Six months in Thailand: which visa option(s) do I have?

[rudi49jr]

I will be in Thailand for 6 months, from October until the end of March 2026. If I like living there, I will be applying for a non-O retirement visa when I get back home. Applying for a non-O now is not an option, since I am not retired yet.

 

I don’t think I qualify for a DTV, since I am neither a digital nomad nor a remote worker. Or does anyone know a way around this?

Apparently they don’t do Special Tourist Visas at the Thai embassy in The Netherlands (I’m Dutch), so that doesn’t seem to be an option either.

I guess what remains is the ordinary 60-day tourist visa, which I then have to extend twice while in Thailand. Is that possible, or would I have to do a visa run?

 

Would really appreciate your input and/or advice.

[Upnotover]

You will have to leave and re-enter at least once to get the 6 months you want. You can enter visa exempt or tourist visa but you'll still have to extend in country and leave once. But it's easy enough to do. 

 

For a "retirement" visa you don't have to be retired, only have to be over 50. But that in any case would only give you 90 days so probably not what you want for this trip.

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

I will be in Thailand for 6 months, from October until the end of March 2026. If I like living there, I will be applying for a non-O retirement visa when I get back home. Applying for a non-O now is not an option, since I am not retired yet.

 

From the other questions in your post you seem very unaware of Thailand. 

Non O is not based on retirement it's based on being 50+ years old. 

Do you have a Thai bank account. 

24 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

I don’t think I qualify for a DTV, since I am neither a digital nomad nor a remote worker. Or does anyone know a way around this?

Again.. Very little research. "Digital Nomad" is one option. 

Soft power option are available. 

Many sites provided information

https://dtv.in.th/th

 

24 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

I guess what remains is the ordinary 60-day tourist visa, which I then have to extend twice while in Thailand. Is that possible, or would I have to do a visa run?

 

If visa exempt remains at 60 days there is not much value in a SETV. 

Also you can only extend visa exempt and SETV once by 30days.

So yes you would need a border run. 

 

Honestly seems you have never been to Thailand and having a 6 month visit to see if it's an option for ongoing living. 

[rudi49jr]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

From the other questions in your post you seem very unaware of Thailand. 

Non O is not based on retirement it's based on being 50+ years old. 

Do you have a Thai bank account. 

Again.. Very little research. "Digital Nomad" is one option. 

Soft power option are available. 

If visa exempt remains at 60 days there is not much value in a SETV. 

Also you can only extend visa exempt and SETV once by 30days.

So yes you would need a border run. 

 

Honestly seems you have never been to Thailand and having a 6 month visit to see if it's an option for ongoing living. 

“Soft power option are available.”
 

At the risk of seeming even more ignorant than you apparently already think I am: what is a ‘soft power option’? Because I have no idea what that means.

 

I do appreciate your input, though.

[DrJack54]

56 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

At the risk of seeming even more ignorant than you apparently already think I am: what is a ‘soft power option’? Because I have no idea what that means

I added link to my first post. 

Here is another. 

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand-visa/dtv-visa-thailand# 

 

Mind you thinking Non Of retirement + annual 12 month extensions best option. 

 

In fact suggest you obtain the Non O in home country. 

Enter Thailand and receive 90 day stamp. 

If you have a good vibe then transfer 800k baht in anticipation of obtaining a 12 month extension. 

If things change you have not backed yourself into a corner. 

You can scrap the plan at any time. 

 

[geisha]

I’ve been doing this for years ( since they canceled double entry visas) but I always stay under 6 months , as I don’t want to be a tax resident in Thailand. ( over 180 days you are classed as a tax resident ). Also I do not want to loose the advantages I have in my home country , excellent free health care .

So for 5 months, I come in under Visa exempt 60 days , ( under the current law ) I extend this at my local immigration office , easy to do ,30 days ,  for 1900 baht.

Then I do a border hop, sometimes I go to Penang , sometimes Cambodia or even further. Stay there a week on a nice break, then fly back to Thailand and do it all again,60 days Visa exempt and when I need it an extension 30 days  at Immigration. 
ive never encountered a problem .I think they are fine when you do not abuse this system or do overstay. 
If you don’t know Thailand , I do advise staying a while before making up your mind to jump in eyes closed. 

years back my plan was to retire here, but now I am  glad I didnt. 
For visas look at the Thai embassy we line of Holland. 

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, geisha said:

So for 5 months, I come in under Visa exempt 60 days , ( under the current law ) I extend this at my local immigration office , easy to do ,30 days ,  for 1900 baht.

Your personal choice may  not be what the OP has in mind. 

In addition visa exempt providing 60 days may not be ongoing. 

Comments re taxation etc is how You perceive things.

[geisha]

I did say under the current law for exempt 60 days. As for taxation, I think anyone thinking of coming to Thailand to live / retire , should be aware of the 180 day rule.  It doesn’t suit everyone and as far as I’ve seen there is much hanging in the air .