What is the most affordable and feasible way to obtain long-term residency in Thailand?

@Paul ******

The immigration system is biometric. They have your face and fingerprints so even if you use different passports they’ll still have your full record.

But I’ve seen people say that Elite told them after 3 years, excessive overstays shouldn’t be an issue, might be the same for the volunteer visa.

Never know what the rules in practice will change to.

@Alan ******

I see. Thanks for the explanation. That's sad for those folks though. How about simply getting a new passport or for dual nationals, switching passports?

@Paul ******

If you can get a 100% legitimate volunteer visa with work permit and can show you actually did volunteer work for them then it shouldn’t be an issue, although Elite might still tell you don’t bother because they’re not sure if immigration will accept that or not.

The reason they say no volunteer visas is because essentially all of the ones done the last few years were not legal.

Legitimate ones aren’t common.

Eventually they’ll drop that requirement once enough time has passed since the illegal ones stopped being easy to get.

But feel free to contact Elite and tell them you’re considering getting a legitimate volunteer visa from some humanitarian organization and it’s not a fake/agent issued one and see what they say.

Immigration wouldn’t have a problem with a legitimate one but like I said, those are rare and were even more so during Covid.

So if you had one the last 3 years, it’s almost a guarantee it wasn’t legitimate so Elite doesn’t seem to want to bother with determining if it was or not just for immigration to say no.

That's interesting, but provided one can actually qualify for a volunteer visa, why would that be a problem? I can see where it may be difficult to renew one eventually, but I don't see the issue with having had one or two.

On the other hand if u pay money u can enter Thailand in any circumtances without any hassle u are even on blacklist.

@Jessica ********

who is telling this can u show me any evidence?If they change policy i would like to know.There is no policy like this

@Craig *******

ok, but they deny to receive 17.000€ which cost the visa?

@Stelar ******

never having a volunteer visa is one of the requirements for the elite visa.

@Stelar ******

Try getting an elite visa with a volunteer visa in your passport. Let me know how that goes.

@Jorge ****

Because most are agents operating for foreigners who do not actually volunteer or do any work for the people of Thailand but just want an easy and cheap visa to live here.

You cannot, for example, get an Elite visa after a volunteer visa. They will almost certainly deny your elite application.

Take Alan's advice and spend some time here and in neighboring countries before making any long-term moves.

@Frank *********

why volunter visa causes problems.?

@Thai *****

normally marry a thai is not so merry, all other options are better and cheaper

@Antanas ************

mErry Christmas and mArry a Thai maybe ?