How To Live In Thailand Long Term: The Ultimate Guide
Thailand is a beautiful country with a rich culture and amazing food. It’s no wonder that so many people want to move there permanently! If you’re thinking of making Thailand your home, this is the guide for you. In this article, we will discuss the different Thai visa options available to foreigners, as well as how to live in Thailand long term.
To qualify for a long-term visa in Thailand, you must be a student, an ex-pat in Thailand, married to a Thai national, the owner of a business (or businesses) in Thailand, or over 50 years old (or so-called Retirement visa).
Key Takeaways
- The Thai Elite Visa is the only visa that allows foreigners to stay in Thailand for an extremely long period of time with significantly less hassle than other visas.
- A non-immigrant visa, which is the first step in the process of obtaining a work permit in Thailand, is required of all foreign nationals.
- There are a great number of positive aspects associated with achieving the status of Permanent Resident (PR) in Thailand. It dispenses with the requirement that a foreign national apply for an extension of their stay to live permanently in Thailand.
Choosing the Right Visa for Long-Term Stay
There are multiple ways to remain in Thailand, depending on the visa you possess. If you wish to remain in Thailand for an extended period, you do not require a tourist visa, which only allows you to stay for a maximum of 60 days and is intended solely for tourism. Determining the correct visa for your long-term stay depends on the number of years you intend to remain. Do you wish to remain for a year? More than 12 months? Or 20 years because you love Thailand so much?
Your only option for a one-year stay in Thailand is the Marriage Visa, which is restricted to foreigners who are married to Thai nationals. If you wish to remain for four (4) years, you should apply for a Smart Visa. It is possible to obtain a Retirement Visa for a five-year stay, but only if you are at least 50 years old. What about the next twenty years? You can obtain the extremely exclusive Thai Elite Visa.
What distinguishes the Thai Elite Visa? In addition to allowing you to stay in Thailand for an extended period, this type of visa is regarded as the quickest way to enter and exit the country. Ideal for businessmen, travelers, retirees, families, and virtually everyone else. Unlike other types of visas that have restrictions on who can stay, these visas do not specify who can stay.
How long Can I Stay in Thailand?
The tourist visa must generally be utilized within ninety days of issuance and permits an initial stay of sixty days. Once upon arrival in Thailand, a tourist visa may be extended for an additional 30 days at the discretion of an immigration officer, for a maximum stay of 90 days.
The Thai Elite Visa is the only visa that allows foreigners to stay in Thailand for an extremely long period of time with significantly less hassle than other visas. It is the only visa that allows you to remain in the country without reporting to the immigration office every 90 days and completing the required paperwork. Furthermore, it is a multiple-entry visa, which means that even if you remain in the country for an extended period, you are free to enter and exit the country without causing any problems.
How does it feel to stay in Thailand for 20 years with a Thai Elite Visa? It includes the following privileges and exclusive assistance upon entering and staying in Thailand:
Services are offered at an airport. It grants you access to their exclusive lounges, provides you with an Elite Personal Assistant, and ensures that you are greeted upon arrival and departure.
Acceleration. This would be the best option for you if you dislike standing in long lines. It expedites the processing of applications for immigration and passports for your convenience.
Provider of Transportation Services. The hotel provides complimentary transportation from the airport to the accommodation of your choice.
Administrative Support. You may request reporting assistance for the 90-day report, for which your physical presence is not required. Foreigners who wish to avoid hassles at the immigration office will find this particularly convenient.
Wellness, Exciting Activities, and Recreation. It offers complimentary golf, spas, and a variety of other activities. In addition, annual medical and dental exams.
Unique Discounts. Members of Thai Elite receive exclusive discounted rates at chosen clothing stores, shopping centers, food outlets, and hotel chains in the country.
Best visa to stay long-term in Thailand?
Educational Visa
If you’re a student from another country who’s interested in enrolling in a Thai university, seminar, training session, or internship program, you’ll need to obtain an Education Visa from the Thai government before you can begin your studies.
A visa application is fairly straightforward; you’ll need to submit a completed application form and supporting documents to the Thai embassy or consulate in your home country.
Once your application has been approved, you’ll be granted 90 days of stay in Thailand, which can be extended to a maximum of one year. If you plan to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time, you’ll need to apply for a new visa before your current one expires.
Investor Visa
Applications for Thailand’s new “Long-Term Resident (LTR)” visa, which grants the holder the right to a 10-year visa (extendable) and permission to work in the kingdom, were made available on September 1, 2022, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which is pleased to inform the public of this development.
Additionally, a Thai bank account is necessary for O-A long-stay visas. In order to apply for a long-stay visa, applicants must prove that they have enough money to support themselves during their stay in the country.
Business Visa
A Thai business visa is required for all non-Thais who want to work or start a business in Thailand. This is something that should ideally be done before arriving in Thailand. In addition, if you wish to remain in the Kingdom of Thailand for an extended period, it is possible to convert this type of visa into a long-term visa by visiting the local immigration office.
Thai Work Permits
A non-immigrant visa, which is the first step in the process of obtaining a work permit in Thailand, is required of all foreign nationals. Obtaining a visa for non-immigrants is a requirement before entering Thailand. After obtaining a non-immigrant visa, the foreign national can then start the application process for a work permit. The process of obtaining a work permit would take seven days (business days) to complete.
Marriage Visa
A Thailand Marriage Visa is valid for a maximum of ninety days, and it can be used for either a single entry or multiple entries. If you have a visa that only allows you one entry into the country within ninety days, you are only allowed to enter the country once. If you have a visa that allows you multiple entries during its validity period, you will be able to enter the country more than once.
If, on the other hand, you plan to remain in Thailand for longer than ninety days after entering the country, you are required to apply for an extension of stay to the Thailand Department of Immigration before the validity of your visa runs out.
Retirement Visa
Applicants who are at least 50 years old and plan to reside in Thailand for some time that does not exceed ten years but does not include any intention of working are eligible to apply for this category of visa. The holder of this visa category is granted permission to remain in Thailand for a total of 5 years during each visit (a total of 10 years). It is strictly against the rules to engage in any kind of work.
Thailand Elite Visa
The Thai Elite Visa is a multiple entry visa that is valid for five years and can be renewed for an additional five years. The length of stay for each entry can be extended for an additional year. The holder of a Thai Elite visa is permitted to remain in Thailand indefinitely, as opposed to the other types of visas, which require them to leave the country every 90 days.
Single or Multiple Entry Visa?
Visa for a single entry, with a validity period of three months. It is not possible to return to the country once you have left it, regardless of whether or not the allotted number of days has been used up. The holder of a multiple-entry visa, which is valid for six months and enables the holder to leave and re-enter the country multiple times during the period that the visa is issued, can travel on a visa that is valid for multiple entries.
Who Has to Get a Visa Extension for Thailand?
Everyone who wishes to remain in Thailand for a longer period than the length of time permitted on their visa is required to apply for a Thai Visa Extension. You might be able to get the following if you have the right kind of Thailand Visa and if your trip to Thailand is for the right kind of reason:
- Tourist visa holders can apply for a short-term extension, which typically lasts for 30 additional days and is called a Thailand Visa Extension.
- A Thai visa extension for long-term stays, which can range from ninety days to one year in length depending on the reason for which you wish to reside in Thailand.
- Visas for non-immigrants can sometimes be extended for a significant amount of time.
How to get a visa extension?
You are required to apply for a Thailand Visa Extension at the office of the Thai Immigration Department which is responsible for the region of Thailand in which you intend to make your permanent residence. The “Application Form for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom” needs to be filled out and submitted by you.
How To Live In Thailand Long-Term FAQs
Can a foreigner live in Thailand permanently?
There are a great number of positive aspects associated with achieving the status of Permanent Resident (PR) in Thailand. It dispenses with the requirement that a foreign national apply for an extension of their stay to live permanently in Thailand.
How much does it cost to get permanent residency in Thailand?
The administrative fee for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit in Thailand is 7,600 Thai Baht (200.07 USD). If you applied for permanent residency in Thailand because you were married to a Thai citizen, the additional fee for the Permanent Residence Permit Certificate is 95,700 Thai Baht (2519.35 USD). If your application is successful, you will be required to pay this fee.
Can a foreigner get Thai citizenship?
Naturalization is the path to Thai citizenship, and if you meet the following requirements, you can submit an application for it: You must be at least 18 years old to participate. You have been a Permanent Resident of Thailand for at least five years before submitting your application here.
How do I get a 10-year visa for Thailand?
The application and necessary documentation must be submitted by a foreign national to the BOI of Thailand. The visa is valid for 10 years, split into two 5-year periods. Initial authorization to remain in the country will be granted for 5 years and can be extended for an additional 5 years.
Can you live in Thailand only speaking English?
Yes, you can live in Thailand only by speaking English.
That said, it’s much easier to live in Thailand if you are able to speak Thai. It will make your daily life in Thailand easier, and will also open you up to a larger number of opportunities.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking about moving to Thailand long-term, then this guide is for you. We’ve covered everything from how to get a long-term visa, to finding the best place to live, to learning the Thai language. By following our advice, you’ll be able to make your dream of living in Thailand a reality. So what are you waiting for? Get started on your research and subscribe to our newsletter for more great tips about living in Thailand.
