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What is the best visa conversion option for a UK passport holder planning to stay in Thailand long-term?

Thailand Visa Rules Visa Types SETV METV ED Visa B Non-Immigrant Visa Visa Conversion UK Passport Holder

January 24, 2019

6 years ago

Peter *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all, UK passport holder, and under 50. I am coming back to the kingdom at the end of February for a few weeks (then will be looking to move permanently once all my finances are sorted) - i've had 3 visa on arrivals in the past year (only stayed 15 days each time) and over Christmas i was here for 6 weeks on a SETV.

The next visa i'll apply for a SETV or METV - then i would like to convert the visa to either ED or B non-imm - which would be the easiest route to do this? (setv or metv?)

tia

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A UK passport holder with prior short stays in Thailand seeks advice on whether to apply for a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) or a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) before transitioning to an Education (ED) or Business (B Non-Immigrant) visa. Commentators clarify that previous short-term entries may have been misinterpreted as visas on arrival, and emphasize that transitioning to an ED or B visa from a tourist visa in-country is typically challenging and often requires the support of a school or employer for necessary documentation.

Tod *********

You have had NO "visas-on-arrival" :O Being a brit IF you showed up here without having bought a visa from a thai consulate before hand you would have been stamped in on what's called a " 30 day visa exempt entry".

There is only a minuscule chance you could go from a tourist visa to an in country 90 day Non-ED visa or Non-B visa :/ being able to do that totally depends on the school or the employer to supply you with documentation to do an in country conversion. Most will just give you paperwork to take to a thai consulate in a neighboring country to get the 90 day ED or Non-B visa.

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