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What visa options are recommended for someone working offshore while staying in Thailand?

Visa Options Tourist Visa Visa Exempt Entry DTV Visa Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Advice

Oct 3, 2024

a month ago

Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello, I am looking to move to Thailand next year. I work offshore 6 months of the year (3 months off, 3 months on). With the occasional 6 week trip in between. What would be the most recommended way to go about visas? 

Or just stick with the tourist visa? 

Any help is appreciated

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses various visa options for someone planning to move to Thailand while working offshore six months a year. Key suggestions include using a visa on arrival and obtaining a 30-day extension, or utilizing the new DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) that offers 180 days initially with potential yearly extensions. Comments also highlight the importance of having a proper visa for activities like opening a bank account or getting a driver’s license, and suggest that a visa exempt entry might be the easiest route for frequent travelers. Overall, the community offers a range of insights about balancing work and residency in Thailand.

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Jonnie *******

Apparently the DTV wouldn’t work, because you’re not working remotely in thailand, I’m also working offshore and onshore outside of thailand , I enquired about this option also, I’m married to a Thai so I can qualify to stay via that method but the DTV sounded a great option for me since I’m less than 180 days each year in the country,, your best bet would likely be visa exempt entry for the hassle free option, not sure about the e-visas since I’ve never had to apply for them

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Jonnie *******

My opinion was that I thought the DTV would have worked since I do all my offshore training and medicals in thailand and less than 180 days in the year in thailand, so I thought that would qualify me, but some expats better versed in the DTV requirements advised that I wouldn’t qualify

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

understood. I get my flights from the company a few weeks before I am due to travel to the next job. Would I still get into Thailand without the outbound ticket?

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Jonnie *******

@Joel *********

shouldn’t be an issue now with the extended duration from 30 to 60 days on each entry but easy enough just to get a dummy outbound ticket, I’ve had the yearly visas or yearly extensions for 16 years so not so experienced to give clear up to date advice on this,, but there has been a couple occasion I’ve been out the country when my visa or extension has expired and returned visa exempt, first time was traveling from Scotland and was asked at checkin about return ticket, I just got on the blower and searched the cheapest ticket out of bkk,, but on another occasion I was not asked by checkin staff, possibly because they checked my history of in/outs in the passport.

I know check in tends to be more strict than immigration.

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm 30 this year. Is there a one year visa I can do? Do you know what it's called so I can do some research?

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Jonnie *******

@Joel *********

on your rotations I think you’d be fine just as you’re doing currently, I’m sure the odd visa exempt entry in between would be ok also,

those yearly visas are only relevant if you’re over 50 or married to a Thai or have Thai children then can apply for non imm o type visa

there is the wealthy approach I think can get 5 year or 10 year visa for that if you qualify financially, but I think it’s a bit pricy and certainly no benefit to me.

You can pull up the latest info from the Thai embassy website of the country you’re applying in, see if anything is relevant to your situation.

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

appreciate the help mate

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

how do you go about yearly visas mate?

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Jonnie *******

@Joel *********

I’m married to a Thai and I’m over 50 so can either do visa based on having Thai family or by retirement in thailand

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Jonnie *******

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Dave ********

DTV is perfect for you …

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Appreciate the help everyone 🙏

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Marney ********

Yes just your 60 day

Then 30 day extension

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Neil ******

Look into the DTV, ask your employer if they will provide a letter stating that some of your work can be done remotely ( even if it’s just online meetings/calls.

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Kool *******

Lots of workers do exactly what you are planning. They'd apply for a single entry tourist visa, then extend it for 30 days. Now with the 60 day visa exempt entry it makes it easier, just needing the 30 day extension. I have friends that work 2 months on, and one month off, that have been doing it for decades.

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Joel **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

How long would you recommend living in Thailand before getting the DTV?

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Sharon *******

Visa exepmpt is 60 days & can be extended by 30 days. You will need a proper visa if you want to do things like ole a bank account or get a drivers license. At some point you will be asked why you're coming so frequently without a proper visa. DTV is also a possibility but I'm no expert on it

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Paulie ********

I visa on arrival be ok then just get 30 day extension loads lads do it.

There is now a DTV that's a 5 year visa that gives ypu 180 days then need to get anth 180 days each year just got that myself as I'm same sometimes I'm away for 3 month then here

***

weeks

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Paulie ********

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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

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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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