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What long-term visa options are available for under 50s in Thailand, excluding retirement visas?

Long-term visa Visa options Thailand ED visa Volunteer visa Elite visa STV visa SMART visa Tourist visa Marriage visa

Jan 26, 2022

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Anyone can recommend me the appropriate visa to stay in Thailand for long term? I am under 50 so retirement visa is not suitable for me. I am considering ed visa/volunteer visa, but agents in Pattaya seems don’t selling these visa anymore. Or if you get these visa recently, please let me know which province you are in. Otherwise, elite visa is the only option, please share the pros and cons of the elite visa. TIA

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post explores long-term visa options for individuals under 50 seeking to stay in Thailand, excluding retirement visas. Suggestions include considering the ED (Education) visa, volunteer visa, STV (Special Tourist Visa), and Elite visa, while discussing the challenges in obtaining these visas due to regulatory issues in certain provinces. Users share personal experiences and opinions on the benefits and drawbacks of various visa types, including the Elite visa's cost versus convenience.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Jennifer ****

Con for Elite - it is expensive and the application is an annoying process and takes over a month.

Pro for Elite - after it’s done you basically never have to worry about your visa.

If you want peace of mind that is what you are buying.

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Duncan *******

ED or volunteer visa is fine but you don't "buy one" from an agent (a likely scam) versus sign up with a school or NGO/volunteer organization to get one. Plenty of schools around covering things like learning Thai or self-defense you can sign up to.

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Gordon *******

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Michael Breadman

How come there's so many Visa agency's in Pattaya and Bangkok if they're illegal

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Duncan *******

if they're signing you up for say an ED on Non-Imm O (volunteer) visa (which most of them do) and you're not attending classes or actually volunteering, that's illegal

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Gordon *******

Yes, I wasn't thinking of that type of visa, more the retirement visa Duncan

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Gordon *******

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Michael **********

"agents in Pattaya seems don't selling these visas anymore".......for anyone considering 'buying' one of these visas know that they are illegal and if caught you will be deported and banned from ever coming back to Thailand. There are no legal visas that will cost you 50k baht.

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Michael **********

The issue isn't buying said visa, its trying to leave the country with said illegal visa. You enter on a 30 day tourist visa and then 2 years later your trying to go somewhere and showing a 'volunteer' visa AND you don't think that will raise any red flags? Common "McLovin" lets get real

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Michael **********

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Philip **********

Marry a bar girl then get a marriage visa. Well worth the money. 🤣🤣

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Rio ******

@Philip *********

If he does that, it's a straight ticket to hell for you and him 😂🤣

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Philip **********

I’m going to hell in every religion anyway. 🤣🤣

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Philip **********

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Helen ********

STV, must be in your home country to apply. Is the SMART visa an option? Not sure if the ever started with the Digital Nomad visa.

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Jonathan *******

they just approved a SMART Visa for nomads, not available yet though. Should be soon

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Helen ********

@Jonathan ******

someone managed to get it back in December 2021 so it might be available now?

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Duncan *******

the guy you link to got a smart visa - they already exist. The extension of that to cover digital nomds still doesn't.

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Jonathan *******

There are a few different types of SMART Visa available (Types T,I,E,S and O). The new one for digital nomads is slightly different and will be coming soon :)

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Jonathan *******

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Bobby ********

Elite Visa. 5 years is 600k baht. Works out at $10 (US) per day. No headaches.

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Lisa ********************

STV visa. 90 days. Can be extended x 2 = 270 days. Or Tourist visa 60 days, can be extended x1 30 days more.

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Lisa ********************

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The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

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