Phuket - Staying in Thailand for an Unknown Period of Time

Yingguoren · #1 05-06-2007, 02:39

Hey peeps,

I'm a 22 year old British guy living in China at the moment and I've been here for 9 months. I visited Thailand (Bangkok and Ko Samet Island) 2 weeks ago and I totally loved it. Doubled with the fact that I'm getting kinda bored of China, I have decided I want to stay in Thailand for an extended period of time.

The visa situation seems very confusing here and I've read about all the different types but I'm not sure where I fit exactly.

I work at home doing design work, web development and such as a freelancer. I'm not registered as a company or with a company so I can't apply for the business visa, I don't think.

The tourist visa is no good as I can only stay for 90 days in every 6 months. So, how do I manage to just 'live' here? I have my own income (though not registered, so that's useless really) and I have already arranged an apartment to stay at with some of my Thai friends whom I've known for a long time in China.

Could I just enter the country, stay for 90 days, leave for a day, then re-enter? Could I just keep doing this? It seems like a real pain in the ***, though and could become costly and annoying quite quickly.

So, what do you think I should do? If I can do anything.

dawsey · #2 05-06-2007, 03:03

There is quite a bit of info in the "Expats" section that may help.

Also, Thaivisa really has all the info on the current work permit/visa situation

LivinLOS · #3 05-06-2007, 08:45

Actually its far tougher than you have guessed.. Firstly the visa's..

You cant just enter the country and stay 90 days.. Visa exempt entry is for a max of 30 days per entry to a max of 90 days in 180.. After your 90 days areup then its time to go and get a real visa. There are 4 countries in the world that are exempted and do get 90 days but the UK is not one of them.

The next one up is a tourist visa.. Thats good for 60 days.. Then can be extended for 30 more days at a cost of 1900 baht then you have to go and repeat the application at a consul outside of Thailand.. so every 3 months you left begging round SE Asia for a new tourist visa.. Some consuls will not issue them repeatedly some are easier than others.. Either way its a hassle..

Next is a non imm O or non imm B..These are single or multi entry.. Single good for one entry of 90 days and a multi good for as many entries as you like each one valid for 90 days, can be used for an entire year. The problem is you dont technically fall into the non immigrant categories. These are basically married to a Thai (with income), over 50 and retired (with 800k in bank), or working for a Thai company. You could probably scam one of these from back in the UK if you go back and try.

Lastly, you cannot get a work permit for what your trying to do.. To do so will mean setting up a Thai company and its a major undertaking.. Theres no simple answer to freelance and telecommuting work other than breaking thai law and risking it. Good luck.

Yingguoren · #4 05-06-2007, 15:12

So, in every 180 days, I can only stay for 90? Hmmm, that sucks!

I dunno, I thought communist China was tough, but Thailand seems impossible at the moment. Guess I will speak to my Thai friends and see what I can do. I can't work it out. How confusing. haha.

LivinLOS · #5 05-06-2007, 15:24

Thats without getting a 'real' visa from a consul or embassy.. You can get single entry tourist visa's good for 60 days + extension all over south east asia or a nom immigrant from UK..

Thailand is easy to come to but not easy to stay in..

If you want to come for a year or so.. Go home.. Get a non imm O from Hull on the basis of visiting friends and family.. Visa run every 90 days.. Work illegally and tell no one.. Dont get paid into a Thai account or work for Thai clients.

Yingguoren · #6 10-06-2007, 10:57

Well, I'll be going home in December for Christmas for a month, so I can do the non imm O visa. Is it not possible to do that elsewhere in Thailand?

I have a Thai family who would 'support' a non imm O visa for me at the Embassy in Bangkok if that would be any help? I mean, they are friends, so I guess that's gotta stand for something.

Just read the info on ThaiVisa, and it seems I can ask them to 'support' me as they are Thai nationals, but it repeats that I need to apply for such a visa at a Thai Embassy abroad. So, I guess I can do this at one of the neighbouring countries. Hmm.

LivinLOS · #7 10-06-2007, 14:29

Visa's are never issued inside Thailand.. They can be changed between visa classes and extended but not issued..

There isnt really a visa class for you but some consuls are known to allow applications for visiting friends and family.. The embassy wont but it slides through.. Thais cannot 'support' your visa application unless this Thai family is in some way related to you it counts for nothing.