General Information - No responsibility for Errors & Omissions
All visitors to Thailand (known as aliens) require permission to enter. This must not be confused with a visa which is totally different.
For different nationalities (see Dept of Consular Affairs 06.06.08 sheet) most westerners can obtain a 30 day permission to stay on arrival. Under rules issued 04.12.08 the so called 'visa runs' will allow a further 14 days only if coming across a land border. 30 days will still be allowed via an airport entry. You will be limited to the number of visa runs you can make usually up to four
You can also apply for a visa in your home country

Overstay
The date that you must leave the country is written on the arrival stamp and your passport, unless you obtained an extension (see later). If you are in an overstay position our advice is that you should immediately report to the local Immigration with a return ticket and pay the fine. You can also pay the fine at port of exit but you run the risk that if you are stopped by the police before reaching either of the above you will be jailed and the procedure is both unpleasant and expensive

Type of permissions, visas and extensions (summary) - This is for most western aliens

30 day on arrival stamp-
Can apply to an Immigration office for 7 further permission to stay days. THIS IS NOT A VISA

60 day tourist visa  -
Should be obtained before arrival, a 60 permission to stay days will be stamped - can apply to an Immigration office for further permission to stay 30 days and then - can apply to an Immigration office for further permission to stay 7 days. From some consulates you can apply for a multiple entry TR giving you longer

Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Visa
Should be applied for in country of residence before coming to Thailand – will be given permission to stay 90 days . With a multiple entry you can return as many times during the validity of the visa - can apply to an Immigration office for further permission to stay 7 days and then must leave the country

Non-Immigrant ‘B’ Visa
Should be applied for in country of residence before coming to Thailand – will be given permission to stay 90 days and then must leave the country. With a multiple entry you can return as many times during the validity of the visa – purpose for working in Thailand (see section on work permits)

Retirement visa
Can apply to have visa changed to a retirement visa, valid 1 year, must be over 50. Required to report to your local Immigration office every 90 days and fulfil the requirements i.e. money!

Marriage visa
Can apply to have visa changed to a marriage visa. Valid 1 year, must be married to Thai citizen. Only required to report every 90 days and fulfil the requirements plus money

Leaving Thailand whilst holding a Retirement visa
It is essential to apply for a re-entry permit either single or multiple before leaving or the visa will no longer be valid on re-entry and a 30 days permission to stay will given which means going through the procedure to apply for a retirement visa again

WORK PERMITS – summary
Non-Immigrant ‘B’ Visa
Usually applied for in country of residence before coming to Thailand – this requires certain documents including a job offer
Normally the company that the alien will be working in must have a 2 million share capital company and there should be four Thai employees for every alien. However if the alien is married to a Thai the requirements on capital are halved

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Next to British Embassy Consulate Jomtien