Visa/renewal Questions

[Martino]

Hello everyone,

I did some research on my own but there are still answers eluding me. I would really appreciate it if someone could help me get a clearer picture of my situation!

As a short background I'm French, and would like to travel to Thailand next month to meet my best friend there. We plan on staying between six months to a year. My visa situation is unclear to me at the moment, here are my questions:

1) As I'm French, I can fly to Thailand and stay for 30 days without a visa.

Can I acquire a visa and then renew it, be it in Bangkok or any neighboring country e.g. going to Vietnam and apply for a visa at the Thai embassy? In France in order to apply for 60 day visa I am required to book a return flight.

As I intend to travel to other countries after Thailand, I do not want to go back to France any time soon. Also it's a lot more expensive to book two plane tickets.

Do I have to book a return flight in order to do this or are there any cheaper ways?

2) What if I apply for a 60 day visa in France, once I'm in Thailand how can I renew it?

Same as above: do I also have to book a return flight in order to do this, or what are the cheaper ways - I've heard of visa runs?

3) Are there any long-term visas - six months to a year - that would be available to me, in case I would like to work and or study Thai massage for instance?

4) I know there are one year student visas but I intend to travel inside Thailand quite a lot so this might not be ideal.

Are there some schools/unis out there that would help me get this type of visa and not require me to attend all of the courses?

I am very interested in knowing the prices of any method you might suggest me.

Thanks in advance for your time!

Best regards,

Martin

[wayned]

You can apply for a triple entry tourist visa that will give you almost 270 days with 2 border runs and 3 in country extensions which cost 1900 baht each. If you try to board an airplane to come without a visa, 30 day visa exempt entry, the airline might not let you board without a return ticket within the 30 day period. your best bet is to get a via before your flight. You can get almost 180 days with a double entry visa if that meets your requirements.

[Martino]

You can apply for a triple entry tourist visa that will give you almost 270 days with 2 border runs and 3 in country extensions which cost 1900 baht each. If you try to board an airplane to come without a visa, 30 day visa exempt entry, the airline might not let you board without a return ticket within the 30 day period. your best bet is to get a via before your flight. You can get almost 180 days with a double entry visa if that meets your requirements.

Hi! Thanks a lot for such a quick and thorough response!

Earlier this week I called Paris' Thai embassy and they told me that the only way to renew a visa for 60 days from a neighbouring country is to return to Thailand via plane... This seems to pop up a lot on French forums as well.

By reading your post I assume that this is only the 'official' way of renewing a visa, but that more accommodating ways such as simple bus/boat/bicycle visa runs are as efficient and much more cost-friendly.

Triple entry tourist visas are not mentioned on the website of the Thai embassy in France, and there seems to be a lot of controversy on French forums concerning those visas, as to whether they are still available or not.

I will call the embassy again regarding this triple entry visa.

Do you know of any visa agency in Thailand that might help me with more long term visas - north of six months?

Thanks again, things seem to be looking up for me now!

[Lite Beer]

You would seem to only qualify for a Tourist Visa.

Get as many entries as you can. 2 or 3.

Each entry gives 60 days and can be extended at Immigration by a further 30 days.

You can always get another Tourist Visa in a neighbouring country if needed.

As said , without a Visa you run the risk of not being allowed on the flight.

If you have no Visa you get 30 days if arriving by air and 15 days if arriving at a land border.

With a Visa you get 60 days no matter how you enter.

[lopburi3]

Check for Thai Consulates - if any outside of the Embassy in France or another EU country; they are likely to be easier to deal with and more likely to issue two or three entry visas. Also because Embassy says ticket is required does not always mean they will check if a local national (they use this to screen 3rd country travelers without funds more closely - often a proposed itinerary is all that is required.

[ubonjoe]

The requirement posted on Paris embassy website does not mention return ticket unless from certain countries. It does not show 3 entry visas but if requested they might do a 3 entry.

Link to webpage:http://www.thaiembassy.fr/fr/visa/visa-touristique/