Staying in Thailand for one year

[RandolphGB]

Hi., I'm from the UK and want to stay in Thailand for around 12 months starting from January 2018. This would include at least two short trips back to the UK as well as a few flights to neighbouring Asia countries for short breaks.

 

What are the different visa options for this if I'm working during the year? 

 

Also, what are the visa options if I'm not working? 

 

I don't like the idea of having to make 12 border runs or return every month to buy the new visa stamp. 

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

[BritTim]

If you are not working, and can meet the requirements, given that you plan trips back to the UK, multiple entry tourist visas (METV) might be best. These allow unlimited 60-day entries into Thailand for six months from the date of issue. If desired, it is possible to get a single 30-day extension of each 60-day stay at an immigration office inside Thailand on payment of 1,900 baht.

 

The other obvious non working option is a student visa (Non Ed) probably to learn Thai. This can facilitate a stay of a year or two with no need to leave the country. There are obvious cost implications and, these days, the better schools do expect you to study.

 

Before you can consider a working or volunteer visa, you need to identify a qualified employer/NGO. You might be able to find something once in the country, but (unless willing to pay to be a volunteer) you are unlikely to arrange anything ahead of time from the UK.

[RandolphGB]

Thanks for the reply. I'm self employed so can earn everything from a computer. Are there any visas for self-employed people who want to work while in Thailand?

[JackThompson]

29 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Thanks for the reply. I'm self employed so can earn everything from a computer. Are there any visas for self-employed people who want to work while in Thailand?

No, unfortunately.  There is no way to get a work-permit, unless working for a Thai company or Thai subsidiary of a company, so it is technically illegal - even if not in any way taking a "Thai job."  That said, this pre-internet law - not updated since "distance work" has become possible - is not being enforced.  Even those openly doing it in "shared workspace" places are not being rounded up.  But, best advise is to keep this to yourself.

 

One exception I know of - but only if willing to sacrifice 33% of gross receipts - there is a company called "iglu" which can get you a work-permit, allowing a Non-B Visa, by billing a minimum of ~$2000 (USD) / mo through them.  That works out to ~$650 / mo for a visa and work-permit. 

 

Since you plan to do some traveling, what BritTim suggested are your best options. 

 

Note on the ED visa option - if you leave and return using a re-entry permit (which keeps your extension-of-stay valid), you may get hassled at many airports by Immigration upon your return.  There is also the matter of getting your 3-mo extensions, which may require paying the school an "extra fee" to facilitate the process with Immigration.  This option is best for those who want to "stay put" in Thailand, and/or only leave/return via friendly land-borders. 

 

I'd say the METV should be your First choice.  Then follow-up with a Tourist Visa obtained at a nearby consulate (Vientiane would be a good choice), to complete your 1-year plan.

 

Note: Have 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks on every entry to Thailand - especially after being here awhile - as this is a written-rule which is selectively enforced - especially at airports and on those with a longer-stay history.

[gk10002000]

Yeah, the problem with the METV is it presumes employment and a job, etc.  Many people have plenty of financial resources from savings or passive income such as dividends and interest and do not need to work.  Unfortunately, that is not what the METV is looking for as written.  If not the METV, you can get single entry tourist visas (SETV).  They are good for 60 days, and can be renewed for an additional 30 days.  Should not be too much trouble to get one or two during the year.  Try to minimize the number of SETVs you get in one year though.  There seems to be some sensitivity to how many one gets, even if returning home each time you leave Thailand or  traveling to a neighboring country.

[BritTim]

On the METV, do not take all of the published requirements too literally. The most important criteria as far as the Royal Thai embassy in the UK is concerned is that you have plenty of money. If you can show a healthy and consistent bank balance over a sustained period, there are ways to finesse the other requirements.

 

By the way, you do not mention your age. If you are over 50, there are alternative (probably better) options.

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, RandolphGB said:

Thanks for the reply. I'm self employed so can earn everything from a computer. Are there any visas for self-employed people who want to work while in Thailand?

No. All work is prohibited without permission, which you won't get.

 

As long as whatever you do online isn't illegal then the authorities are highly unlikely to ever have an issue with you're online work. However, as working is, by the letter of the law, illegal without permission, it's best to do what thousands of others do and not disclose your work.

[FritsSikkink]

You can get a single entry tourist visa in the UK easily, gives you 60 days which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (3 months total)

Go to a neighboring country come back get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 5 months total) 

Back to the UK get a single entry tourist visa in the UK easily, gives you 60 days which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (3 months, 8 moths total)

Go to a neighboring country come back get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 10 months total) 

Back to the UK get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 12 months total) 

[SpokaneAl]

If you are old enough I suggest that you consider obtaining a non imm o-a multi entry visa while you are in the UK. With that visa your only encounter with local Thai immigration will be your 90 day report, assuming that you stay in the country for 90 days consecutively.

[JackThompson]

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

You can get a single entry tourist visa in the UK easily, gives you 60 days which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (3 months total)

Go to a neighboring country come back get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 5 months total) 

Back to the UK get a single entry tourist visa in the UK easily, gives you 60 days which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (3 months, 8 moths total)

Go to a neighboring country come back get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 10 months total) 

Back to the UK get a 30 day visa exemption at immigration which you can extend by 30 days within Thailand. (2months, 12 months total) 

Only If he cannot get an METV - which a fat bank-balance would probably resolve (even without "a job" reference) - then this would work, assuming the timing of his visits home.

 

But, I would suggest the trips to neighboring countries include getting a new Thai Tourist Visa there, when possible.  It gets one 60-days for 1000 Baht, vs 1900 Baht for an extension of a 30-day Visa-Exempt entry, and is less subject to rejection by Immigration, after he has been here awhile.

 

Visa-exempt entries can be problematic at airports, because they are issued at the discretion of Immigration, who don't appreciate visitors with a "longer-stay" pattern using them.  But they can be handy at land-borders (2 max per calendar year) if unable to get a Tourist Visa in the other country, for some reason.

[RandolphGB]

It looks like METV could be the best. Some points I'm unsure about...

 

• Original bank statement of the applicant showing a balance of least £5,000 (for 6 months) or a print out with official stamp of the bank.

Once or twice over the last few months this has dipped below 5k as I move cash into easy-access savings accounts or investments.  Can savings accounts statements also be used?

 

Secondly, showing a self-employed tax return or company registration number. Would the Thai embassy not ask questions about how the applicant would be earning money during the stay?

 

 

The technicalities of the trip will involve a large number short meetings with different contacts related to my business. I was hoping to spread these out every week or fortnight as there's travelling involved between each one, and mix the trip with seeing new sights. At some point I'll have to return to the UK for a month or two. 

 

How long needs to have passed after the end of the six month METV before a re-application for a six-month METV or a 60-day tourist visa can be applied for?

 

 

What I'm thinking is...

 

• METV for 6 months
• Return to UK for one month / two months
• Tourist Visa for 2 months plus 30 day extension 

 

The other option is an education visa as I genuinely want to learn to speak Thai. But I read somewhere people have to attend classes every day. Once or twice a week I wouldn't mind but there's no way I'm going every day. 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Can savings accounts statements also be used?

Yes

16 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

Would the Thai embassy not ask questions about how the applicant would be earning money during the stay?

No they will not.

16 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

How long needs to have passed after the end of the six month METV before a re-application for a six-month METV or a 60-day tourist visa can be applied for?

You could apply as soon as it expired or shortly before.There is no waiting time required.

16 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

But I read somewhere people have to attend classes every day.

The minimum attendance is 2 hours a day 4 days a week.

[JackThompson]

4 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

The other option is an education visa as I genuinely want to learn to speak Thai. But I read somewhere people have to attend classes every day. Once or twice a week I wouldn't mind but there's no way I'm going every day. 

Expanding on what I wrote above on this - another option is a 1-year Multiple-Entry (ME) Non-ED Visa from an official Thai consulate in your home-country, if they will provide it.  Given you will be traveling frequently, that would be your best option.   You would need to leave the country at least every 90-days, but would not have to apply for "extensions of stay" from Immigration in Thailand.  Every time you return, until the "enter before" date on the visa (dated 1-year after you apply for it), you get a fresh 90-days

 

If that is not an option, make sure your school will "arrange" your extensions from a Single-Entry Non-ED, which has only 90-days initial-stay.  With the "arrangement" (for an extra fee), you get 90-day extensions and no hassles.  With the Single-Entry, you would still need to apply for a re-entry permit each time you depart Thailand, to keep your last "permitted stay" date valid when you return.

With either option, if flying in, don't be surprised if Airport-Immigration give you hell - they do not like ED Visas (many reports confirm this).  I would be sure to have proof of your ongoing studies, a contact-number at the school, a letter from the school explaining their accommodation of your travel-absences, plus 20K Baht worth of cash or travelers checks each time you enter Thailand.  Explain that you have business to conduct outside of Thailand (never in Thailand), but study the entire time you are in-country.

[SiSePuede419]

Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

✓ "Self employed" and can run everything "from a computer". 

 

✓ Moves cash out of account into other "savings" accounts and "investments". 

 

✓ Runs everything from a computer in the UK, but when coming to Thailand suddenly needs to hold a large number [of] "short meetings with different contacts related to my business". 

 

Quite odd none of your business contacts in Asia have computers or telephones and these "meetings" have to be done in person.

 

So, they're all poor rice farmers who can't afford even a mobile with Line or Skype.

 

Right.  Sure.  OK.

 

Makes complete sense to me. ?

https://media.giphy.com/media/Yl5aO3gdVfsQ0/giphy.gif

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BritTim]

27 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Runs everything from a computer in the UK, but when coming to Thailand suddenly needs to hold a large number [of] "short meetings with different contacts related to my business". 

In the past, I have worked in a very similar manner to the OP. Using online meeting software is a viable alternative when meeting in person is impractical. However, the face-to-face meeting is always preferable when easy to arrange. I find it quite credible that any contacts in Thailand would like to meet in person when they know both parties will be in the same city.

 

That said, when clients are in Thailand, and you are doing work for them here, it is not clear that the general tolerance for digital nomads will apply. The authorities generally expect someone to have a work permit when working here for Thai clients.

[elviajero]

8 hours ago, RandolphGB said:

Secondly, showing a self-employed tax return or company registration number. Would the Thai embassy not ask questions about how the applicant would be earning money during the stay?

No. The reason you have to show £5K is to prove you have the funds to cover your stay/time off work.

[RandolphGB]

On 30/11/2017 at 5:54 AM, SiSePuede419 said:

Correct me if I'm wrong...

 

✓ "Self employed" and can run everything "from a computer". 

 

✓ Moves cash out of account into other "savings" accounts and "investments". 

 

✓ Runs everything from a computer in the UK, but when coming to Thailand suddenly needs to hold a large number [of] "short meetings with different contacts related to my business". 

 

Quite odd none of your business contacts in Asia have computers or telephones and these "meetings" have to be done in person.

 

So, they're all poor rice farmers who can't afford even a mobile with Line or Skype.

 

Right.  Sure.  OK.

 

Makes complete sense to me. ?

https://media.giphy.com/media/Yl5aO3gdVfsQ0/giphy.gif

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's nothing like meeting people face to face. 

[onera1961]

On 11/30/2017 at 12:27 AM, BritTim said:

In the past, I have worked in a very similar manner to the OP. Using online meeting software is a viable alternative when meeting in person is impractical. However, the face-to-face meeting is always preferable when easy to arrange. I find it quite credible that any contacts in Thailand would like to meet in person when they know both parties will be in the same city.

 

That said, when clients are in Thailand, and you are doing work for them here, it is not clear that the general tolerance for digital nomads will apply. The authorities generally expect someone to have a work permit when working here for Thai clients.

MY general understanding is that meeting clients, teaching classes, doing market research, or even helping client to resolve their problems. explore market opportunities, etc. are all considered "working" in all countries and it is denied on a tourist visa in all countries. Watched too many episodes of UK boarder Force TV series. :)

[BritTim]

28 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

MY general understanding is that meeting clients, teaching classes, doing market research, or even helping client to resolve their problems. explore market opportunities, etc. are all considered "working" in all countries and it is denied on a tourist visa in all countries. Watched too many episodes of UK boarder Force TV series. :)

There are published guidelines that state "business meetings" on tourist visas without work permits are officially tolerated. I would guess unpaid "market research" would also be OK. For the rest, the Alien Employment Act has a very broad definition of "work". Those who are risk averse should be careful.