How long can you stay in Thailand on a tourist visa?
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 6 окт 2024
- #touristvisa #thailand #travel
Integrity Legal: / @integritylegalthailand
In this podcast I will explain approximately how long you can stay in the Kingdom of Thailand on a tourist visa. Thailand immigration is tightening up on tourist visas, and are now allowing only six months of continuous stay in most cases when traveling on a tourist visa.
I explain the process of visa exemptions, and visa extensions during this podcast. I also explain the renewal process for tourist visas at Thai embassy’s or consulates in countries like Malaysia and Laos.
In addition, I briefly discuss the non-immigrant and education visas and how they can help you stay in Thailand legally.
I have stayed for almost 9 months on a 6 month triple entry (now multi-entry) tourist visa in the past and hope to do it again. Just make sure you're back in Thailand before the visa expiry date (6 months from when you applied for it), and you're good for another 60 +30 more days. I always return to my home country every summer. It seems lately that some border crossings are easier than others. I have never had an issue in 5+years.
You never mention retirement visas. They're supposedly the easiest to get and renew. You just need to be 50 or older and deposit 800,000 tbh in a Thai bank.
I'm going to have someone who is living here on a retirement Visa do a video on those.
I haven't verified that Fred, but I'll take your word for it. You are living here on a retirement visa, correct?
He doesn't mention the retirement visa just because the topic is only related to the tourist visa.
@@JeremyClodfelter Must be away of gettin around dropping 25 000 in a bank of thailand bank 4 retirement visa with almost o percent interest for God nos how long??
felix thecat 25000 How much of an interest can you give from an American bank
Thank you for this. I have been getting so many different answers over the years, when I have looked into this subject.
You’re welcome. Glad to help!
i stayed in Thailand for 32 months on Tourist Visa's (2015-2018)... guess what you better have money! You better print off a bank Statement everytime... you don't have to pay anyone off just show you have an Income...if you have $1,500+ per month they will raise no fuss as long as it's shown on the Bank statement.
I would be anxious that they wouldn’t accept my statement, but you make a valid point.
Immigration Laws in every country come down to one thing and that is Money. If You have Millions $ Most countries will grant you citizenship or at least residency.. for most of us we will never be so fortunate...however... if you show you have a income of $1,500+ per month they will never turn you away. i am speaking from experience.
think about it... applying for a Visa is basically saying "I want to spend my money in your country" would they rather me stay in Laos and Cambodia and spend all my money ?? Nope!
Travelfish.org is the best resource for Thai consulate information... Some Consulates actually enfore the laws others don't... Stick to the consulates that don't... (Savanakhet, Vientiane and Phnom Penh).
if you do not have a $1,500 income that you can show on a bank Statement do not try to live in Thailand on consecutive tourist visa's. after 90 days leave for a neighboring country and stay out for 90 days before applying for a new Thai visa.
Laws in Thailand are not enforced by the book... Officials do not enforce the laws they will work with you aslong as you don't act like a jackass.. This is what makes Thailand a great country.
During my 60 day extensions at the Sakon nakhon immigration office.. the officials are always giving me tips on how i can work the system and how to obtain other visa's even though i don't meet the requirements... this would never happen in a western nation where everyone has a stick up their ass.
Pretty much exactly what I am doing.
Been here three years on monthly visa runs and the few times I have been hassled I explained I am a semi-retired business owner with very good monthly income and they were satisfied.
Their main concern is people coming here to live that can't support themselves financially and who will try to work here.
@@mekongfarang oh no, i have usd 1400, do you think i'll be ok? thanks
@@markpattaya5560 'monthly' Visa runs??? aren't they every 3 months? Thanks
3 years and counting.
You are wrong on a few points.
For starters, there are 6 month multi-entry tourist visas (instead of doing the 2 month visa plus extension method).
You can only apply for them in your home country though.....and you are still required to fly out and back every 60 days. There is nothing that prevents you from flying out and back after the 6 months is over however and getting a 30 day visa exempt stamp, extending it for another 30 days and then flying out and back again and repeating the process.
Also, there is NOTHING that says you can only stay for 6 months or 180 days in any given year.
In fact, the law changed in 2016 (?) so that the 44 Nations that get 30 day visa exempt visits can have UNLIMITED visits in a year. It USED to be restricted to 6 visits I believe, which is where the 6 months/180 days restiction comes from?
"The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering overland or via a sea border but there is NO LIMITATION when entering by air." 😎✈
Note, that exemption is for "visitors" only............ostensibly for tourism purposes.
If you have enough stamps in your passport for them to question your reasons for coming to Thailand so much, then you will need to convince them you are not working here.
I have been hassled a few times and had to explain that I am a business owner in my home country (with staff in the Philippines) and am "semi-retired" and spend most of the year travelling, with Thailand as my base. So far, they haven't asked to see any sort of proof of income or anything like that.....though that would be easy enough to provide (I'm actually telling them the truth).
N.B. I'm not old enough to get the retirement visa yet.
At any time, they could potentially deny me entry into the country. It wouldn't be because of any rule or law that I am breaking though.
It would simply come down to whether the Immigration officer didn't believe that I am a genuine tourist or thought I was working here.
As anyone that has been to Thailand a few times would know, the immigration rules are constantly changing and open to some creative interpretation by the officers.........so avoid the grumpy officers and always have proof to back up your story.
I got my info from a law firm who specializes in visas. They are based in Bangkok. Nuff said.
The U.S. should do what Thailand does, no tourist is allow to stay more than 30 days, after that go home... We should reciprocate the same courtesy to Thais when visiting the U.S. too.
You make a really good point Robert. I’ve said it many times. America could learn a lot from Thai immigration policies.
Great information!
Thanks Joe!
Fantastic information on Thai Visas
Thanks Franz.
So.. just to clarify... you don't need a visa if you're only staying on vacation and have a return flight out of the country. Right?
Okay, I got ahead of myself. Just looked it up. Less than 30 days, round trip ticket... all is good. WHEW, I started listening to this and when you said "tourist visa" I about had a panic attack! LOL
LOL! Sorry to scare you Jeffery, but I'm glad you got it figured out!
Yeah, with flights purchased and knowing how long a visa process can take... YIKES!!! But its all good!
Good to hear someone talking sense for once.
Thanks Robert. Much appreciated!
Excellent. Thank you sir
Welcome!
I stayed in Thailand almost 5 yr. You could slip 200 bath in your passport when you went back in Thailand from Malaysia. The border immigration staff didn't ask anything then. But I don't know about today. Probably not
I don't think that would work today, and even if it would, I don't think trying it would be a good idea.
@@JeremyClodfelter yup you're right. The last visarun I did to Georgetown, Penang Malaysia was 2017. The Malayan agency told me that Thailand was making changes. 100.000 overstayers so I didn't wanna take any more gambles with that. But it worked so easy then. I actually know, saw it myself when a Israeli guy took a huge risk and sent his passport from koh lanta to Bangkok and for 20.000 bath was promised 1 yr... And it worked... Have no idea what or how and he had no friends in high places. Still a mystery to me. He was only 30 so no retirement or anything
RetirecheapJC had hundreds of videos about Thialand. He has lived there for many decades. Have you met him or Scott Malion or Wandering Will .... thanks for making these Videos.
Nope. Never met either of them, but I have seen many of their videos.
always good scoop Jeremy. of course the jailhouse lawyers will say you can beat the system. maybe they should ask you tuber Cheap Charlie. He is out of Thailand for a year for an illegal overstay.
My point exactly Larry!
quick story, I had a friend,(American) who spoke with a dude in Bangkok and was told he could get a visa run done without actually going. they would just need his passport and the dough of course. I told him he was nuts to give his passport to anyone but he did and of course they screwed him over. He had to go to Us embassy and had a big hassle getting a temp passport to go home. lesson learned.
I would never even consider giving my passport to another human. Good story Larry.
Nor would I, but people do and it usual ends badly.
unless you were totally broke it's not that big a deal to do a Visa Run or even just get out of the country down to Kuala Lumpur or Penang for a few days
nice video, thank you
Welcome!
Unlike The Philippines where you can stay for 3 years
That’s true
You can stay for three years on one tourist visa?
60 + 30, x 2 on a multi entry i believe is what the rule is Jeremy. Once the multi entry is finished you need to leave for 6 months before you can apply again. But check with the folks that know as you did as i am listening.
Unless I misspoke, that’s precisely what I said....I think. Lol. Thanks for the comment though. It’s always good for someone to fact-check me. Much appreciated. 👍🏻
yes you did, i just listened again sometimes the little ones that seem to come out of nowhere here make it hard for me to hear the videos. Anyways, i hope you are doing in well in Bangkok. Best of luck in your travels.
Thank you sir!
That isn't quite true about having to wait 6 months before re-applying for a multi-entry, at least when it is done in your home country. Also, the multi-entry visa is good for 8 months as you can leave and re-enter before the 6mth expiry date and be granted 60 days extra.
Hi Jeremy, I travel from Australia on a 60 day visa, with returned flights always pre-booked.
I’ve previously done this 3 or 4 times a year, with a 1-2 months stay back in Oz each time.
Is there a limit on the number of these 60 day visas each year?
The Thai embassy in Australia said they are unlimited?, but some Vloggers have been saying they are limited to 2 per year.
As you point out they are definitely clamping down, and rightly so, but they don’t appear to have immigration legislation actually in place yet?
What’s your thought?
Also do you ever have subscriber meet up nights in BKK. I’ve met most of the bloggers, and love the community spirit that’s now emerging.
Anyway, keep up the great work. If you fancy a cold one, or coffee, would love to catch up.
Cheers
Tony
1) Last info I received was you could stay up to six months in a calendar year on a tourist visa. That is always up to the BI officer's discretion. Two 60 day tourist visas with two 30 day extensions, and one "border run" after the first 90 days.
No sub meet up in BKK yet, However, that may not be too far away in the future.
And thanks for the offer, I will let you know the next time I get up that way.
@@JeremyClodfelter Thanks for the input. However i'm not sure there is a limit on the individual 60 day visa? Ive had 3 in the last 12 months now. I think the answer lies in the actual return ticket. If you fly from a preferred country, then return home, and come back to the Kingdom 6-8 weeks later I don't think it bothers them? at least I've not been declined or questioned yet. I asked the consulate in Brisbane last month, & they said I can fly back and forth as often as i can afford? But i'm sure they shut this down at some point. There doesn't appear to be any actual limit?
Excellent video. When one gets an education visa would they sign up after arriving in the country, perhaps after initially coming to a the country via a regular tourist visa? And if so, could this be initiated after all the regular tourist visa options had been exercised/extended?
Yes and yes, although you can apply for the Ed visa in your home country
So if you leave the country after your stay on a visa exemption, how long do you have to stay out before they will reissue that status again?
I cannot answer that question with 100% confidence. However, you can find that info at www.thaivisa.com
My apologies!
No time requirement.
Fly to Vietnam or Malaysia and fly straight back to Thailand if you want and you will be eligible for another 30 day visa exempt entry.
HOWEVER.....If they suspect you are NOT a tourist then they may deny you re-entry.
Mate I'm coming to Thailand next year want to stay few months wats the best visa for me without hassle of border runs etc
Get a tourist visa from your home country. That’s. 60 days. Extend it in country for another 30. That’s 90 days total. You may also qualify for a 180 day tourist visa from your home country. Check with your local Thai embassy.
Please keep in mind that the Thai visa(s) are a forever changing thing. What is true today may very well be changed tomorrow to some cockamamie requirement.
true
I am from USA and have a r/t 90 day ticket to Bangkok. I want a tourist 30 day visa when I arrive and want to renew this for a 60 day or 90 day...I fly out of Bangkok after 90 days. How do I manage this? I can go to Vietnam for 30 days...but is it okay to come back for a day to fly out?
These visa runs most be nerve racking and costly Soo how does it work a couple days before your visa is up let’s say you fly to Malaysia you stay for a few days then your good to book a flight back to back any additional steps required ?
My suggestion is to visit thaivisa.com. They can give you better answers than I can.
There's always a loophole when they rejected me for having to many Double Entry visas I simply got a new passport. I stayed 4 years on tourist visas
Biometrics are being introduced, so gone are the days of getting a new passport.
Love the video :) not sure what you would do if you wanted to retire in Thailand, I think its hard to get a working visa, just subbed your channel :)
There are retirement visa options as well, but they require minimum amounts of income. I'll try to do a video on them. Thanks for subbing. Welcome to the channel!
Your not retired if you can't afford to not work ie you need to be rich
I would like to visit Thailand for 2 weeks. Where do I get a visa for that short of time? How much will it cost?
If you are from America, you just fly in with an onward ticket before your 30 days is up, and they will give you a 30 day visa exemption. It's that simple. Always check the Thai immigration website just to be sure there has not been any changes.
The easiest way for the Thai immigration to stop people abusing the system is just make the law that you can only spend 6 months in any one calendar year on a tourist visa, so if you keep leaving Thailand to do a boarder runs and are gone for just a day, when you arrive back at Thai immigration they only have to check how long you have been in Thailand in the last year. very simple
You make a solid point!
Well how come you can get 12 month tourist visa for Thailand in Australia
That would have to be a METV. I’m not sure they offer the 12 month version of that visa any longer, as the law states you can be in Thailand a maximum of 6 calendar months on a tourist visa.
When you say you can get a 60 day visa and then extend it in country, does that mean you can fly to thailand on a one way ticket as long as you have a 60day tourist visa? I am planning to do this and then possibly extend an extra 30 days, so i am wanting to wait to buy my return ticket
To the best of my knowledge, if you come in on any kind of tourist visa or Visa exemption, you must have an onward ticket. However, you can check this information via Thaivisa.com. Good question, and thanks for the comment.
I am 70 coming to Thailand for 3 mo. ... if I fly into Bangkok for the 30 day visa and they turn me away...what should I do? Can I buy a ticket out of the country or what do people do?
Why would you be turned away? Your fine
Hi mate, I have a pretty specific issue you may be able to help with, any info is greatly appreciated.
Im an aussie living in Canada at the moment but I'm looking to live in Thailand for just under 6 months as a tourist as my sister is going to be there on exchange at a university in Bangkok.
The Thai embassy in Canada is being a bit of a pain but do you know what type of visa would be best for me to get to have minimal country hops for visa's?
Thank you very much for any help.
Please go to Thaivisa.com, or contact Integrity Legal. This question is way over my head. Sorry I couldn't help more!
a one year multi entry visa might be available for you. This cost over 1000 usd. It must be sponsored by an school or a business or your money cares for a child or children. It is a 'daddy' visa if you have made and left them behind or you adopted an orphanage. It is basically Education, business or Thai family. There are language schools that cost alot and teach as little as you want. They might ask you to count to ten for them, neung song som see ha hok jet bat kgao sip. Plan b would be a show up on in transit work from there. This gets you 90 to 120 days. and 1000 usd to resolve one of many options. I know an Indian and he pays 60000 baht for a 6 month. He works and pays taxes and told me it is a 'i am trying to figure this out' type visa. He is part of the unofficial population of BKK. Can you go for two months and leave for a month and come back for two months?, can do this 2 times in a year. this is 4 of six months in transit and 5 of 6 with a 60 day multi planned well. Many cheat and lie so expect scrutiny.
someone told me, rumor, that Aussies can get a one year multi entry for shopping.This is issued in Australia. I have no idea if this is true. Tiki bar on soi11 seems to have many every weekend, There you might find many ideas from your countrymen. I know each country has its own rules.
As they say money talks and bullshit walks
Money get you everything
That is definitely what they say.
I do like to ask you this. If I travel to Thailand with a months tourist visa and I want to get an extension to that, do I have to have a return airfare ticket back to my country or just one single ticket to Thailand how that goes? Some of my friends told me maybe I will not be able to go on board on the plane if I don't have a return airfare ticket for that first month, so you think you can help me with that? In advance, I do like to thank you so very much for your help !!!
If you come on a 30 day stamp, you ABSOLUTELY have to have an onward ticket before those 30 days are up
@@JeremyClodfelter Thank you for your help. Have a nice day !!!
Not really , last year I bought a return ticket for Bangkok but my return was from Singapore two months later,the officer asked me how long I was staying in Thailand,I said less than 30 days,he let me though!
Another time I missed my plane and had to overstay 3 days for the flight back,they fined me 1500 bath
I just married a Thai girl a few months back for the $2.000, paid her half first and the other half after the ceremony, I now have dual citizenship and should be getting my Thai passport soon,
Screw all that visa runs and uncertainty, I took the easy route.
I’m not sure how you got Thai citizenship. I would be very interested in learning more about that, but thank you for the comment.
you cannot get thai citizenship or permanent residency via just marriage in thailand.
@@CyPsyGuy He is not telling the truth , he thinks we are idiots .
@@JeremyClodfelter he is not telling the truth , he thinks we are idiots .
Bullshit.
You will NOT get Thai Citizenship OR a passport via marriage.
You will get a non-immigrant Type O visa.
You will still have to do regular reporting to immigration and if they see you are not living with your "wife" then you will be charged with fraud and deported.
Hi,,Jeremy .....I am coming to Thailand in February 2020 getting married there to this lady ... I heard you say get a none o visa how many months will that's last for and is paperwork for that visa a pain in the ass thanks man
I would encourage you to contact a law firm, such as Integrity Legal. They can answer your questions, and help with the documentation. It has become quite complicated.
Curtis Browning ... Be very careful. Many go back broke after losing all their money. You will never own land of any kind and will be kicked out in case of a divorce.
Get a 30 day visa on arrival, stay as long as you want, pay a fine when you leave at the airport, just don't get caught before you leave
It's not that simple anymore. Depending on how long you overstay, you can pay up to 25,000 Baht in fines, and face up to a lifetime blacklist. Overstaying is not as easy as it used to be.
like CCC lol
.....and they might throw you in jail for good measure.
Not worth the risk.
Pickle Beaker! Yeah, and then can’t come back for ten years +, very smart !
Hey Jeremy great info as always. From Canada and only a passport what you are saying is i can stay a max 5 months doing you you mentioned?
I was going to apply for a one time or multiple visa here in Canada for a 5-6 months stay but from what you are saying I do not need to. is this correct?
Hi Jackson, and thanks for the comment. You would be much better off to apply for the visa in Canada. Please keep in mind that the "max" stay time is constantly changing. Some people have been here for years on a tourist visa. The info I provided is based off of a law firm's analysis of the current immigration standards. You can visit www.integritylegal.com for more info.
Definitely apply in Canada for the multi-entry visa. Takes 10 minutes to fill in the form and you just pop in the mail. Passport back in a few days. Much better than queuing up at the Thai embassy in Laos or wherever and waiting overnite etc.
Howdy 🤠
What about medical insurance in Thailand for long stayers?
It is an option, specifically for those who work here. For employees who work for government agencies, standard health insurance is only 700 Baht/month. Private insurance is also available, but I’m not certain of the specifics. I will do a video on this as soon as I have more info. Thanks for the comment.
Don't bother with insurance companies thay won't PAY out
Or only pay out the amount
You have payed out in premiums
Im gona marrie so no problem for me.
it is still a problem if you don't have income or a pile of cash. I believe it is 800000 baht and 30000 a month. They won't let you be just hang out and eat grown food. The number is below USA social security disability pay but almost exactly what a retiree would get. A pension would qualify you also. The one thing i am not sure about is if they let you and your wife's income be claimed as one number.
People need to get off RUclips, out of Thailand, and get a real paying job in their home country. Build up a 401K plan and eligibility for a lifetime high dollar monthly pension by staying with a company for about two decades, then come back to Thailand at 50 years of age and get a retirement visa. You will never make good money working overseas. Eventually, you will need to settle down with something long term. First step is getting back to your home country. Not sure why people think they need to live in Thailand when their in prime money making years of life. If people don’t do this, they will be struggling their entire life.
Thank you so much for reminding me why I am here!
Not long enough just like everywhere that’s good lol 😂
Welcome to my life! lol
I guess Cheap Charlie is full of it.
His story is a little different. LOL
Good Conduct Letter in a US city of 202,000:
For getting a good conduct letter, it's probably much better to live in a very small town where the sheriff's secretary will probably do it for free.
For the long term Thailand visa I have been on a treasure hunt for a "good conduct" letter to accompany my application. At my local Police office in Yonkers NY they pretended NOT TO KNOW what that was, and then referred me to the "police community affairs" office, in an old firehouse behind a locked door with a buzzer. The first response I got thru the intercom made me feel like I was attempting to visit Dracula's castle but they were actually quite cordial when 2 cops in street clothes finally opened the door. I was then told to go to Police Records at Police Headquarters (in a district that I call the "asshole of Yonkers") for the "good guy" letter, for which I paid $30 in advance and was told to wait a week for them to prepare this masterpiece.
PS - I checked online and found that this kind of letter is also a requirement for a gun license in NY City and costs $50 there. I promise not to bring any guns to the Land of Smiles.
Interesting. I've never heard of that kind of letter, so that's more info for me. Thanks!
@@JeremyClodfelter The EXACT wording from the NYC Thai Consulate handout for "Long Stay (O - A) Visa" is:
"5. Three copies of verified criminal records in good standing. The verification must be recent and not more than three months (old)." If you are already in Thailand you would most likely get police clearance in country, which you may be familiar with.