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Is it possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year with visa regulations?

Thailand Visa Tourist Visa Visa Extension Immigration Visa Rules Expat Living Border Runs

May 9, 2024

9 months ago

Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello, Is it possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year? 3 months in 3 months out and then 3 months again in Thailand? Thanks.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Yes, it is possible to stay in Thailand for 6 months out of a year, typically by using a combination of a 60-day tourist visa followed by a 30-day extension, allowing for up to 90 days initially. Many expats discuss strategies including obtaining a second tourist visa after leaving the country or utilizing neighboring countries for quick visa runs (border runs). While scenarios can vary based on an individual's passport and immigration history, the consensus among commenters is that as long as you follow the visa rules and plan your exits properly, remaining outside of Thailand for sufficient time between entries can help avoid issues with Thai immigration.

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you all for your answers. Good to get re-confirmation from so many. Will turn off the comment section now.

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Bob **********

Yes

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Thomas *******

Yes

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Michael *******

Yea. Just done it!

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Mike ********

I do it all the time. 3 months there 3 months in US. I get 60 visa then extend for 30 days or leave Thailand for a visit to a near by county then get a free 30 more days.

Make sure you leave by your 60th day or early

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you so much.

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Lopsee **********

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Paul *******

It’s exactly what I do. 2x tourist visa extended

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks

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Paul *******

@Lopsee *********

spend the other 2x3months in Spain. Heaven 😍

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Paul *******

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Jj ****

Yes

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Floris ***************

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Floris ***************

Can't people read??

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Garry ********

From my understanding you can fly in and out as often as you want, get 30 day on arrival,, fly back out then come back in the next day and repeat I have flown in 8 times in 1 year no problem, but normally 1 or 2 weeks before returning, or you can 60 day or 90 day visa's, retirement visa, marriage visa, the options are really endless, but there are plenty of people in this group that will stear you in the right direction.

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

damn that's a lot of flying in and out. As long as we get to stay in Thailand 6 months outta a year, we are okay with that 😆

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks.

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Lopsee **********

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Henrik *****

When going to Thailand for 31 - 60 ( 90 )days, the 60 days touristvisa is the best option.

It is cheaper than visa excempt + 30 days extension.

No need of a onward ticket ( 90 days 1 onward ), if returnticket within 60 days.

It is easier to apply from the comfort of your home.

thaievisa.go.th

Not wasting holiday time to find, go to and waiting at a immigration office ( 90 you would need that ).

Then no need to leave Thailand in up to 90 days.

It is strictly forbidden to work on touristvisa, also including online.

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Lee *********

do you need proof of onward with 60 day tourist visa? Thanks

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Yorgos **************

,why cheaper? 30 days exception cost 0 and 30days extension costs 1900baht. 60days visa and 30days extension costs less than 1900bt?

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks. For few years we don't want to live full time in Thailand but see how it works out for us but would prefer to live in Thailand for at least half the year so we are okay with leaving the country for few months and then returning.

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Ziggy ******

Not cheaper than the 30 days extension if travelling on a NZ passport

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Henrik *****

But for the rest of the world it is.

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Henrik *****

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Bart **************

That schedule should normally work.

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Marc ********

Yes

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Brown ********

Yep exactly as Jan said. If only 6 months a year, you won't have issues with immigration

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Rene ******

and would [6 out, 6 in (by borderbouncing] likely to be a problem?

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Brown ********

you'd have to either get a metv 6 month visa or do a setv for 60 days, a extension, a border run, a 2nd extension and a 2nd border run in that order for a 6 month stay. If you did this after spending considerable time outside Thailand then I doubt you'll have issues with immigration denying entry for living in Thailand on tourist visas etc

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Rene ******

yep, I did this (60+30//30+30//30) and want to come back in 6,5 months :) fingers crossed that I get in without problems

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Brown ********

you'll have no worries getting in being outside the country for 5 months

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

ummm was thinking 3 months in Thailand...3 months somewhere else and then back to Thailand for 3 months?

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Brown ********

@Lopsee *********

easy done. Get a setv visa and then extend 30 days for your 3 months then get another setv in the country you travel to after you leave Thailand

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Brown ********

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Garry ********

I think you can only do a land border bounce twice in one year , no restrictions if you fly though. Double check but pretty sure that's right.

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Brown ********

100% correct

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Brown ********

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Ziggy ******

Mr Immigration

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Brown ********

huh?

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Brown ********

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks.

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Lopsee **********

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Jan ******************

If you apply for a 60 days tourist visa at the thai embassy/consulate where you stay/live, you can also get a 30 days extension at your local immigration in Thailand, in total 90 days. And two tourist visas in a year should be no issues.

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jan *****************

thanks.

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Lopsee **********

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John **********

Yes it's possible but that will depend on your circumstances and passport

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

circumstances and passport as in?

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John **********

@Lopsee *********

passport nation, age etc

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

we are hoping to do that until husband can apply for retirement visa....he is in mid 40s. Kids are under 16. 4 of us have 3 different passports.

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Dave **********

@Lopsee *********

I will only do that if you are home schooling those children.

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John **********

@Lopsee *********

sounds pretty disruptive for the kids. If you're kids can get ED visas and attend school both you and your husband should be able to get guardian visas based on that and wouldn't need to do 3 months in and 3 months out (that's going to be difficult to sustain for

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years).

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

thanks but ED visa is not an option for us as the international schools are too expensive 😆 but kids are used to traveling and living in different countries. Digital nomads

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John **********

@Lopsee *********

a guardian visa isn't an option anyway if you intend to work in Thailand as you can't hold a work permit on it. The same is true for a retirement visa. Just an FYI, it's also now very difficult to get a a dependent visa based on a non-o visa for retirement so your husband might need to get a non-oa visa from his home country

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

thanks.

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Lopsee **********

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Mark ********

Yes

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Lopsee **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

thanks.

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Mark ********

@Lopsee *********

🙏 welcome.

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Mark ********

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