Which visa option is better for a long stay in Thailand for UK travelers?

Thailand Visa Visa Exempt Tourist Visa Visa Extension UK Travelers Travel to Cambodia

Sep 19, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone, 

Please can I have some advice. My boyfriend and I are travelling to Thailand in November, we were planning to stay 3-6 months. We are from the UK. 

After looking into it, we are trying to decide which is best to do 

1. Enter Thailand with the visa exempt for 45 days then get a 30 day extension. Leave Thailand and spend a few nights in Cambodia then go back to Thailand and be visa exempt again for another 45 days then get another extension 

Or

2. Apply for a tourist visa which allows us 60 days, then extend for 30 days. After this, travel to Cambodia for a few nights, then are we allowed back in Thailand on the visa exempt? 

Sorry if that sounds messy, just wondering what to do😊 

Thanks in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A UK couple is seeking advice on the best visa strategy for a 3-6 month stay in Thailand, considering either using visa exemption and extensions or applying directly for a tourist visa. Community members suggest that obtaining a tourist visa may be advantageous as it provides extra days, while also noting that repeated visa exemptions could lead to scrutiny at the border.

Kool *******

Either option works.

2 years ago

Vincent *******

Get visa for Vietnam great country to visit

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Vincent ******

UK passport holders don’t need a visa for Vietnam (for a stay of less than 15 days).

2 years ago

Vincent *******

@Stuart ********

damn nice then tell them to go to Vietnam great country

2 years ago

Reply to

Vincent *******

Brandon ************

If you want to maximize your time, get the tourist visa. It's an extra 15 days at least. Or you could do the visa exempt twice and then go to a neighboring country and get a tourist visa for your final stay (3 visa exempt in a row starts to get into the territory of getting questioned at the border).

2 years ago

Jodie *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

that’s really helpful thank you:) is there a certain amount of time you have to be out of Thailand before re-entering?

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Jodie ******

there is no requirement to stay out of Thailand for a set period of time. Some border crossings take 5 minutes to stamp out/in/out and come back. Nothing stopping you flying to say Penang and then getting the next flight back.

2 years ago

Henrik ****

@Stuart ********

, you are correct. But a number of ppl have tried that the border stations do have different ideas. Some ppl have tried the border station to think that you have to have at least one night out of Thailand. Hard to fight such immigration officers.

2 years ago

Reply to

Henrik ****

Brandon ************

@Jodie ******

There are no written rules about how long you have to be out of Thailand, or how many times you can use visa exempt. It's all the discretion of the immigration officers.

The only firm rule is you can only enter visa exempt by land border 2 times per calendar year.

2 years ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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