I intend to visit Thailand this September, looking to stay for as long as possible into next year, however I also need to be back in the UK for two or three weeks in November of this year. Would my best option be to arrive visa exempt in September and extended for 30 days at an immigration office, then apply for a multiple entry tourist visa when back in the UK in November to maximise my length of stay, or could the visa exempt entry plus 30 day extension actually lower my chances of the tourist visa being granted such a short time later, in which case I’d simply arrive on a multi entry tourist visa in September? I should add that, if relevant, my previous stay in Thailand was from early November of last year until early April of this year, using a multiple entry tourist visa (British national). Hope that makes sense. Many thanks.

Apologies for the lack of spaces between paragraphs, there seems to be a problem with the formatting.

Pretty sure the embassy will have no idea you were just in Thailand when you apply for the METV so can't see a problem with that plan.

21 minutes ago, brotherother said:

in which case I’d simply arrive on a multi entry tourist visa in September? I

IMO... Just obtain METV e-Visa for your entry in September.

Yes but applying for the visa in November as opposed to September would give me an extra two months stay next year.

6 minutes ago, brotherother said:

Yes but applying for the visa in November as opposed to September would give me an extra two months stay next year.

A METV can provide a stay of up to 9 months.

You are aware of your options.

Not sure point of thread.

OK, as stated in my original post, my intention is to stay in Thailand for as long as possible (using an METV). In this regard, applying in November instead of September would of course be the better option. My question is - and the point of this thread - would my chances of the visa being granted in November be lowered having entered visa exempt (plus a 30 day extension) a relatively short time previously?

2 minutes ago, brotherother said:

- would my chances of the visa being granted in November be lowered having entered visa exempt (plus a 30 day extension) a relatively short time previously?

That assumes visa exempt not changed back to 30 by time of travel to Thailand.

The application for METV would not impact by prior ve entry.

Visa, does not guarantee entry.

It's clear what you are doing.

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That assumes visa exempt not changed back to 30 by time of travel to Thailand.

The application for METV would not impact by prior ve entry.

Visa, does not guarantee entry.

It's clear what you are doing.

You are a cynic :) What is he doing? You told me the same a couple years ago and I had no clue what I was doing other than what I explained. I'm gullible....

31 minutes ago, atpeace said:

What is he doing?

Trying to max out almost continuous stay by adding ve prior to then obtaining METV.

Potentially that could be almost one year stay.

Ever since exempt became 60 days there were threads such as...

"If I obtain a visa (e-Visa) and still enter Thailand ve.

Other variations to that plan.

35 minutes ago, atpeace said:

You told me the same a couple years ago and I had no clue what I was doing other than what I explained.

Zero idea what you are referring to and your words... "I had no clue" Sounds about right

You might get away with it but I think it's near the line. They can turn you away even if you have a visa. I think I'd get the METV before the Sep trip. What are your plans for later next year? You'll need to leave a gap whatever, so is it really so bad if it comes two or three months sooner?

All variations of this plan make you tax resident in Thailand this year BTW.

16 minutes ago, ivan_m said:

All variations of this plan make you tax resident in Thailand this year BTW.

Are you serious. That would certainly not be the case.

The other advice in your post is correct.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Trying to max out almost continuous stay by adding ve prior to then obtaining METV.

Potentially that could be almost one year stay.

Ever since exempt became 60 days there were threads such as...

"If I obtain a visa (e-Visa) and still enter Thailand ve.

Thaicultural experiences

Other variations to that plan.

Zero idea what you are referring to and your words... "I had no clue" Sounds about right

Not intended as a criticism. I think I misunderstood your reply to the OP. Thanks for the explanation.

Edited July 11Jul 11 by atpeace

9 minutes ago, atpeace said:

Not intended as a criticism. I think I misunderstood your reply to the OP. Thanks for the explanation.

Not a problem.

Just posting for others along with OP.

Seems to be current climate in Thailand that ongoing stays with visa, exempt + tourist visas etc may cause more questioning.

Snowbirds are one example.

So back to OP..

My advice is to obtain METV for September and look at options in 9 months after that.

Had not indicated age.

You might get away with it but I think it's near the line. They can turn you away even if you have a visa. I think I'd get the METV before the Sep trip. What are your plans for later next year? You'll need to leave a gap whatever, so is it really so bad if it comes two or three months sooner?

All variations of this plan make you tax resident in Thailand this year BTW.

22 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Are you serious. That would certainly not be the case.

The other advice in your post is correct.

Re-reading it look like it depends on the exact dates, e.g. if "early April" is 5 April, the September entry is 10 September and the UK trip is 15 days, you have 95 + 21 + 31 + 16 + 31 = 194 days, so tax resident - but if the September entry is 20 September and the UK trip is 21 days, you have 178 days, so not tax resident.

Or has something changed? I thought the test was whether you'd been in the country for more than 180 days.

1 minute ago, ivan_m said:

Or has something changed? I thought the test was whether you'd been in the country for more than 180 days.

My last post on tax implications.

There are zillion threads re the 180 day tax gig. Might need attention for farang working in Thailand.

Vast majority are retired expats.

Personally IMO load of rubbish.

OK, I think it’d be wise for me to not complicate matters and apply for the visa in September. As far as I’m aware the people most at risk are those trying to stay in Thailand using back to back visa exempt entries and extensions, which isn’t my case at all. I’m simply trying to get the most out of my visa whilst abiding by conditions of that visa, which is what I’ve always done and will continue to do if possible. Having a visa doesn’t guarantee entry, but considering my previous stay was for five months out of a potential nine and that I’d be arriving off the back of a nearly six month stay in the UK, I like to think I’ll again have no problems. Thanks for all the replies.

6 minutes ago, brotherother said:

Having a visa doesn’t guarantee entry, but considering my previous stay was for five months out of a potential nine and that I’d be arriving off the back of a nearly six month stay in the UK, I like to think I’ll again have no problems

I think I asked your age in earlier post.

My first years in Thailand I was travelling to saigon OFTEN.

While there I would apply for "triple entry visa to Thailand. No longer available.

I was already over 50.

I recall will clarity last time I went to Saigon Thai embassy the io called me out.

" You live in Thailand. No more tourist visa for you"

I'm currently 49, and typically spend around six months in Thailand, six months in the UK each year, so the METV is normally perfectly sufficient. However, things can and of course do change, and as I'll need to be in Thailand for an important family event next year my upcoming trip will require me to spend longer than normal in the country. It is what it is.

7 hours ago, brotherother said:

However, things can and of course do change, and as I'll need to be in Thailand for an important family event next year my upcoming trip will require me to spend longer than normal in the country. It is what it is.

"Family event"? .., so what's the story.

If married to a Thai or when you turn 50 (not far off) ..

Your best option is to have a Non O and annual extensions + reentry permit.

Stay as long as you want or as little as you want.

12 hours ago, brotherother said:

I'm currently 49, and typically spend around six months in Thailand, six months in the UK each year, so the METV is normally perfectly sufficient. However, things can and of course do change, and as I'll need to be in Thailand for an important family event next year my upcoming trip will require me to spend longer than normal in the country. It is what it is.

Do London ask for your tax return when you apply for an METV? I've had conflicting info on that - some say only if you don't have right of abode via a British or Irish passport. My pattern is basically in for 2 months, out for 3, back in for 3, out for 4, so doable on SETV and VE, but next year I will have a family wedding to go to back in the UK, and it's a bit morbid but I have a lot of elderly relatives. With my current arrangements, it would be risky to leave everything here, go back for a week and then pick up where I'd left off, but an METV would allow me to do that as long as the trip wasn't at the very end.

The family event is a sibling’s (a Thai national) wedding. Unfortunately the exact date hasn’t been decided yet, hence me wanting to give myself as much time in the country as possible.

To ivan_m (sorry, I can’t quote your post), From memory (I’ve applied for both the SETV and METV) the applications are quite similar, unless things have changed (quite possibly), but when applying from the UK (Oct 2025) the only financial evidence required was ’An amount of no less than 20,000 THB (e.g., bank statements for the last three months, sponsorship letter)’. The other supporting documents needed were: ‘Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document’, ’Photograph taken within the last six months’, ’Document indicating current location’ (I uploaded a bank statement for the previous weeks transactions), ’Travel booking confirmation’ and ’Proof of accommodation in Thailand (e.g., accommodation bookings, invitation letters from family/friends in Thailand)’. So no, nothing about tax. Maybe what you’ve heard was related to people using their tax return to meet the ‘Document indicating current location’ requirement, or it’s the right of abode thing you mentioned? If applying for a METV in September I may use a re-entry permit if favourable to my dates, which could perhaps also benefit you with your future comings and goings, allowing you to still use the SETV, unless I’ve got it wrong.