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What is the best way to stay in Thailand for an extended period without high costs?

30-day visa60-day tourist visavisa extensionSTV visalong-term stay optionsvisa regulationsThailand immigration rulesexempt visa entry
Apr 23, 2022
4 years ago
William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys 👋,

If you would like to stay as long as possible (legally, without completely breaking the bank with some elite-type visa stuff), what is the best way to do it?

For example, is it better to just straight up apply for the 60-day visa and possibly extend it? Or is it the same if you just come on the standard 30-day visa and take it from there?

I'm just trying to learn from some of you who are more experienced, as I'm not sure how to do it - so any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To stay in Thailand legally for as long as possible without excessive costs, consider the following options: Applying for a 60-day tourist visa before arrival is often more advantageous than entering on a 30-day visa exempt entry, as it allows for a potential 30-day extension, totaling 90 days without multiple trips to immigration. Other suggestions for long-term stays include options like marriage, employment, or an education visa (ED visa). Additionally, the Special Tourist Visa (STV) provides a longer stay of nine months but has various conditions. Be cautious about visa runs and entry limits, particularly regarding the number of times you can enter without a visa.
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Selena ******
@Maxim **********
 what are the requirements for the STV?
4 years ago
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Maxim ***********
I don't think it's any different than getting a tourist visa, except that you need to do this visa in your home country, or pre-covid in Perth Australia you could do it too. So you can't go to Cambodia and get the STV.
4 years ago
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Selena ******
@Maxim **********
 thanks for the clarification.🙏
4 years ago
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Selena ******
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Maxim ***********
Why don't you apply for the Special Tourist Visa (STV) which gives you 9 months and then go from there?
4 years ago
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Carrie **********
Somehow on this trip I managed to stay 90 days on a 30 day tourist visa. The second time I went to get another 30 day extension, they told me I could not. BUT THEN they gave me a consent form and a Covid 19 form to fill out, in which I had to state how Covid 19 has prevented me from leaving Thailand as planned. So I wrote in something true in the “other reason” space, like “exposure to Covid 19 could delay my departure.” Apparently that did the trick, because I was awarded another 30 days.
4 years ago
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Martinello **********************
What if you leave and come back. How long do you have to leave the country
4 years ago
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Native ****************
@Martinello *********************
 You can go and come back same day in most cases
4 years ago
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Native ****************
Here it is:
******************************************************************************************************************************************
4 years ago
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Maxim ***********
@Native ***************
 This only apply to land entry, but land is close atm.
4 years ago
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Maxim ***********
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Native ****************
Depends if you were on a Visa Exempt entry... If that is the case, you are only normally allowed 2 Visa Exempt entries per year, but gimme a sec, I will try to find the Gvt website info
4 years ago
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Martinello **********************
@Native ***************
 even if you have stayed for 60 days?
4 years ago
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Martinello **********************
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Bobby ********
Another longer stay visa is the STV. It's a pretty clunky visa with a lot of conditions to meet when you apply, but it does give you a total of nine months in the country, without having to leave, although you will have to visit immigration at the 90 and 180 day points to get your next extension. It's being discontinued later in the year, but if you get in before July 3rd you'll get the full benefits. Note that I'm not recommending this visa, but if you're going to have a fairly stable address it might suit you, so it's an option that you should look at
4 years ago
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Eric **********
Pm.
4 years ago
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Sam *********
Honestly. The only real ways to stay long term are: A. Get married B. Get a job. C. Get an ED visa and attend class. Otherwise you will be playing the 6 month "what visa do I get now" dance...
4 years ago
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Sam *********
Well, maybe you have a retirement visa. Or special elite?
4 years ago
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Maxim ***********
@Sam ********
 Ive been here 10, no retirement, no elite visa, nothing :).
4 years ago
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Lee ******
@Maxim **********
 how does that work?
4 years ago
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Chrystal **************
@Lee *****
 I’m also curious
4 years ago
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Chrystal **************
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Danny ********
@Sam ********
 not married, not working and don't go to school and i have been here for 5 years.
4 years ago
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Sam *********
Don’t sell yourself short man, you can find a teaching job if you try. Try for the tourist visa first, then explore the next set of options after that
4 years ago
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William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sam ********
 Yeah okay, already traveling with a partner and without the education I guess a job is not a possibility

I'm not against doing the visa dance if it's possible

Thank you Sam
4 years ago
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William **********
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Brandon ************
If you come in on 30 days visa exempt you can only extend 1 time for 30 days for 1900₿. That gives you 60 days in Thailand for 1900₿.

But if you apply for a Tourist visa before you arrive you'll get 60 days for about the same price as you would pay for your extension in Thailand, and you don't have to spend the time and money going to the immigration office.

You can then also extend for 30 days, giving you 90 days total.

So if you're trying maximize your time, getting the tourist visa before you arrive is always better.

Visa exempt is only better if you're coming for less than 30 days since it's free.
4 years ago
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James **************
Just to add, after your 90 days is up you can fly to a neighbouring country, get another 60 day TV and repeat! Dont rely on that for too long though .....
4 years ago
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Jonas *************
At the moment most hotels may give you decent money price per week or month. Like
*****
/month. Usually it requires the manager to decide.

For just few months, if go with hotel. That way you are forced to explore, and you can move around, in the city as well as the country.
4 years ago
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William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Oh man, that's really perfect! I guess I'll do the 60+30 and then maybe that's the max

If I can ask you another question, do you know if it's legal for tourists to rent an apartment? Like officially or AirBNB
4 years ago
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Brandon ************
@William *********
 you can also rent a serviced apartment.

It's very difficult for a short term visitor to get an actual lease on a condo. Most are minimum 12 months but at least 6 months. So don't even bother trying if you're not going to be there for that long.
4 years ago
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David *******
@Brandon ***********
 I’ve rented a condo for 1 month on each of my last 7 trips. 2 through AirBnB and 5 through local agents. More expensive than long term rental but perfectly possible.
4 years ago
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William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Ah I see, I was just wondering since I remember one person told me it was not legal or something to rent an apartment

But I guess I can't do it anyway since I won't have a 6-12 month visa

In any case, thanks a lot!
4 years ago
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Native ****************
@William *********
 As Mr. Brandon mentioned, there are some very decent Serviced Apartments that will do daily, weekly and monthly rentals. Depending on where exactly you are going in Thailand, there are a few websites you can look at for rentals. An easy one is simply look for Facebook Rentals in the area you are going. Also, just do a key word search on Google and some rental websites will pop up. Shoke dee! = Good luck !
4 years ago
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William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Native ***************
 thank you very much!
4 years ago
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Native ****************
@William *********
 No worries... Let us know how you make out and perhaps we can help you more if we know what area you are planning to visit. Cheers!
4 years ago
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Native ****************
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Brandon ************
@William *********
 AirBNB is legal if it's 1 month or longer. Short term AirBNBs of a condo are illegal (but still commonplace).

The only problem you can run into is some AirBNB hosts will not file a TM30 for you even though it's required by law. Sometimes you need this TM30 to get your extension at immigration so that can be a problem.

They don't want to do it because they're not paying taxes on their rental income and they do not want the government to know they are renting.

So I generally message the host on AirBNB before I book and ask them if they will do TM30 for me. If not (or they say they don't know what that is) I just keep looking.
4 years ago
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William **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 Okay, in this case I guess AirBNB sounds like one of the most viable places to find a place
4 years ago
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William **********
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