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What visa options are available for living in Thailand for six months while owning a condo?

Thailand VisaNon-O VisaDTV VisaCondo PurchaseExpat LifestyleVisa Rules
Mar 25, 2025
a month ago
Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any thoughts on a visa to live there for 6 months in my own condo. And live 6 months back in Australia. Any advice would be great. Cheers I’m 49yrs old. Haven’t bought the condo yet.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the options for obtaining a visa to live in Thailand for six months while considering purchasing a condo. Most comments suggest caution regarding the purchase, recommending renting instead until more research is done. The DTV visa is mentioned as a good option that allows multiple entries and 180 days of stay per entry. Users emphasize the need for thorough research on visa rules and the potential tax implications of staying in Thailand for over 186 days.
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Peter *********
Contact Thai Visa centre..I just got my 12 Visa with them

.. excellent ! Also be careful of your tax status if staying more than 6 months (186 days). Im in the same boat as you.. but don't own a Condo
a month ago
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Brook ********
Don’t be in a hurry to buy a condo.

Strongly urge you to consider entering Thailand visa exempt for now and consider a Non O visa based on retirement when you turn 50.
a month ago
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Sean *******
Don't buy it.
a month ago
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Laurie ***************
1 year-get a retirement visa!
a month ago
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David ********
@Laurie **************
 he's 49 not 50 ...
a month ago
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David ********
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Jim ********
Have you done any research on your own?

***************************
a month ago
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Ste *******
Money, lots of money!
a month ago
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Garry ********
Probably better of talking to thai immigration, cost nothing to ask the question there and get the right options available, if you have a thai partner , just buy 1 Ria in rural area can be as cheap as 65k baht pending on location and build a house that suits your needs, it's very doable with 100k Aussie dollars.
a month ago
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David *******
It’s great that you are starting your research, but it’s sad that so much information is posted as fact when it’s just not accurate. For example - DTV gives you 180 days per entry, unlimited entries; DTV is not always simple to obtain. It can be IF you qualify; DTV you do NOT need employment in Thailand. Employment in Thailand is forbidden but remote work is allowed.
a month ago
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Aaron *******
DTV gives you six months.
a month ago
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Rod ***********
Long term lease, then make your mind up, once bought, hard to sell.
a month ago
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Bunny *****
Thoughts on visa. Depends on how much you're willing to spend.

Thoughts on condo. If you're willing to buy, have the money to buy. Don't mind that it works like a lease, which is obviously cheaper than monthly rental. Personally I don't mind since all the buildings in my country are 99 years shelf life and cost minimum 25 million baht for a studio. It's way cheaper for me here.

The only thing I would advice against. I did the 6 months in out. My condo unit was really dirty and dusty and black when I came back. Although I shut everything and even put in a door gap sealer thing you get on lazada. Even the toilet seat was black even though I closed it. Had to stay in the hotel 3 days till I engaged a condo cleaning service. Bought a new bed as well.
a month ago
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Toon *********
@Bunny ****
 this was in bangkok?
a month ago
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Bunny *****
@Toon ********
 Bangkok. On Nut. I honestly have no idea why it got so dusty and black. I live on the 24th floor if it helps.
a month ago
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Bunny *****
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Robert *********
Six months multiple entry tourist visa .

Easy to do
a month ago
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Barry ********
No
a month ago
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Lee *************
Not yet learn more
a month ago
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Bunny *****
@Lee **********
 what is there to learn?
a month ago
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Lee *************
@Bunny ****
 1st don't buy condo, Rent in many areas to see what you like
a month ago
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Bunny *****
@Lee **********
 I've been trying to get my owner to sell me her condo at any price because I liked it so much. She refuses to sell. Been renting for 10 yrs. 😭
a month ago
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Lee *************
@Bunny ****
 time to move then
a month ago
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Bunny *****
@Lee **********
 that's a smal problem when you rent and you end up loving the house.
a month ago
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Bunny *****
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Todd *********
DTV for visa. Basically anyone can get it and gives you 5 years. Then retirement visa once it expires
a month ago
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Koda **********
@Todd ********
 most helpful comments .
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 I think dtv visa you have to have employment in Thailand I won’t have that I have bank account so I don’t think I’ll be able to qualify
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Kieren *********
 No you can't work in Thailand, you can work remotely for another country in Thailand, or go the "soft power " route which is Muay Thai or cooking with extensions every 180 days which would work for you as you would be returning to Australia. Then after you turn 50 get the "retirement" visa
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Anna ********
 this first sentence is a bit of a disaster lol
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Todd ********
 Not to me but thanks for your opinion 🤣
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Anna ********
 'no, you can't work in Thailand.... but you can work in thailand....' thanks for clarity
a month ago
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Lee-Ann *******
@Todd ********
 you have to be employed and paid from outside of Thailand, you cannot be employed and paid in Thailand, hence working remotely
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Lee-Ann ******
 so you work from your home or anywhere IN Thailand, and get paid money to your bank account IN Thailand,but you cannot work in Thailand. Is that correct
a month ago
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Lee-Ann *******
@Todd ********
 no, read what I said, also DTV Visa cannot have Thai bank account also , remote work means being employed and paid from outside Thailand, you can perform your work digitally here, just not be employed and paid in Thailand
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Lee-Ann ******
 so you can work in Thailand?
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Todd ********
 That's not what I said, you conveniently left something out,but if you had trouble understanding my apologies. " remotely for another country " 😀
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anna ********
 that sounds like the go thanks
a month ago
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Kieren **********
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can you apply for the dtv visa in Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa at immigration in Udonthani?
a month ago
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Gordon *******
@Kieren *********
 You have to apply for DTV outside of Thailand.
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Kieren *********
 you cannot apply for the DTV from inside thailand. All applications are online now, but must be in the country you apply from
a month ago
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Todd *********
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Lee-Ann *******
@Kieren *********
 you cannot work in Thailand with the DTV Visa
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Lee-Ann ******
 you sure can. In fact is what the DTV is for. You just cannot work for a thailand employer on DTV
a month ago
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Lee-Ann *******
@Todd ********
 no you can't, read what Anna wrote below
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Lee-Ann ******
 you sure can. Believe me, it’s not confusing at all for most
a month ago
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Todd *********
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 dtv thanks mate I’ll check that out haven’t heard of that one
a month ago
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Todd *********
@Kieren *********
 Destination Thailand Visa. Seems like a very good solution for your plan. Chok dee!!!
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 thanks
a month ago
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Kieren **********
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Lucas **********
If you dont understand Visas , don't buy a condo.. need to research way more...
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lucas *********
 there’s really only to go down the track of retirement visa or elite visa or tourist visa with border runs. I think
a month ago
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Jim ********
@Kieren *********
 DTV
a month ago
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Jim ********
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Gordon *******
Rent,rent rent
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Don’t want a house to hard with maintenance and they aren’t built to last as we all know
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gordon ******
 can buy a condo for 100k Aussie have my own furniture etc and most condos want a yr contract or I do the hotel thing makes more sense to me to buy one then can set it up as I want bed tv etc and just lock the door when I’m away and open the door with my gear all there when I return without all the hassle 🤔 I have many friends who do the same.
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
There’s condos in the center of town good ones pools gyms etc been goin there for years not so many tourists like down south pretty much all farangs live there it’s cool
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’m looking in Udonthani pretty good value for money there been many times
a month ago
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Sam *******
@Kieren *********
 don't buy, easier to move because of bad relationship,bad neighbours or just sick of the view.....harder to sell,money better off in your Australian super....better returns in Australia....good luck
a month ago
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Dave ********
@Sam ******
 Good point . I just finished a 1 year contract . Regretted it after about 3 months , spent half the next 9 months rolling around on my bike living in hotels. Ended up being a proper false economy...

I'd litterly only buy if I was seriously loaded with a fat regular income/pension. Where cash was never gonna be an issue
a month ago
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Dave ********
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Richard ********
@Kieren *********
 1.6 million Baht isn't going to buy much.
a month ago
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Dave ********
@Richard *******
 you'd be surprised. Seen some not bad gaffs around that price. Admittedly more up north... Personally though I want be near sea. So yeah + another Milly I guess 👍
a month ago
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Richard ********
@Dave *******
 Yep, it's cheaper out in the rice fields.

However, do you really want to live up there for the next three decades? As many have suggested, go and rent for a year or two.

As for stuff, you can always put it in storage.
a month ago
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Dave ********
@Richard *******
 pertinent point. Pallet worth o crap can be securely stored for
*******
month ...motorbike same price
a month ago
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Ralphy *****
@Richard *******
 lots of condos, some studio
a month ago
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Tore *********
@Ralphy ****
 sure, but not in Bangkok. At least not something I would want to live in. A tiny studio, or something really run down far from bts/mrt.

Chiang mai, Hua Hin Chumphon etc sure. Perhaps Pattaya outskirts,
a month ago
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Garry ********
@Richard *******
 The Aussie dollar floats around 20-23 baht on Average so he actually has 2 to 2.3 million baht to spend on Condo 😉 just saying.
a month ago
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Tore *********
@Garry *******
 thats still not allot, at least in Bangkok. Older ran down shoebox. I know small 28m2 condos went for like 4m at On Nut, but 5 years ago……
a month ago
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Tore *********
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Tore *********
@Kieren *********
 but almost always goes down in value. Very risky and always bad investment
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tore ********
 yeah it wouldn’t be for an investment property more a convenience thing and maybe in a few years live there permanently
a month ago
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Dave ********
@Kieren *********
 I'd buy one if money not an issue. Where though ? Fuck knows . Your right. Nice to have all your shit safely locked away. Living outta backpacks , suitcases gets tiresome. If 2-3 million bht is pocket change to you why not. If I buy one in future it won't be with an intention to sell, so it can go down in value ... Be great if it came with a little garage to store my bikes . Plenty do.
a month ago
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Tore *********
@Kieren *********
 thing is, new buildings here can deteriorate badly with a few years. Some 10 year old buildings look their 30 without maintenance.

Its not risky just as investment. You could be stuck with something you no longer want to live in…..or get stuck with a farang neighbor from hell…..
a month ago
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Tore *********
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Daniel *****
Best advice, don't buy the condo, you don't know enough yet
a month ago
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Craig ********
Dont
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig *******
 I’ve been doing this for 10 yrs as my wife lives there and we want to live between both country’s ?
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Kieren *********
 As you are not buying a condo as an investment ignore all the nay sayers. My parents (Australian) bought a Condo 10 years ago and visited twice a year every year ( as did we) and now they live there happily. And as you said They left it fully furnished with all their things in it every time they left and just returned when they felt like it
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anna ********
 yep that’s what I’m thinking found my answere there thanks mate
a month ago
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Warren *******
@Anna ********
 I bought mine . 20 years ago for the same reason
a month ago
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Warren *******
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Brandon ************
@Kieren *********
 Is your wife Thai? If she is, it gives you more options.
a month ago
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Kieren **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’ve been traveling to Thailand but not for 6months on and six months off so to speak just testing the waters if someone is doing the same and the best way to do it
a month ago
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Craig ********
@Kieren *********
 u sound like u know so why ask then ??
a month ago
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Craig ********
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