What is currently the best way for a Laotian to stay long term in Thailand?

Nothing different than anybody else unless they are working here and can qualify for a non-la visa that allows a two year stay.

They can apply for a multiple entry tourist visa at the embassy in Vientiane or Savannakhet.

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing different than anybody else unless they are working here and can qualify for a non-la visa that allows a two year stay.

They can apply for a multiple entry tourist visa at the embassy in Vientiane or Savannakhet.

thank you Joe

do you have a link to details about that non-la visa?

the L-A visa is a work visa so they would need a job in advance to get one
best to go thru an agent in Laos

same process for Burmese/laos/khmer

 

1) Requires an Employer.

2) Employer needs to apply to Labour for a quota, this requires demonstrating need (contracts, etc), although I know some individual householders have got a quota to employ a Burmese Maid.

3) Once the Employer has a quota from Labour (letter with a one year validity period stating how many workers can be employed), then the worker needs a Non Immigrant LA Visa stamp (Single Entry - 2 Years) - there are specialist brokers who can arrange these visas.

4) An Initial address registration is required at Immigration (in addition to any TM6 card held).

4) Once the Worker has the Non LA Stamp then a health check needs to be made at a clinic for Burmese Workers (again there are brokers who can arrange this), if all is ok a hospital card will be issued costing 2,500 THB which entles the Migrant holder to 30 Baht Health care (same as for Thai workers).

5) Once the Hospital Card is sorted then the WP can be applied for - it's a sheet of paper rather than a Blue Book - cost around 2.000 THB.

6) The WP is specific to the Amphoe where the WP is based rather than the Province, as is the case with the regular WPs.

7) 90 day address reporting is required at the Migrant Section of Local Thai Immigration.

???? Just before the Non LA Passport Stamp expires then a WP Holder can apply to immigration for a two year extension of permission to stay.

 

This can than be extend another 2 years without leaving thailand.

 

I went thru this process for Khmer,

1st 2 years cost me 21,000 and one trip back to Cambodia

2nd 2 years cost me 10,000 and no trips neded other than to the labor office

 

OR

get married to a thai or expat on a long term visa here  ????

1 hour ago, phuketrichard said:

the L-A visa is a work visa so they would need a job in advance to get one
best to go thru an agent in Laos

same process for Burmese/laos/khmer

 

1) Requires an Employer.

2) Employer needs to apply to Labour for a quota, this requires demonstrating need (contracts, etc), although I know some individual householders have got a quota to employ a Burmese Maid.

3) Once the Employer has a quota from Labour (letter with a one year validity period stating how many workers can be employed), then the worker needs a Non Immigrant LA Visa stamp (Single Entry - 2 Years) - there are specialist brokers who can arrange these visas.

4) An Initial address registration is required at Immigration (in addition to any TM6 card held).

4) Once the Worker has the Non LA Stamp then a health check needs to be made at a clinic for Burmese Workers (again there are brokers who can arrange this), if all is ok a hospital card will be issued costing 2,500 THB which entles the Migrant holder to 30 Baht Health care (same as for Thai workers).

5) Once the Hospital Card is sorted then the WP can be applied for - it's a sheet of paper rather than a Blue Book - cost around 2.000 THB.

6) The WP is specific to the Amphoe where the WP is based rather than the Province, as is the case with the regular WPs.

7) 90 day address reporting is required at the Migrant Section of Local Thai Immigration.

???? Just before the Non LA Passport Stamp expires then a WP Holder can apply to immigration for a two year extension of permission to stay.

 

This can than be extend another 2 years without leaving thailand.

 

I went thru this process for Khmer,

1st 2 years cost me 21,000 and one trip back to Cambodia

2nd 2 years cost me 10,000 and no trips neded other than to the labor office

 

OR

get married to a thai or expat on a long term visa here  ????

thank you Richard for this detailed information!

very useful and very appreciated

Afaik Laotians get a 30 day visa exempt (another one than the one we westerners get), which doesn't have any limitation to it, so it can be done back to back. Would of course require regular border hops, so might not be an option if living far from the border.