Advice needed from those who are familiar with long-term stays.

[sglad]

Any visits to Immigration to extend it are an absolute pain in the arse.

Some people on this board might view that as a treat.

[Moses]

Is there a limit on the number of times a UK citizen can enter Thailand in any given year?

With tourist visa you can live 60+30, with Visa Exemption TH has 90/180 rule: you can live in Thailand 90 days per 180 days (if you don't have visa). Entries aren't limited.

[poshglasgow]

Many thanks to all for the valuable advice. Most helpful.

[Blueskytoday]

Thai reg's for visits are ridiculous.....Many countries NOW have visa waiver system..you can stay 90 days...exit , return same day, for another 90 days,,exit again and again..Thai needs to wake up

[cdnmatt]

Thai reg's for visits are ridiculous.....Many countries NOW have visa waiver system..you can stay 90 days...exit , return same day, for another 90 days,,exit again and again..Thai needs to wake up

As it just so happens, having a military dictatorship for nearly 5 years tends to not progress things much.

So much for the general's initial promise of having elections in 12 months after the coup.

[frequent]

Thai reg's for visits are ridiculous.....Many countries NOW have visa waiver system..you can stay 90 days...exit , return same day, for another 90 days,,exit again and again..Thai needs to wake up

Why? Where's the evidence that such a policy benefits those countries that practise it? Who are these "many" countries that, in effect, allow someone indefinite residence provided they go through the sham of exit and re-entry?

[2lz2p]

With tourist visa you can live 60+30, with Visa Exemption TH has 90/180 rule: you can live in Thailand 90 days per 180 days (if you don't have visa). Entries aren't limited.

Thailand did away with this requirement sometime ago - but some Thai Embassies/Consulates (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) still mention it. It will also pop up on some websites that have not have not been updated. In its place, if you use the land borders for Visa Exempt entry, you can only do it twice in a calendar year. There is no restriction if using airports - BUT, if the Immigration Officer (Ministry of Interior, Immigration Police) notes several past Visa Exempt entries and even Tourist Visa entries, they may want to see onward tickets, sufficient funds on hand, or in some cases will simply deny entry (Thaivisa.com has many postings by people denied entry at the airports, especially Don Maung). Thai Embassies/Consulates also require you have at least 6 months validity on your passport in order to apply for a Visa, but Immigration will allow entry provided the passport is valid for the length of stay.

[francois]

Advice by 2lz2P is the definitive response to the OP's question/post.

[Old git]

' Any visits to Immigration to extend it are an absolute pain in the arse '

I don't know about the others, but the new immigration office that opened about a year ago in Hua Hin falls over backwards to be nice to people. There's rarely much queuing, their English is good, their manners impeccable, and if you've still got a few days left on the stamp you want to extend, they'll add them on to the new one.

Basically there are two approaches to getting a tourist visa - get a 60 day one before you go, or just arrive and get a 30 day one on arrival. You can normally extend a visa once at an immigration office and then have to leave and re-enter the country. At the last count you can have up to three tourist visas in any six month period.

If you're going to stay for more than 60 days and don't want to explore the neighbouring countries, then get your visa before you leave. Otherwise have a little visa trip to break up your stay. If you go to Cambodia, remember to get some US dollars in cash before you travel - you'll need some for your visa fee when you arrive (I personally don't trust the ATMs in that country). Vietnam no longer demands a visa in advance I'm told, but I've not personally been there. Laos is quite a sweet little country with a strong French colonial influence still, but the bars close at a ridiculously early hour, and the sex trade is repressed and seedy. Burma at the last count required visas in advance for air passengers but not those crossing by land - which seemed a tad bizarre. You could also nip down to KL..

If you arrive in Thailand by a land crossing you may only get a 15 day stamp, so plan to make visa runs by air unless you only need a few days.

One final tip that caught out a friend of mine - check your passport has all its pages. A friend received a brand new British passport which was missing a couple of pages. He didn't notice anything amiss until he arrived at Bangkok and was refused entry - and had to get the next flight home.. - he was not a happy bunny!

[Manforallseasons]

Upmarket serviced apartments not too far from Jomtien Complex: http://www.royalparkjomtien.com/