What is the fastest way for an expat to obtain a long-term visa for Thailand?

Thanks for your detailed post Kool Breez. I’m well qualified in sustainability by most standards and have a big company background back in time, Shell International Gas and Renewables. At 51 now I could in theory opt for the retirement visa and am considering this. However I want to work another 7-19 years - my energy and self motivation levels thankfully remain high, although I appreciate that I’m getting older and feeling that. I also have a long term educated, graduate girlfriend and partner who is Thai by nationality. We lived together in KL where we both previously worked, May for CISCO the US company, and lived together. She speaks fluent English, Japanese etc from her time working there and has total me repeatedly that she does need me financially and being with me is a choice that May makes, or otherwise. I’ve offered her various financial things and she has consistently said no. May earns more than 5 X her condo rent. This noted, obviously she loved the odd bottle of red wine, flowers, trips away etc! A bit of romance like most women. We have been together and lived together for 2 yrs. There is no technical need for us to get married. I’ll probably go for the SMART visa if I can obtain this, not the easiest one, then in a few years May and I could marry, let’s see. Until then I would certainly hope to make the THB40K a month plus to meet the PR requirements that you mentioned in your helpful post. For now it’s healthy for us both to remain, as best we can, self supporting aside from living together and the odd bottle or two of red wine! I much appreciate your post, thanks. This is directly relevant and useful info. I hope that you will forgive all the personal circumstances, but I hope that this makes sense. Enjoy the weekend ahead. Patrick

Giorgio Bisson do not listen to anyone that has commented, as most are talking BS, as they aren't listening to your plans. Come into Thailand, and get married in Thailand. Doing it here saves a lot of translation requirements of documents if you get married in some other country. It involves getting a notarized right to marry document from your embassy here in Thailand. After you are legally married take your documents, copies of your wife's Thai id card, copies of the housebook she is listed in, and copies of your passport, to a neighboring country and apply online for a type O 90 day visa based on Thai wife, then when you get it re-enter Thailand, and immediately get a Thai bank account in your name only. As soon as you have this account transfer bt400,000+ into it. Go with your new wife to immigration and get the list of documents needed to apply for your one year extension after the money has been in your account for at least 2 months. I've had this extension for 10 years. This first time it is time consuming getting all the documents, but in following years, if you keep copies of everything, you only need new updated bank statements, and pictures. Everything else is the same, unless you move. You want to be on the type O extension based on Thai wife, as on this extension you can get a work permit without having to change visa extensions. Then by jointly owning the business with your wife the requirements for you to get your work permit are cut in half. You only need bt1million in registered capital in the business, and you only need to hire two Thai employees, one of which must be a licensed Thai accountant. If your wife was to set up the restaurant solely in her name then she would be required to have bt2million in registered capital, and have at least 4 Thai employees on the payroll in order to sponsor your work permit. Also, by working, and making at least bt40,000 a month for at least three years, and paying Thai income taxes, plus some other requirements (that mean nothing if you don't legally work and pay taxes), you can apply for permanent residency, or directly for Thai citizenship. Something to seriously consider. You can not do any of this on any retirement visa extension. You can't even work for free in the business on retirement extension. One thing to remember in any retail business, is that vending is a restricted occupation, meaning that you can not legally take any money from a retail customer. Other than that small detail, this is the best way to go about realizing your, and your wife's dream of having the restaurant on Koh Chang island. I live in Bangkok, and that is my favorite island to go to. If you have any questions I am a consultant, and happy to help for free, with what I can help with.

Giorgio Bisson I think you should get the retirement visa. It's easier than a marriage visa. This gives you more time to know your lady for say another year. Do you have a Thai Bank account? If you use an agent you don't need to keep 800,000 baht tied up in an account. Cost me ฿26,000