@John *********

you don't need a re-entry permit for the 90-days Non-Imm-O visa. You only need a multi re-entry permit for the 1-year extended stay permit. Nothing different from the second year out of a Non-O/A visa for which you also would need a multi re-entry permit

@Ben ******

you cannot get a 365-days multi entry Non-Imm-O Retirement visa any more, since October 2023. By the e-visa system of Thai embassies and consulates, you can only get the 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa class. . . . . . . . . . you will need to apply for the 1-year Extension of Temporary Stay based on retirement, and only for this one year stay permit you can buy a multi re-entry permit

can't really say it with certainty if you can repeat this mode by doing visa-exempt entries. It depends on the mood and discretion of the Immigration officer at the borders, how he will interpret your stamp history. I reckon the safest way would be a start out with a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, park 800,000 THB on a Thai bank account, get the "1-year Extended Stay Permit based on retirement" and buy a 3800.- Baht multi re-entry permit for it. With this "retirement extension" you are completely free of headache to exit and re-enter Thailand at any given date during the 1-year stay permit. And you can re-apply for the Extension every year. I am doing this for the recent 17 years and it hasn't ever been easier than that

@Kelima ************

VISA ACQUIRED AT THE CONSULATE VS VISA ACQUIRED AT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE VS. EXTENSION OF STAY: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

I noticed a lot of confusion about acquiring a visa outside of Thailand, vs. acquiring a visa inside Thailand, vs. acquiring an extension of stay. Each is different, and advice given about one does not apply to the others.

ACQUIRING A VISA OUTSIDE OF THAILAND.

A visa can be purchased at the local Thai consulate for numerous reasons. These reasons include tourism, being married to a Thai or foreign national, being retired, employment, or other reasons. *FOR MOST VISAS*, once these visas have been issued, a person must enter Thailand within 90 days. On entry, they will be stamped in for the period that depends on the visa class.

Embassies and Consulates now all use the eVisa system, an e-mail would be generated with the visa information.

The local Thai embassies and consulates are overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

ACQUIRING A VISA INSIDE THAILAND.

A visa can also be purchased at the local Thai immigration office for numerous reasons. These reasons may include employment, marriage, retirement, or other reasons. In-country visas are NOT sold for tourism or for being a trailing spouse to a retired person. These visas are “ZERO ENTRY” stamps, and allow a person to stay for 90 days.

Immigration offices are overseen by the Royal Thai Police.

ACQUIRING AN EXTENSION OF STAY

To stay longer in Thailand, a person may acquire an extension of stay. An extension of stay allows a person to stay in Thailand with the same “rights” as the original visa that was used to enter Thailand, with some exceptions. Extension of stays *generally* allow a person to stay one year. The requirements to acquire an extension of stay may be different then acquiring an in-country visa.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:

*** a visa does NOT guarantee entry!

*** visa-exempt entries will get you stamped in for 60 days. However, you cannot make indefinite touristic or visa-exempt entries. At some point or the other, after having done a few visa-exempt entries, you will be refused entry.

A foreigner may decide to enter Thailand for one purpose, but decide to change the purpose. Here’s an example:

1. A foreigner may decide to enter Thailand on a single entry tourist visa (acquired in the e-visa system of a Thai embassy consulate), and stamped in for 60 days. Tourist visas are employment prohibited.

2. The foreigner likes Thailand, and decides to stay for another 30 days. They apply for, and receive, a 30-days Extension of Stay Based on Tourism at the local immigration office.

3. While in Thailand, they get a job offer. The foreigner *CAN NOT* go from a 30 Day Extension of Stay Based on Tourism to a One Year Extension of Stay Based on Employment, because the Tourist Visa they entered on forbids employment.

4. To legally work in Thailand without leaving Thailand, the foreigner and their employer goes to the local immigration office and acquire an In-Country Non-B Visa Based on Employment. This allows the foreigner to stay in Thailand for an additional 90 days from the date the visa was issued.

5. The employer decides the foreigner should continue working at the end of the 90 days. The employer acquires a One Year Extension of Stay Based on Employment, allowing the foreigner to stay in Thailand for a year.

6. The foreigner works for the employer for many years, becomes old, and decides to retire. The foreigner and the employer cancel the One Year Extension of Stay Based on Employment, and the foreigner acquires a One Year Extension of Stay Based on Retirement on the same day, to continue living in Thailand.

@Kelima ************

Immigration in Thailand has nothing to do with issuing a visa. You need to apply in the online e-visa system of the Thai embassy or consulate inside the USA. Immigration is the WRONG adress to ask

I got AIS 1-2-call mobile internet, for 199 THB a month. It's enough to text an d receive an unlimited amount of messages by Whatsapp and LINE

@Manu *******

congrats! Yes, I told ya, Chong Chom is a very relaxed border . . they love farang tourists over there and don't give 'em any trouble

@Lynnette ******

it is the usual confusion between a visa and a stay permit

@Tore ********

Well, if you will be allowed a second visa-exempt entry, after you maxxed out your last one with a 30-days extension, is totally up to the decision of the Immigration officer at the border

If – only if! - you get pulled aside, he will ask you some questions, like what you are doing in Thailand

For this, you should be prepared to show the famous three proofs:

*** a ticket out of Thailand within the next 60 days

*** a booked accommodation for the next few nights

*** cash worth 20,000 THB in Thai Baht or equivalent in another main currency

reply to 1, well, it depends

*** if you entered on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, no proof is needed where the 800,000 THB came from, when you apply for the 1-year extension

*** if you entered on a tourist visa or visa-exempt, and want to apply for the “change” to a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa on Immigration inside Thailand, you need a proof that the 800,000 THB came from abroad, and that it sits in the account. No seasoning needed at this point

*** some Immigrations (Jomtien!) ignore this rule, but will want to see a seasoning of 2 months for the application to the initial visa