Thai Visas

Hi Guys.
I'm looking to move to Thailand in about six months time probably working off shore and rotating back an forth - I'm looking into Thai visas at the moment and from what I understand I could do this on a tourist visa if I spend no- more than 30 days in country. Longer term my partner and I will be married and be living in a house we have built outside of Udon Thani so as I'm over fifty I guess the retirement visa seems like the thing to go for but it seems that it has to be renewed every year. Has this always been the case and is there anyway around it ? Seems like a hassle but have also heard and seem on the net agents that take care of the whole thing - at a cost of course -- Please advise - going around in circles lol

Retirement Visa/extention of stay is for people who have retired.( You say you are going to be working). If your intentions are to get married go for a Marraige Visa. Otherwise don't mention the work part to immigration or they wil refuse a retirement extention.

well I wont be working in Thailand - off shore stuff - so is that ok

If you apply for a tourist visa in advance in your country, or outside Thailand, then they are for 60 days. If you arrive into Thailand by air, without a visa, then you are allowed 30 days (15 days if you arrive by land from an adjoining country).

A retirement visa, initially usually for 90 days or subsequently for a year, has to be EXTENDED at the end of its period, as does a marriage visa. No visas are granted indefinitely, so a retirement or marriage visa has to be EXTENDED within Thailand, (with all the paperwork and hassles that that may involve), or a new one applied for outside Thailand.

Topic moved to the Visa forum.

Arjay, not to split hairs but the visa on arrival is 29 days. Im just going through this for my mums arrival next month.

Go to the Thai government site on the internet and you will find all the information you need, and forms to download, also should be available on the net from the Thai embasy in your country, which is probably a better choice. If you want a retirement visa all the paper work is there. If you are going to be leaving and entering the country you will need the multiple entry visa. There are certain deadlines and expirations also, be sure and look carefully. I don't know what country you are in, but when I got mine I called the Thai embasy in Washington DC, where I also sent the paper work, I got some clarification on a couple of matters.

When I got mine, I hadn't retired, so had to show income from work and that had to be verified by notary certification. I had the income verification from the US Embasy in Bangkok but it had reached 90 days a week before and was therefore oh so completely unacceptable . I think you will find retirement visa much simpler than marriage and easier to renew. Also if something happens to the marriage you are still ok with the retirement visa, you aren't with marriage visa.

THAIICE wrote:Hi Guys.
I'm looking to move to Thailand in about six months time probably working off shore and rotating back an forth - Im looking into visas at the moment and from what I understand I could do this on a tourist visa if I spend no- more than 30 days in country. Longer term my partner and I will be married and be living in a house we have built outside of Udon Thani so as I'm over fifty I guess the retirement visa seems like the thing to go for but it seems that it has to be renewed every year. Has this always been the case and is there anyway around it ? Seems like a hassle but have also heard and seem on the net agents that take care of the whole thing - at a cost of course -- Please advise - going around in circles lol

Thaiice, depending on what nationality you are, depends on what visa's are available, slightly different for different countries.
If you do not normally stay longer than 30 days you could keep on getting your 30 days, but that may restrict you if you want to purchase anything in your name, again that can differentiate.

THAIICE wrote:Hi Guys.
I'm looking to move to Thailand in about six months time probably working off shore and rotating back an forth - Im looking into visas at the moment and from what I understand I could do this on a tourist visa if I spend no- more than 30 days in country.

Continue on this course until you're ready to settle long term.

THAIICE wrote:Longer term my partner and I will be married and be living in a house we have built outside of Udon Thani so as I'm over fifty I guess the retirement visa seems like the thing to go for but it seems that it has to be renewed every year. Has this always been the case and is there anyway around it ?

Piece of cake, far easier than the marriage extension. Have to show monthly income of 65K or annual 800K.

THAIICE wrote:Seems like a hassle but have also heard and seem on the net agents that take care of the whole thing - at a cost of course -- Please advise - going around in circles lol

Don't bother, but if you want throw your money away, then throw it my way and I'll take care of it for you.

Thanks for the input - Im English but working for an oil company here in Singapore at the moment- probably be spending more time in Udon after Aug this year so maybe a tourist visa for now but whats it like to do border hops to get a new visa Common practice here but not sure abt Thailand

Being quite near to the border the visa runs are not time consuming as some of the other border crossings in Thailand.
For the quick turn around, where you only need to go to the Laos border for a stamp for an existing visa it normally takes about three hours tops.Cost is $35 dollars but that is for your Laos visa.
For a double entry tourist visa you have to stay overnight in Vientienne, Laos, As you hand in your passport before midday and pick it up the day after from 1pm to 4pm, i think it's 4pm.
But Vientienne is a nice and quiet place to stay, not over expensive, but sometimes a welcome change.

Thanks for the help guys - maybe a few beers when I get sorted to say thanks