Thailand Visa question No. 153/22: Which visa?
Questioner: Aert
I want to go to Thailand for 4 months in October, I live in the Netherlands and wonder if I can apply for a visa for 3 months, and make a visa run for the last month? Or is it better to apply for a visa for 2 months here and buy an extension in Hua Hin or BKK for a month, and then go for a visa run? From 15 October, take early retirement.
The site of the Thai embassy does not clarify, is it better to take a tourist visa or a retirement visa?
Reaction RonnyLatYa
I think the website says very clearly which conditions you have to meet. The requirements are all there. You then have to decide for yourself what suits you best.
E-Visa Categories, Fee and Required Documents – สถานเอกอัครราชทูตณ กรุงเฮก (thaiembassy.org)
CATEGORY 1 : Tourism and recreation related visit
1.Tourism / Leisure activities
VISA TYPE: Tourist Visa (60 days stay)
...
OF
4. Longer stay for retired persons (pensioner aged 50 or above)
VISA TYPE: Non-immigrant O (retirement) Visa (90 days stay)
.....
In both cases you can theoretically stay in Thailand for 90 days.
With one you get 60 days, which you have to extend at immigration with 30 days. With the other you immediately get 90 days upon arrival. But in both cases, if you want to stay for 4 months, you will have to make a “border run”. Then you come back on Visa exemption and you get 30 days. You can then possibly extend it by 30 days at immigration. All Borders over land would be open from June 1st so normal Borderruns should be possible again.
Keep in mind that the country you are going to may still have its requirements and also Thailand when you re-enter. Then take a look at what they are. Can't predict now.
Another tip.
A month does not know immigration. It is a residence period of 30, 60 or 90 days for them. That can make a difference when you start calculating. So don't count the edges. Enough miscalculations happen because people just add the days together. It's not that simple. Overtime or Borderrun may interfere with your calculation. But in case you miscalculated with your 4 month, you can still extend that 30 day Visa Exemption.
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