Thread: Can you still live in LOS on tourist visa?

first thread coming up: - it's a bit bland I'm afraid but must start the ball rolling somehow

how is it to try and live in Thailand on a tourist visa these days?

I lived in TL for 2 years, about 6 years ago and it was easy enough, just did runs every 3 months or so.

Can you still live like that, and pick up teaching work in Bangkok?

not really thinking of doing that right now but maybe next year perhaps.

I live in Phnom Penh, Cambodia now, very easy place to live - no hassle visa wise at all - just pay and get 1 year stamp.

Yes, it's still fairly easy to do.

How long are the tourist visa on arrival stamps nowadays? 2 months or 3 months?

Originally Posted by Toby451

no hassle visa wise at all - just pay and get 1 year stamp.

How much did you pay and what kind of visa did you get?

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How long are the tourist visa on arrival stamps nowadays? 2 months or 3 months?

15 days.

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How long are the tourist visa on arrival stamps nowadays? 2 months or 3 months?

15 days.

15 days if entering overland, 30 at an airport.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How long are the tourist visa on arrival stamps nowadays? 2 months or 3 months?

15 days.

15 days if entering overland, 30 at an airport.

Hampsha asked about visa on arrival not visa exempt.

Erm yes there is.

There is long list of countries and citizens of those countries qualify to visa exempt entry where you get 30 days from airports and 15 days from land borders. There is no visa, electronic or otherwise.

The there is visa on arrival and again there is list of countries. This you apply at the airport and you get a visa to your passport before you proceed to immigration to enter the country.

And then there is the visa's you apply from embassy before coming over. Tourist visas generally get 60 days entry and non immigrants 90 days.

HK and whatever have different systems in place.

It's all there in MFA web sites and in million of other sites to see.

Seriously guys, if your not able to figure this one out or can't hold a job that get's you work permit just do the Thai kid's a favor and stop teaching.

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How much did you pay and what kind of visa did you get?

I usually get the 1 year visa.

It cost USD$280 - no questions asked.

all you need is passport and cash + photo.

Nowadays they call it a 'standard visa' - this allows you to work as well.

There are many travel agents in the centre of Phnom Penh that will do this for you, or just turn up to immigration office in person.

Toby, just curious is there any reason why you wish to return to Thailand. Just bored with Cambodia? Isn't that place getting any better?

Originally Posted by Koojo

It may not actually say electronic visa, but that's what you get, regardless of how it's worded.

No, what you get is 15 days or 30 days without a visa. That is why it is called visa exempt. The US calls it the Visa Waiver Program. Many countries do not require visas for holders of certain passports to enter.

A electronic visa requires that you apply ahead of time and you either have a printed copy you recieved via e-mail such as Cambodia or the airline check in or immigration will have a record like Australia.

The MOFA site says:

TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements dated 1 October B.E. 2545 (2002), 20 December B.E. 2545 (2002), 18 October B.E. 2547 (2004), 6 May B.E. 2548 (2005), and 23 June 2554 (2011), passport holders from 48 countries and 1 special administrative region - Hong Kong SAR - are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of not exceeding 30 days on each visit. If such foreigners enter the Kingdom at the immigration checkpoints which border neighboring countries, they will be allowed to stay for 15 days each time, except Malaysian nationals who cross the borderline from Malaysia whose granted period of stay will not exceed 30 days each time.

TH

Originally Posted by Toby451

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How much did you pay and what kind of visa did you get?

I usually get the 1 year visa.

It cost USD$280 - no questions asked.

all you need is passport and cash + photo.

Nowadays they call it a 'standard visa' - this allows you to work as well.

There are many travel agents in the centre of Phnom Penh that will do this for you, or just turn up to immigration office in person.

Damn. That's 9,000 thb. That's expensive. Do you have to do any border runs or report every 90 days?

Originally Posted by ralphlsasser

Damn. That's 9,000 thb. That's expensive.

How much for 4 visa runs a year instead? Even not counting your time? Not to mention work permit.

Yes, various countries' citizens can arrive in Thailand without a visa and they get an entry stamp valid for a short period

that is not a visa

Originally Posted by Hampsha

Toby, just curious is there any reason why you wish to return to Thailand. Just bored with Cambodia? Isn't that place getting any better?

perhaps just a change is needed.

I'll have hit the 5 year mark by this time next year so maybe a bit of fresh air would do me good.

Really though, I'd quite like to check out somewhere new though - ie: outside of SEA.

I'll just see how it goes for now.....

in all likelihood, I very much doubt I'll live in Thailand again.

Originally Posted by ralphlsasser

Damn. That's 9,000 thb. That's expensive. Do you have to do any border runs or report every 90 days?

no, you never have to leave the country.

It works out fairly cheap compared with TL once you take that into consideration.

plus of course, no hassle or missed work days!

Originally Posted by Toby451

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How much did you pay and what kind of visa did you get?

I usually get the 1 year visa.

It cost USD$280 - no questions asked.

all you need is passport and cash + photo.

Nowadays they call it a 'standard visa' - this allows you to work as well.

There are many travel agents in the centre of Phnom Penh that will do this for you, or just turn up to immigration office in person.

My understanding is to obtain a 1 year visa, you must have a reason for being in Thailand, i.e. have a Thai wife, a Thai child, retired or work. Is there a visa for 1 year that does not require any reason as you describe?

ED Visa, enrol in school and learn the local lingo.

Originally Posted by rickschoppers

Originally Posted by Toby451

Originally Posted by Hampsha

How much did you pay and what kind of visa did you get?

I usually get the 1 year visa.

It cost USD$280 - no questions asked.

all you need is passport and cash + photo.

Nowadays they call it a 'standard visa' - this allows you to work as well.

There are many travel agents in the centre of Phnom Penh that will do this for you, or just turn up to immigration office in person.

My understanding is to obtain a 1 year visa, you must have a reason for being in Thailand, i.e. have a Thai wife, a Thai child, retired or work. Is there a visa for 1 year that does not require any reason as you describe?

Read properly, he's talking about Cambodia.