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If you want to stay for a longer period in Thailand,
you must have a Visa! Thai Embassies & Consulates offer different
types of Visa for Thailand:
Important
- When entering Thailand, your passport must be valid for at
least 6 month.
- If you stay in your "own residence" you must report to the nearest Immigration Office within 24 Hours after arrival.
For tourists this is done by the hotel management. (Download
form here)
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The 30 Day Entry stamp:
Since June 1st, 2009 you will get a stamp in your passport on arrival with a temporary permit of stay for 30 days, if you arrive by plane. If you arrive in Thailand by bus, train or car however, you will only get a 15 day permission to stay.
Visa or Border Runs every 15 days to extent your stay in Thailand are only allowed for four times. After that you will have to make an entry by plane, before you can do 15 day visa runs again.
The Tourist Visa
Thai Embassies or Consulates at your home country can issue Tourist Visas, good for 180 days and with up to three entries. Each entry gives you a permission to stay in Thailand for 60 days. With this sort
of Visa and some extensions and visa runs at the right
time, it is possible to stay for up to 210 days in Thailand.
Please note that Thai- Embassies in Thailand's neighboring counties only issue Tourist Visas with one entry and good for 60 days! For the 180 day Visa you'll have to go back to your home country.
The Non Immigrant Visa "O" or "B"
This is the sort of Visa you should really have when you legally
want to stay longer in Thailand. Non Im. "O" is available
for those married with Thai citizens or retirees and "class "B"
for those who want to engage in business in Thailand.
Please note that
a Non Immigrant B Visa is not a work permit! Non Immigrant Visas
are available again at your home county, valid for 1 Year with multiple
entries. Embassies in neighboring
countries however, will issue only 90 days with 1 entry and a stamp
that you have to present a work permit next time you come back. Also
the form "WP3" from the labor department is necessary to
obtain a "B" Visa in neighboring countries. Please see
the work permit page for more details.
Especially retirees with the right papers can obtain Non
IM"O" Visas at the Immigration Office in Bangkok. If
you fulfill the requirements, this Visas can also be extended inside
Thailand for up to one year and you can repeat this extension every
year as long as you fulfill the requirements. (Enough money on the bank
or a regular income) Please read the official
page about this procedure of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok.
© Copyright: 2011-2012: Gerd Winterfeld, Living-In-Thailand.com
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