months for 1,900 tbt. You can leave and return with a reentry permit in that period. If you never want to return after the 12 month and don't want to extend it again, then don't.
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lynnette ******
it makes no difference where you apply. You still pay the visa fee for your passport country. No exception.Maxim ***********
@Joanne ********
"it makes no difference where you apply". Incorrect. How can you make a post flaming others yet have absolutely no clue what you are talking about?Lynnette *******
@Maxim **********
I've been told it's about $80 for a non O. But they could look it up on the Thai embassy website. Better than telling everyone they are wrong 😉.Reply to
Lynnette *******
Reply
Dan *******
Have you seen the METV . Just learned about it last month. It’s for 6 months with reentries. Does that work for you. Cost is nominal .
John *******
@Joanne ********
- incorrect, if you are in Vietnam, you apply through the Thai embassy in Vietnam and you pay the fee that the Thai embassy in Vietnam has, regardless if your passport says NZ, Vietnam or UKJoanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John ******
that would amazing if that is correct because we occasionally visit Vietnam too. But no one has been able to confirm that is the case.Lynnette *******
@Joanne ********
several people have told you that the fees for embassies like Vietnam etc are very small, nothing like NZ costs.Denise *********
@Joanne ********
I can confirm it is the case. I'm a kiwi, NZ passport, applied for DTV in HCMC. Paid Vietnamese embassy price.John *******
@Joanne ********
Join the DTV Facebook page. Or you can even play around with the e-visa website, see what happens if you click that you are physically located in Hanoi.Reply to
John *******
Reply
Lynnette *******
@Joanne ********
it does make a difference where you apply. The fee in NZ is extremely high. It is way less elsewhere. If you want a free entry because you don't want to pay anything, then you'll have to do the exempt entry with no visa. You've had good advice from Brandon too. Decide what you want to do, how often you want to visit, and choose one of the options.Reply to
Lynnette *******
Reply
Vonder *****
Hi am kiwi also stumped up the 2k yes expensive but freedom to come and go for 5 yrs,400 per year is cheaper than retirement costs as agents needed more with the way immigration is changing rules all the time.
Joanne *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vonder ****
keen except we don’t know beyond 2026 if we will want to keep going back. And our next trip is departing 20th Jan and not enough time to park the cash requirement for 90 days.Olav *********
Reply to
Olav *********
Reply
Brandon ************
There's a very simple solution. Don't apply for visas from the Thai embassy in NZ. Go to Vietnam or Laos or somewhere else and apply for your Thai visas. Take a trip to Bali and apply online through Jakarta. You can even make it 2 vacations in one.
And a retirement visa is not something people generally apply for every year. They apply ONE time for the visa, then get a 1-year extension each year in Thailand.
And a retirement visa is not something people generally apply for every year. They apply ONE time for the visa, then get a 1-year extension each year in Thailand.
Stuart **********
I have the same problem from NZ a non O visa is $800.I queried the Thai consulate in Wellington and they told me it dosnt matter what country you apply from it all goes back to what country your residence is,so according to them it dosnt matter where you apply from you have to go through the Thai consulate in your resident country
Brandon ************
@Stuart *********
they lied to you. The Thai embassy where you physically are is the one that processes your visa application. You select that one in the e-visa system. And you pay their prices.Frank *********
@Brandon ***********
can you not just use a vpn and select whatever country, or would that be too easy and straightforward?Brandon ************
@Frank ********
You must be within the jurisdiction of the embassy to apply there. That means you must PHYSICALLY be there. It specifically asks you what is your physical location, and has a question in the application for proof of your current location. Embassies are also known to randomly summon people for interviews to ensure they are actually there, and do other things.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
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