Thailand Visa question No. 385/22: Which visa for 6 months Thailand?

Questioner: John

My question is, which visa should I apply for to stay in Thailand for a long time?

• I would like to stay in Belgium for 6 months and Thailand for 6 months, but would like multiple entries because I may not be going for 6 months in a row.
• Some info. I am not married and do not have a Thai girlfriend. I will retire in 3 months. I have a Thai bank account and the amount needed to stay for a long time.
• Does this visa have to be applied for in the Thai Embassy in Brussels or should I first apply for a 60-day eVisa and then apply for a one-year visa during my stay in Thailand?

Thanks in advance for the answers.

Reaction RonnyLatYa

You can first apply for a Non-immigrant O Single entry in Brussels. You get 90 days that you can extend for a year in Thailand.

You can also first apply for a Tourist visa or enter on Visa Exemption. You must first convert this in Thailand to a Non-immigrant O, because you cannot extend a Tourist residence period by one year. If approved, you will also first receive 90 days, which you can then extend for another year.

Here's what you need to go from Tourist to Non-immigrant:

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022C1_09.pdf

Once you have the annual extension, don't forget that when you go to Belgium you must first take a re-entry. Otherwise you will lose the annual extension. And don't forget to come back in time before the end of your annual extension, of course.

You can of course opt for the Non-immigrant O Multiple entry. This visa has a validity period of one year, but since you only get 90 days upon entry, you have to leave Thailand every 90 days. Apply for a new visa every year.

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