Hi, I am sure there are lots of you lovely people on here who can help me. I have looked through a number of other posts on the subject but wither end up getting lost or can't find the one that applys to me. Here is the scenario......Myself and my husband are travelling for 12 months. Our first port of call is Thailand where we will be staying for one month, from there we go onto New Zealand and Australia for a total of 3 months after which we will be returning to Thailand. For the following 7 months we will be in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Burma. At this point we are unsure how long we will spend in each country as we aim to do some short term voluntary work. What I want to know is what is the longest visa we can get for Thailand and do I apply for it before I leave? Hoping for your help.

Sounds a very exciting 12 months.

If u are 50 or over and from uk,you can get a multi entry o visa,which u have to leave after every 90 days.One can stretch this to 15 months if u do a visa run just before the 12 months expires.Have a look at the embassy and check what u have to do and how much this will cost.The closest may be Hull for u

I have lived in Pattaya for nearly 9 years on a multi o visa

good luck

Sounds a very exciting 12 months.

If u are 50 or over and from uk,you can get a multi entry o visa,which u have to leave after every 90 days.One can stretch this to 15 months if u do a visa run just before the 12 months expires.Have a look at the embassy and check what u have to do and how much this will cost.The closest may be Hull for u

I have lived in Pattaya for nearly 9 years on a multi o visa

good luck

Or, if you get the multi entry o retirement visa, you don't need to worry about the 90 day runs, only reporting to a local immigration office. And you can manage two full years on that visa, not 15 months, by leaving and returning the day before the one year visa expires. But once in the country for that second year, you can't leave without losing your permission to remain.

Of course, there are criteria to be fulfilled, such as 50 years of age of more, plus income and/or assets to support yourself.

Edited July 14, 201213 yr by JusMe

hull consulate link for non immigrant 'o' visa here - http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/ easy to obtain as long as you meet the criteria

a non immigrant O 'A' as posted by jusme is only available from the embassy in London and there are a lot of hoops to jump through,

If you are not over 50 then a lot more difficult to stay long term, a 30 day visa exempt entry is given for all air entries into Thailand, 15 days via land crossings, tourist visa of 1, 2 or 3 entries can be obtained which are good for entries of 60 days and can be extended by 30 days at a cost, at local immigration offices inside Thailand

"But once in the country for that second year, you can't leave without losing your permission to remain."

Did you forget about re-entry permits? With one of those you can keep your current permission to stay date when you re-enter the country during the second year.

You need a Non Imm O Visa for the purpose of working as a volunteer. To work you need a workpermit too.

Hi, I am sure there are lots of you lovely people on here who can help me. I have looked through a number of other posts on the subject but wither end up getting lost or can't find the one that applys to me. Here is the scenario......Myself and my husband are travelling for 12 months. Our first port of call is Thailand where we will be staying for one month, from there we go onto New Zealand and Australia for a total of 3 months after which we will be returning to Thailand. For the following 7 months we will be in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Burma. At this point we are unsure how long we will spend in each country as we aim to do some short term voluntary work. What I want to know is what is the longest visa we can get for Thailand and do I apply for it before I leave? Hoping for your help.

1. If you are U.K. or U.S nationals...alomg with most EU nationals...you do not need a visa to enter Thailand for a stay of 30 days or less if you have a booked ticket out of country no more than 30 days after entry to Thailand by air. So in your particu;ar case you could enter Thailand for that first one month stay you plan if you already have that flight to Australia and New Zealand booked....you would get that visa free entry stamp at the airport on arrival for a maximum of a 30 day stay in Thailand. As I said, that date will be stamped in your passports on arrival.

2. Alternatively you could get single-entry toutist visas in your home country before you leave....from the nearest Thai consulate to your home, and it can be done by mail.....contact the nearest Thai consulate to you by phone and they can provide all the information you need.

Each single entry tourist visa (both of you need one) would get you a 60 day entry on arrival and could be extended for another 30 days in Thailand at the immigration here in Thailand....there is a small fee for issue of that visa and a fee to extend them here.

If you both got single entry tourist visas and extended them at the nearest imigration office when you were in Thailand that would give you a 90 day (60 entry plus 30 extension) stay.

3. You could also get Thai visas in Austrailia or New Zealand at a Thai consulate there....if that's suits your travel achedule better.

4. Thai visas are also available at Thai consulates in all the neighboting countries....so, for example, if you went to Laos from Thailand....you could easily get another Thai visa in Laos for when you return to Thailand.

5. There are also double entry and triple entry tourist visas available from Thai consulates. Basically a double entry is just two single entries and a triple entry is 3 singles. If you plan to do a lot of exits and reentry to Thailand....that would be waht you want to get. Not ALL Thai consulates may issue double or particularly triple entry visas....it's up to them. So if that's what your looking for call them and ask before you go so you won't be disapointed.

6. IF you...or especially HIM....is age 50 or over then there is the possiblity of a one year multi entry visa for Thailand....and if he qualifies YOU as his wife can also stay in Thailand based on his visa and a his one year retirement extension.

However, there are financial requirements and other requirements for that type of visa and extension....so you should definately contact the nearest Thai consulate in your home to get the details on what they want to isse that visa. Currently a one year multi entry visa is almost unavailable except for those married to a Thai national anywhere in Southeast Asia,,,and difficult to get other places also. If you can get that visa each entry is for 90 days....and you can get a new 90 day entry stamp by exiting Thailand and then immeadiately re-emtering Thailand. This type of visa is also signifigantly more expensive....135 pounds in the U.K. the last I heard.

7. And finally...yes really...if you do get a double or triple entry tourist visa be aware that therewill be a entry must be made before (or sometimes by) ....date stamped here...on that visa.

That means for for a double entry visa BOTH entries and for a triple entry ALL THREE entries must be used before that stamped day. If you still have one entry left on a triple entry visa...and today is your last day...you just forfieted that last entry.

Edited July 15, 201213 yr by IMA_FARANG

How do you plan on traveling to the countries that border Thailand?

If you travel overland you will only get a 15 day entry instead of the 30 days you get when entering Thailand by air.

The tourist visa option would be best after your trips to Australia and NZ if you plan on traveling overland. You should get the visas in either of these countries as close as possible to your departure as possible because the period of validity starts on the date that the visa is issued.

Several troll posts removed.

Hello All.

I think this applies to me. I'm hoping to get some advice on how to stay in Thailand for another 18 days beyond my visa expiring.

I landed in Thailand and I received the 30 days on arrival visa.

I then wanted to stay longer and I went to the immigration office in Bangkok where I found out I could only get a 7 day extension.

So I then travelled to Laos and gained a two month visa there. After about a month in Laos I returned to Thailand to use the two month visa.

I now need to extend that two month visa by another 18 days to connect with my flight (my plans changed a bit).

I'd like to stay in Thailand so far as I see my options are:

1. Back to Laos for a re-entry - but only 15 days I believe. The same with a bus trip to Cambodia.

2. Go to immigration in Bangkok for an extension.

Can anyone advise if Bangkok immigration will extend the two month visa from Laos for more than 7 days or do I need to take up one of the other options.

Would this apply to me:

" Each single entry tourist visa (both of you need one) would get you a 60 day entry on arrival and could be extended for another 30 days in Thailand at the immigration here in Thailand....there is a small fee for issue of that visa and a fee to extend them here. If you both got single entry tourist visas and extended them at the nearest imigration office when you were in Thailand that would give you a 90 day (60 entry plus 30 extension) stay."

Thanks everyone for their help here.

Edited July 23, 201213 yr by JulieWilliams

30 day extension on a tourist visa entry as you now have for the TM.7 form at fee of 1,900 baht. Have photo 4x6cm for form and copies of passport/visa/arrival stamp and departure card.

Thanks so much. Service with a map as well! You are wonderful.

Sounds a very exciting 12 months.

If u are 50 or over and from uk,you can get a multi entry o visa,which u have to leave after every 90 days.One can stretch this to 15 months if u do a visa run just before the 12 months expires.Have a look at the embassy and check what u have to do and how much this will cost.The closest may be Hull for u

I have lived in Pattaya for nearly 9 years on a multi o visa

good luck

Rule's have changed for 0 visa's and you will now need to be married to a Thai or have a dependent/child (Thai) or be over 50 year's of age and have £1,200 a month coming in or £20,000 in the bank "proof will be needed" Under 50 forget it unless you fit the above. And I do believe that go's for each visa, so I think your down to tourist visa's but as you are traveling around very easy to obtain. As someone else said to do ANY type of work a work permit is required failing to get one and your in the Do Do's big time, dont bother going down that road as you wont get one.

Edited July 23, 201213 yr by fredob43

Well thank you all for your assistance. I had no problems at all.

On arrival I spoke to the Information counter who told me to fill in the appropriate form and attach a passport photo, and also photocopies of exit card, thai visa and passport page.

Downstairs and to the left and you eventually run into the photocopy shops who know exactly what you want.

Back to Information where I was directed to a counter to get a waiting number. The man checked my papers and gave me my queue number.

Then off to wait til my number was called. 1900 Baht later I had another queue number to wait for my amended visa page, which duly arrived. Then all done and out the door.

Easy peasy thanks.