What is the best visa option for staying in Thailand for 6 months while homeschooling my daughter?

Thailand visa options Special Tourist Visa (STV)Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV)visa extensions 2023 Thailand travel rules homeschooling in Thailand traveling in Thailand immigration advice COVID-19 travel regulations

January 1, 2022

3 years ago

Tammy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm thinking about coming to Thailand in March with my daughter. I know staying for 6 months is an option for us but it looks like a really confusing process. I keep reading about 30 day extensions, covid extensions, 90 day check-ins, education visas, landlord forms and a bunch of other stuff and I'm totally confused. I homeschool my daughter so she won't be attending school there. We are both double vaccinated if that makes a difference. I would like to able to travel around Thailand freely without needing to keep going back to the original location to extend visas. What is the best & most stress free way to do this? 😊

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The best visa options for staying in Thailand for 6 months with your daughter are limited. You can apply for a Special Tourist Visa (STV), which allows for an initial 90 days and can be extended twice for 90 days each, but is suitable only if you have a home base in Thailand. Alternatively, you can enter on a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV), providing 60 days stay, extendable for an additional 30 days. However, long-term stays beyond tourist visas may require a visa run, which is currently not an option due to closed land borders.

Bruce *****

I believe but stand to be corrected that you enter as normal on a 30 day then at say 20 days go to immigration and get a further 60 extension then leave at 90 days by plane for a couple of days on a visa run and do the same again

3 years ago

Bobby ********

Bruce Lee. You enter on a 30 day visa exempt, you can go the day you arrive to get a 30 day (NOT 60) extension. You don't have to wait until day 22

3 years ago

Ellie *******

For visa-exempt entry with an initial 30days stamp, 30days tourism extension once is only available.

3 years ago

Benjamin ******

@Bruce ****

*IF* the airports are open, and *IF* the consulates are reopen as normal. It *IS* possible, but will require extensive logistics and coordination.

3 years ago

Tammy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Definitely don't want extensive logistics or coordination. I want all smooth sailing. 😆

3 years ago

Reply to

Tammy *********

Ellie *******

Tourists are not supposed to stay in Thailand for such long. If you want to stay in Thailand longer as tourists, check those options

@Benj****

stated above and one more option will be Thailand Elite.

3 years ago

Tammy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for the info. 😊

3 years ago

Reply to

Tammy *********

Benjamin ******

>I know staying for 6 months is an option for us

The only way to stay 6 month is to use a Special Tourist Visa (STV). This allows 90 days on entry, and allows a person to acquire TWO 90 day extension of stays based on tourism. However, it should be used only if you have a "home base" here in Thailand; a place you're already renting for example.

Otherwise, the only option is a Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV), which allows you to stay for 60 days on entry, extendable ONCE for 30 days.

>. I would like to able to travel around Thailand freely without needing to keep going back to the original location to extend visas

Sadly, such a visa right now does not exist. IF the land borders were reopen, you and your daughter could enter on a SETV, extend it ONCE for 30 days, bounce to Vientiane, Lao and acquire another SETV, and return. However, right now, all land borders are closed.

3 years ago

Tammy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for the info. I thought I'd read that you could get a 60 day tourist visa & extend 4X for 30 days each. I will look into the STV. If we get a SETV when I do the 30 day extension does it need to be done in the location I arrived in or can it be done from anywhere? I've been to Thailand a handful of times back in the day and did visa runs but I figured that wasn't going to be the best option for now. Hopefully by March there will be more options with that. Also do you know if my child would go as a dependent on my visa or have her own? Thanks! 😊

3 years ago

Tammy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for the info. 🙏🏼

3 years ago

Ellie *******

@Tammy ********

, with SETV, only one 30days extension based on tourism per visa-entry is available. No more than that. Means maximum 90days total by SETV. You can apply for an extension any immigration office as long as you are filed your current address.

If you mean [(SETV entry for 60days + 30days extension) * 4times ], in theory, it is possible but until the immigration officer decides you are “living” in Thailand with wrong visa.

There is no “dependant” to any of tourist visas.

3 years ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

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