LAST issue I touched on the subject of visa runs. This time I will focus on visa requirements. Many people, including me, find the Thai regulations very complex with so many different dynamics that come into play when trying to obtain a Thai visa. I have read through a raft of material and following are, I believe, the best tailor-made solutions for the different types of visa issued by the Thai government. For tourists – Thailand allows most countries a 30-day tourist visa. Complications start as soon as the visa runs out, and some people can get into trouble with Immigration, so if you overstay, when exiting the country, you will be levied a fine of Bt500 per day of overstay and a rather nasty grilling by the authorities.

If you wish to extend your stay in Thailand, you must leave the country and go on a border run by land, sea, rail or air.

If you return to the country by land, sea or rail, the Thai visa will only be valid for 15 days; if you return by air, the validity is 30 days.

Extended stay in Thailand is a complicated issue and can be split into the following main headings:

Category 1 – Extended stay because you love living here
Category 2 – Extended stay because you run a business
Category 3 – Business visa – non working
Category 4 – Extended stay because you want to retire
Category 5 - Extended stay because you are married to a Thai person

Category 1 – type O visa — the easiest and cheapest way is to get a one-year visa from your country of origin, or if you are already here, you can still get a one-year visa but only if you have Bt800,000 in your Thai bank account and/or receive a monthly income of Bt65,000. This does not exempt you from having to leave the country every three months. Here’s a small cost saving tip: When you have a few days left before your one-year visa expires, leave the country (air or land – it does not matter) and get yourself an additional three months, effectively extending your visa to 15 months. The fee for this visa is Bt5,000.

Category 2 – nonimmigrant-type B visa — this is effectively a work permit for up to three years. The cost of this visa is wholly dependent on what type of business you are in, but will not exceed Bt12,000. The best way to obtain one of these visas is through a lawyer as the amount of paperwork needed to be submitted is mind-boggling. You can add another Bt5,000 for the lawyer. To keep your legal costs in check, I would also suggest, if it is practical, to get as much of the preparatory work required for submission to the immigration authorities. Further details can be obtained from this website link: http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2492.

Category 3 – type B visa — this is a three-year business visa normally given to persons who want to conduct business with Thailand. It is not a work visa and you must leave the country every three months. This type of visa is normally granted to individuals working for multinational companies conducting fact-finding and marketing surveys. The fee for this visa is Bt10,000.

Category 4 – type O-A visa — this is granted to individuals who want to retire (you have to be at least 50 years old). You must have proof that you have monthly income of Bt65,000 or Bt80,0000. The major advantage for this visa is that you do not need to leave the country, but you must get your passport stamped at the local immigration offices. For us expatriate Samuians that means Nathon. The fee for this visa is Bt5,000.

Category 5 – nonimmigrant-type O marriage visa — this is similar to a retirement visa, but your proof of income is Bt400,000 in the bank and a monthly salary of Bt40,000 going into your bank each month. The original marriage certificate needs to be provided and they may well ask for copies of your wife’s or husband’s ID card and perhaps his/her family’s house registration papers. If you were married outside of Thailand or got married in Thailand not in a typical Buddhist Thai wedding ceremony, then things might get tricky. (And once in Thailand when you wish to extend the visa from three months to a year, they will require photos of you and your wife in the family home!)

Rumors floating around that expatriates need to be aware of for the near future include: no more open-ended three-month visas; and you will be allowed to stay in Thailand for only three months out of every six months. The other serious issue is that banks will be compelled not to open bank accounts for anyone with a tourist visa.