The Thai Immigration system seems to become more byzantine as different departments and Consulates issue conflicting rules and regulations regarding the acquisition of Thai travel documents.
Recently, Consulates that were known as “visa run” destinations began restricting the issuance of multiple tourist visas. Locations like Vientiane, Lao and Penang, Malaysia are not seeing as many tourists seeking new Thai visas. Many long term tourists as well as expatriates began toying with the notion of remaining in Thailand on non-immigrant or immigrant visas.
A related issue is that of long term non-immigrant Thailand visas. Non-Immigrant Thai visas can be issued for different durations. Therefore, a well drafted Thai visa application is a must for those wishing to acquire the visa of their choosing. A related issue is that of employment authorization. In Thailand, much like the United States of America, the right to work and the right to remain in the country are two different types of entitlements. Therefore, one must submit separate applications to separate government agencies in order to obtain a Thai work permit and a Thai visa extension.
Thai Immigrant visas, also known as Thai permanent resident visas, allow the bearer to remain in the Kingdom in perpetuity. However, these types of visas are very difficult to obtain and require one to spend a great deal of time as a non-immigrant resident in the Kingdom of Thailand. For some wishing to remain in the Kingdom for a long period of time, the retirement visa can be an effective method of immigrating. Only those age fifty and above can apply for this type of Thailand visa. That being said, it is extremely useful for those who truly intend to retire. Those in Thailand on this type of visa are not entitled to apply for a work permit.
Those thinking of staying in Thailand for a long period should seriously weigh all options and do as much research as possible before making the decision to move.
Tags: Thai Business Visa, Thai Tourist Visa, Thai Visa, Thailand One Year Visa, Thailand Tourist Visa, Thailand Visa, Thailand Visa Exemption, Travel to Thailand