I was thinking of applying for an ED Visa but I know it will be a major headache for me to learn thai. Whats my best option for a stay of 12months on a tourist visa. Leaving the country to do visa runs isnt a problem.

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

"but I know it will be a major headache for me to learn thai."

The ED visa for learning 'the' language is not limited to Thai, only!

Every other language, the school is offering, and is not your language, should do the trick, too.

In case, you aren't from a English country, learning (better) English, first, will improve your Thai learning, 'later'.

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

HI Maestro thanks for the info. If I went for the triple entry tourist visa and the ddouble entry tourist visa and was inthe country for 12 months, would I have to leave thailand after this before I applied for any more tourist visas.

"but I know it will be a major headache for me to learn thai."

The ED visa for learning 'the' language is not limited to Thai, only!

Every other language, the school is offering, and is not your language, should do the trick, too.

In case, you aren't from a English country, learning (better) English, first, will improve your Thai learning, 'later'.

HI Noob7, English is my first language. What do you think my best option is, as I have heard thai is very hard to learn.

Edited November 14, 201213 yr by Simon1985

"but I know it will be a major headache for me to learn thai."

The ED visa for learning 'the' language is not limited to Thai, only!

Every other language, the school is offering, and is not your language, should do the trick, too.

In case, you aren't from a English country, learning (better) English, first, will improve your Thai learning, 'later'.

HI Noob7, English is my first language. What do you think my best option is, as I have heard thai is very hard to learn.

With English as first language, It seems to be the hard way, then: Thai

Check, if the school is offering something else. Besides Englisch and Thai, I mean

But you know, the first year, the immigration is not expecting much (Thai), anyway.

For the 2. year, it can be, they wanna talk with you. Smalltalk, nothing special, before they extend.

There are 2 ways, to learn Thai:

With phonetic scripts and talking

With learning to read Thai

Try to combine both methods, and you will pick it up, step by step, methinks

Your advantage: you 4 sure can understand the English explanation, in case there is one!

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

HI Maestro thanks for the info. If I went for the triple entry tourist visa and the ddouble entry tourist visa and was inthe country for 12 months, would I have to leave thailand after this before I applied for any more tourist visas.

With the 3 entry visa and then a 2 entry visa and getting 30 day extensions for each 60 day entry you could get a total stay of almost 15 months.

After that I would suggest that you make a trip home and get another 3 entry and start the process again if you plan on staying in Thailand long term. The trip home breaks the cycle of getting all your visas at nearby embassies or consulates which can cause problems with getting tourist visas.

Edited November 15, 201213 yr by ubonjoe

Ubonjoe, Thanks for the info.

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

If I was staying in Phuket what would be the most economical way to do the border runs and could I get the 30 day extensions in Phuket.

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

If I was staying in Phuket what would be the most economical way to do the border runs and could I get the 30 day extensions in Phuket.

Visa Run companies from Phuketbtravel daily to Ranong , about thb1500 to 1800.-, you could also self organizes trips by land to Malaysia or book in advance cheap flight ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

And yes, Phuket Immigration will extend or you, thb 1900 for 30days.

I am in similar situation, best to go for edu visa, about $200 a year more than tourist and you learn Thai

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

If I was staying in Phuket what would be the most economical way to do the border runs and could I get the 30 day extensions in Phuket.

Visa Run companies from Phuketbtravel daily to Ranong , about thb1500 to 1800.-, you could also self organizes trips by land to Malaysia or book in advance cheap flight ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

And yes, Phuket Immigration will extend or you, thb 1900 for 30days.

Thanks for the info. If I get a flight to Kuala Lumpur do I have to stay there overnight to make it look legit or can I fly straight back to phuket.

I am in similar situation, best to go for edu visa, about $200 a year more than tourist and you learn Thai

It might only be $200.00 a year but dont you have to go to the school 4 times a week. I never liked school when I was a kid and disliked learning languages, seems like a major headache to me. If I could pay the $200.00 and have to show my face once a month it would be a good option.

Apply at a Thai consulate in your home country for a triple-entry tourist visa valid for six months. With two border runs and three 30-day extensions of stay, this will keep you in Thailand for close to nine months if you get the visa close to your departure for Thailand. Then go to a consulate in a neighbouring country to get a double-entry tourist visa and this will complete the 12 months.

If I was staying in Phuket what would be the most economical way to do the border runs and could I get the 30 day extensions in Phuket.

Visa Run companies from Phuketbtravel daily to Ranong , about thb1500 to 1800.-, you could also self organizes trips by land to Malaysia or book in advance cheap flight ticket to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

And yes, Phuket Immigration will extend or you, thb 1900 for 30days.

Thanks for the info. If I get a flight to Kuala Lumpur do I have to stay there overnight to make it look legit or can I fly straight back to phuket.

No.