Answered4 months ago
What is the best visa option for a 62-year-old expat traveling to Thailand for 1-2 months twice a year?
Ok here goes.im a bit of a thick ... about this visa thing. Been coming to thailand for a few years now on stamp on arrival staying from 1 month to 3 months after getting an extention.the last 2 times ive arrived i have been asked a couple ov questions of how long i stay this time at airport.im 62 but all i want to do is holiday for anything from 1 month to 2 months twice a year.im abit confused which is best visa to obtain without being questioned.there is a possibility i could get married to a thai lady but i still only want to do the usual travel times even if married.pls no negative comments just need a pointer which way is best..thx all
Answer summary
The user is seeking advice on which visa to obtain for holidays in Thailand, having traveled on a stamp on arrival in the past. They are confused about the best visa type given potential limitations on stay durations and the possibility of marriage. Various community members suggest options like the tourist visa for shorter stays, the Non-O visa for longer periods due to age, and using the eVisa portal for convenience. They mention the importance of correctly addressing stay durations to avoid questioning at immigration.
41 repliesnewest first
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Osian ********
If u got the funds in bank 19k, u could apply for a non-o each time u travel, giving u 3 months each time
Thehoodyguy *************
M.E.T 60 multiple entry visa valid for 6 months gives you 60 days with an option to extend 30 days usually a ten day turnaround and cheap
Jonathan **********
Aa tourist visa, because you will only ever be a tourist.
Friedhelm ******
Just apply a tourist visa at your home country for the time you want to visit. Can do online at your local embassy.
Eric *************
Ask FIFOs: getting warned about TOO many entries. Not to be allowed to come in!
Richard ********
Miyamoto Musashi, your response is exactly the sort of response that isn’t required. I hope that that the moderator sees it and kicks you off. Your attitude stinks.
Jeff *************
You want to get married and keep going back and forth?
Craig ********
For a month, visa exempt if your country is on the list. At the moment it's still 60 days I think, maybe someone knows if it has been gazetted yet. Otherwise a SETV for 60days. Or a Non -O retirement visa for 90 days if you have 3 months proof of
*****
0baht equivalent in your bank.
Stephen ********
Just get an actual tourist visa each time, rather than coming here without one. Simple 👍
John **********
If you limit yourself to 1 or 2 months twice a year you should be fine to continue with visa exempt, although if it drops to 30 days as proposed you will need an extension so it might be easier to get either a tourist visa or a 90 day Non-O visa each time before travelling. However you also mention extending your visa exempt entries and that implies stays of longer than 2 months, which is why you will be getting questioned. If you're staying 3 months twice a year get the 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 each time
Steven ***************
Recommend you go to the Official Thai Government WEB site look at all the different visas and see what you qualify for and what best fits your needs. Possibly a Non-O or SETV
John ********
You lost me at "a thick."
John ********
John Tidona MEANS SLOW TO UNDERSTAND.
John ********
John Cooler You can be thick but not a thick.
Raymond *********
I'm sorry but I don't see the problem.
At the moment , depending which country you are from , you are probably entitled to à 60 day visa exempt which can be extended by 30 days ( once a year). More than the 1 or 2 months that you wrote.
The thai government has decided to reduce the 60 days in question to 30 days but it is not in force yet. When it is you can still request 1 time 30 day extension. The second extension in a year is limited technically to 7 days.
Having said that, asking questions is thailand's right.if you didn't overstay in the past you should be able to explain your situation easily
At the moment , depending which country you are from , you are probably entitled to à 60 day visa exempt which can be extended by 30 days ( once a year). More than the 1 or 2 months that you wrote.
The thai government has decided to reduce the 60 days in question to 30 days but it is not in force yet. When it is you can still request 1 time 30 day extension. The second extension in a year is limited technically to 7 days.
Having said that, asking questions is thailand's right.if you didn't overstay in the past you should be able to explain your situation easily
Jesper *******
METV (no financial proof needed) or 90days nonO ....
Graeme *******
Came as visa excempt as still 60 day's if a tourist. If not get the right visa, which I'm guessing would a tourist visa online.
Jim *********
A single entry tourist visa is good for 60 days and if needed you could get a 30 day extension. Or get a non O visa based on retirement is actually less money. Single entry non O is $80USD and you get 90 days. A single entry tourist is $40USD but then the extension is ฿1,900 is about $58USD.
Rod *********
Jim McGowan - lucky you. Thai Government stings us Kiwis $NZ300 ($US 180) for a Single Entry Tourist visa !
No idea why, but even the Aussies only pay around $A60-ish, and they are pretty tough on visas for Thais visiting Oz.
No idea why, but even the Aussies only pay around $A60-ish, and they are pretty tough on visas for Thais visiting Oz.
Kevin ************
Do an online visa . Fast, easy, no questions
John *********
Kevin Ganzevoort which one though?
Greg ***********
John Doughty that's up to you. You can get two single entry tourist visas per 1-year period, or two 90-days Non-Imm-O visas per 1-year period.
Both are good and safe for combined holidays per one-year period of no more than 180 days.
The Non-Imm-O is the cheaper option because while the visa-fee is higher, there is no need to buy the 30-days extension for 1900 Baht.
Both are good and safe for combined holidays per one-year period of no more than 180 days.
The Non-Imm-O is the cheaper option because while the visa-fee is higher, there is no need to buy the 30-days extension for 1900 Baht.
John *********
Greg Alexander METV any good for 3-4 months?
Kyle ********
John Doughty tourist visa
John *********
Kyle Foster METV?
Marianne ********
If you're only coming for 1-2 months a regular single entry tourist visa will be fine.
If you think you might stay for 2-3 months, then a Non-O is for you since you are above 50.
Both are applied for on the eVisa portal
If you think you might stay for 2-3 months, then a Non-O is for you since you are above 50.
Both are applied for on the eVisa portal
************************
John *********
Marianne Holmen what about a METV?
Graham ******
John Doughty overkill
Marianne ********
John Doughty If you're coming multiple times during 6 month period, sure.
But if you are going home in-between it might be easier to just get a regular single entry each time.
But if you are going home in-between it might be easier to just get a regular single entry each time.
Dante **
Unfortunately, despite what people are saying about immigration only targeting people that are “abusing the system,” plenty of legitimate are getting refused entry.
Any time you come in on a tourist visa, it’s a risk now. Since you are over 50, I suggest you get a single entry NON-O each time you come. It’s good for 3 months per entry.
It also let you open a Thai bank account if you don’t already have one. For some reason they think a 3 month NON-O is a long term visa and a 5 year DTV is a tourist visa. Makes no sense but whatever.
Any time you come in on a tourist visa, it’s a risk now. Since you are over 50, I suggest you get a single entry NON-O each time you come. It’s good for 3 months per entry.
It also let you open a Thai bank account if you don’t already have one. For some reason they think a 3 month NON-O is a long term visa and a 5 year DTV is a tourist visa. Makes no sense but whatever.
Steven ***************
Dante Its because most people use the Non-O visa to come to Thailand and after to 90 days get the 12 month extension of stay. Understand that with the Non-O and Non-OA visas once they expire you remain in Thailand on 12 month extensions of stay that you renew annually. Completely different from a DTV visa.
Dante **
Steven L. Daugherty but you don’t have to get the extension
Dante **
Steven L. Daugherty the issue is that tourists with the specific visa appropriate for tourists coming multiple times a year are being turned away from Thailand even though they have the correct visa for their trip.
The solution is to pretend to be retirees in Thailand .
The whole “get the right visa for your trip” thing is nonsense and always has been a passive aggressive way of older people telling younger people that they are unwelcome.
The solution is to pretend to be retirees in Thailand .
The whole “get the right visa for your trip” thing is nonsense and always has been a passive aggressive way of older people telling younger people that they are unwelcome.
Luit *****************
Steven L. Daugherty Officially according the MFA documents non immigrant O is exacttly what you need.
"Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)"
"Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)"
Steven ***************
Graham Seal Times change, Thai immigration attitudes change. Its currently better to get the specific visa that corresponds to your specific current actual situation and plans, and leave other options on the table for later if your plans change. Thai immigration has gotten quite picky this past year.
Graham ******
Dante as I never have, two Non-Os per year for many years
John ********
Dante Totally unaware of a “single entry NON-O each time entry”
And it’s Valid for 3 months per entry?
Do say
And it’s Valid for 3 months per entry?
Do say
Malcolm **********
The non-O is for people intending to stay longer and get an extension of stay such as retirement, marriage etc and I know of people who have been refused a new O-visa because they were just getting them for longer stays and not for extension like you are saying. Admittedly these people were using them a lot and it was a while ago but with the recent crackdowns I don't think it would be less likely to have problems. The issue is that if you want to try and they later refuse to issue a non-O then it's going to make it very difficulle to change to a retirement or marriage visa and you need the O-visa to do that.
Luit *****************
Graham Seal Exactly, and the MFA document not even mentions the possibility of the one year extensions.
"Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with
state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand
for no longer than 90 days)"
For longstay the non OA and non OX are mentioned.
Maybe that is because from MFA viewpoint the NON-O ends as soon as you enter the country because it is a single entry visa for a stay of 90 days.
That stay can be extended by Immigration, not MFA!! each time for a year, but technically the visa itself is not valid anymore.
"Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with
state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand
for no longer than 90 days)"
For longstay the non OA and non OX are mentioned.
Maybe that is because from MFA viewpoint the NON-O ends as soon as you enter the country because it is a single entry visa for a stay of 90 days.
That stay can be extended by Immigration, not MFA!! each time for a year, but technically the visa itself is not valid anymore.
Graham ******
Malcolm Whitlock I have been getting two Non-Os per year for many years and never once have I taken an extension and never questioned by the Embassy when applying or Immigration on entry. The extension is not mandarory as your post suggests.
Dante **
John Robert it’s on the evisa website
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