Which Visa For Me?

[Xivanari]

Hello folks. I am 19 turning 20 this september, and for years now it has been my dream to move to thailand and enjoy a much more simple life living closer with nature and perhaps even living right off of the land if possible. I am thinking of going as soon as possible, in 3 or 4 months at the latest if all works out. I will be able to bring about 258 thousand baht with me when I come, not including my plane ticket there. I have a lot of questions, and could use a lot of help so far as the practical side of moving to thailand goes however.

I am single, and it will be just me by myself moving to thailand. What do I have to do to get a proper travel visa, what is a travel visa, why do i need one, and what are the conditions for applying for said visa. If I decide I want to work when I arrive there, how do I get proper papers to be able to work.

Also, I am a zen buddhist, and have been in training with a monastery here in canada for three years. I would like to seek out a master and find a monastery at which I would like to attain monkhood. Does anyone know of any specifically zen buddhist monasteries in Thailand? I know that most of the buddhists in thailand are theravada buddhists, but I would like to be able to find a Zen monastery if possible.

Thank you very very much for your help with this. I appreciate it greatly.

[naka]

Takin the piis ... right

Naka.

[Jingthing]

There used to be a monk's visa for non-Thais who want to be be monks. I assume that would usually be for a normal monk and don't know if this visa possibility still exists. You could look into an education visa if you can find a Buddhist educational program that is eligible for that where you could study. It seems you would need some kind of religious miracle to actually move for life to Thailand, moneywise and visa-wise. But you do have enough money to at least visit and explore, how about a double entry tourist visa, good for 2 entries of 2 months, with one month extensions available? See just how peaceful it really is here. And how possible is your dream from direct experience first, eh?

Edited August 11, 2007 by Jingthing

[Xivanari]

There used to be a monk's visa for non-Thais who want to be be monks. I assume that would usually be for a normal monk and don't know if this visa possibility still exists. You could look into an education visa if you can find a Buddhist educational program that is eligible for that where you could study. It seems you would need some kind of religious miracle to actually move for life to Thailand, moneywise and visa-wise. But you do have enough money to at least visit and explore, how about a double entry tourist visa, good for 2 entries of 2 months, with one month extensions available? See just how peaceful it really is here. And how possible is your dream from direct experience first, eh?

Well I have about 8000$ canadian for the trip, or about 258 thousand baht. I think that should be more than sufficient.

Also, do I NEED a visa? Like if I were to get the double entry tourist visa or something, and just dont leave, then what happens?

I have a meeting with my current zen master about the issue of the monastery, which one I am going to etc etc this coming tuesday, might speak with her on monday about it though, we will see.

Where do I go to get a travel visa? In the past my parents have taken care of most of the paperwork for my travelling, but this time I obviously should be the one doing all of the paperwork. My father will likely be coming with me to thailand for the first two weeks of the trip. My father and mother have been to thailand before for 2 weeks, just touring, and quite a few friends of mine have been over there doing everything from backpacking trips, to becoming monks, to going on christian mission trips, so I mean I have a fairly good idea of what thailand is "all about" and would really really like to go there, for good.

Why would I need a religious miracle to move to thailand? I have equal to 258 thousand baht for use, and just want the sort of lifestyle where I can settle down and essentially live off the land. I dont intend on spending much money on touring. For the first few months in thailand I plan on backpacking the northern end, visiting monasteries and small villages until I find where I want to settle down.

[Solosiam]

For the first few months in thailand I plan on backpacking the northern end, visiting monasteries and small villages until I find where I want to settle down.

First you need to find a time machine and go back a few hundred years or so, sounds like someone has been watching too much "monkey".

[Cyberstar]

The technical term for the kind of visa you need is: non imm "ED". You should be able to get such a visa, merely by means of some letter from some abbot from some monastery .... Sorry, besides this, I can't help with the precise details, but - yes, it IS possible for a sincere guy to stay in Thailand for years - without money and such - just to practice Buddhism in some monastery accepted as such by immigration... Good luck!