A Thai Visa is a form of visa that permits and allows a foreigner to come and stay in Thailand for a specific period.
The type of visa will depend on the reason/purpose of stay in Thailand. And it will require different requirements for each kind of Thai Visa.
For this article, we will guide you on what are the requirements and how to acquire the type of visa that will allow you to stay in Thailand for a long-term visit.
In case you need to come within a short-term period, we suggest you to searching for a Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme that can allow people from 42 countries to come to Thailand without acquiring any special type of visas. Please see the list of countries here: Exemption Visa Country list.
Or Tourist Visa (TR) that some countries need to obtain at the Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate in their country before you depart from your country.
Or Visa On Arrival (VOA) that allows some countries to obtain a Visa at the Airport or border of Thailand.
We are now going to dive in and provide the information you will need which is vital to acquire a suitable visa for your short-term or long-term visit in Thailand.
Table of Contents
Business Visa (Non-Immigrant “B”): The Thai Visa for doing business or working as an employee in Thailand.
Business Visa is one type of Thai Visa that the foreigner often obtains for a long stay in Thailand.
This visa is for foreigners who will open a company or conduct business in Thailand.
Or for the person who works in Thailand.
The foreigner who holds this visa must obtain the Work Permit separately from the Visa as well.
You can obtain this visa from the Thai Embassy in your home country. In this case, you will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 90 days first once you arrive at the border or airport.
And you can also convert to get this Visa at the Thai Immigration Office. However, this option requires more documents compared to when you obtain the visa from the Thai Embassy in your country.
Before this visa expires, you must extend it at Immigration Office in the province that your company is registered.
The Thai Immigration Officer may do random checks at your workplace as well.
Dependent Visa (Non-Immigrant “O”): The Thai Visa of the spouse or child of the person who holds a Business Visa
If the spouse or the child of the foreigner was granted Business Visa, they can also apply for a Dependent Visa Type Non-Immigrant “O” to stay with their spouse or parent.
The Dependent Visa will have the same period of stay as the Business Visa which it was related to.
The applicant just needs to present the legal relationship document on the application time.
Most likely, the applicant usually apply for this visa at the same time the Business Visa is applied for.
No financial requirement for this type of Thai Visa!
Thai Wife Visa (Non-Immigrant “O”): The Thai Visa of the person who registered marriage with Thai Women
This type of Thai Visa allows the foreigner who registered marriage with Thai Women.
You need proof of legal status by presenting a Marriage Certificate.
You also have to provide proof of relationship with photos at your residence, in front of your house, inside your residence, and during the marriage ceremony (if applicable).
This visa requires the applicant to show 400,000THB in his bank account or proof income of 40,000THB per month, the 40,000THB per month income should be supported by a letter of income verification from the foreigner’s embassy in Thailand.
After you submit the application, the Immigration Officer will examine your residence and proceed to interview people such as the juristic person of the condominium, neighbor, etc. to confirm your relationship with your wife.
It is easier if you have children and you have strong proof of a relationship with your Thai Wife.
The person who holds this visa is eligible to obtain a Work Permit in case he is working in Thailand as well.
Retirement Visa (Non-Immigrant “O”): The Thai Visa for the person who decides to retire in Thailand
The Retirement Visa is the most popular of all Thai Visa since this visa is for those who would like to retire and stay for a long time in Thailand. Most of the time, foreigners who decided to retire in Thailand and those who have luckily purchased properties in Thailand choose to apply for this visa.
This visa requires you to have money in your Thai Bank more than 800,000THB or income from pension exceeding 65,000THB per month.
This visa does not allow you to work in Thailand, but you can work online or remotely work for your business overseas.
You must be over 50 years of age to qualify for this type of Thai Visa.
Student Visa (Non-Immigrant “ED”): The Thai Visa for the person who studies in Thailand
No matter if you study in a public or private school, college, or university, you can obtain this visa for the purpose of studying in Thailand.
You are also eligible to get this visa if you are studying or learning some short courses like language courses, cooking, boxing, etc.,
This visa does not have an age requirement. If you enroll for any program as mention above, you can apply for a Non “ED” Visa.
Guardian Visa (Non-Immigrant “O”): The Thai Visa of the parent of the child who studies in Thailand.
If your minor child studies in Thailand, of course, it is common sense to have at least one of the parents to look after the child, the immigration office offers this type of Thai Visa for the parents of the children who study in Thailand.
Please note that only one parent is allowed to obtain this visa.
The requirement is that the applicant must show money in Thai Bank in the amount of more than 500,000THB to ensure their stay in Thailand.
This visa does not allow the holder to work in Thailand and obtain for Work Permit.
Conclusion
The above types of Thai Visas are the most popular for foreigners who would like to have a long stay in Thailand.
You will see a lot of people at the Thai Immigration Office in Chaeng Wattana come to apply for/extend these long-term visas every day.
Some of the Non-Immigrant Visas are the first step to acquire Permanent Residence (PR).
We hope the information above will give you an idea of what type of visa you should apply for a long stay in Thailand.
We will write another article regarding the process and requirement for each type of Non-Immigrant Visa to allowing you to prepare the application by yourself. Or you can post in our forum for discuss: Go to forum.
Once again, you do not need a lawyer or agent for a visa application. You can do it on your own.
However, you have an option to hire an agent or lawyer to accompany you as well.
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