Answered5 years ago
What long-term visa in Thailand allows for the longest continuous stay without annual renewals and immigration check-ins?
What visa type allows for the longest continuous stay without having to exit the country and/or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration?
Answer summary
The Thai Elite Visa is often mentioned as a long-term option, but it does not allow for staying in Thailand without annual renewal and immigration check-ins. The O-X visa offers a five-year stamp with continued 90-day reporting requirements, whereas the NON-O visa can provide a similar long-term stay while still requiring annual extensions. Ultimately, for a truly long-term and hassle-free stay, options like permanent residency or citizenship need to be considered, as no visa allows one to completely avoid these immigration procedures.
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Oliver ********
Elite (assuming you will go on holiday occasionally and don't literally mean never exiting the country).
Marlene ******
If you get OA visa in your country and have to extend it in Thailand...do you have to show
*****
0 in Thai bank?Bobby ********
Marlene Louw. Either 800k in the bank or 65k a month overseas pension confirmed by your embassy (65k a month international transfer if your embassy will not confirm)
Marlene ******
@Bobby *******
thanks ... I guess you have to show 800,000 baht in US bank when apply for OA visa and then when you extend the OA in Thailand you have to show the 800,000 in Thailand..right?Marlene ******
@George ************
true....can always travel with insurance and then apply for health insurance later on if needed. George *************
@Marlene *****
Yes, that's my understanding. The Non-O is only available in the US for the purpose of marriage to a Thai, not for retirement. However, you can arrive in Thailand on a visa-exempt entry or a Tourist Visa and apply for a Non-O inside Thailand. That's the way I would go if I wanted to stay in Thailand for years. The health insurance requirement that is mandated for the Non-OA visa is not something I would like to have to deal with forever.Marlene ******
@George ************
Thanks for the info...non o sounds better option...from what I’ve understood..you cannot apply for non o in the US ..only OA. George *************
@Marlene *****
Understandable. Then my suggestion would be apply for the retirement extension in Thailand. You need to have the 800,000 baht in the bank for 2 months before you make your application. There are also ongoing health insurance requirements to get the retirement extension based on a Non-OA. But assuming you satisfy both the financial and health insurance requirements you can stay in Thailand indefinitely (you never have to leave) by applying for retirement extensions year after year.Or perhaps a better alternative, get a Non-O visa in the US for purpose of retirement or if that is not possible (it may not be) then just get a Tourist Visa. While in Thailand on the Tourist Visa apply for a Non-O visa in Thailand for which you will have to show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. After getting the Non-O visa in Thailand allow the money to season in the bank for 2 months and then apply for a retirement extension. You will be able to get that retirement extension without health insurance because it will be based on a Non-O visa (not a Non-OA visa). You can stay in Thailand indefinitely (you never have to leave) by applying for a retirement extension year after year.
Marlene ******
@George ************
thanks for the advice...the problem is I don’t want to leave Thailand...or endure a painful long flight and fly back to the USGeorge *************
@Marlene *****
Yes, but remember there is usually at least a complete year (sometimes almost two) between when you have to show those balances. For example, you show 800,000 baht equivalent in your US bank, get a Non-OA visa, and enter Thailand. You get stamped into Thailand for a stay of one year during which you don't have to show anything as far as a financial requirement. If before your Non-OA visa expires you leave and re-enter Thailand you will be stamped in for another year's permission to stay.So, at the end of those almost two years if you decided to stay in Thailand (rather than return to the US to get a new Non-OA) you would have to show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank 2 months before you applied for a retirement extension of stay. The point being with this example that you have almost two years to transfer the money from the US to a Thai bank before you apply for your retirement extension. Or if you get a new Non-OA from the US you never have to show the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank.
Bobby ********
Marlene Louw. That's correct. If you're US citizen you can use the 65k/month international transfer method. The difference is of course, you can use the 65k whereas the 800k for is untouchable for five months of the year, and the other seven months 400k is untouchable
Greg *********
OPThanks to all for your input. I should have clarified that I am over age 50 and married to a citizen of Thailand, but I don't think I qualify for "elite." Sounds like there's no way to avoid recurring renewal fees and immigration check-ins.
Greg *********
OPThat's potentially very good news! Thanks again!
George *************
@Gregory ********
Indeed, keeping that much money in a bank account is not something I'd necessarily recommend if I were a financial advisor, but once you've accepted that requirement it's a pretty painless way to remain in Thailand indefinitely. And of course, the money always belongs to you, if you decide to leave Thailand you can withdraw the money and any interest earned. By contrast the fee paid for the Thai Elite Visa isn't ever coming back.My costs to remain in Thailand consist of 1,900 baht for the retirement extension, 200 baht I pay to my bank to get a bank letter and statement, and the gas used in my motorcycle on the two trips I have to make to my immigration office every year. (My immigration office makes you apply one day, and return the next day to pick up your passport with new extension. It would be nice if it could be done in one day but apparently the officer in charge only likes to sign off on extensions once a day. On the other hand, my extension visits are very short, about half an hour to apply for my extension on the first day, and about 10 minutes to pick it up the next day.)
Jack *********
@George ************
PM sent 🙂Greg *********
OP@George ************
@George ************
I really appreciate the detailed info. Agree about funds sitting in a bank account, but like you said, at least they're still accessible later.Greg *********
OP@George ************
Thanks! With that retirement extension and marriage extension, would I have to return to my home country (Canada) each year and redo all the visa paperwork (e.g. photos, police report, etc.)?George *************
You can apply for a new extension of stay at your local immigration office 30 days before the current one is due to expire. In some places (Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Buriram) you can even do it 45 days before. You don't lose anything by applying early (as the new extension starts after your old one expires) and doing so early allows you to handle any expected or unexpected problems.
George *************
@Gregory ********
Nope. If you meet the requirements for either extension you can apply for an annual extension year after year. You never have to leave Thailand. If you want to leave Thailand you merely get a Re-Entry Permit (either from Thai Immigration, my recommendation, at a cost of 1,000 baht for single re-entry or 3,800 baht for multiple re-entry; or you can get from the airport before you leave, although that would make me too anxious ;-) ).
George *************
A marriage extension is also available. A little more hassle (you typically have to wait for it to be approved by the district office, so often you have to report back to immigration to actually get your extension) but only 400,000 baht required and it can be used for the rest of the year (outside of seasoning requirements during which the 400,000 minimum balance must be maintained) unlike the retirement extension.
Both are superior to the Thai Elite Visa for the person who wishes to stay in Thailand long term without having to leave every year.
Both are superior to the Thai Elite Visa for the person who wishes to stay in Thailand long term without having to leave every year.
George *************
@Gregory ********
Unfortunately, that's true. For someone who wishes to stay in Thailand long term (and not have to leave) the Non-O visa and retirement extension comes the closest to what you are looking for. There are financial requirements, of course, but you only have to visit immigration once a year and for 1,900 baht you can get a new extension of stay. Only your first 90-Day Report needs to be done in person, from then on you can do online. Setting an electronic calendar reminder to yourself when the next 90-Day Report is due (actually 15 days before it's due) can help greatly with not forgetting.The Thai Elite Visa is not as good as the retirement extension because to stay in Thailand (and not have to leave) the Thai Elite Visa requires you to go to Thai Immigration once a year and pay 1,900 baht to get an extension of stay. The only thing missing is that you don't have to meet financial requirements for the Thai Elite visa annual extension. Of course, you've already paid 600,000 baht to get the Elite visa.
Also, just like the retirement extension, the Thai Elite visa requires you to do a 90-Day Report every time you have stayed in Thailand for 90 consecutive days.
Alessandro **********
Winning a permanent residency, as far as I know. Otherwise you still have to check with immigration every year for extensions, do 90 days reports and so on.
Bobby ********
Alessandro Antonini. Only the OX visa allows you to skip the annual extensions as it has a stamped in validity for five years, extendable for a further five years. But only available to over 50's
Alessandro **********
@Bobby *******
yes, but it's not available for all nationalities and the funds requirements are really huge, I think 3m baht with a year seasoning. Not sure who they want to target with this kind of visa. Bobby ********
Alessandro Antonini. People who have a bit of spare dosh, and want ten years hassle-free in Thailand. Unlike Elite Visa, you get your money back.
George *************
The Thai Elite Visa does NOT allow one to stay, in the words of the OP, "without having to exit the country and/or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration" No visa does that I know of.
Lisa ********************
If over 50 can get OA multi entry 1 year. Have to do 90 day report but they are free and easy. Only the 1st report needs to be done in person, and anyone can go do it for you. The rest can be done online.
Plus if you leave Thailand and return before your visa expires, you get stamped in, for another year. No extra visa cost.
Plus if you leave Thailand and return before your visa expires, you get stamped in, for another year. No extra visa cost.
Bobby ********
Research the OX visa. You still have to do 90 day reports and there's a big financial commitment (although you do eventually get it back), but you get stamped in for FIVE years, negating the need for annual extensions.
George *************
There is NO visa type I know of that will allow you to stay in Thailand without having to check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration.
IMPORTANT UPDATE to the above paragraph: while it true that there was no visa type I knew of, Darren Grist has replied elsewhere to this post that if you have a business visa depending on the specific employer it may be possible to stay in Thailand for over a year without needing to do 90-Day Reports and having to pay for an annual extension of stay. If this is true, I'm happy to learn of it. Thanks, Darren Grist for bringing this visa to my attention. I learned something new. However, it doesn't change the fact that the Thai Elite Visa does not allow you to do the same which was the main point of my post. -- end of update --
In particular, the Thai Elite visa will NOT ALLOW you to do that.
The Thai Elite visa is valid for five years. Each entry into Thailand on that visa gets you permission to stay for one year (NOT 5 years!). If you do not leave the country before that permission to stay expires you MUST go to Thai Immigration and pay 1,900 to apply for an extension of stay which will get you a new permission to stay of one year. If you do not either leave the country or extend your stay you will go on overstay. If you overstay long enough you will be fined 20,000 baht, deported, and banned from entering Thailand. Having a Thai Elite visa will not protect you from this! A Thai Elite visa holder has been banned from Thailand because he didn't pay attention to his permission to stay stamp. Thai Elite visa could do nothing for him.
Staying in Thailand legally is all about your permission to stay stamp.
Also, all people who stay in Thailand long-term, more than 90 days, INCLUDING those with Thai Elite Visas must file 90-Day Reports every single time they have been in the country for 90 consecutive days.
The Thai Elite Visa DOES NOT allow you to stay in Thailand for 5 years. It allows you to get one year permission to stay whenever you enter Thailand while your visa is valid (which it is for five years). If you are in Thailand for a year you MUST either leave Thailand or extend your stay. The companies who advertise the Thai Elite visa don't seem to emphasize this aspect.
IMPORTANT UPDATE to the above paragraph: while it true that there was no visa type I knew of, Darren Grist has replied elsewhere to this post that if you have a business visa depending on the specific employer it may be possible to stay in Thailand for over a year without needing to do 90-Day Reports and having to pay for an annual extension of stay. If this is true, I'm happy to learn of it. Thanks, Darren Grist for bringing this visa to my attention. I learned something new. However, it doesn't change the fact that the Thai Elite Visa does not allow you to do the same which was the main point of my post. -- end of update --
In particular, the Thai Elite visa will NOT ALLOW you to do that.
The Thai Elite visa is valid for five years. Each entry into Thailand on that visa gets you permission to stay for one year (NOT 5 years!). If you do not leave the country before that permission to stay expires you MUST go to Thai Immigration and pay 1,900 to apply for an extension of stay which will get you a new permission to stay of one year. If you do not either leave the country or extend your stay you will go on overstay. If you overstay long enough you will be fined 20,000 baht, deported, and banned from entering Thailand. Having a Thai Elite visa will not protect you from this! A Thai Elite visa holder has been banned from Thailand because he didn't pay attention to his permission to stay stamp. Thai Elite visa could do nothing for him.
Staying in Thailand legally is all about your permission to stay stamp.
Also, all people who stay in Thailand long-term, more than 90 days, INCLUDING those with Thai Elite Visas must file 90-Day Reports every single time they have been in the country for 90 consecutive days.
The Thai Elite Visa DOES NOT allow you to stay in Thailand for 5 years. It allows you to get one year permission to stay whenever you enter Thailand while your visa is valid (which it is for five years). If you are in Thailand for a year you MUST either leave Thailand or extend your stay. The companies who advertise the Thai Elite visa don't seem to emphasize this aspect.
Michael ********
@George ************
did you read the first answer by @Stuart ********
why would rest repeat what he had already correctly written about checking in annually.Did you wake up on wrong side of bed this morning ?
George *************
I think your answer can lead someone to believe that with a Thai Elite visa one can stay in Thailand for over a year without paying annual fees at immigration. That's simply wrong. His question was exactly about that. I pointed it out because I wouldn't want someone to act on erroneous advice and go on overstay.
George *************
@Michael *******
The OP is asking specifically if there is a visa that will allow one to stay in Thailand without having to check in with or pay annual fees to immigration. You responded "Elite visa." That's simply a bad answer because it's factually wrong.The reason it is a bad answer is that if the OP would act on your answer he could find himself on overstay, which I imagine everyone would agree is not a desirable outcome.
I will continue to point out wrong answers whenever I see them, especially ones that can harm people if they rely on them, irrespective of what side of the bed I wake up on. ;-)
Michael ********
@George ************
After Stuarts first reply about annual check in on elite visa didnt feel the need to further explain, sometimes it helps to read answers as well.
Ivan ************
There is no visa that doesn't require at minimum yearly checks with immigration. O-X you get a 5 year stamp but still have to do 90 day reports. Elite you need to extend each year or leave/come back, and have to do 90 day reports. Smart visa is the only one that skips the 90 day reports but you still need to do these annually.
The only options that gets you totally out of this are permanent residence or citizenship, but you need several years on a non-immigrant visa before you can apply for that.
The only options that gets you totally out of this are permanent residence or citizenship, but you need several years on a non-immigrant visa before you can apply for that.
Wayne ********
Thai Elite if you can afford it and you dont have to muck around with going to immigration every 12 months to have your visa roll over....
George *************
@Wayne *******
"According to the firm which operates Thailand’s exclusive long stay visa program, “many” Thailand Elite members have been found to have overstayed. Cases of overstay appear to have occured at the end of the last visa amnesty, with members failing to apply for an extension of stay within the required time limit.
Earlier this week, the company sent a memo (below) to members warning them of the penalties for foreigners who overstay in Thailand.
Members who overstay were warned they face a 20,000 baht fine or could even be barred from Thailand for one year."
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83-thailand-elite-members-warned-about-overstaying/George *************
@Wayne *******
Wrong. The Thai Elite visa gives you one-year permission to stay when you enter Thailand. If you do not either leave Thailand or extend that stay at Thai Immigration when that permission to stay expires you will go on overstay. Read what the OP is asking.Wayne ********
@George ************
i know i have TE but once covid is open u will be required to leave and come back for the visa to reset for another year at the moment we have luxury of not having to go out and come back due to covid.Wayne ********
@George ************
yes but i don’t let it over run if someone does that it’s their own stupidity George *************
@Wayne *******
That is wrong. Take a look at your latest permission to stay stamp in your passport. If that date has passed you are on overstay. It doesn't matter if you have a Thai Elite visa or not. A Thai Visa Elite member has been fined, deported, and banned because he didn't know when his permission to stay expired and he overstayed. Thai Elite visa could do nothing to help in that circumstance.Darren *******
As others have said, Elite Visa. An alternative is to get a job here. Dependent on who your employer is you could get an extension of stay which would allow you to stay for several years before you/your employer needs to renew.
George *************
@Darren ******
Wrong [UPDATE, wrong with respect to the Thai Elite Visa]. The Thai Elite visa gives you one-year permission to stay when you enter Thailand. If you do not either leave Thailand or extend that stay at Thai Immigration when that permission to stay expires you will go on overstay. Read what the OP is asking.
Darren *******
@George ************
I did, maybe you should read the responses instead of regurgitating your bollocks everywhere without following your own advice.Darren *******
@George ************
correct for companies registered with the BOI, non-B converted to an extension of stay based on employment.George *************
@Darren ******
I updated my post to reflect the new information you provided. Thanks, for bringing that information, which was new to me, to my attention. I learned something.Is this a business visa available for employees of companies that are registered with the Board of Investment (BOI)?
Darren *******
@George ************
I'm glad that you try yo learn from your mistakes, I look forward to you correcting your first paragraph of your response to the OP.George *************
@Darren ******
Did you write: "As others have said, Elite Visa" or not? Do you understand that the Elite Visa doesn't allow one to stay in the country without having to exit the country or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration? Those aren't trick questions.When I get something wrong, which happens more than I'd like, I try to learn something from the experience. When someone tries to point out that I made a mistake I take it seriously and if I'm wrong I will try to correct the mistake. Especially, if there's a possibility that someone could be seriously misled by the mistake I made.
Darren *******
@George ************
geez did you even read it?!? It wasn't only the Elite Visa!!! George *************
@Darren ******
If you think the Thai Elite Visa allows one to stay in the country without having to exit the country or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration you are simply mistaken. When you write, "As others have said, Elite Visa" you are mistaken. It doesn't allow you to do that. Many people were caught out by that mistaken understanding and it seems worthwhile to me to point that out very clearly.If you have an Elite Visa and you stay in the country past when your permission to stay is valid, unless you leave the country or get an extension of stay at Thai immigration, you will go on overstay. That's a pretty serious consequence.
When I see someone who is unaware of that requirement for Elite Visa members I try to correct that misapprehension because I don't want to see someone fined 20,000 baht, deported, and banned from entering Thailand. That seems pretty serious to me.
Darren *******
@George ************
you obviously haven't read my initial response to the OP...go and re-read it and compare it to your response.George *************
@Darren ******
The Elite Visa is not a visa type that "allows for the longest continuous stay without having to exit the country and/or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration. So your statement was incorrect. I was pointing that out.I still don't see where I have said anything wrong in my replies in this thread and you seem to find it difficult to articulate what it is that you think is wrong.
Darren *******
@George ************
read it again then compare it your first paragraph.George *************
@Darren ******
Sorry, that doesn't answer my question as it has nothing to do with anything I wrote.Darren *******
@George ************
read my initial response.George *************
@Darren ******
I've re-read my answer. What specifically about my answer is wrong?Darren *******
@George ************
my full answer is above, not hard to miss seeing as you've found it already. Whether you've read it in full or not is up for debate.As to your wrong answer, here you go.
George *************
@Darren ******
Link to it please and I'll have a look. Darren *******
@George ************
did you read my full answer? Rather comically you've also given a wrong answer to the OP elsewhere here. George *************
@Darren ******
Either you or Thailand Elite Visa doesn't understand how their visa works.
Joe ***********
@Darren ******
Not True... Each B Visa Extension of Stay last for a maximum of One Year... Then the Extension of Stay for the B Visa must be filed again for the next year's allowed stay... One can buy a Work Permit (WP) for Two Years BUT without a Current - up to date B Visa the WP is useless.Darren *******
@Joe **********
my extension of stay based on employment is valid for 4 years. 
Frédéric ******************
@Darren ******
I don't deny that. Just wanted to point out this option is available only with BOI registered companies, which usually are not the shop next door.Darren *******
@Frédéric ****************
I don't know what the criteria is for entry for the companies but ultimately it's a way the OP could avoid going to immigration on an annual basis.Frédéric ******************
@Darren ******
I haven't meant you invested by yourself. The company you work for invested under the BOI program and as such got special privileges for their foreign staff.Darren *******
@Frédéric ****************
standard work permit, no personal investment involved from a financial perspective.Frédéric ******************
@Darren ******
ok, so that's the special investment program, not the standard work permit.Darren *******
@Frédéric ****************
BOI companyFrédéric ******************
@Darren ******
I'm curious, what kind of special agreement have you got?Michael ********
Elite visa
George *************
@Michael *******
Wrong. The Thai Elite visa gives you one-year permission to stay when you enter Thailand. If you do not either leave Thailand or extend that stay at Thai Immigration when that permission to stay expires you will go on overstay. Read what the OP is asking.Michael ********
@George ************
Elite visa no annual fees wasnt that part of his question, when you balance out his requirement Elite is the best.Yes i frigging read it.
George *************
@Michael *******
You must be looking at a different OP than I am:"What visa type allows for the longest continuous stay without having to exit the country and/or check-in with and pay annual fees to Thai Immigration?"
Annual fees are at the heart of the question he asked. The answer to that question is not "Elite visa." The Elite visa has annual fees if you do not leave the country after your one-year permission to stay expires. If you don't go to Thai Immigration and apply for an extension of stay you will go on overstay.
Michael ********
@George ************
What ?Bobby ********
Elite visa.
George *************
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@Bobby *******
Wrong. The Thai Elite visa gives you one-year permission to stay when you enter Thailand. If you do not either leave Thailand or extend that stay at Thai Immigration when that permission to stay expires you will go on overstay. Read what the OP is asking.Bobby ********
George Marinkovich. So instead of criticising me and others, why don't you tell us which visa has less restrictions and longer validity than the Elite?
Stuart *********
Longest stay for most long term visas is one year, renewable every year if you meet the criteria. Elite gives you 5-20 years for a price, but you still need to “renew” your stamp each year. If you’re over 50 a OX visa will give you 5 years. On all visa types (I believe) if you stay over 90 days you must report to immigration. If the system works you can do reporting online.
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