Hi,

I've come to Thailand every year in the last decade and always apply for 90 day non-immigrant visa. Next year I plan to stay in Thailand a bit longer than 90 days (thinking closer to 4 months). Would it be simpler to enter Thailand with 60 day visa exemption, then hop to a near by country e.g. Malaysia when the 60 day is almost over for a day trip, then hop back to Thailand the same day to start another 60 day. That would cover around 4 months. Would this plan work and which country would be the simplest (or cheapest) to hop in and out? Please share your thoughts/experiences. Thank you.

The current 60 day VE, may revert back to the 30 day VE.
In that case I'd still apply for the Non O visa, then do a border hop for a further 30 day VE entry.

1 hour ago, ppatrick said:

Would it be simpler to enter Thailand with 60 day visa exemption, then hop to a near by country e.g. Malaysia when the 60 day is almost over for a day trip, then hop back to Thailand the same day to start another 60 day. That would cover around 4 months

"Next Year" meaning 2027.

Visa exempt may well be 30 days well prior to that.

Also bounce same day for another visa exempt not a good plan.

There are several other options.

Just one example would be a SETV eVisa + extension + a mini stay out of Thailand with ve entry.

A Non O + a mini stay out of Thailand with ve entry another.

4 hours ago, Liquorice said:

The current 60 day VE, may revert back to the 30 day VE.
In that case I'd still apply for the Non O visa, then do a border hop for a further 30 day VE entry.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't know that the 60 day VE is temporary and may revert back to 30 day VE in the future. I'll keep my eyes on it.

Regarding border hop, which country do you think is best (in term of simplicity and price)?

1 minute ago, ppatrick said:

Regarding border hop, which country do you think is best (in term of simplicity and price)?

That entirely depends on where you intend to stay in Thailand, which you haven't stated.

3 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

That entirely depends on where you intend to stay in Thailand, which you haven't stated.

Sorry. I always stay in Bangkok 99% of the time. The other 1% is just a few day trip to other provinces for sightseeings.

16 minutes ago, ppatrick said:

Sorry. I always stay in Bangkok 99% of the time. The other 1% is just a few day trip to other provinces for sightseeings.

My preference would be a flight to Phnom Penh or Siam Reap in Cambodia.
Cheapest and quickest.

5 hours ago, ppatrick said:

90 day non-immigrant visa

On retirement or family?

On family you can get 60 day extension

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

"Next Year" meaning 2027.

Visa exempt may well be 30 days well prior to that.

Also bounce same day for another visa exempt not a good plan.

There are several other options.

Just one example would be a SETV eVisa + extension + a mini stay out of Thailand with ve entry.

A Non O + a mini stay out of Thailand with ve entry another.

Thanks for the 2 options:

(1) SETV + extension + mini stay out of Thailand with VE entry

(2) Non O + mini stay out of Thailand with VE entry

Which of these 2 is more affordable and less hassle?

49 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

My preference would be a flight to Phnom Penh or Siam Reap in Cambodia.
Cheapest and quickest.

Thank you!

38 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

On retirement or family?

On family you can get 60 day extension

90 day non-immigrant visa -> family based.

Thanks for the info. Glad to learn that the extension is 60 days (and not 30 days). Would the airline agent deny board because I only have a 90 day visa but have a return ticket 4 months (120 days) in the future?

24 minutes ago, ppatrick said:

90 day non-immigrant visa -> family based.

Thanks for the info. Glad to learn that the extension is 60 days (and not 30 days). Would the airline agent deny board because I only have a 90 day visa but have a return ticket 4 months (120 days) in the future?

Travelling with a non-O the airline will have no problem even on a one way ticket.

38 minutes ago, ppatrick said:

Thanks for the 2 options:

(1) SETV + extension + mini stay out of Thailand with VE entry

(2) Non O + mini stay out of Thailand with VE entry

Which of these 2 is more affordable and less hassle?

a METV (multi entry tourist visa) would be a 3rd choice

1 hour ago, ppatrick said:

Would the airline agent deny board because I only have a 90 day visa but have a return ticket 4 months (120 days) in the future?

You have a visa. Airline not concerned with onward flight

17 hours ago, ppatrick said:

Which of these 2 is more affordable and less hassle?

Non O would be one application, Tourist visa plus extension is 2.

I would suggest Luang Prabang. Interesting town and relatively low cost. Flight quite easy and not very expensive, airport not far from town.

17 hours ago, steve187 said:

a METV (multi entry tourist visa) would be a 3rd choice

Thank you. Here's what Google said

The Thailand Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) allows for unlimited entries over 6 months, with each stay up to 60 days (extendable by 30 days). Designed for tourism, it costs approx. 5,000 THB

It costs a bit more than Non-O family visa, but provide more days (6 months VS 90 days). Hmm...

9 minutes ago, ppatrick said:

It costs a bit more than Non-O family visa, but provide more days (6 months VS 90 days). Hmm...

In reality it provides almost 9 months if you exit and reenter while visa is still valid.

18 hours ago, ppatrick said:

Which of these 2 is more affordable and less hassle?

I just listed two options. I would do a third...

You are based in Bangkok.

Personally I would enter with a SETV eVisa = 60 days.

Take a trip to saigon, especially if you are visa exempt to Vietnam.

Enjoy a week mini holiday.

Obtain a SETV eVisa (all done online including payment.

Pro: no dealing with immigration in Bangkok

Con: A week in Vietnam. Nup that ain't a Con

You can extend the non o based on this family at local IO no need to do a border run

On 2/26/2026 at 5:10 AM, ppatrick said:

Hi,

I've come to Thailand every year in the last decade and always apply for 90 day non-immigrant visa. Next year I plan to stay in Thailand a bit longer than 90 days (thinking closer to 4 months). Would it be simpler to enter Thailand with 60 day visa exemption, then hop to a near by country e.g. Malaysia when the 60 day is almost over for a day trip, then hop back to Thailand the same day to start another 60 day. That would cover around 4 months. Would this plan work and which country would be the simplest (or cheapest) to hop in and out? Please share your thoughts/experiences. Thank you.

Next year you might only be 30 days with visa exempt; better to use a multiple entry tourist visa, which gives you 60 days stay on each entry, plus availability for 30 days extension.

19 hours ago, ppatrick said:

90 day non-immigrant visa -> family based.

Hold the phone. Missed that.

You can obtain 60 day extension to visit Thai family.

You have easy options for 4 months.

SETV evisa + 60 day extension would be one.

2 hours ago, ppatrick said:

Thank you. Here's what Google said

The Thailand Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) allows for unlimited entries over 6 months, with each stay up to 60 days (extendable by 30 days). Designed for tourism, it costs approx. 5,000 THB

It costs a bit more than Non-O family visa, but provide more days (6 months VS 90 days). Hmm...

You still have to leave after 60 days or extend and pay 1,900 baht for 30 day extension at immigration and then leave. You seem pretty concerned about $$ METV is expensive and all you want is 120 days. Also for Cambodia you have to pay for a visa most likely. Malaysia flights to KL and Penang are cheap and you probably don't have to pay for a visa. You can also do 60 day tourist visa extend once for 30 days and leave and come back visa exempt 30 days or whatever new rule may be.Or 60 day tourist visa and come back 30 days and extend 30 days.