I have an elderly couple of friends from Belgium who want to come and spend 2 maybe 3 months here with me in Chiang Mai. They old me it's very complicated to get a 60 or 90 day tourist visa at the Thai Embassy in Belgium. Apparently they need a letter of invitation, bank statements and a hole bunch of other paper requirements plus numerous trips back and forth to the Embassy to finally get the visa. Is this correct? Doesn't sound right to me as I have had friends come from other countries for 2 months and none of this was required. Is this new? What would be an alternative for them to be able to come with less hassles ? Come on a 30 day visa exempt and then get an extension for another 30 days and then another one again for 30 days to be able to say 3 months? Any advice would be greatly apprciated

The embassy website show this. https://www.thaiembassy.be/visa/?lang=en#Tourist Visa

"1 copy of a confirmed hotel reservation OR an invitation letter/mail from a person in Thailand with a full address and 1 copy of this person’s identity card + proof that this person lives in Thailand (confirmation for at least half of your stay !)

Copy of 6-month bank statement with a minimum balance of 600 Euros (Single Entry Tourist Visa) or 6,000 Euros (for the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa)"

Not sure why it would require numerous trips to do the application.

I suggest they contact one of the 3 honorary consulates that may not have such stringent requirements.

 https://www.thaiembassy.be/honourary-consulates/?lang=en

The consulate in Antwerp has different requirements. http://www.thaiconsulate.be/portal.php?p=regelgeving.htm&afdeling=nl

They could do it with visa exempt entries and a extension but the problem might be the need for a ticket out of the country within 30 days to board their flight to here.

Hi Annabel,

 

They have probably been looking at the wrong Visa type, as it is not complicated at all to apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa at the thai embassy/consulate in Belgium.

 

The requirements to apply for a 60-day Tourist Visa at the thai embassy in Brussels are on this link

https://www.thaiembassy.be/visa/?lang=en#Tourist Visa

When more conventient distance-wise, they can also apply for such a Visa at the Honorary thai Consulate in Berchem (Antwerpen).

http://www.thaiconsulate.be/?p=regelgeving.htm&afdeling=nl

Please note that the requirements are not identical when applying at the embassy or at the consulate (e.g. different application form to be used).

 

If it is too difficult for them to apply for the 60-day Tourist Visa (which can be extended by an additional 30 days once in Thailand), they can also enter Thailand Visa Exempt which will get them a 30 day permission to stay which can be extended with an additional 30 days).  When they want to stay longer they would have to make a border-run during the 60 days they are her (which might actually be a good option when they also want to visit Laos for a couple of days during their stay).

 

Note that when you would host them, you would have to register your place and file a TM30 of them staying there, as that might be required when they apply for an extension of stay.

 

>> PM me if you have specific questions.

Just follow the list of requirements, it is very easy.
My friend did it in November.
Takes one trip to apply and one to retrieve (not 'numerous')
Bank statements can be printed.
If you don't have invitation letter, hotelreservations will do.
The Antwerp consulate has become more of a pain in recent years;
staff and consul are rude.

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by orchis
added text

3 hours ago, orchis said:

Just follow the list of requirements, it is very easy.
My friend did it in November.
Takes one trip to apply and one to retrieve (not 'numerous')
Bank statements can be printed.
If you don't have invitation letter, hotel-reservations will do.
The Antwerp consulate has become more of a pain in recent years;
staff and consul are rude.

Agree that the sourly old witch that never smiles at the Antwerp honorary consulate, is rude and far from service-minded.  The consul himself however is a friendly helpful gentleman.

When you followed the instructions according to their website, there will be no problem applying there.

Edited January 3, 20206 yr by Peter Denis

Thank you to all for your help and advice

Very much appreciated !! Will pass on all info to the concerned people

Thanks Again!!