Which Visa Do I Need?

[ggutenberg]

Hi. I'm a 31 year old male from Canada who'd like to move to Thailand for an undetermined amount of time. More than a month at any rate - thinking 6 months to a year. I'm not looking for a job there, but more of an extended vacation / hiatus. I have substantial savings and could easily live there for a few years (financially).

Which type of Visa should I be applying for in order to do this?

[Mahout Angrit]

Think the only visa you will get is a double (or triple if your are lucky) tourist visa. With extensions the double will give you 6 months and the triple 9 months, after that you will have to arrange visas by tripping to consulates in neighbouring countries

[Onnutrd]

I'd have to agree with Mahout Angrit on this.

If you're looking at 6 months being the minimum for a vacation, you'll need to apply for a Tourist Visa.

I came here thinking I'd only stay for 1 month...but...i'm still here nearly 4 months later..

Initially I used a Visa Exemption to get into Thailand then doing Singapore as my visa run for the second time. I then went to Laos after my second month, and applied for a tourist visa which allowed me a further 2 months (plus 1 month extension). I'd also be able to get one more visa exemption (max is 3). This would total 6 months

You might like to do the same, if it's not much of a hassle. Also, you'd have a good chance to check out neighbouring countries aswell as renewing your visa.

It's a good chance.

Check out some information on this website regarding Canadian visa exemptions, or your Thai embassy website in Canada. They will have this information available for you.

Hope it helps.

[ggutenberg]

So this is my understanding of the situation (please correct me if I'm misunderstanding something):

1. Obtain a Tourist Visa which gives me 60 days

2. Extend this for 30 days at an Immigration Office in Thailand when it runs out (90 total)

3. Go to some other country on a "Visa Run" and obtain a new Tourist Visa for 60 days (150 total)

4. Extend this for 30 days at an Immigration Office in Thailand when it runs out (180 total)

5. Repeat step #3

6. Repeat step #4

Is this correct? And if so is this the maximum number of times I could renew/obtain a Tourist Visa? Would I have to leave the country for an extended period of time if I wanted to start this process over again?

Also, as a Canadian it seems (according to http://www.thaivisa.com/479.0.html) that I can do 30 days without a Visa at all. Would this mean that I could enter for 30 days before starting the clock on my Tourist Visa?

And one more question... copy/paste from the Canadian Thai Embassy site (http://www.magma.ca/~thaiott/visa3.htm):

Visa fees: Transit Visa...........$30.00 (single entry) $60.00 (double entries)

Tourist visa……....$40.00 (single entry) $80.00 (double entries)

**Multiple entries are not issued to tourist visas.

Can someone explain what this means? What's the difference between a single entry and a double entry, and why does it list prices for double entry and then follow up by saying "Multiple entries are not issued to tourist visas"?

Thanks for all the help so far.

[Guest]

I dont know enough to answer your question BUT you should take a look at the Thai Embassy in Canada website for accurate information about the length of stay without a visa. Don't trust too much to some of the postings on this forum, some are accurate and some are not.

[Crossy]

OK

A double entry visa is just that, it behaves like two single entries. Each entry can be extended, but watch the 'must enter before' date on the visa, you MUST use the second entry before this date, you activate the second entry by doing a border run.

'Multiple' entry visas allow an infinite number of entries, usually for a 12 month period, they are normally either non-o (family visit), non-b (business) or non-o/a (retirement), there are various other classes for education etc.

[Lite Beer]

There is no restriction on the amount of times you can enter on a Tourist Visa. However some consulates (Penang for 0ne) are restricting the amount of Visas they issue back to back. So tourist Visa seekers may have to shop around a bit.

Yes you can enter and stay for 30 days without a Visa . These entries are restricted to a total amount of 90 days in a 6 month period.

[Crossy]

I dont know enough to answer your question BUT you should take a look at the Thai Embassy in Canada website for accurate information about the length of stay without a visa. Don't trust too much to some of the postings on this forum, some are accurate and some are not.

I love it when people say this

Whilst it is true that inaccurate information is posted on this board occasionally, it is usually refuted very quickly. This is the only place for up-to-the-minute information.

The embassy websites are notoriously inaccurate when it comes to immigration requirements, and the Canadian (both Ottawa and Vancouver) ones are no exception as they make no mention of the (very important) limitation of 90 days in a six month period when using the 30 day visa-exemption stamps.

Edited January 6, 2008 by Crossy

[lopburi3]

I would not plan your start using visa exempt entry (30 day stamp) as you are required to have confirmed onward transportation to use that and airlines often are strict on enforcement. Get the two entry tourist visa to start your stay.