If you are under 50 and either working, married to a Thai or supporting a Thai child then their are visas for you.
If under 50 and none of the above apply surely your best option is the Non-Imm 'O' from your home country, gives you 15 months or so. Then you have to return home to apply for a new one, or do some neighbouring countries still give them ?
Gotta be a better option than visa runs, especially now they're every 15 days.
SJ
30-day border runs now only 15 days
SJ,
Sure going back to your home country and getting another multi-entry Non O visa is the best bet. Less hassle when you arrive back (one border run every 90 days and the visa can last for up to 15 months as you say).
Flights are expensive though and you'll have to be back in your home country for 3-4 days minimum. How those costs stack up for each individual as against being a "traveling man" is naturally up to that person.
Neighbouring countries certainly still do give Non O visas, but only if you prove you're married to a Thai or over 50. And most only give single entries now so as to encourage the applicant to apply for the annual extension later here in Thailand. In those countries, you'll not be able to apply on the basis of visiting "family and FRIENDS" as some home country consulates are flexible about.
Nevertheless, proper Tourist Visa runs are still a real possibility from neighboring countries. They give you 60 days on arrival with the option to extend for 30 days within Thailand. There is currently no limit to the number of those you can have. As I said before, it's just a case of some regular travel and being aware of the friendly/unfriendly countries at the time you're doing it.
As an aside, I've always felt for those wanting to stay here long term but weren't over 50, married to a Thai or legitimately working. They could prove enough regular foreign income not to work illegally, but had no pidgeon hole to fit into. I was one of them for 10 years
Edit. It's only terminology, but important. The 15/30 day entry stamps are not visas. They are visa exempt stamps given free of charge on arrival. A visa has to be obtained from a Thai mission before entering the country.
Sure going back to your home country and getting another multi-entry Non O visa is the best bet. Less hassle when you arrive back (one border run every 90 days and the visa can last for up to 15 months as you say).
Flights are expensive though and you'll have to be back in your home country for 3-4 days minimum. How those costs stack up for each individual as against being a "traveling man" is naturally up to that person.
Neighbouring countries certainly still do give Non O visas, but only if you prove you're married to a Thai or over 50. And most only give single entries now so as to encourage the applicant to apply for the annual extension later here in Thailand. In those countries, you'll not be able to apply on the basis of visiting "family and FRIENDS" as some home country consulates are flexible about.
Nevertheless, proper Tourist Visa runs are still a real possibility from neighboring countries. They give you 60 days on arrival with the option to extend for 30 days within Thailand. There is currently no limit to the number of those you can have. As I said before, it's just a case of some regular travel and being aware of the friendly/unfriendly countries at the time you're doing it.
As an aside, I've always felt for those wanting to stay here long term but weren't over 50, married to a Thai or legitimately working. They could prove enough regular foreign income not to work illegally, but had no pidgeon hole to fit into. I was one of them for 10 years
Edit. It's only terminology, but important. The 15/30 day entry stamps are not visas. They are visa exempt stamps given free of charge on arrival. A visa has to be obtained from a Thai mission before entering the country.
Essentially the bottom line seems to be this for longstayers (more than six months).
1) Get married to a Thai and bring money in (men only).
2) Get married to a Thai bring nothing in and get residency (women only).
3) Retire and bring more money in or show overseas income (over 50s only).
4) Work for yourself or another company, jump through hundreds of ever-changing bureaucratic hoops and pay disproportionate company fees and tax rates (qualified only).
5) Get a visa in your own country and go back there at expense when it runs out instead of bringing money in (all of the above).
So if you have coin you're fine as that's all that Thailand wants!
1) Get married to a Thai and bring money in (men only).
2) Get married to a Thai bring nothing in and get residency (women only).
3) Retire and bring more money in or show overseas income (over 50s only).
4) Work for yourself or another company, jump through hundreds of ever-changing bureaucratic hoops and pay disproportionate company fees and tax rates (qualified only).
5) Get a visa in your own country and go back there at expense when it runs out instead of bringing money in (all of the above).
So if you have coin you're fine as that's all that Thailand wants!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Good info as always Lomu.
My guess is they set 50 as the age of retirement as by that age many people are likely to have sufficient income/investments not to have to work here.
Whereas if it were any age under 50 you'd get many yongsters coming over and finding work illegally, only thing I can think of.
As you say harsh on the under 50's who can support themselves, but there'd probably be an invasion of youngsters, ala Spain, working illegally.
Why not an under 50 visa with proof of 'x' income ? Who know's, doubt they care.
SJ
My guess is they set 50 as the age of retirement as by that age many people are likely to have sufficient income/investments not to have to work here.
Whereas if it were any age under 50 you'd get many yongsters coming over and finding work illegally, only thing I can think of.
As you say harsh on the under 50's who can support themselves, but there'd probably be an invasion of youngsters, ala Spain, working illegally.
Why not an under 50 visa with proof of 'x' income ? Who know's, doubt they care.
SJ
Yes right Onlyme, but I was referring to the comments earlier about people who are under 50 without Thai wife or working here, it's always been a complaint that Thailand has no visa covering these people.
Someone mentioned the Thai Elite card at 1.5M Baht generally considered a waste, but similar countries, Philippines, Malaysia have long term visas for under 50's and the investment is 50k USD and 75k USD repsectively, so Thailand isn't alone in this.
I think Thailand overall is just trying to ensure foreigners living here long term can take care of themselves, ie: bring their own money in and not have to work illegally. They know they are a popular country and can be picky if they want.
SJ
Someone mentioned the Thai Elite card at 1.5M Baht generally considered a waste, but similar countries, Philippines, Malaysia have long term visas for under 50's and the investment is 50k USD and 75k USD repsectively, so Thailand isn't alone in this.
I think Thailand overall is just trying to ensure foreigners living here long term can take care of themselves, ie: bring their own money in and not have to work illegally. They know they are a popular country and can be picky if they want.
Yes it has which is good. But if you don't have this then the 40k a month income must now come from the foreigner alone, ie: not combination with wife, not so good.PS. I now beleive that the 400,000 in the bank has returned?
SJ
It's always been difficult in this country unless you have a visa. The difficulty was doing 30 day runs to Burma. They pissed that off in 2006.
I'd already been here for years and was married by the time the generals took their tanks into Bangkok. We were in the UK at that the time. Friends told me to get a "proper visa".
Nothing's changed.
I won't ever forget all the people I met on the way.
I'd already been here for years and was married by the time the generals took their tanks into Bangkok. We were in the UK at that the time. Friends told me to get a "proper visa".
Nothing's changed.
I won't ever forget all the people I met on the way.
With the 15 day deal and the elimination of quantity per year, we may see a farang population boom in border area towns such as Nong Khai, Ubon, Chantaburi, Trat etc. Makes life very easy for those without visas, especially in Nong Khai where there is already a large farang population. Pete 
Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Pete,
I'm sure you will remember that the law was that any foreigner had to have 10k "on their person" to be allowed into Thailand for a border/visa exempt run. It was double that for people coming in on Tourist or other visas. I've maybe got the figures wrong, but the idea was definitely there and probably still is.
"Excuse me, sir/madam, but do you have enough money to support yourself in Thailand for the duration of your stay?"
The idea was good, but the cash and the potential for theft wasn't. I've never known it to be enforced against any farang.
Takes me back to the unlucky ones who have funds from overseas, but don't fit the mould of being over 50 or married to a Thai. I've met plenty of them over the years. Whats wrong with trying to retire over here at 40 with a bit of money to your name, without marrying a Thai for convenience? (That's a rhetorical question, BTW).
Maybe the new PM, who's 44 I believe, will see things in a different light once he's attempted to clear the mess up here?
For me, there's nothing wrong with financial constraints as long as they're not enforced in conjunction with age, nationality or marital status.
I must have had too many beers last night. "Abisit, bring me in as your Immigration Minister". Where's the beach
I'm sure you will remember that the law was that any foreigner had to have 10k "on their person" to be allowed into Thailand for a border/visa exempt run. It was double that for people coming in on Tourist or other visas. I've maybe got the figures wrong, but the idea was definitely there and probably still is.
"Excuse me, sir/madam, but do you have enough money to support yourself in Thailand for the duration of your stay?"
The idea was good, but the cash and the potential for theft wasn't. I've never known it to be enforced against any farang.
Takes me back to the unlucky ones who have funds from overseas, but don't fit the mould of being over 50 or married to a Thai. I've met plenty of them over the years. Whats wrong with trying to retire over here at 40 with a bit of money to your name, without marrying a Thai for convenience? (That's a rhetorical question, BTW).
Maybe the new PM, who's 44 I believe, will see things in a different light once he's attempted to clear the mess up here?
For me, there's nothing wrong with financial constraints as long as they're not enforced in conjunction with age, nationality or marital status.
I must have had too many beers last night. "Abisit, bring me in as your Immigration Minister". Where's the beach
All these years Lomu I was never asked that question, airport or other border. I didn't even know it was a requirement. Back in the 90's I lived here for years on a 30 day stamp as was going in and out to China every month. I wonder if that law is still on the books today? Pete
Back in the 90's I lived here for years on a 30 day stamp as was going in and out to China every month. I wonder if that law is still on the books today? Pete Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Source
Hi all....
hope everyone is well...and counting down to the feastive season...
I fall into the under 50s...erm under 40s (Just!).
The wife and me and the little fella will be
moving over no matter what the financial climate
about a year from now....
Were not loaded but we will be comfortable
sure it will be tight at 52-54 baht as i based
the plan on never lower than 60 etc etc....
Mind all the increases in the UK means were
all suffering here...
Im trying not to think about it but the visa
situation obviously concerns being under 50...
Is the Married to a Thai with child under 50
and having 400K in a thai bank true ????
as i'll struggle for the 40k a month option....
Can see me having to keep dotting in and out the country
or back home....leaving my family...
and making a canny dent into our funds...
Anyhow whatever happens i cant wait to live there...
hope everyone is well...and counting down to the feastive season...
I fall into the under 50s...erm under 40s (Just!).
The wife and me and the little fella will be
moving over no matter what the financial climate
about a year from now....
Were not loaded but we will be comfortable
sure it will be tight at 52-54 baht as i based
the plan on never lower than 60 etc etc....
Mind all the increases in the UK means were
all suffering here...
Im trying not to think about it but the visa
situation obviously concerns being under 50...
Is the Married to a Thai with child under 50
and having 400K in a thai bank true ????
as i'll struggle for the 40k a month option....
Can see me having to keep dotting in and out the country
or back home....leaving my family...
and making a canny dent into our funds...
Anyhow whatever happens i cant wait to live there...
The only Geordie in sleepy Cha am since 2009 :cheers:
Yes you can either have 400k deposited in a bank here or show proof of 40k income a month from the foreigner to obtain yearly extensions on the marrriage/support of Thai visa. So if you can stick the 400k in a bank here and get the extensions based on that.fach3003 wrote:Is the Married to a Thai with child under 50
and having 400K in a thai bank true ????
as i'll struggle for the 40k a month option
Here's the extract of new regulation:
If you're planning on running a business here yourself with work permit etc, maybe look into 'B' Business visa and get extensions based on that.In other necessary circumstances, The Immigration Commissioner or Deputy of Immigration Commissioner may approve on case to case basis.
(6) In case of marriage with a Thai lady, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 baht for the past 2 months for expenses within a year.
SJ
Yes it is, but as said, I've never known it to be enforced for westerners:prcscct wrote:All these years Lomu I was never asked that question, airport or other border. I didn't even know it was a requirement.
http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490
A few years ago, Aranya Prathet were allegedly asking for it and there was an outcry. Imagine all those visa run buses from BKK and Pattaya full of farangs with at least 10k cash on them. Ripe for a hold up!!!!
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lindosfan1
- Deceased
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visas
I came over on an O visa extensions all used but needed another two months.
Immigration at soi 102 gave me a visa because I am now married to a Thai. They asked me how long I wanted, I aked for two months, they then said is that long enough, when I said yes stamped passport with new visa. Evidence needed marraige certificate, very useful is a Thai wife who chats to them.
Price 1900 baht job done.
Immigration at soi 102 gave me a visa because I am now married to a Thai. They asked me how long I wanted, I aked for two months, they then said is that long enough, when I said yes stamped passport with new visa. Evidence needed marraige certificate, very useful is a Thai wife who chats to them.
Price 1900 baht job done.
Woke up this morning breathing that's a good start to the day.