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What options do I have for a long-term visa in Thailand if I'm a tourist accompanying my son who is working there?

Thailand VisaNon-O VisaVisa ExtensionTourist VisaVisa RunsRetirement VisaExpatriate ImmigrationVisa Requirements
Jun 10, 2024
6 months ago
Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi my son is coming to Thailand to work at a school , and I'm coming with him , I'm only allowed in for 30 day from UK , I've been told I can extendy visa for 30 days twice , is there anyone that does visa runs , as I'm intending on staying 12 months but want to be legal , I don't need a working visa ,just a tourist visa. Thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster is seeking advice on how to legally stay in Thailand for 12 months while accompanying their son, who is working at a school. They mention that they can enter the country for 30 days from the UK and have heard they can extend their visa for an additional 30 days twice. Commenters clarify that extending the visa exemption stamp is only possible once for 30 days, after which the person must either apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa before arriving or consider applying for a Non-O Retirement Visa if they are over 50. There are discussions on other visa options such as a multi-entry tourist visa or the possibility of obtaining a visa based on their dependency on their working son.
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.
Mar *****
Use 🧠 go on Thai embassy London get multiple entry tourist visa or retirement but slot more hassle
6 months ago
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Simon *******
If you get here on an exemption vise pay an agent
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bht(£370) they will sort you a visa for a year without the need for all the checks or money in the bank, they will even sort you a bank account out that is required for the visa for additional cost,you will also need a Thai drivers licence after 6 months,don't forget the international drivers permit from UK to allow you to drive in the first 6 months on your uk licence.

You might get 60 days as it is changing from 30 to 60 soon.
6 months ago
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Dale ***********
Listen mate just call the schools and don’t listen to everyone on retirement visa they know Jack shit annd if any one has a problem with my comment I’m more then welcome to come see me
6 months ago
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Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dale **********
 I'm beginning to think your right , I assumed I'd get info on here , but everyone just contradicts everyone, Im on my way to the Thai embassy here in Cyprus.
6 months ago
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Dale ***********
@Trev ***********
 Kalamera Trevor if you need to know anything I will help you
6 months ago
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Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dale **********
 cheers mate
6 months ago
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Trev ************
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Armando **********
You cant stay 12 months doing border hops.
6 months ago
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Todd *********
@Armando *********
 You sure can. and many do
6 months ago
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Graham ******
@Armando *********
 With a Non-O retirement Visa plus extension you can as an over 50 ;)
6 months ago
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Graham ******
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Benny ******
I would see what visa works for you and do it in advance. Border runs and renewals are time consuming and expensive. I know 2 people that's been there since March of 2023 doing that. They sometimes have problems at immigration and sometimes the country that you do the border run charges for a visa too.
6 months ago
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Robert *****
Trev. Be sure and do your visa and other business ONLINE FROM THE UK . YOU CAN DO IT BUT BEING OVER 50 is good. Anyday now you’ll get automatic visa exempt of 60 days. But have everything in place before you fly in.
6 months ago
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Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ****
 Hiya I live in Cyprus so I'll go to the Thai embassy here , and see what they say. Thanks.
6 months ago
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Trev ************
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Bart **************
You cannot stay for 12 months on tourist visas. You can also not extend exemption twice, by the way. Where did you get that from?

If you're over 50 you qualify for a retirement visa. Otherwise there may even be options as your son's dependent. Parents depending on children is not uncommon in Thailand and if I'm correct they've also created a visa option for that.
6 months ago
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Joe **********
So many 'lawyers' on here and all with different advice.

Check on the embassy site it's more reliable.
6 months ago
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Todd *********
@Joe *********
 the challenge is that the embassies work independently and thai immigration doesn't work for the embassies. You might get decent info from the embassy about how to proceed from THAT country, but no clue about how to handle it in thailand. They have lotsa limitations
6 months ago
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Todd *********
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Greg **********
Hi do you happen to have the link for this 6 month visa I'm here now and would like to stay longer thanks
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Greg *********
 There isn't one available inside Thailand. You return to the country of your passport and apply for a METV
6 months ago
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Greg **********
@Jim *******
 thanks appreciate the info
6 months ago
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Greg **********
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Stephen ***********
They now have a six month visa for if I remember 10,000 baht and it can be renewed
6 months ago
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Jim ********
@Stephen **********
 Fail
6 months ago
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Henrik *****
Wrong.
6 months ago
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Michael ********
@Stephen **********
 nope not confirmed may or may not happen TIT
6 months ago
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Michael ********
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Mikkel *******
You could sign up for school yourself. Studying.

There are cheap bachelors out there, in Thailand, that will get you a visa for the duration. Up to 6 years. Half year at a time.

Or sign up to learn thai.
6 months ago
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Mikkel *******
Bachelor can be had (if only doing the minimum required courses each semester) for around 15K baht per half year in school fees. Plus the 1900 baht for extension every 6 months.
6 months ago
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Mikkel *******
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Us *****
Just get the multi entry visa that can give you up to 9 months
6 months ago
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Tin **********
@Us ****
 wat after 9 month
6 months ago
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Us *****
@Tin *********
 they might have the 6 month visa for 10k in 9 months
6 months ago
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Us *****
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Tin **********
30 extend 60
6 months ago
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John ******
@Tin *********
 no not yet.
6 months ago
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Tin **********
@John *****
 next yr maybe
6 months ago
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Tin **********
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Henrik *****
With this announcement from Thailand's Government Information Department, it appears that the rumored visa rule changes will not take effect until 1 month from now.

thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/
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0?

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6 months ago
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Henrik *****
When going to Thailand for 31 - 60 ( 90 )days, the 60 days touristvisa is the best option.

It is cheaper than visa excempt + 30 days extension.

No need of a onward ticket ( 90 days 1 onward ), if returnticket within 60 days.

It is easier to apply from the comfort of your home.

thaievisa.go.th

If visiting the nearest Thai Embassy website, you may find informations, that make it much easier to apply online.

Not wasting holiday time to find, go to and waiting at a immigration office ( 90 you would need that ).

Then no need to leave Thailand in up to 90 days.
6 months ago
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Michael ********
A multi entry tourist visa will get you 9 months, hopefully then will be 60 day on arrival so only one visa run required and no need money in thai bank account
6 months ago
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Memee *******
The 60-day rule has not yet come into effect. Many people who arrived in Thailand as of now still received a 30-day stamp. After that, you can extend your visa 'once' for another 30 days (I did this for my husband), totaling 60 days.

If you want to stay for a year legally, please check the retirement visa (Non-O) as others have suggested.
6 months ago
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Stephen *******
I'm just wondering if you're over 55 and you want to do the retirement visa if you have money in a private pension over 800,000 bar could you show that or does it have to be the bank
6 months ago
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John ******
@Stephen ******
 over 50 not 55
6 months ago
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Graham ******
@Stephen ******
 first year is banked money only with no Embassy affidvit
6 months ago
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Graham ******
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Darren ******
Over 50s retirement visa
6 months ago
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Nick ************
Apply for 90 day non o in the UK before you leave using banked money in home bank account for proof of funds. Come to Thailand and open a bank account and deposit
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0 baht at least 2 months before your 90 days runs out. Once the money has been banked for two months you can apply for 12 month extension based on retirement being over 50. You will find it easier to open a bank account with non o visa than you would if you entered visa exempt or with 60 day tourist visa. Even with 60 day tv you only get one extension giving you the same 90 days.
6 months ago
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Shane *******
Not yet it's not they announced it too early not been approved
6 months ago
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Ste *******
It's 60 days now, then you can extend at immigration. Then you can leave Thailand for a few days and renew the 60 again.
6 months ago
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Anton *******
You can apply for a sixty day visa before you travel and than extend for another thirty days when you are here…
6 months ago
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Anton *******
Just for clarification I am talking about a sixty day tourist visa that you apply for BEFORE you arrive in Thailand and Not the sixty day visa free which hasn’t been implemented yet…
6 months ago
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Anton *******
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Rob **********
@Ste ******
 A visa exempt entry stamp is 30 days and can be extended only once for another 30 days, where did you get 60 days from?
6 months ago
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Bart **************
@Rob *********
 you lived under a rock? It's announced everywhere.
6 months ago
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Rob **********
@Bart *************
 555 announced everywhere, but the 60 day visa exempt has not been implemented as of yet, so before you start insulting people please get your facts right.
6 months ago
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Bart **************
@Rob *********
 well you just admitted that my facts were straight. But the misinformation here is entirely yours, saying that there's nothing in the pipe and nobody is thinking nor talking about it and the TS made this up. So, if you don't want to be insulted, get your facts straight yourself please, especially if you then in a second reply happen to know them very well.
6 months ago
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Rob **********
@Bart *************
 I honestly think you should learn how to read English properly, or the very least understand the meaning of the words when they are used to form a sentence. Go back and read my comment again slowly, and just maybe you can comprehend the meaning of my comment. By being rude and ignorant you have just confirmed the fact to everyone here that you don’t need a long neck to be a goose.
6 months ago
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Bart **************
@Rob *********
 I think the problem isn't my reading. You did ask the replier where he got the 60 days from. As if he made it all up himself and no one was talking about it. That's the insult here.
6 months ago
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Rob **********
@Bart *************
 if you know how Thailand works you don’t believe anything that is put online, especially when the MFA is releasing Thai visa news, when they don’t even make the policy…It is Thailand 101
6 months ago
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Bart **************
@Rob *********
 and in addition... I'm not against speculating if there's good reason to. But who is speculating here? You seem to believe the replier did it, but certainly isn't right because it is all over the news. Are the journalists speculating? Well no, they too didn't speculate. Let's face it. There are official sources publishing official decisions made by the actual decision makers (Thai MFA, FYI). If you then believe that it will all come out differently, then they makes YOU the speculator. Don't get me wrong - I'm not against speculating. You're extrapolating past events and applying them to the situation at hand, leading to a prediction that the actual official decisions and accompanying timeline may very well change again. That's fair enough, myself I'm happy to be aware of this extrapolation. The odds seem to be in your favor. But, applying such reasoning makes YOU the speculator. Not the journalists, and certainly not someone citing them.
6 months ago
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Bart **************
@Rob *********
 your posts are getting more pointless by the day. Since when does the Thai MFA not make the visa policy?
6 months ago
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Bart **************
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Henrik *****
Not been through Parlament yet.
6 months ago
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Jan **********
@Ste ******
 no
6 months ago
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Todd *********
@Ste ******
 no it’s not 60. It’s 30
6 months ago
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Todd *********
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David *******
As you are over 50 and want to stay a year then probably best to apply for a Non O-A visa from the Thai Embassy in London. It’s all online now. It does require a police check, a medical form and health insurance but you’ll get a year on entry.

If you think you might want to stay more than a year then the Non O ‘for Retirement’ might be better BUT you’ll need to have
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0 baht in a Thai bank account for you to get a year Extension after the initial 90 days the visa gives you.
6 months ago
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Heidi ********
@David ******
 sorry for jumping in, if we did Non O-A for the first year and then re-applied the following year for non-O, is that possible? We are also over 50, looking to retire next year over there, but having a year from the UK without having to stress in the first year to do it in Thailand would be handy.
6 months ago
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David *******
@Heidi *******
 You’d have to leave the country after the initial visa ended to ‘kill it’. You then have to start again with a Non O. It is possible to enter on a Tourist Visa, or even on Visa Exempt, and then convert to a Non O in Thailand but it can be a bit of a hassle. If you’re sure you are retiring to Thailand then IMHO it’s best just to start with the Non O. It’s not difficult to get the annual extensions. That’s assuming you have 800k baht each to put in a Thai bank account and leave there. If you start with a Non O-A and just want to stay then you need health insurance with a Thai company each time and it’s not worth it.
6 months ago
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Heidi ********
@David ******
 thanks so much, yes, we have the 800k. Great advice, thank you.
6 months ago
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Heidi ********
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John ******
@David ******
 great compact answer!
6 months ago
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John ******
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Paulus *********
You can't extend the visa exempt twice, you need to apply for a 60 day visa first then extend that for 30 days in Thailand, you would have to do border runs after that or apply for the 12 month retirement visa
6 months ago
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Graham ******
Are you over 50?
6 months ago
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Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 yeah 55
6 months ago
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Leo ******
@Trev ***********
 Why are you laughing for 5555?
6 months ago
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Trev ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Leo *****
 what you going on about mate
6 months ago
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Memee *******
@Trev ***********
@Leo *****
 I think he meant he's 55 years old, not laughing. 😅 The number 5 in Thai sounds like 'HA', so
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= hahahaha or lol.
6 months ago
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Dan ********
@Trev ***********
 5 is Ha in Thai so they write 555 for laughing
6 months ago
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Dan ********
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Graham ******
@Trev ***********
 So look up the Non-O retirement Visa and 12 month extension
6 months ago
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Graham ******
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