Thai Immigration rules are an often discussed topic among expatriates in Thailand
as well as short term travelers.

That said, there are other types of travelers who come to Thailand for a relatively long period of time, but without the intention to remain in the Kingdom of Thailand indefinitely. Some refer to these types of tourists as “Long Stay Tourists” or “Long Stay Travelers.” For these types of visitors there are often long term visas available depending upon the circumstances.

At the time of this writing, travelers, with certain nationality, arriving in Thailand currently receive a visa exemption stamp when they pass through the Royal Thai Immigration check point at their port of entry. Under current Thai Immigration regulations: a foreign national, holding a certain type of passport, who enters Thailand through a port of entry at an airport will receive a thirty (30) day visa exemption stamp. Those, with the same type of passport as mentioned above, entering Thailand at a port of entry on a land border will only receive a fifteen (15) day visa exemption stamp. Under current Thai Immigration rules, one’s Immigration status in Thailand can only be changed if one has at least twenty-one (21) days of lawful status left on their visa or twenty-one (21) days left of lawful visa exemption status. Therefore, those entering Thailand, without a visa, via a land border will find it difficult, if not impossible, to extend their stay or convert their status to a proper visa category.

Bearing the above in mind, many travelers opt to apply for a Thai visa outside of Thailand as this usually deals with the aforementioned convertibility problem and provides a longer duration of lawful status upon entry compared to that which is conferred by a visa exemption stamp. However, many travelers must apply for a visa category that most closely resembles their travel intentions with regard to Thailand. Therefore, those who are traveling to Thailand to engage in business meetings or with an eye toward investing in the Kingdom should probably think about applying for a Thailand business visa. Those who wish to stay in Thailand to be with Thai family members may wish to explore the option of a Thailand O visa. Finally, those seeking educational opportunities in Thailand may wish to explore the option of a Thai ED visa. There are more visa categories than those mentioned herein, but those seeking a Thailand visa often fall within one of the above categories or, where they do not, another category usually fits the description of the activities that the traveler wishes to engage in while within Thailand’s jurisdiction. For more detailed information, it may be prudent to contact a lawyer in Thailand.

The duration of the visa’s validity often depends upon the discretion of the Royal Thai Consulate adjudicating the application. Therefore, before applying for any type of Thai visa many travelers seek the advice of a Thai Law Office when making decisions regarding long term travel to Thailand.