Temple stay visa ?

[Parttimemonk]

Hi, hope this is the right place to ask. I've been visiting Thailand for years staying at temples and monastery's but am now in a position where I can stay a long while to study and practice meditation and dharma.

 

At first I thought a retirement visa (I'm 55) would be the route but I expect to spend no more than 6-9 months a year at the temple, the remainder of my time exploring Thailand. 

 

Do i need a long term lease somewhere to receive an extension by retirement ? Surely some retirees spend long periods traveling before settling down. 

 

Any suggestions as as to what kind of visa suits my plan ?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, Parttimemonk said:

Do i need a long term lease somewhere to receive an extension by retirement ?

It does not have to be a long term rental agreement. If can be one on a month to month basis.

What they actually want depends upon the office where you apply for the extension.

[Parttimemonk]

Thank you Ubonjoe, one of the temples I like staying at is in Ubon.....how are the IO's there ?

[ubonjoe]

50 minutes ago, Parttimemonk said:

Thank you Ubonjoe, one of the temples I like staying at is in Ubon.....how are the IO's there ?

Friendly and helpful.

There are 2 offices here now. A new one here in the city and the other one in Sirindhorn.

The one problem you can have by moving around the country is doing you 90 day reports. You have to do them to the office where you got your extension. If you can do them using online reporting it will not be a problem. Or you could do them by mail if you have an address where the receipt for them can be sent to that is an option.

[AGareth2]

21 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Friendly and helpful.

There are 2 offices here now. A new one here in the city and the other one in Sirindhorn.

The one problem you can have by moving around the country is doing you 90 day reports. You have to do them to the office where you got your extension. If you can do them using online reporting it will not be a problem. Or you could do them by mail if you have an address where the receipt for them can be sent to that is an option.

mmm

my extension is issued at Chaengwattana

I have on occasion done my 90 day report at Jomtien

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, AGareth2 said:

my extension is issued at Chaengwattana

I have on occasion done my 90 day report at Jomtien

You were lucky. The rules state you can only do them where you got your extension unless you formally change your address to a different office.

[Tanoshi]

20 hours ago, Parttimemonk said:

Any suggestions as as to what kind of visa suits my plan ?

That would depend on which Country you are from?

[007 RED]

I stand to be corrected, but my understanding is that there is in fact a visa specifically for studying Buddhism or practicing religious activities within Thailand, namely Non-Immigration R.

 

According to the Royal Thai Police Regulations 777/2551 Section 2.13, the requirements are as follows:

 

1.... Must have been granted a Non-Immigration visa.

 

2.... Must have been confirmed and requested by the National Office of Buddhism, or office of the Prime Minister, or  Mahachulaongkrongnarajavidyalaya University, or Mahamakut Buddhist University.

 

3.... Must be confirmed by the Abbott of the temple where applicant is studying Buddhisum or practicing religious activities.

 

The visa (if granted) will be valid for a maximum of 1 year.

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, 007 RED said:

I stand to be corrected, but my understanding is that there is in fact a visa specifically for studying Buddhism or practicing religious activities within Thailand, namely Non-Immigration R.

According to the Royal Thai Police Regulations 777/2551 Section 2.13, the requirements are as follows:

The non-r visa would be issued by a embassy or consulate not at immigration here.

There is one but the OP does not plan on being at one temple all the time nor be at one the entire time he is here.

Police order  777/2551 was replaced by Police Order 327/2557  basis for extension of stay in August of 2014.

Quote

2.13 In the case of studying Buddhism or
practicing religious activities:
Each permission shall be granted for no
more than one year.
The alien:
(1) Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM).
(2) Must have been confirmed and requested by the National Office of Buddhism,
or Office of the Prune Minister, or Mahachulalongkomrajavidyalaya University, or
Mahamakut Buddhist University.
(3) Must have been confirmed by the abbot of the temple where the applicant is
studying Buddhism or practicing religious activities.

It is an extension of stay not a visa.

[007 RED]

8 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Police order  777/2551 was replaced by Police Order 327/2557  basis for extension of stay in August of 2014.

It is an extension of stay not a visa.

Joe… Thanks for updating me on the latest version number of the Police Order… as it happens 2.12 remains the same… as I said, I stand to be corrected.

[ubonjoe]

49 minutes ago, 007 RED said:

Joe… Thanks for updating me on the latest version number of the Police Order… as it happens 2.12 remains the same… as I said, I stand to be corrected.

That clause is the same. But many others were changed.

For example that is when it became possible to extend a 30 day visa exempt entry for 30 days.

[Parttimemonk]

HI Tanoshi, I'm Canadan

[Parttimemonk]

007Re, thanks for the advice but Ubonjoe is right, I hope to split my time between a few temples and spend part of the year exploring Thailand.

[Tanoshi]

If you intend to apply for an extension based on retirement, you'll need to meet the financial requirements.

What Visa do you intend to enter Thailand on.