PGA Golfer long term visa

[underso]

I am looking for a little advice for my friend. He is a PGA qualified professional and is looking to come to Thailand long term to play and practice. He already has a course in Thailand he can get a letter from confirming they will let him use the facilities but he doesn't know which the best visa to get would be? Any advice he would appreciate.

[ubonjoe]

There is no visa or extension he can get to play and practice long term.

Perhaps working as the course's pro would be the only option.

[underso]

There is no visa or extension he can get to play and practice long term.

Perhaps working as the course's pro would be the only option.

Ok, he is in Hong Kong at the moment. Will it be easy for him to get a single entry or multi entry tourist visa while he is there? If so do you know what the processing times are?

[sunnyjim5]

There is no visa or extension he can get to play and practice long term.

Perhaps working as the course's pro would be the only option.

Ok, he is in Hong Kong at the moment. Will it be easy for him to get a single entry or multi entry tourist visa while he is there? If so do you know what the processing times are?

He should be able to obtain a single entry tourist visa without difficulty.

Unless a citizen/resident of HK it is unlikely that a METV will be available.

[ubonjoe]

Unless he is a Hong Kong citizen or legal resident he will be able to get a multiple entry tourist visa. He could only get a single entry tourist visa.

[elviajero]

He can probably only get a single entry tourist visa (SETV) from Hong Kong. It will take a couple of days. You usually pick up the visa the day after applying.

How old is he?

When you say play do you mean for fun or as a professional?

Is he looking to move here full time and just play for fun?

[underso]

He can probably only get a single entry tourist visa (SETV) from Hong Kong. It will take a couple of days. You usually pick up the visa the day after applying.

How old is he?

When you say play do you mean for fun or as a professional?

Is he looking to move here full time and just play for fun?

He is late 20s..

He is looking to play and practice here. He is going to enter a few of the local professional events here and also try the get on the main Asian tour next year. He missed out on the qualifying this year but wants a year to acclimatize and try again next year.

[BritTim]

The only long term visa categories I can see that might fit are

• Type EX
  to undertake skilled work or to work as an expert or specialist
• Type C
  to be a sport coach as required by Thai Government
  (if he can find an influential Thai who can help him, perhaps in rturn for coaching)
• Thailand Elite visa (if he has the funds)

[elviajero]

He can probably only get a single entry tourist visa (SETV) from Hong Kong. It will take a couple of days. You usually pick up the visa the day after applying.

How old is he?

When you say play do you mean for fun or as a professional?

Is he looking to move here full time and just play for fun?

He is late 20s..

He is looking to play and practice here. He is going to enter a few of the local professional events here and also try the get on the main Asian tour next year. He missed out on the qualifying this year but wants a year to acclimatize and try again next year.

• He can play and practice on a tourist visa but he will need to go outside of Thailand every 60/90 days to get a new visa.
• If he gets employed by a club he could get a work permit and a 1 year extension of stay that is renewable each year.
• Failing that I think his only long term option would be the Thailand Elite Visa which costs 500,000 baht but allows him to come and go for 5 years.

[underso]

He can probably only get a single entry tourist visa (SETV) from Hong Kong. It will take a couple of days. You usually pick up the visa the day after applying.

How old is he?

When you say play do you mean for fun or as a professional?

Is he looking to move here full time and just play for fun?

He is late 20s..

He is looking to play and practice here. He is going to enter a few of the local professional events here and also try the get on the main Asian tour next year. He missed out on the qualifying this year but wants a year to acclimatize and try again next year.

• He can play and practice on a tourist visa but he will need to go outside of Thailand every 60/90 days to get a new visa.
• If he gets employed by a club he could get a work permit and a 1 year extension of stay that is renewable each year.
• Failing that I think his only long term option would be the Thailand Elite Visa which costs 500,000 baht but allows him to come and go for 5 years.

ok, i will pass on the info thanks.

Just one last thing, what documents will be be required to show at the consulate in HK to get a single entry tourist visa?

[elviajero]

ok, i will pass on the info thanks.

Just one last thing, what documents will be be required to show at the consulate in HK to get a single entry tourist visa?

According to a recent report: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/885271-hong-kong-setv-report/

• Passport
• 1 Application with photo
• Copy of Hong Kong entry stamp
• Copy of passport data page

[Surin1969]

if i realy good Player On PGA why he dont have a Manager do all papers f0r Him visa an More

[BritTim]

if i realy good Player On PGA why he dont have a Manager do all papers f0r Him visa an More

This is a common misconception. The absolute top golfers, tennis players etc. make a fortune from prize money and sponsorships. Those who are good, but not one of the stars struggle to make enough to live on. Prizes in second tier events, even if you place near the top, is not that much. Travel to compete in tournaments is not cheap. If he is struggling to qualify for the top tournaments, he will be struggling financially unless he has another source of funds. That is quite likely one key reason he wants to be based in Thailand: low living costs.

[bkk6060]

There are 7,500 PGA members.

Only a hand full play on tour and make big money.

If he is already in his late 20's and cannot even get on the Asian Tour, he should probably seek another profession.

[jacksam]

There are 7,500 PGA members.

Only a hand full play on tour and make big money.

If he is already in his late 20's and cannot even get on the Asian Tour, he should probably seek another profession.

Very true. I wonder if he came on a tourist and was able to enter a few tournaments. (Mean ones he can enter) . Perhaps if he did ok it might open up chance to be employed by a thai golf club. With wp. Then are many top class courses. Hua Hin one example. A lot of golf tours come here. Maybe he could obtain advice from them or golf pro shops.

[elviajero]

There are 7,500 PGA members.

Only a hand full play on tour and make big money.

If he is already in his late 20's and cannot even get on the Asian Tour, he should probably seek another profession.

Very true. I wonder if he came on a tourist and was able to enter a few tournaments. (Mean ones he can enter) . Perhaps if he did ok it might open up chance to be employed by a thai golf club. With wp. Then are many top class courses. Hua Hin one example. A lot of golf tours come here. Maybe he could obtain advice from them or golf pro shops.

I don't see any reason why he can't play in tournaments if entering with a tourist visa as 'sporting' is one of the activities allowed. I imagine pro golfers playing tournaments in Thailand are all on tourist visas/visa exempt entry. I expect any winnings would be paid net of any tax liability.