What visa options are available for a USA citizen visiting Thailand for an extended stay?

Jun 4, 2021
3 years ago
Seth ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello. My father is a USA citizen and looking to return to Thailand to visit in August. He will be staying with me in my home during some of the stay and in hotels as he travels about Thailand. Is there still a special tourist visa with 3 months and two extensions totaling 9 months? Can he stay with me if he gets the special tourist visa? He wants to spend several months here this time if possible. What visa options does he have? Thanks in advance for your knowledge on this.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A USA citizen looking to visit Thailand has several visa options depending on the duration of stay. The Special Tourist Visa (STV) is no longer available with multiple extensions beyond September 2021. Instead, the suggested options include applying for a regular tourist visa (60 days plus a possible 30-day extension), a Non-O retirement visa, or a Non-OA visa, which provides longer stays of up to one year. When choosing a visa, he should consider financial requirements and travel regulations such as health insurance and the Certificate of Entry (COE). Additionally, he is permitted to stay with a family member while in Thailand.
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Ellie *******
Seems like that your dad's options to stay in Thailand longer than several months at a time might be (roughly):

- get a tourist visa for 60days entry stamp + 30days tourism extension. If he wants to stay longer, can consider applying for an in-country Non-O retirement visa + 1-year extension

- get Non-O retirement for 90 days entry stamp + 1 year extension

- get Non-OA for 1-year entry stamp if he is okay with requirements (mandatory insurance, etc) + 1-year extension later (mandatory insurance from specific Thai companies)

- keep getting Non-OA from his country if he would travel often
Cole ***********
The regular TR will be simplest depending on how long he wants to stay.

He can stay with you but it will help if he has an invitation letter from the property owner and a copy of the housebook. No idea what will be happening with ASQ by then but probably still required in most places.

Make sure he is fully vaccinated. It will make things easier if he wants to do a border run or maybe visit other places. If he is flying this far, he might as well pop over to Singapore, Vietnam or Hong Kong along the way.
Cole ***********
As it opens up, vaccinations will be required. That was more the point. I have no idea about foreign entry requirements. The COEs wil certainly put a stop to the perenial border runs though.
Gregor **********
if your Dad fulfills the financial requirement and the need for a yearlong health insurance for Thailand, for applying to the 1-year Non-Imm-O/A visa . . he can be admitted for a yearlong stay without the need of leaving or doing a border run. That's moire than the 90 days he can get from a tourist visa
Seth ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gregor *********
thank you for your advice. I will relay all of this info to him.
Gregor **********
@Seth ***********
however there now are a few more requirements to meet, especially right now with the need to apply for a certificate of entry (COE) alongside the visa. Check the website of the Royal Thai Embassy Washington DC for detail to the requirements
Joe ***********
How old is Dad? He could get an O+A Visa - age 50 and over, 800,000 Baht equivalent in the bank... he gets at least one year
Ellie *******
with STV restriction, STV holder will be eligible for extension (90days every time) only entering before 3 July and the last day of application for STV extension is 30 Sep. So no chance for him to get total 90days + 90days + 90days now.
Seth ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
thank you! Great info. We will get him the tourist visa.
Joe ***********
@Seth ***********
How old is Dad? He could get an O+A Visa - age 50 and over, 800,000 Baht equivalent in the bank... he gets at least one year.
Seth ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Joe **********
thanks Joe. He is of age and spends a lot of time in Thailand and is retired so this might be a good option as well. Appreciate the advice.
Joe ***********
@Seth ***********
The O-A is a Multi-Entry Visa (actual Visa for one year - not an Extension)
Joe ***********
Check out O-A requirements on the Thai Embassy or Consulate website...
James ********
Do not get the STV... He cannot stay after September 30th with it.

Get a tourist visa...

That will give him 60+30=90 days stay.

Then look at option to stay longer.
Seth ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you very much for your prompt reply!
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