Living In Thailand For More Than 30 Days As A Tourist

[stanny]

Hi all,

I am Malaysian and I plan to come to Bangkok and stay for about 2-3 months. I wouldn't have any troubles renting an apartment would I? Secondly, I understand that I don't need any visa for 30 days. After that, should I return to my country (I have to visit my brother anyway) and re-enter Thailand? Will that prolong my stay for another 30 days? I am not very sure how it works.

Thank you

[lopburi3]

You will receive a 30 day permitted to stay stamp on arrival. You can stay up to 90 days in a six month period using this system. You would need a tourist visa if you want to stay longer.

[farangsay]

Actually I was waiting for somebody more knowledgeable (and lopburi3 certainly qualifies) because I wasn't sure of the possibilities for a Malaysian citizen.

You would probably be best to get a tourist visa (good for 60 days) in KL or Penang. This can be extended for a further 30 days in Bangkok. This will cost you 1000b (or 100 RM) in Malaysia and 1900b for the extension.

If you need to go back to Malaysia during this period you can get a re-entry permit in Bangkok preserving the validity of your visa.

A 2/3 month rental on an apartment might not be so easy. Most owners are looking for six months minimum. You could always rent one and leave after three months , you'll just lose your deposit (you might not get it back anyway ).

If you know Bangkok you could try this site , that's how I find mine.

http://www.mrroomfinder.com/index.php

Good luck

[stanny]

I am not sure if I will be coming back so I don't think I'll opt for the tourist visa in the beginning. However, will this situation work? I come to Thailand without a visa, I get a stamp and am allowed to stay for 30 days. I go back to Malaysia at the end of the 30 day period. I apply for a tourist visa in Malaysia and get to stay in Thailand for 60 days. I decide to stay longer than 60 days in Thailand and apply for an extension of 30 days. Won't that allow me to stay for a total of 120 days?

I already have a place in mind and have been contacting them, they quoted me for a one month rate so I assume they rent out for a month. It's in Sathorn road, a good place to stay as a Thai newbie?

Thanks!

[lopburi3]

That should work.

Sathorn is a central business area (although Bangkok has many) and has good access to both subway (at the park end) and skytrain towards the river end.

[stanny]

Thanks lopburi3, I have no worries then!

Edited June 29, 2007 by stanny

[astral]

Get a tourist visa, valid for 60 days then extend for another 30 days (1900 baht)

then no need to pop home every month, unless Mum requires it.

[kiakaha]

I am not sure if I will be coming back so I don't think I'll opt for the tourist visa in the beginning. However, will this situation work? I come to Thailand without a visa, I get a stamp and am allowed to stay for 30 days. I go back to Malaysia at the end of the 30 day period. I apply for a tourist visa in Malaysia and get to stay in Thailand for 60 days. I decide to stay longer than 60 days in Thailand and apply for an extension of 30 days. Won't that allow me to stay for a total of 120 days?

I already have a place in mind and have been contacting them, they quoted me for a one month rate so I assume they rent out for a month. It's in Sathorn road, a good place to stay as a Thai newbie?

Thanks!

Ascott Sathorn, Somsert Suan Plu,Siri Sathorn etc... all very nice(5 star hotel calibre, all the ammenities you could want) , very handy to Chong Nonsi and Surasak skytrain stops which will take you up to Silom,Sukhumvit in a few minutes or down to Saphan Taksin for a bit of river life. All major embassies are close by, major multinationals have their operations in this area(Empire tower, PWC building etc..),..so there are lots of westerners and western things around intermingled with all the thai stuff...Lumpini park is very near as is the Lumpini subway station for access up Rachadapisek Rd and out to China Town(Hua Lompong). Traffic is bad...but easily alleviated by motorcycle taxis + skytrain. Enough from me..use Google Earth

[SGDude]

I am in a similar situation. I am from Singapore and I would like to travel in Thailand for more than 30 days.

According to ministry of foreign affairs' web site here:

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2490

passport holders from 40 countries and 1 special administrative region – Hong Kong SAR – are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days on each visit. Foreigners who enter the Kingdom under the Tourist Visa Exemption category may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry.

I do not need to apply for a visa. I checked my passport when I last travelled to Thailand, the immigration chop said I could stay there for 30 days. I am not sure what some of you guys are suggesting when you say we should apply a 60-day tourist visa when the Thai government says we don't need to?

Even if I stay for the maximum 90 days, I still cannot re-enter Thailand in a 6 month period. Let's say I travel to Thailand for 3 months and I come back home, I have to wait for another 3 more months before I can enter Thailand again, isn't that right? That means I can't do visa runs?

[Crossy]

I do not need to apply for a visa. I checked my passport when I last travelled to Thailand, the immigration chop said I could stay there for 30 days. I am not sure what some of you guys are suggesting when you say we should apply a 60-day tourist visa when the Thai government says we don't need to? Because it gives you 60 days on arrival (extend by a further 30 days at immigration too) and there is no requirement for you to have an onward air ticket within 30 days. Our OP did after all ask about staying LONGER than 30 days

Even if I stay for the maximum 90 days, I still cannot re-enter Thailand in a 6 month period. Let's say I travel to Thailand for 3 months and I come back home, I have to wait for another 3 more months before I can enter Thailand again, isn't that right? That means I can't do visa runs? If you arrive without a visa you can stay for a maximum of 30 days per trip, doing a border run will get you another 30 days subject to you meeting the onward travel requirements. You can do this untill you hit the 90 days in 6 months rule.

Do note that any arrival with a proper visa does not count on the 90 day totting up rule so you can stay as long as you like assuming you have a visa

Edited July 1, 2007 by Crossy

[SGDude]

In other words, I may simply go to the Thai embassy in my country and apply for a 60 day tourist visa and extend it by another 30 days in Thailand, and once this 90 days is over, I may repeat the process?

[Mid]

yep 64$ ? is how many times ??

[present]

I always do it like Astra and Farang mentioned. a 60 day visum with a month extension.The cheapest formula in to look for a mansion. I don't know any in BKK but in Chiang Mai you have Wipanan mansion and if you book for three months ,you can stay at 5000 baht a month.For one month they ask 6000 baht.Viangbua Mansion is more luxurous and more expensive 12000 baht a month,also in CM of course,but I am sure you can find mansions in BKK too.

yep 64$ ? is how many times ??

[zeusbheld]

In other words, I may simply go to the Thai embassy in my country and apply for a 60 day tourist visa and extend it by another 30 days in Thailand, and once this 90 days is over, I may repeat the process?

near as i can tell as long as you use visas rather than stamps you can repeat as often as you want. been doing a combo of visas and stamps since the new rules started (i don't want to get a work visa because well... the sponsors might expect me to actually work).

[genyee]

In other words, I may simply go to the Thai embassy in my country and apply for a 60 day tourist visa and extend it by another 30 days in Thailand, and once this 90 days is over, I may repeat the process?

near as i can tell as long as you use visas rather than stamps you can repeat as often as you want. been doing a combo of visas and stamps since the new rules started (i don't want to get a work visa because well... the sponsors might expect me to actually work).

[genyee]

In other words, I may simply go to the Thai embassy in my country and apply for a 60 day tourist visa and extend it by another 30 days in Thailand, and once this 90 days is over, I may repeat the process?

near as i can tell as long as you use visas rather than stamps you can repeat as often as you want. been doing a combo of visas and stamps since the new rules started (i don't want to get a work visa because well... the sponsors might expect me to actually work).

If depend where you are now, If you are visiting Thailand by air or By road from Malaysia, you will be grated a 30 days stay upon arrival at any check point.Such stay is extendablle at Immigration head ofifice in Bangkok or such branches auhtorised with that right.This is comonly termed as arriving visa which is different from Non immigrant Visa.

You may apply from any Thai consulate or embassy in Malaysia or any countries you are residing in,for a tourist visa or any immigrant visa, all of which grant 90 days stay in Thailand. Such visa holder normaly is granted 60 daya stay upon cheched in. Another 30 days is extendable at immigration office.You may be granted 90 days stay or even 30 days stay, the only difference is that if you are granted lesser than 90 days stay, and if you wish to stay longer than those approved stamped period,you have to extend the stay up to 90 days from the date you use that visa to enter Thailand with some payment of extention fees.

You can even extrend a little bit more longer after expiration of 90 days stay in Thailand.There is no visa fees imposed on Malaysian Passport.

Apartment can be arranged for normaly at a contract period of at least 4 months.If you need futher help.I am Malaysian chinese living in Bangkok since 2001.

genyee

[bruceboy]

Who not apply for a toursit visa before you leave KL? This would save time and money IMHO.