Answered4 months ago

What is the best visa option for a 12-month stay in Thailand?

Thai visa options Multiple Entry Tourist Visa Non-Immigrant Visa Retirement Visa Longstay Visa Visa rules for expats

Jean *****************

asked Jun 13, 2026

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Hello everyone! I joined because I was told this was one of the best groups for finding information about Thailand. After traveling in South America for years and deciding to take a gap year before starting work at a new restaurant, my first question is: what is the best visa for a 12-month stay in Thailand? Thanks in advance.

Answer summary

A user seeks advice on the best visa for a 12-month stay in Thailand after traveling in South America. Community members suggest that the most straightforward option for a long stay, particularly for those under 50, is the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV), which can potentially allow nearly 9 months in Thailand with border hops. For those over 50, options like the retirement visa or the Non-Immigrant O/A Longstay Visa are recommended, especially if financial and health insurance requirements can be met.

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Andreas *********

if you are over 50 years old, and can prove 25,000 US Dollar in your home bank account, and if you are not shy to get a one-year international health insurance, and if you have a blank police record, you should apply for the one-year multi entry Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa

4 months ago

Jonathan **********

Those days are pretty much over, you can stay in the country for roughly 90 days now, May 180 of you get a 60 day tourist visa. But Thailand is close to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, and those countries are also beautiful with lots of culture and amazing food, so you can split the year between Thailand and the rest of SE Asia.

4 months ago

Jean *****************

Jonathan Seraphim great idea.

4 months ago

Jonathan **********

Jean Pierre Doubais you can still do 30 day boarder bounces in Vietnam. Laos you can stay and explore for 30 days+, too. the north of Laos is mostly wilderness, with Luang Prabang being a lovely old French colonial town that was the old royal capital. Vng Vien is full of adventures. Vientiane is a lovely peaceful and quiet city with amazing food, and then there is the Plain of Jars and the 4000 Islands in the middle of the Mekong. From there, it is very close to the Cambodian border, Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat) and Phenom Phen are full day's drive away...

4 months ago

Todd *********

If over 50, retirement visa are easy. For under 50, consider DTV. It’s a 5 year visa, but cheap, easy and flexible

4 months ago

Michael *******

Its a good site! Some guys on here with very informative info!

Ignore the doubters! And the negative comments!

4 months ago

John **********

That's difficult unless your 50 or above and can get a retirement visa. The simplest option would be to get a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) which if timed well can get you close to 9 months inside Thailand with a couple of border hops

4 months ago