This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

What visa should I consider for a 6-month visit to Thailand?

Jan 3, 2025
2 months ago
Stephen ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
58 years old, looking at visiting Thailand for 6 months in April, Had O retirement visa 3 years back. was easy to obtain.

What visa should I get for just 6 months?

Was considering O visa, but not sure about the funds I need to deposit (800k, or was there another option of 400k then a monthly transfer of 65k)

But if I'm not worried about renewing my visa in 12 months, I could send 800k to my Thai account, get visa and then next day send it back to my Australian bank account

what do you think, is there an easier visa for 6 months?
557
views
2
likes
10
all likes
3
replies
0
images
4
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, who previously had an O retirement visa, is seeking advice on the best visa option for a 6-month stay in Thailand. They considered the O visa but are unsure about the required funds (either 800k THB or 400k THB with monthly deposits). Community comments suggest that a Multi Entry Tourist Visa (METV) would allow nearly 9 months in Thailand by entering and re-entering the country, stacking extensions of 60 days and additional 30-day extensions. They also mention the possibility of qualifying for visa exemptions that would allow for 180 days in total.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Floyd **********
If you qualify for the visa exemption then you get 60 days and then extend for another 30. Do a border bounce after the 90 days and repeat 👍

180 days without visa.
Nongnuch ********
Tourist Visa ME how does it work

A multi entry Tourist Visa has a validity for use for an unlimited number of entries (“multiple entry”)

The 6 months visa validity starts on the day the visa is issued. Thus, if you enter Thailand 9 days after it has been issued, you lose 9 days of the total of the 6 months visa validity.

Upon each entry, you will get stamped in for a 60-days stay permit

On each and every 60 days stay permit, you can apply for a 30-days touristic extension of the stay permit, for 1900.- THB, on Immigration.

If you take the 30-days extension, you must be aware that before the 90th day expires, you need to exit Thailand.

With the next entry, you will activate another 60-days stay permit

Which you also can extend for 30 more days.

To get the maximum number of days out of this visa, you should therefore enter Thailand as close as you can, to the date of issue

If you exit and re-enter Thailand before the visa validity expires (or any day before this date) you will get stamped in for 60 days for the last time.

You can then still get a 30 days extension of this last 60-days stay permit.

By this method, you can theoretically get almost 9 months of stay in Thailand out of the multi entry tourist visa
Michael ********
The METV can give you nearly 9 months. Check your local embassies website for other requirements. Or just come as tourist 60 + 30 Then weekend away somewhere nearby and repeat process cheap flights with lots of notice
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else