What longer term (6-9 month) visas are currently available?

[Spengler]

Previously, the special tourist visa allowed longer-term visitors to extend their stay up to a total of 270 days - that is no longer available 

As far as I am aware, the six month multiple entry visa is currently unavailable and even if it were, it is unusable because of the need to exit and then re-enter Thailand every 60 days

For those people wanting to spend, say, 6 to 9 months in Thailand, what are the available options beyond applying for an education or retirement visa?

 

 

[King Cotton]

18 minutes ago, Spengler said:

Previously, the special tourist visa allowed longer-term visitors to extend their stay up to a total of 270 days - that is no longer available 

As far as I am aware, the six month multiple entry visa is currently unavailable and even if it were, it is unusable because of the need to exit and then re-enter Thailand every 60 days

For those people wanting to spend, say, 6 to 9 months in Thailand, what are the available options beyond applying for an education or retirement visa?

Unless a colleague knows better, I would advise you to contact the Thai Consulate in your country (the UK one, in Hull, handles queries quickly), since that is where the visas are issued. I will message my colleagues who may reply to your post, should they have more helpful info.

 

Hello, Spengler and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

[King Cotton]

Hello, again, Spengler

Colleagues agree that checking with the Consulate is likely your best bet. At least you can be sure that what you're told is legit and not BS.

Alternatively, you could scan thro' the other posts in this Visa section. There may be something helpful there.

[Faz]

Hi Spengler,

The STV was introduced as a stop gap, because the METV was no longer workable.
Now the STV is of no use other than a stay of 3 months.

For a stay of 6-9 months as you suggest, there are only 2 guaranteed options.
You must be +50 years old.
1. Either a Non Imm O visa from the Thai Embassy, grants a stay of 90 days on entry, then extend the permission of stay for a further 12 months, subject to Immigrations financial requirements.
2. A Non Imm O-A Visa from the Thai Embassy, grants a stay of 12 months on entry, subject to having a 400K THB inpatient, 40K THB outpatient Health Insurance policy.

Another option without a guarantee is to enter VE or SETV, of which the stay granted at entry can be extended for a further 30 days. Thereafter apply for 60 day Covid extensions for as long as they are available. Currently you can only apply up to the end of July, but this will almost certainly be extended up to the end of September. 
Whether the period of Covid applications will be extended again after September is anybody's guess.
 

[Soidog]

On 6/25/2021 at 1:23 PM, King Cotton said:

Unless a colleague knows better, I would advise you to contact the Thai Consulate in your country (the UK one, in Hull, handles queries quickly), since that is where the visas are issued. I will message my colleagues who may reply to your post, should they have more helpful info.

Hello, Spengler and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

Unfortunately the Thai consulate in Hull is closed. Temporarily I hope? 

[JamesE]

There's also the Elite option but that may be overkill if you only want to stay 6-9 months once. However, if that's your plan going forward, and you have some spare cash in the sofa cushions, it could work for you.

[Storm]

On 6/26/2021 at 9:25 AM, Faz said:

 

For a stay of 6-9 months as you suggest, there are only 2 guaranteed options.
You must be +50 years old.
1. Either a Non Imm O visa from the Thai Embassy, grants a stay of 90 days on entry, then extend the permission of stay for a further 12 months, subject to Immigrations financial requirements.
2. A Non Imm O-A Visa from the Thai Embassy, grants a stay of 12 months on entry, subject to having a 400K THB inpatient, 40K THB outpatient Health Insurance policy.

 

If entering with an OA 1 yr visa, and travelling around Thailand, what happens regarding 90-day reporting obligations? Can these be filed in different offices around Thailand?  I often see posts lamenting that the online system is down.

[Faz]

51 minutes ago, Storm said:

If entering with an OA 1 yr visa, and travelling around Thailand, what happens regarding 90-day reporting obligations? Can these be filed in different offices around Thailand?  I often see posts lamenting that the online system is down.

You can only submit reports at an Immigration office where your registered as staying.

If your moving around Thailand and staying in hotels, they should file your place of residence (TM30) and you should be able to file at the local Immigration office in that Province.
If you stay in a private residence, then either you, the house master, or landlord needs to file a TM30 at the local Immigration office before you can submit 90 days reports there.

You can file 90 day reports in person, by mail, or online.
The online site is far more reliable since it's upgrade.

[Storm]

Thank you Faz.

Another question, if I may? Is it possible to enter Thailand with a one-way ticket if holding an OA visa for 1 yr pls?

 

[Faz]

11 minutes ago, Storm said:

Thank you Faz.

Another question, if I may? Is it possible to enter Thailand with a one-way ticket if holding an OA visa for 1 yr pls?

Yes, no problem.

I assume your aware you can stay for almost 2 years with a Non Imm O-A Visa?

[BlueSphinx]

7 minutes ago, Faz said:

Yes, no problem.

I assume your aware you can stay for almost 2 years with a Non Imm O-A Visa?

@Storm > I did PM you a comprehensive guidance document on how to meet the mandatory health-insurance requirement when applying for the Non Imm O-A Visa at the Thai Embassy in your home-country of country of permanent residence.  That 400K/40K mandatory health-insurance is neither difficult nor expensive to get hold off (if you know how), and as the insurance validity date will determine the period of stay you will get stamped in for, the document explains in great detail how to ensure you can get the full 2-year the Non Imm O-A Visa can provide you.