My background:

I'm 28 from Estonia (Eastern Europe, bordering Sweden).

Not sure if this is relevant... but I've been in Thailand years ago for 2 weeks.

I have an online business.

The confusion:

I didn't completely understand the Thai visa situation with the border runs before. As I understand a border run gives you the ability to renew your visa.

But now I heard there were some changes and I'm completely confused:

• Somewhere I read that now maximum number of border runs on a tourist visa is 1.
• In another place I read that you would need to do a border run every 15 days.

The question:

Is it now impossible to stay in Thailand for 6 months (or more) on a tourist visa?

Somewhere I read you could stay for 60 days with a tourist visa and then extend it once for 30 more days, but not more.

So is that it? 3 months and then go home? Or could I stay in a neighboring country for a month and get a new tourist visa for another 60+30 days?

Is a non-immigrant visa an option for extending it passed 90 with visa runs to the border?

The 90-day Thai Visa is a single-entry visa that allows the holder to enter and stay in Thailand for 90 days. 
It is intended to be issued to those who wish to be involved in performing official duties or religious activities, 
conduct business, work, and study, visit the family and other activities in Thailand, initially for the period of 90 
days and then converted to a longer term of visa.

What does "other activities" mean? Do I need a good reason to obtain this visa?

Do I need 800 000THB on my bank statement? Since I don't have that much and plan on supporting my stay there with my online business does it mean that I won't get a non-immigrant visa?

Sorry for so many questions especially if some of them I should have been able to read somewhere else. I'm just not sure which information is current right now.

Thanks in advance.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by kreeker

No, it is not impossible. Nothing has changed. Just go get the visa in Laos, extend for 30 days on or before the 60th day, then exit and renter on or before the 90th day.

From what you wrote you have no qualification to obtain a non-immigrating visa. Your only practical choice is tourist visa.

A double or triple entry tourist visa is what you need, after the 90 days which includes your 30 day extension you leave the country then come back to activate the next entry.

Thanks for the answers paz and ukrules. Made my day.

If I understand correctly... I can get a triple reentry tourist visa... which means... 3x(60+30)=9months

So...

1. Get a Visa in Estonia.
2. Arrive in Bangkok.
3. After 55 days (just in case) get an extension at the immigration office.
4. 28 days later leave the country for a couple of hours and get back. Just reenter and no extra papers needed?
5. Repeat.

Thanks again.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by kreeker

Check if they issue triple entry in Estonia. if not get double or single entry.

Subsequent visa you can get in Laos.

Thanks for the answers paz and ukrules. Made my day.

If I understand correctly... I can get a triple reentry tourist visa... which means... 3x(60+30)=9months

So...

1. Get a Visa in Estonia.
2. Arrive in Bangkok.
3. After 55 days (just in case) get an extension at the immigration office.
4. 28 days later leave the country for a couple of hours and get back. Just reenter and no extra papers needed?
5. Repeat.

Thanks again.

Yes, that pretty much covers it so long as you can get the triple entry visa where you are.

If you can't get the triple entry visa in Estonia for some reason then you can probably get one in the UK at the consulate in Birmingham which isn't that far away really.

I've done the above in the past a few times. Once I flew down to Phnom Penh, cleared immigration, had a coffee and croissant in the cafe outside the airport then checked in for the next flight back to Bangkok.

Make sure you comply with all the regulations like the amount of cash, onward ticket for next visa run, etc just in case they ask. I've never been asked though.

Edited February 15, 201511 yr by ukrules

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

Yes, you would do border hops and visa runs as necessary. Not comfortable, but that's the way things are are.

That much for the visa issue. Now wait until someone post to tell that is illegal to work online, and we'll have the 385th repeat of another classic hamster wheel thread.

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

The 180 day thing can cause some confusion. The visa is valid for 180 days from the day it's issued.

The visa only needs to be valid on the day you enter Thailand, even if it expires the next day you can still use it.

This means that if you time it right you can enter Thailand on day 179 and get a 60 day entrance stamp which can then be extended for an additional 30 days giving you 269 days in total.

It's all about the timing.

The 180 day thing can cause some confusion. The visa is valid for 180 days from the day it's issued.

The visa only needs to be valid on the day you enter Thailand, even if it expires the next day you can still use it.

This means that if you time it right you can enter Thailand on day 179 and get a 60 day entrance stamp which can then be extended for an additional 30 days giving you 269 days in total.

It's all about the timing.

That does sound confusing. But I think I kinda got it.

Now wait until someone post to tell that is illegal to work online, and we'll have the 385th repeat of another classic hamster wheel thread.

I thought this issue was solved. As long as your business isn't exporting/importing anything into Thailand nor hiring anyone in Thailand. My clients are in Estonia and my company is registered there. I don't believe Thailand should have an issue with me earning money from another country and spending it in Thailand.

Anyway thanks guys... You've been a great help. I think I have now everything I need to take my next steps.

Cheers

Every year I stay here for 6 months.

I buy a 12 month O visa, non-immigrant at the embassy In Copenhagen. This allows me to stay 12 months If I wish BUT i have to go out of the country every 90 days.

So for your needs you need the same 12 month visa and you only have to leave and return once . Then you are here 6 months .

The price for me was 140 Euro..

Every year I stay here for 6 months.

I buy a 12 month O visa, non-immigrant at the embassy In Copenhagen. This allows me to stay 12 months If I wish BUT i have to go out of the country every 90 days.

So for your needs you need the same 12 month visa and you only have to leave and return once . Then you are here 6 months .

The price for me was 140 Euro..

But non-o visas are not issued without a reason for them. Such as marriage, being 50 or over and etc. The OP does not appear to qualify for one.

I thought this issue was solved. As long as your business isn't exporting/importing anything into Thailand nor hiring anyone in Thailand. My clients are in Estonia and my company is registered there. I don't believe Thailand should have an issue with me earning money from another country and spending it in Thailand.

Hi, You should verify this with the TAX agreements that Thailand has with Estonia. If you are in Thailand for to long you might be obligated to pay income tax here, even if you are earning money in Estonia. I have a friend from Sweden that lives about 75% in Thailand and he has to pay taxes in both countries.

Every year I stay here for 6 months.

I buy a 12 month O visa, non-immigrant at the embassy In Copenhagen. This allows me to stay 12 months If I wish BUT i have to go out of the country every 90 days.

So for your needs you need the same 12 month visa and you only have to leave and return once . Then you are here 6 months .

The price for me was 140 Euro..

Do you really need to leave the country every 90 days with a non-O? isn't a 90 day report enough?

Every year I stay here for 6 months.

I buy a 12 month O visa, non-immigrant at the embassy In Copenhagen. This allows me to stay 12 months If I wish BUT i have to go out of the country every 90 days.

So for your needs you need the same 12 month visa and you only have to leave and return once . Then you are here 6 months .

The price for me was 140 Euro..

Do you really need to leave the country every 90 days with a non-O? isn't a 90 day report enough?

A multiple entry non-o visa only gives a 90 day entry and you have to leave the country at the end of those 90 days,

The 90 day reports are for staying in the country for more than 90 days. In order to stay longer than 90 days you need to be on an extension of stay from immigration.

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

"I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions."

The 180 days probably refers to how long the visa is valid, not how long you can stay in Thailand.

The life of the visa starts from when the embassy/consulate issues it and you will need to make your first, second and third entries before the "use by date" printed on the visa. Some are valid for 3 months, some for 6 months.

You can make the third entry just before the visa expires and still get a 60 day permission to stay and a 30 day extension on that entry even though the visa will expire during your third stay in Thailand.

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

Some times I find it hard to follow all the suggestions on here, I'm over 50, married to a Thai and maybe not doing it the easiest way but every year I apply for 3 x 60 day visas at the Thai Consulate in my home country and make border runs over here every 58 - 60 days as my visas expire. To get away from any tax problems etc., I spend 25 weeks here in Thailand and 27 in my home country. This also assures me of keeping residency in my home country.

Some times I find it hard to follow all the suggestions on here, I'm over 50, married to a Thai and maybe not doing it the easiest way but every year I apply for 3 x 60 day visas at the Thai Consulate in my home country and make border runs over here every 58 - 60 days as my visas expire. To get away from any tax problems etc., I spend 25 weeks here in Thailand and 27 in my home country. This also assures me of keeping residency in my home country.

You don't need to do so many border runs. For example, you can extend each entry for 60 days at immigration for Bt 1,900. Also, you can get a multi-entry non-imm 'O' visa instead of tourist visa, that last one year not 6 months.

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

Where you checked that? I thougth estonians apply at Embassy in Finland and they give only 90 days validity for triple entry tourist visa. If you are even lucky to get that...

http://www.thaiembassy.org/helsinki/en/services/1937/26869-Tourist-Visa.html

I checked and in Estonia we have triple tourist visa for 180 days. I'm guessing they didn't count the extensions.

So if I don't get triple or double or they run out, I can just get a new tourist visa from Laos or Malaysia depending on which side of Thailand I'm in?

By "onward ticket for next visa run" you mean a ticket that shows Thai customs officials that I'm actually planning to leave the country when my visa expires?

Thanks again guys.

Where you checked that? I thougth estonians apply at Embassy in Finland and they give only 90 days validity for triple entry tourist visa. If you are even lucky to get that...

http://www.thaiembassy.org/helsinki/en/services/1937/26869-Tourist-Visa.html

Here: http://www.viisa.ee/ee/teenused/viisa-taotlemine/viisa-taisse

Kolmekordne turismiviisa perioodiga 180 päeva 110 eur

It says triple tourist visa with a period of 180 days.

Edited February 16, 201511 yr by kreeker

"Here: http://www.viisa.ee/...ne/viisa-taisse

Kolmekordne turismiviisa perioodiga 180 päeva 110 eur

It says triple tourist visa with a period of 180 days."

That is a commercial site NOT a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Using such a service is a personal choice for which personal responsibility will have to be accepted.

"Here: http://www.viisa.ee/...ne/viisa-taisse

Kolmekordne turismiviisa perioodiga 180 päeva 110 eur

It says triple tourist visa with a period of 180 days."

That is a commercial site NOT a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Using such a service is a personal choice for which personal responsibility will have to be accepted.

I'm aware that this is a commercial service. And I would rather use a local Estonian service than deal with an embassy or consulate in Finland.