Answered9 years ago

What is the easiest visa option for a 90+ day stay in Thailand for an American over 50?

Visa Options NON-O Visa Tourist Visa Retirement Visa Expats in Thailand Visa Extension

Bruce *********

asked Jul 10, 2017

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Hi All - I'm new here and have read a lot but all the details and terms leave me a bit confused so if someone would give me some help it would be much appreciated.  I've been to Chiang Mai briefly and plan to return this fall for 90+ day stay. I'm American, 50+yrs old (to say the least) and wonder what is the easiest / least complicated way to handle visa issues for this stay.  My thanks in advance.

Answer summary

The user, an American planning a 90+ day stay in Chiang Mai, seeks guidance on handling visa issues. Comments suggest various options: applying for a retirement (OA) visa, obtaining a 30-day visa on arrival followed by a short trip to Laos for extensions, or acquiring a single-entry tourist visa before arriving, which can be extended for an additional 30 days at an immigration office.

13 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

Seeing as you're only comin' for 90 days, I'd say forgo the year-long, multi-entry Non-OA visa that costs $200USD. I'd also say don't enter visa exempt and then border bounce for another 30 day visa exempt.

The easiest and cheapest for you would be to get a single entry tourist visa from a thai consulate before you show up and then extend it for 30 more days at the local immigration office for 1900baht.

9 years ago

Bruce *********

I appreciate everyone's help and thoughts - to clarify and be a bit more specific (cuz it sounds complicated - I'd like to have the option to stay up to 120 days and also be able to leave Thailand during that time to visit other nearby countries but return to my "base" in Chiang Mai - thus a multi- entry visa? is part of the equation.

9 years ago

Ciaran **********

He said 90+ days, suggests 90 won't be enough.

9 years ago

Tod *********

Seeing as they are only here for 90 days there's very little incentive for them to get a 6 month mutli-entry tourist visa :/

9 years ago

Kevin *************

Here is a good web site to compare the SETV & METV

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9 years ago

Leo ********

30 day on arrival then go to Laos for 2 days you then get your 60 day extension pretty easy

9 years ago

David ****************

Get a visa due to retirement (OA) in your home country, then if you want to stay longer than one year, that can be extended within Thailand as long as you meet the financial requirements. 800,000b in a thai bank, 65,000 monthly income or a combination of the 2.

9 years ago

David **********

Check the embassy website..

9 years ago

Bruce *********

OK - so I think I understand the visa run thing - but you reference have a 365 day visa - can Americans get this? And where / how? Because that would be more than enough for my needs

9 years ago

David ****************

Bruce. When in the country on a visa, you have to leave then re-enter the country every 90 days(border-hop/visa-run). If you have (say) a 365 day visa (for example) and do the last visa-run on the last day of your visa term (day 364) you will be given another 90 days, thereby extending the term.

9 years ago

Bruce *********

@David *********

Thanks - probably not more than 100-120 days. I'd rather not get into all the various types of documentation for the retirement visa if possible. Your option sounds interesting - could you share details? Thanks again.

9 years ago

David **********

How long is 90+? You can get a 6-month Tourist visa that you can stretch to around 9 months.

9 years ago

Bruce *********

Thank you - for the first year do you also need to have / document the financial data you mention or is that only required if you extend beyond a year?

9 years ago