hello, forgive my question, but someone told me "On a Retirement "Visa" if it a multiple entry you can enter exit a thousand, million, billion times during the Visa validity period "

my plan is at age 50 to obtain a multi-entry Retirement O-A I guess in the USA , with all the paperwork , etc, then to spend 3 months at a time in Tland, however I don't quite understand what double entry means in this context ; does double entry mean that I would be allowed to leave the country and return only once, at at the time of the 2nd entry, I'd be stamped in for 1 year ?

So , if my plan was to only visit for 3 months at a time, then say 6 months outside Tland, then 3 months back in Tland, would a O-A be worthwhile, as it would save me extension trips to CWattana to extend 60 day tourist visas? ; thanks

An O/A visa is multiple entry only. You can ignore diffeent indications on forms and websites that dates back many years and are never updated.

With an O-A which will be multi-entry, you leave and reenter all you like and EACH time you reenter you'll be stamped in for a one year stay as long as the original visa is valid. Thus people can use such a visa for as long as about two years (the original visa is for one year) and AFTER that people who really want to stay start applying for annual extensions based on retirement IN Thailand.

hmm, so typically the visa is valid from 1 year of the date obtained, or from 1 year of 1st entry into Tland?

and if it is , say 1 year from either of those, how can one get a 1 year stamp, if it presumably would extend beyond the original 'validity' date ?

With an O-A which will be multi-entry, you leave and reenter all you like and EACH time you reenter you'll be stamped in for a one year stay as long as the original visa is valid. Thus people can use such a visa for as long as about two years (the original visa is for one year) and AFTER that people who really want to stay start applying for annual extensions based on retirement IN Thailand.

hmm, so typically the visa is valid from 1 year of the date obtained, or from 1 year of 1st entry into Tland?

and if it is , say 1 year from either of those, how can one get a 1 year stamp, if it presumably would extend beyond the original 'validity' date ?

The visa is valid until the enter before date (which is 12 months from the date of issue).

Whenever you enter the country, while the visa is still valid, you receive a permission to stay that is valid for 12 months from the date of entry.

Close to the end of the validity of your visa, you can exit Thailand and return to get a permission to stay for 12 months from the new date of entry. This is how you can get almost 2 years of stay from a single O-A visa.

If you leave Thailand and want to return after expiry of the visa, but before expiry of the permission to stay, you can get a reentry permit. If you do not have a reentry permit in this situation, you must enter Thailand on some other basis.

Close to the end of your permission to stay, if your visa has expired but you still wish to remain in Thailand, you can apply for an extension of your permission to stay.

A visas validity date is just the last day you can you can use it to enter the country. It has nothing to do with how long you can stay in the country.

hmm, so typically the visa is valid from 1 year of the date obtained, or from 1 year of 1st entry into Tland?

and if it is , say 1 year from either of those, how can one get a 1 year stamp, if it presumably would extend beyond the original 'validity' date ?

The visa is valid until the enter before date (which is 12 months from the date of issue).

Whenever you enter the country, while the visa is still valid, you receive a permission to stay that is valid for 12 months from the date of entry.

Close to the end of the validity of your visa, you can exit Thailand and return to get a permission to stay for 12 months from the new date of entry. This is how you can get almost 2 years of stay from a single O-A visa.

If you leave Thailand and want to return after expiry of the visa, but before expiry of the permission to stay, you can get a reentry permit. If you do not have a reentry permit in this situation, you must enter Thailand on some other basis.

Close to the end of your permission to stay, if your visa has expired but you still wish to remain in Thailand, you can apply for an extension of your permission to stay.

OP, this is a very good explanation of the mechanics of the O-A visa. Nice job, BritTim.

ok so lets say I obtain an O-A visa from the local consolate here in the USA on 12/1/15, I have till ?12/1/16 to 'enter the country' (but this is nothing to do with how long the visa is valid).

I enter the country on 1/1/2016, I am stamped in for 1 year ; I then exit the country, 3 months later on 4/1/15 . would I have until 1/1/2017 to get back to Tland ? the original Visa became 'valid' for 1 year from the original entry date ?

Then let's say I return to Tland 12/1/16 ; I am again stamped in for 1 year and stay for 3 months on 2/1/17 , at that time the original visa has expired, so I would apply for a .......re-entry permit ; I would then have till 12/1/17 to get back to Tland, and ?no more than 1 month before 12/1/17 , I would apply for the 'extension of stay' ?

the re-entry permit is all I need to re-enter Thailand if still within the 2nd 1 year permission to stay ?

hmm, so typically the visa is valid from 1 year of the date obtained, or from 1 year of 1st entry into Tland?

and if it is , say 1 year from either of those, how can one get a 1 year stamp, if it presumably would extend beyond the original 'validity' date ?

The visa is valid until the enter before date (which is 12 months from the date of issue).

Whenever you enter the country, while the visa is still valid, you receive a permission to stay that is valid for 12 months from the date of entry.

Close to the end of the validity of your visa, you can exit Thailand and return to get a permission to stay for 12 months from the new date of entry. This is how you can get almost 2 years of stay from a single O-A visa.

If you leave Thailand and want to return after expiry of the visa, but before expiry of the permission to stay, you can get a reentry permit. If you do not have a reentry permit in this situation, you must enter Thailand on some other basis.

Close to the end of your permission to stay, if your visa has expired but you still wish to remain in Thailand, you can apply for an extension of your permission to stay.

ok so lets say I obtain an O-A visa from the local consolate here in the USA on 12/1/15, I have till ?12/1/16 to 'enter the country' (but this is nothing to do with how long the visa is valid).

I enter the country on 1/1/2016, I am stamped in for 1 year ; I then exit the country, 3 months later on 4/1/15 . would I have until 1/1/2017 to get back to Tland ? the original Visa became 'valid' for 1 year from the original entry date ?

Then let's say I return to Tland 12/1/16 ; I am again stamped in for 1 year and stay for 3 months on 2/1/17 , at that time the original visa has expired, so I would apply for a .......re-entry permit ; I would then have till 12/1/17 to get back to Tland, and ?no more than 1 month before 12/1/17 , I would apply for the 'extension of stay' ?

the re-entry permit is all I need to re-enter Thailand if still within the 2nd 1 year permission to stay ?

No.

In your example, you have from 12/1/15 until 11/30/16 to enter the country....those are the validity dates of the visa. Each time you exit/re-enter during that period, you'll get stamped in for a year from the date of entry (that's the permission to stay). You can do that multiple times, hence the "multiple re-entry" aspect of the visa.

If you enter the country on 1/1/16 and then leave again 4/1/16, you would have until 11/30/16 to re-enter the country. Again, each time you do you'll get stamped in for a year.

You can enter again on 11/30/16 and you'll get stamped in until 11/29/17....but for any trips out of the country after that entry, you'll need to purchase a re-entry permit (because your original visa expires 11/30/16). So from 11/30/16 until 11/29/17 you can exit/re-enter only if you have a re-entry permit.

Once 11/29/17 rolls around, you'd need to either go back to the US and get another O-A visa or apply for an annual extension within Thailand each year.

Edited June 27, 201511 yr by TheAppletons

ok so lets say I obtain an O-A visa from the local consolate here in the USA on 12/1/15, I have till ?12/1/16 to 'enter the country' (but this is nothing to do with how long the visa is valid).

I enter the country on 1/1/2016, I am stamped in for 1 year ; I then exit the country, 3 months later on 4/1/15 . would I have until 1/1/2017 to get back to Tland ? the original Visa became 'valid' for 1 year from the original entry date ?

Then let's say I return to Tland 12/1/16 ; I am again stamped in for 1 year and stay for 3 months on 2/1/17 , at that time the original visa has expired, so I would apply for a .......re-entry permit ; I would then have till 12/1/17 to get back to Tland, and ?no more than 1 month before 12/1/17 , I would apply for the 'extension of stay' ?

the re-entry permit is all I need to re-enter Thailand if still within the 2nd 1 year permission to stay ?

The visa is valid for entry to the country for one year from the date it is issued. Your example of dates is not correct.. If the visa is issued on on the 12th of a month it would expire on the 11th one year later. The expiration date will be reflected as the enter before date on the visa sticker. You must enter on or before that date to get a one year entry.

On entry to the country you will given a one year permit to stay. You can do as many entries as you want up to the the enter before date on your visa.

After the enter before date you must get a re-entry permit to keep the last 1 year permit to stay valid if you want to travel. Prior to that date you must extend your permit to stay or leave the country on that date.

@ubonjoe, OP appears to be using an American style for writing dates. So 12/1/15 is 1 December 2015.....at least that's how I'm reading it.

12th January 2015 in my book

@ubonjoe, OP appears to be using an American style for writing dates. So 12/1/15 is 1 December 2015.....at least that's how I'm reading it.

I was not sure so that is why I replied with no month or year.

To avoid confusion I write the month instead of a number.

ok so, i obtain a O-A visa on december 1st 2015, I have 1 year to enter the country, I enter on january 1st and stay 3 months, leave, then I must return to thailand before december 1st 2016, and at that point I'd get stamped in for 1 year permission to stay, lets say November 15 2016, I stay until february 2017, at that point, I would need to go to Chang Wattana and get a re-entry permit ? I leave the country ; I can then use that re-entry permit up until the end of the 'permission to stay' , November 15 , 2017 ?

and somewhere between october 15 and november 15 , 2017; i would/could go and get an 'extension of stay' ?

Correct

ok thanks

You can also get a re-entry permit at the airport on the way out.

if I leave before 90 days , do I have to do the 90 day 'reporting' ; like if I left on day 89 ?

if I leave before 90 days , do I have to do the 90 day 'reporting' ; like if I left on day 89 ?

No. Only if you are in country for 90 consecutive days.

so reporting is for both O-A visa and for extensions of stay it seems ?

so reporting is for both O-A visa and for extensions of stay it seems ?

Only been posted at least a 1000 times before. If you stay 90 consecutive days, it does not matter about visa, or extension of stay, you need to report. Unfortunately. it seems you can't be bothered to read and learn.

how much cost 90 days report, is it just a form to give to an i/o?

how much cost the o/a visa? is it easy to get? I presume this is for people who are over 50 and have 800k bahts.

how much cost the extensions?

how much cost the re - entry?

is it not better to apply for a resident card instead.?

Edited June 28, 201511 yr by VIPinthailand

I got a Non O multi entry 1 year retirement visa from England even though I have a U.S passport in 2010 ( when it was easy to do that). It isn't so easy now.

Anyway your multi entry visa was good for one year from date of issue , not date of entry to Thailand, but from date of issue by the Thai consulate

Each entry to Thailand was good for a 90 day entry stamp, then you had to leave the country, and on return you got another 90 day entry stamp in your passport.

You could do this until the 1 year validity of the visa ran out..... then, in my case, I applied for a retirement extension by qualifying with the 800K Thai Baht financial requirement, and have been doing that annually since 2010.

Now you can get a O-A retirement visa in your home country which is slightly different than the Non O I got in 2010.

Slightly different details, but basically same idea.

P,S, you can apply for permanent residence in Thailand but it requires 3 years of working and paying Thai taxes here and is NOT any easy process.

Edited June 28, 201511 yr by IMA_FARANG

@ubonjoe, OP appears to be using an American style for writing dates. So 12/1/15 is 1 December 2015.....at least that's how I'm reading it.

----------------------

I am originally from the U.S.

So I am familiar with the U.S dates which are written as month/date/year.

But I've worked in Europe and am therefore used to the date/month/year style also

so reporting is for both O-A visa and for extensions of stay it seems ?

Only been posted at least a 1000 times before. If you stay 90 consecutive days, it does not matter about visa, or extension of stay, you need to report. Unfortunately. it seems you can't be bothered to read and learn.

OP- further to this IMHO unnecessarily rudely-worded response to your IMHO perfectly reasonable question, you should also bear in mind that the date when you enter (or re-enter) Thailand from a trip abroad is Day 1 of the 90-day count. Hence you need to count a further 89 days in order to arrive at the date when your 90-day report is due.

Likewise the date when you file a 90-day report is Day 1 in the count towards the date when your next 90-day report is due.

Personally I have no problem with saying the same thing 1,000 times on here - unlike some posters!

Edited June 29, 201511 yr by OJAS

ok so lets say I obtain an O-A visa from the local consolate here in the USA on 12/1/15, I have till ?12/1/16 to 'enter the country' (but this is nothing to do with how long the visa is valid).

I enter the country on 1/1/2016, I am stamped in for 1 year ; I then exit the country, 3 months later on 4/1/15 . would I have until 1/1/2017 to get back to Tland ? the original Visa became 'valid' for 1 year from the original entry date ?

Then let's say I return to Tland 12/1/16 ; I am again stamped in for 1 year and stay for 3 months on 2/1/17 , at that time the original visa has expired, so I would apply for a .......re-entry permit ; I would then have till 12/1/17 to get back to Tland, and ?no more than 1 month before 12/1/17 , I would apply for the 'extension of stay' ?

the re-entry permit is all I need to re-enter Thailand if still within the 2nd 1 year permission to stay ?

The visa is valid for entry to the country for one year from the date it is issued. Your example of dates is not correct.. If the visa is issued on on the 12th of a month it would expire on the 11th one year later. The expiration date will be reflected as the enter before date on the visa sticker. You must enter on or before that date to get a one year entry.

On entry to the country you will given a one year permit to stay. You can do as many entries as you want up to the the enter before date on your visa.

After the enter before date you must get a re-entry permit to keep the last 1 year permit to stay valid if you want to travel. Prior to that date you must extend your permit to stay or leave the country on that date.

Sorry Ubonjo but this is not totally correct. I went to Korat Immigration today to apply for a "re-entry" permit based on exactly what you said. I'm leaving and returning from Vietnam Jul 8 & 9th to get a 1 year extension. My Visa "O-A" dates where issued 24 Jun, 2014 and must enter before 23 Jun, 2015 "multi entry". I entered 28 Jul 2014 and stamped extenison of stay until 27Jul 2015. So I applied for a re-entry permit believing my multi had expired per your statement above. Officer started to stamp my passport but then realized my "multi" ois valod until Jul 27. He said just go to VN as planned, I will get a new extension for one year until 9 Jul 2016. He said entry permits expiry date is not tied to the "used by date". His Supervisor agreed. It's driven by the actual entry date.

I'm taking the paper work with me plus my witness "just" in case he and his Supervisor are wrong! If I any problems they said just come back and they can fix it. Crossing my fingers. It's a <deleted> 275 Km round trip from where I now live!!

I will put it very simply that the immigration officer was wrong.

This from the immigration website. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/content/visaxpiredate.html

What does the Visa Expiration Date Mean?The visa expiration date is shown on the visa. Depending on the alien’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple (unlimited) entries, for the same purpose of travel.

• This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel for the same purpose, when the visa is issued for multiple entry.
• This time period from the visa issuance date to visa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity. If you travel frequently as a tourist for example, with a multiple entry visa, you do not have to apply for a new visa each time you want to travel to Thailand.
• The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in Thailand to request permission of the immigration officer to permit you to enter Thailand. The visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand.
• The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.
• Each time you arrive at the port-of-entry, an immigration officer decides whether to allow you to enter and how long you can stay. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter Thailand.

I will put it very simply that the immigration officer was wrong.

This from the immigration website. http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/content/visaxpiredate.html

What does the Visa Expiration Date Mean?The visa expiration date is shown on the visa. Depending on the alien’s nationality, visas can be issued for any number of entries, from as little as one entry to as many as multiple (unlimited) entries, for the same purpose of travel.

• This generally means the visa is valid, or can be used from the date it is issued until the date it expires, for travel for the same purpose, when the visa is issued for multiple entry.
• This time period from the visa issuance date to visa expiration date as shown on the visa, is called visa validity. If you travel frequently as a tourist for example, with a multiple entry visa, you do not have to apply for a new visa each time you want to travel to Thailand.
• The visa validity is the length of time you are permitted to travel to a port-of-entry in Thailand to request permission of the immigration officer to permit you to enter Thailand. The visa does not guarantee entry to Thailand.
• The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand, given to you by the immigration officer at port-of-entry. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in Thailand for any given visit.
• Each time you arrive at the port-of-entry, an immigration officer decides whether to allow you to enter and how long you can stay. Only the immigration officer has the authority to permit you to enter Thailand.

We shall see who's right....luckily I will be spend a extra day in Bangkok so i will go to Chaing Wattana or the one stop to buy a re-entry permit.

you seem to be saying with a O-A 1 year visa, that one still has to get Visa extensions, at Thai Immigration every 90 days? and/or "leave the country" ; I don't think that is correct information ?

my understanding is that multi-entry retirement visas, only require reporting, NOT obtaining visa extensions ?

how has the process changed from 2010 for obtaining O-A visas from USA consulates, may I ask ?

I got a Non O multi entry 1 year retirement visa from England even though I have a U.S passport in 2010 ( when it was easy to do that). It isn't so easy now.

Anyway your multi entry visa was good for one year from date of issue , not date of entry to Thailand, but from date of issue by the Thai consulate

Each entry to Thailand was good for a 90 day entry stamp, then you had to leave the country, and on return you got another 90 day entry stamp in your passport.

You could do this until the 1 year validity of the visa ran out..... then, in my case, I applied for a retirement extension by qualifying with the 800K Thai Baht financial requirement, and have been doing that annually since 2010.

Now you can get a O-A retirement visa in your home country which is slightly different than the Non O I got in 2010.

Slightly different details, but basically same idea.

P,S, you can apply for permanent residence in Thailand but it requires 3 years of working and paying Thai taxes here and is NOT any easy process.

sorry, one other question, is there an expiry date for the re-entry permits ? how long are THEY valid for ? thanks