6 months visa

[Tayida]

If travel to Phuket in October,can apply for a six months visa? Thank you.

[ubonjoe]

You cannot apply for any visa that will allow a 6 month stay while in the country.

A tourist visa applied for at a embassy or consulate would allow you 60 day permit to stay on entry that can be extended 30 days. At this time you could apply for 60 day covid 19 extension at immigration after the 30 day extension.

[DrJack54]

OP, Ubonjoe advice has you covered.

 

Just note that you could enter visa exempt if from country that has that arrangement with Thailand. That gives a 45 day stay then you can obtain 30 day standard extension followed by 60 day covid extensions. That would cover 6 month stay.

[Tayida]

41 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, Ubonjoe advice has you covered.

 

Just note that you could enter visa exempt if from country that has that arrangement with Thailand. That gives a 45 day stay then you can obtain 30 day standard extension followed by 60 day covid extensions. That would cover 6 month stay.

Yes, but I read that should be end September 31st.

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, Tayida said:

Yes, but I read that should be end September 31st.

I think the 45 days will be be expended beyond the 30th. Only if the 14 day quarantine ends will it not be extended.

You still would get 30 anyway. The will not stop allowing visa exempt entries.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Tayida said:

Yes, but I read that should be end September 31st.

Unlikely.

You can always go the tourist visa path if you feel more comfortable with that option. 

I'm out of touch with cost of the tourist visa. It does provide 15 days more however with covid extensions readily available it's obvious why many are currently entering visa exempt.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

think they would allow one way tix in LOS, as this was my style pre covid and getting a 30 exempt?

Flying visa exempt you will need onward flight. 

It's airline requirement for boarding. Not an immigration requirement.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Been going to LOS yearly since 2008..all ONE way apart from my last trip---never had a visa either

Yes I have seen reports the same as yours and no reason to doubt them.

 

From which country and which airline did you fly visa exempt without onward flight. 

I can assure you that most airlines will insist upon it.

BTW this requirement was in place pre covid

Edited September 1, 2021 by DrJack54

[BritTim]

47 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm out of touch with cost of the tourist visa. It does provide 15 days more however with covid extensions readily available it's obvious why many are currently entering visa exempt.

To expand on this a little:

• Currently, if planning to stay in Thailand 75 days or less, there is absolutely no advantage to a tourist visa. The 45 days plus 30-day extension you receive routinely from a visa exempt entry is the easy solution.
• If planning to stay exactly between 76 and 90 days, a tourist visa in advance makes sense. It ensures that you will always be able to stay just with the guaranteed 60 days on entry and 30-day extension.
• If planning to stay as long as possible on a tourist entry (more than 90 days) I believe a visa exempt entry is the logical choice. The 15 days extra you receive with a tourist visa could, in theory, mean that you end up ultimately with less time on your tourist entry (or it could be more). It all depends on when the current practice of granting 60-day Covid extensions ends. If you are lucky, the Covid extensions will end such that you are just eligible for a final Covid extension based on your current permission to stay. It could be that the 15 days extra from the beginning of your stay just disqualifies you from a final Covid extension as Covid extensions end just too early.

It should be obvious that anyone hoping to stay many months on a tourist entry needs to have backup plans. That could, for instance be, if necessary, moving to an education visa in-country. That is just as easily done whether entering visa exempt or with a tourist visa.

[BritTim]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:58 AM, DrJack54 said:

From which country and which airline did you fly visa exempt without onward flight. 

I can assure you that most airlines will insist upon it.

Those of a nervous disposition should definitely have an onward flight booking if trying to fly to Thailand without a visa.

 

That said, up until two years ago, I frequently flew into Thailand, sometimes with and sometimes without a visa. If intending visa exempt entry, it is up to the airline supervisor whether to insist on an onward flight booking. Several times, I have had to sign a special form guaranteeing to indemnify the airline against any costs they incur by flying me to Thailand without following the official regulations. I am quite sure that the airline supervisor will eye you up and down before deciding whether to allow you to sign an indemnification form and check you in. You are unlikely to be offered this option if you look like a backpacker.

[Greenwich Boy]

On 9/1/2021 at 9:43 AM, Sticky Rice Balls said:

think they would allow one way tix in LOS, as this was my style pre covid and getting a 30 exempt?

Just 'rent a ticket' from Thailand to anywhere. Cost $12 or so. I have used them plenty of times at check in as proof of onward travel.

[Salerno]

6 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Elaborate please...never heard of renting tix--only girls in thailand ????

There are various sites where you can buy "real" tickets for $10-$20; "real" in that if they are checked in the system it will show up (but you obviously can't use them). For example:

https://onewayfly.com

https://bestonwardticket.com

https://onward.flights

[Salerno]

2 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I learn something new here everyday!  Cheers!

You're welcome. It's another one of those "who would have thought!" business models. Of course another option is to just edit a PDF of a past flight and hope they don't physically check if asked for proof of outbound flight.

[Greenwich Boy]

31 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Elaborate please...never heard of renting tix--only girls in thailand ????

Hopeless at providing a link but check out www.bestonwardticket.com  

One of many providers. Process is also explained on home page.

I nearly always get one of these if flying one way. Only had show twice at check in.

[Salerno]

1 minute ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

As im assuming the embassy would need this to approve a COE.....(sigh)

Yeah, the editing a PDF I would say is an even dumber move than normal if it's for a COE (wasn't thinking of that scenario, just for a "jobsworth" at checkin in normal times).

[Greenwich Boy]

4 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Ive done LOS a dozen times with one way tix but only really been questioned once and still allowed me to go..never gone with a visa either

I prefer to have the ticket, even just for reassurance. Also I get my plans queried often (have sat in the naughty chair at immigration in Singapore and Bali for a 'chat') I even get my hand luggage weighed.

Must have a guilty face!

[ubonjoe]

24 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

As im assuming the embassy would need this to approve a COE.....(sigh)

It is not required for the COE. They only want to see a ticket to here.