sureno

Great. Thanks a lot for the detailed info.

I’m flying Qatar from U.K. via Doha then Phuket. I’m ok with economy for the first leg, but what’s the best way to book business class for the Doha Phuket leg? Wait for a possible offer from Qatar for that leg a few days before departure , or book it at time of booking on Qatar website? Also, if you do book just that leg, do you get lounge access at Doha before boarding the flight to Phuket? thanks for any help.

Thanks a lot for the information. I wonder if you know the answers to these questions……If I did this option, 1. Would the 12 month extension be multiple entry, and 2. would the 400k need to be in a Thai account, and for a minimum time period before? 3. And if the multiple entry was given, do I need to leave every 90 days?

Thank you for the info. I’m hoping to apply via the E visa system of the London Thai embassy website.

Thanks a lot for such a detailed reply. I think option 1 on your list sounds the easier, where a multiple entry non o is applied for through the London embassy’s E visa system. Do you know what the financial requirements are for that multiple entry option? I’m not married, I would have the birth certificate and mothers ID card as evidence. “….if you are applying for Multiple Entries, you need to prove that you have a genuine reason to visit Thailand on a regular basis.” As I noted in the other post, this is the only thing that is a bit confusing since the rain is pretty obvious.

Thanks a lot. I’ve had a look and, yes, there is a multiple entry option for family. As you say, it also mentions the need for a reason for multi entry (as opposed to single every) as follows, “if you are applying for Multiple Entries, you need to prove that you have a genuine reason to visit Thailand on a regular basis. The difference in fee will not be refunded, if the officer grants a Single Entry Visa instead of the Multiple Entries Visa vou applied for.” That seems quite a strange note, as it’s pretty obvious what the genuine reason would be…. most if not everyone would be expected to visit their child and family living in Thailand on a regular basis, several times each year…that would be the reason ? Or is there something else that I’m not understanding, that would make them just downgrade me to a single entry? The reason I don’t want a single entry is because I do visit several times over several months each year, even though I’m resident in the uk. In that Scenario, rather than a single entry non o, a METV would be better. Thanks again

Hello I have a daughter in Thailand and I visit her regularly in Thailand from the UK. Up until now I’ve usually used a single entry non O, 3 months extendable to 5, although occasionally I’ve used the multi entry 6 month tourist visa, extendable to 9. I’m staying longer each time, but the METV isn’t really the correct visa and with it, I have to leave the country every few months, which can be a pain. The best option i think is my applying for a 12 month multi-entry non o based on Thai family (daughter)… and I wondered if anyone could help me with the process. I can have 400k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months for financial reasons, , or alternatively (and preferred) I can show a similar amount in GBP through UK back accounts, for a similar period. I have the Thai birth certificate with my name and certified translation, copy of Tabien Baan with my daughter’s name on. 1) What other documents / details do I need 2) Is it possible to get this year long visa before entering Thailand, for example by applying at the Thai embassy in London or another Thai embassy such as Phnom Penh ? 3) If not, what would be the best way to enter Thailand….a 3 month non o single entry which is somehow “upgraded”, or, say by visa exempt and apply in Thailand? Thanks a lot for any help anyone can give.

I just opened another bank account since I needed to go with SCB or Bangkok Bank which are the only ones allowing foreign transfers of <50k. I am currently on a tourist visa, and the only thing they wanted was proof of residency. So a rental agreement matching the name in the passport , along with a Thai mobile telephone number, should do it. Whole thing was done in 30 minutes with new bank book and card, app downloaded and functioning. I’m aware it can be inconsistent , but I think it’s easier in tourist areas where they are used to the different types of customer perhaps, and I chose a suitably located branch in an expat area.

Hello again. just to update, I went to phuket immigration yesterday. Find room 101 Queue up and check docs (copy of passport with entry stamp, copy of house book, photo, tm30) with helper volunteers get number from them and wait to be called they will process the application then pay 300 baht to get them to issue the certificate whole thing took about 90 minutes

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate all the comments. i will show my ignorance here by saying I don’t know what a 90 day report is, and I thought the T30 is just a form you download in order to make the the application. Is it something different?

Thank you. That’s great information. Is the immigration office at phuket town opposite the lake, and is it one of these situations where I need to go at 6 in the morning and wait all day???

I have just bought a motorbike in Phuket and in order to get the green book I need a certificate of residence. I already have a Thai driving licence. what’s complicating things in my mind are two questions . 1. first I own the condo where I stay, so I’m not sure what to do about this TM30 requirement. Do I just bring the blue Tabian Baan book, which is blank of course, beside I’m not Thai. I don’t have a yellow book. 2. other complication is that I only tend to stay here for three or four months each year, so I tend to enter on a multi entry tourist visa. Most of the posts I read about residency certificates suggest as part of the application non o or other long stay visas, METV is only 6-9 months max. If I bring copies of passport and visa stamp original blank Tabian Baan passport photo 300 baht?? Is that going to do it here in Phuket or is there something else I need? thanks for any help.

Hi I want an integrated fridge for my kitchen where the door is part of the kitchen cabinet. Something that Ikea make for around £350 and I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much / is it possible to ship to Phuket in Thailand or would there be crazy import taxes? Is there an online service that would do it with insurance? Like dhl? Or do you need to go to some highly specialised company? Thanks

I just applied using the online system for Metv in U.K. and I received the visa back within 24 hours. Make sure you select “multiple” when choosing the tourist visa option, otherwise you’ll end up with a single entry, which would be pointless. You no longer need to send your passport off or visit any consulate. I think the “easier” options mentioned by the previous posters maybe mean “cheaper”. If you’re coming in on three consecutive visa exempts with extensions, prepare to be scrutinised on the third one, maybe even the second. Maybe Thai immigration are less bothered about it after covid, to up the tourists. However, I would still expect that when and if you wish to visit Thailand again within 12 months, prepare for another round of scrutiny. For £150 you get unlimited in and outs Thailand during the 6 month period, which you cannot do on visa exempt not setv, and you can extend it up to 9 months if you get your final entry date right. Plus, no hassle with immigration. Application process involves uploading pdfs showing flight into Thailand, first accommodation booking, bank statement showing evidence of £5k funds, and evidence that you will leave Thailand such as an employer letter or self employed information. I applied on Friday afternoon and the visa was in my inbox first thing Saturday morning.

Thanks for your reply. So are the dates I mention and the assumptions I make more or less correct.

If the date of issue for my MeTV (multi entry tourist visa) is, say, 20 September, does that make the latest date I can use it to re-enter Thailand around the 19 March and I could stay in Thailand for another 60 days, so needing to leave Thailand around 17 May, without the need to visit immigration? And if I wanted to extend it by visiting immigration I could do that, giving me up to around 17 June? Thanks for any help.

Thanks again for replies. I already own a few properties in Thailand so I presume my name on the tabien baan is ok? I usually enter Thailand with a non o visa but this time, I have a METV. My understanding (probably incorrect!!) was for anything over 3 months, you need a Thai driving licence, up to then the international driving permit suffices, or maybe it’s just that most tourist visas are up to 3 months. Regardless, I will get a Thai driving licence, it would just be easier for me to buy the motorbike first so I have something to do the test on in phuket. So in order for the dealership to register a bike in my name, they just need some kind of residence info, such as a blue or yellow book? I have a uk driving licence and my understanding is it’s good for anything up to 125cc, s as long as you have that international driving permit. However I don’t know if that means under 125 or up to 125. And I’ve no idea if that would mean a straightforward application for the Thai licence or whether I would have to go through the test from scratch? thanks again

Thanks a lot for your reply

Hi I need to buy a scooter and am thinking it’s probably best just to buy a brand new one and keep it for years. Will probably be a Honda click or something similar, I’m in south phuket, Rawai. I wondered if I need any specific documents, or is it just the money? Thanks for any help

Thanks a lot for all answers. Really helpful.

Hi. I would like to apply for an MeTV (multi entry tourist visa) online from the Thai embassy in London. I wondered when the date of the visa starts from. Is it from when I enter Thailand and passport is stamped or is it from the date the visa is issued from the embassy. if it’s the latter, for example If you took 4 weeks to travel from the date of receiving your visa in that case you would have 3 weeks less of the maximum time allowed with the visa? thanks for any information.

What exactly is it I have said that is dodgy? Thank you. Thanks. It would be really helpful if you told me what is it that I am confused and misinformed about?

Thanks for clarifying. It sounds like you are talking about a circumstance where as you say, you don’t involve a lawyer or similar to act on your behalf. You go to the land office yourself perhaps. For my own reasons, I do want to appoint a lawyer, and I want him go to the land office on my behalf, even if it costs me more as a result. In that circumstance, it would be my lawyers escrow account where the conversion would take place. Are you still saying it has to come from my Thai bank account in that circumstance, i understand you cannot use Transfer wise because their account is not in your name. It’s in the name of transfer wise, it’s just the reference that is unique to you. As an aside I do have a Thai bank account, but I’m in the crazy situation where the most I can transfer to it is 50k baht per day because it’s not one of the big two banks! Thanks again.

I had understood that the sending account is very relevant, must be in my name and has to come from a foreign account. Furthermore it cannot come via a Thai bank account in my name, or needs to go direct to the escrow account for the purchase. Why are you saying it shouldn’t go direct to my lawyer’s account, an I misunderstanding?? Thanks

Hello For a foreigner freehold purchase, I understand the monies have to come from an account in my name outside of Thailand, and that intermediaries such as Transferwise cannot therefore be used. My bank accounts in the UK are offering me terrible exchange rates, but another option is that I transfer in GBP £ via swift, and the money is converted at the Thai end to Thai baht by the receiver’s bank, in this case, my Thai lawyer’s escrow account. I’m guessing Thai banks will offer a more competitive rate, such is my experience to date at least! Does anyone have any experience of this and could it Be the cheapest option. I’m looking at a cost of over £2000 just for the conversion if I convert to baht in the UK and send ???? thanks for any help