I went through this embassy before the price rises for a METV, and during the covid STV era. I ended up reaching out to a couple of condo owners on AirBnb in the area I wanted to stay asking if they would consider a long term lease and I explained my situation of requiring 9 months and needing it for the visa. The owner helped me out with preparing a 9 month lease agreement and provided a copy of their national id card. This was after I booked an initial 60 day Airbnb booking with them to secure their trust. I have stayed at the same condo each year I return back here.

@Wayne ******

1900 if doing yourself. Your account probably closed if it didn’t have funds to cover the annual fees over the time since you last used it.

@Wayne ******

the non-O would give a better chance of opening a Thai bank account. The other difference is not needing to do the extension before day 60. Not a lot else difference if strictly sticking to 2 trips of 3 months or, 1x 6 month block a year in Thailand. Go beyond that and amount of time and you can eventually start getting questioned at entry. Some airlines will require proof of return or ongoing flight ticket with the tourist visa route.

ThoughtfulLychee5096 Income tax in NZ is 18.5% for low to moderate income earners. If you are earning more to bring you into their top tax bracket then just buy the Thai elite visa and you will get a Thai bank account with it.

@Helen *******

because you were travelling at the time.

@Peter *********

it seemed a reasonable compromise.

@Peter *********

a border bounce and 2 extensions currently comes to 6 months.

@Greg **********

your description matches my recent entrys. I had spent 10.5 months over a 2 year period (all of it in the first year with the last 12 months out of country. When I re-entered on visa exempt I was told that next time I’d need a TR. so it fits closely to your description.

That’s just under the 180 days in a 12 month period that I was told by border immigration a year ago. So consider it a rough guide.

Anonymous participant 267 it’s covering both bases