How Long Can I Stay In Thailand?

[funkeymonkey]

Hi,

Is it possible for me to stay in Thailand for 1 year? I'm irish, and 27, is there any type of visa or any way I can legally stay there for a period of 1 year? Really appreciate any help.

[thaiphoon]

Depends on what you want to do. You previously mentioned setting up business here; yes it is possible if you meet the requirements. That was discussed in your earlier thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Moving-Bangk...ss-t302723.html

[funkeymonkey]

Depends on what you want to do. You previously mentioned setting up business here; yes it is possible if you meet the requirements. That was discussed in your earlier thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Moving-Bangk...ss-t302723.html

Hi again,

Setting up a business there is not an option as I am not prepared to meet those requirements.

I simply want to live there for 12 months, learn the language as best as I can, and perhapps make some useful contacts for my business in Ireland.

Ofcourse, while I am there, I will be sending shipments of stock home to my business in ireland every 3 months or so..I do this anyway at the moment by traveling there every 3 months for a couple of weeks, so this would not in fact be working in Thailand, as I will not be selling the goods from Thailand or being paid in any way-I would be living off savings.

As far as I'm aware, I can get a 60 day tourist visa, convert this to a 90 day visa, then get 3 extensions(by leaving and re-entering the country) 3 times , totaling 180 days, is this correct?

Is there anyway to stay there legally for 12 months?

I appreciate any advice,thanks.

[thaiphoon]

The definition of working in Thailand is very broad, and it is irrelevant whether you are paid or not. In my opinion - and I run a Thai company - you are working, and as such you will require a work permit. And as said before, that will require sponsorship from a Thai company.

[funkeymonkey]

The definition of working in Thailand is very broad, and it is irrelevant whether you are paid or not. In my opinion - and I run a Thai company - you are working, and as such you will require a work permit. And as said before, that will require sponsorship from a Thai company.

ok so.

well that aside, is it possible for me to stay there for 12 months assuming I am not working there? If not , what is the longest I can stay.?

Thanks again.

[thaimiller]

you can sign up to a 1 year thai language course and you get a 1 year education visa, not sure of the prices in bkk, but here in chiang mai its 30k thb for the course which includes the visa. I think its only about 4 hours a week, so plenty of time to create contacts etc and learn the language.

[funkeymonkey]

you can sign up to a 1 year thai language course and you get a 1 year education visa, not sure of the prices in bkk, but here in chiang mai its 30k thb for the course which includes the visa. I think its only about 4 hours a week, so plenty of time to create contacts etc and learn the language.

excellent, thank you so much for the useful advice.

If i sign up and pay the fees, is there still a chance I wont be granted the visa and be left out of pocket?

[NHJ]

get a year non-o from hull ;-)

[funkeymonkey]

get a year non-o from hull ;-)

can you explain this further? Im only 27 by the way so I dont think I would qualify!

Anyway, the language course is an excellent idea, as learning the language is a priority for me, cant believe I didn't think of that. Theres a 1 yr course in Bangkok for 28,000 baht, not bad at all.

[funkeymonkey]

aye,, but word of warning seriously ,, dont get an education visa, then get caught "working" - you will be fined, jailed or sent home ,,or all of the above,,no joke!

well I will have to find out whats meant by working...I'm over in bangkok every 3 monts as it is, to ship stock home to my country....while Im living in bangkok, my family will be looking after my business, and ofcourse, it would make no sence for them to be flying over every 3 months to ship stuff home if I'm already living there,I'm sure I could do it for them, its literally only a day every 3 months where I pick stuff up, send it to the shippers and thats it...

[funkeymonkey]

then YOU will be working,,,,,,, as a tourist you should employ a Thai or Thai company to do that for you...

as previously mentioned above the word "working" under Thai law is VERYYYYYYYYYYYY broadly defined and is ILLEGAL without a work permit (especially if you are on a tourist Visa) ,

getting paid or not, having actual employment is nothing to do with it,,

almost ANY activity which can be construed as you doing work a Thai could do is working...

Check websites for Legal services, or Thai Immigration, Thai Labor Department.

Just be extra careful,, especially the way the economics are at the moment,,

dobbing you in to Immigration is not beyond some people,,

well, when you say 'employ a thai or thai company to do it for you', i kind of do...basically, I go to the wholesalers, point at the stock I want, they then deliver it to the cargo company(thai company), I pay them and they box everything up, fill out relevant forms and ship the stuff off..and that it..so I suppose the only work Im doing is actually choosing the designs/stock, everything else is done by the thai cargo company...

would that be ok and if not, what part of the job above can I employ another thai company to do?

[thaimiller]

you'll be ok no problems. enjoy thailand, i came for a year 5 years ago and im stil here, saying that i employed the services of a lawyer and now use him to get a non-b visa each year now (well every 15 months anyway). Good luck.

[Ayutthaya69]

get a year non-o from hull ;-)

can you explain this further? Im only 27 by the way so I dont think I would qualify!

Anyway, the language course is an excellent idea, as learning the language is a priority for me, cant believe I didn't think of that. Theres a 1 yr course in Bangkok for 28,000 baht, not bad at all.

why you said its 28000 baht now its 24960 baht for 14 months

[NHJ]

can you explain this further? Im only 27 by the way so I dont think I would qualify!

Anyway, the language course is an excellent idea, as learning the language is a priority for me, cant believe I didn't think of that. Theres a 1 yr course in Bangkok for 28,000 baht, not bad at all.

call the honorary consulate in hull(england) you'll have a 15 month visa for reason visiting friends, cost is 5500 baht + some fee.