Greetings,

I'm a 30 year old American looking to buy an apartment in BKK. From what I read in this forum, the longest one can stay on a tourist visa or visa-exempt tourist is 90 days out of 180 days. Does this also apply for individuals who own property? I am not planning to work in Thailand. I plan to use this as an extended summer home, staying up to a year, but with numerous trips all over Asia for work and pleasure (so a 1 yr single entry visa would be of no use). Are long term tourist visas offered to those who own property?

If there are no solutions with a tourist visa, would there be an option to come on a business visa but not work? My company in the US would be willing to say I need to be in and out of Thailand constantly even though I will continue working in the US.

Thanks in advance

Your best choice would probably be using your company to obtain a B visa which would allow up to 90 day stays and is designed for the travel you expect to make.

the longest one can stay on a tourist visa or visa-exempt tourist is 90 days out of 180 days.

This 90 days in 180 only applies to 30 visa exemptions stamps,

NOT to Tourist Visas.

At the present time you can still use back to back tourist visas for an extended stay.

Penang in Malaysia is a convenient place to get a new tourist visa.

For a start you can try getting a double or possibly triple tourist visa before you leave home.

Are long term tourist visas offered to those who own property?

No

would there be an option to come on a business visa but not work?

No

Are Thai visas regulations ridiculous ?

Yes

Your lowest stress option would be to also buy a place in Cambodia. Then, you can go back and forth. If I were you, I would really think hard about doing this at your age. You can buy a place but you have no right to live in it.

For your personal case, the absolutely the best option is to get a one year, (MULTIPLY ENTRY) visa in the U.S. before you come. The cost is I think now $150.00. It is a 1 year visa, however, you will have to travel out of the country every 90 days,(Cambodia, Laos, etc.) It is a Non O visa also so it very helpful if you need to get a driver's license.

You can buy a place but you have no right to live in it.

as is the case in a lot of other countries, e.g. the United States of America or countries of the european union, or... or...

You can buy a place but you have no right to live in it.

as is the case in a lot of other countries, e.g. the United States of America or countries of the european union, or... or...

Citizens of the EU are allowed by right to buy, and to reside in, property within all other countries that are part of the EU.

For your personal case, the absolutely the best option is to get a one year, (MULTIPLY ENTRY) visa in the U.S. before you come. The cost is I think now $150.00. It is a 1 year visa, however, you will have to travel out of the country every 90 days,(Cambodia, Laos, etc.) It is a Non O visa also so it very helpful if you need to get a driver's license.

Not so easy to get for this in the US, as "buying a condo to live in it" is not on the approved list of reasons.

You can buy a place but you have no right to live in it.

as is the case in a lot of other countries, e.g. the United States of America or countries of the european union, or... or...

And this relates to getting Thai visas in what way?

You can buy a place but you have no right to live in it.

as is the case in a lot of other countries, e.g. the United States of America or countries of the european union, or... or...

And this relates to getting Thai visas in what way?

by dissing Thai laws when this case is the same for most other places in the world. Most countries don't give out a residency permit just because you own land there. It needs to be stressed to some people that thailand is entirely 'normal' when it comes to this.

But back to the OP, I think that if he is going to buy a property, he should do so with an eye on its investment potential. Property market here in Thailand is relatively more illiquid in my experience than in other places. I also highly recommend he looks in the realestate section of this board. There is a lot of wise info there.

by dissing Thai laws when this case is the same for most other places in the world. Most countries don't give out a residency permit just because you own land there. It needs to be stressed to some people that thailand is entirely 'normal' when it comes to this.

Where is the diss? Just the facts. I think based on the OP's text, he shouldn't buy anything here because he clearly wants to live in it, and that is highly problematical.

I don't see the point at all of comparisons between THIRD WORLD Thailand and first world visa policies. They are pointless and irrelevant.

Edited October 24, 200718 yr by Jingthing

Ownership of a condo does not convey any additional right or benefit with regard to visas and immigration regs.

They are no doubt happy to see you invest in Thailand.

Basically their sentiment is "Thank you very mutt. Next!"

Edited October 25, 200718 yr by johnnyk

[i don't see the point at all of comparisons between THIRD WORLD Thailand and first world visa policies. They are pointless and irrelevant.

I curious why people say that there is simply no point comparing. While of course laws are designed for local consumption and application, I don't understand why not looking to international bench marks is not appropriate? Especially on visa issues where to be honest, Thailand is behind the times in some respects (ie marriage visas, residency for spouses, eventual citizenship).

The feeling that I get from some readers, to be honest, is they expect that the almighty dollar should rule and if they bring enough in, they should be able to stay as long as they want. The other school of thought, cause Thailand is apparently 'so third world' and should take what it can get, and be grateful for it.

That is to say, the Cambodian approach to visas (which is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as I am concerned) of paying $1000 per year and getting to stay, is an appropriate policy for Thailand.

Sammy boy, all I am saying is that it is totally irrelevant to people here trying to get Thai visas. Its only interesting from an academic point of view, which I guess is OK, but the poster wants to know about living in Thailand, not living in America. Also, it is a can of worms, these comparisons, and once you get started, you go through the same boring stuff again and again. Like for example Thais can buy LAND in the west, westerners can't buy land here. Interesting and news, not really, and it does nothing for us here nor will does it change a thing on changing the Thai laws.

Edited October 25, 200718 yr by Jingthing