As long as your contract covers your future stay, I would simply use what you already have and not mention anything about relocating within the same apartment complex.

@Ian ********

It takes about three days to apply for a visa in Laos and costs roughly £35, but if you choose to enter without one, make sure you have an onward ticket, proof of accommodation, and funds available if asked.

@Stephen *******

That’s not accurate. There are no fixed calendar year rules, but immigration looks at total time spent in Thailand over a rolling period, not personal intent or anecdotes. Saying “I did the same and it was fine” is not guidance. Once cumulative stays approach the upper range, each entry becomes discretionary, regardless of returning home in between.

@Michael *******

as said…

@John *******

They absolutely do calculate dates. Entry history is electronic and visible instantly, there is no reliance on “calendar years” or on explanations at the counter. Immigration looks at your total time spent in Thailand within a rolling period and whether your pattern still fits ordinary tourism. Being polite always helps, but it does not override entry history or discretion exercised on that basis.

@John *******

Calendar years are not what immigration looks at.

@Dennis ********

It isn’t listed anywhere as a fixed rule. There is no published regulation that defines a specific number of days allowed within a rolling cycle. This is simply how Thai Immigration has applied discretion in practice for many years. When assessing entry, the IO looks at your overall travel pattern, including how long you have spent in Thailand over time, how frequently you enter, and whether your stays resemble genuine tourism or de facto long term residence without the appropriate visa. The concept of total time spent within a rolling cycle comes from observed practice and case handling, not from a written statute or formal limit.

If you prefer simpler wording, it is generally the case that if you maximise two visa exemptions within a period and spend around 180 days in Thailand without a visa, your third entry attempt becomes a gamble and can just as easily go wrong as go through without issues.

@Ian ********

No, there is no formal rule limiting visa exempt entries to two per calendar year. Calendar years are not what immigration looks at. What matters in practice is your total time spent in Thailand within a rolling cycle and whether your travel pattern still looks like ordinary tourism. In your case the issue is not the year changing to 2026, but that you are already approaching the upper range of total stay, which is why a visa would be the safer option. But ultimately it’s up to you and what you feel most comfortable with. Personally, I would go for a visa to feel more secure.

That puts your total stay at roughly 160 days in Thailand within this cycle. This is approaching the upper end of what is normally accepted without issues, and I would consider applying for a visa in Laos. The simplest option would be a Non O if you are over 50, or otherwise a tourist visa, which would at least slightly increase the likelihood of smooth re-entry.

You can apply through both KL and Jakarta only with proof of current location without a residence permit.