Immigration
We have specialized immigration personnel that are able to navigate the immigration requirements in Thailand for your convenience and, frankly speaking, your sanity.
There are certain types of visas to enter Thailand, which require different qualifications and requirements.
Legal ASEAN provides a clear and comprehensive service to both individuals, groups or corporate immigration needs.
The Types of Visas in Thailand
The Types of Visas in Thailand
Tourist Visa
The tourist visa can be obtained at the Thai embassy or consulate in your home country or upon arrival in Thailand.
The tourist visa is issued to travelers who intend to stay in Thailand for 60 days or less. With a tourist visa, you are prohibited from working in Thailand, however, a tourist visa can be used for business purposes, such as attending seminars, business meeting, conducting market study, and meeting with clients and employees.
Tourists from 62 countries are currently allowed to enter Thailand without a visa and are allowed a maximum stay of 30 days when entering through an international airport or a land border checkpoint from neighboring countries.
Business Visa (Non-Immigrant B Visa)
The primary purpose of the Non-immigrant B Visa is for employment and is issued to expatriates who intend to work in Thailand.
The non-immigrant B visa, also called the business visa in Thailand. Expatriates can apply for either a single-entry visa (90 days non-immigrant visa) or a multiple-entry visa (one-year non-immigrant visa). The single-entry visa is issued by the Thai embassy or consulate aboard or in your home country and allows a stay of 90 days. The visa must be used within 90 days from the issuance date, and it grants the holder a 90-day stay inside Thailand. Once the visa has expired, it can be extended for a period of time.
Holders of the temporary 90-day non-immigrant visa usually use the visa to enter Thailand, apply for a work permit, and once the validity of the visa has run out, they can convert it into a long-term solution, for example, a one-year non-immigrant business visa, one-year business visa extension or others.
Education Visa
The education visa is valid for 90 days.
Before the first 90 days expire, you can extend it at the Immigration Bureau for one year. All non-immigrant visas holders are subject to the 90-day reporting at the Immigration Office.
The education visa is issued to students who wish to enter Thailand for a full-time education course, internship or other training programs. This form of visa is commonly used for expatriate children in international schools however, a Thai language school may in addition be able to sponsor this type of visa as well (case-by-case).
Marriage Visa (Non-Immigrant O Visa)
The marriage visa is a long-term visa issued to expatriate nationals married to a Thai national.
In order to obtain a 90-day non-immigrant O visa at the Thai Embassy or consulate outside Thailand. Once the non-immigrant visa is received, you will need to travel to Thailand to activate the non-immigrant O visa.
Within 90-days of entering Thailand, the visa holder can apply for a one-year extension. Before the extension ends, you can apply to extend it for another year. When you have lived in Thailand for three years, you can apply for a Thai permanent residency (though is extremely timely and costly to obtain).
Retirement Visa
The retirement visa can be applied in Thailand or at the Thai Embassy or consulate in outside Thailand. Kindly note, typically you cannot work in Thailand with a retirement visa (though exemptions apply).
The retirement visa is issued to expatriates aged 50 or above and intend to retire in Thailand.
There are two types of retirement visas that can be issued to foreign nationals:
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One-year retirement visa (non-immigrant O-A).
- The O-A visa allows you to stay in Thailand for one year, and it can be renewed every year.
- Five-year retirement visa (non-immigrant O-X) (however this is available to only nationals of certain countries most notably Australia, U.K., U.S., Germany, and France).
- The O-X visa allows a stay of five years and can be renewed for a maximum of 10 years.
- The O-A visa allows you to stay in Thailand for one year, and it can be renewed every year.
- The O-X visa allows a stay of five years and can be renewed for a maximum of 10 years.
Smart Visa
The SMART visa is a new type of visa that aims to attract highly skilled labor, investors, executives, and startup entrepreneurs who want to work or invest in Thailand’s targeted industries.
SMART visa holders are given a maximum stay of four years, work permit exemption and additional privileges.
The targeted industries in Thailand are:
- Affluent, medical and wellness tourism
- Agriculture and robotics
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Automation and robotics
- Aviation and logistics
- Biofuels and biochemicals
- Digital
- Environmental management and renewable energy
- Food for the future
- Human resource development in science and technology
- Medical hub
- Next-generation automotive
- Smart electronics
Let us assist in your journey to Live, Work, and Retire in Thailand
Your best interest is our priority.
