They say that “travel broadens the mind,” which is absolutely true, however, it also knackers you out as well! As much fun as it is moving from one country to the next and taking in all of the weird and wonderful cultures out there, every now and again it’s important to take a break. That doesn’t necessary mean that you have to return home though. For example, you could take a break from travelling and live in Thailand long-term until you are ready to set off again? If that all sounds good to you, give this article a read.
How to stay in Thailand, long-term
There are several ways to remain in Thailand, long-term, but it’s not as easy as you might hope. Below are some different methods that might appeal to you.
- Start your own business: Starting your own business or investing in an existing one is arguably the best way to remain in Thailand, long-term, legally. As a business owner with a significant investment in the country you’ll have access to better, long-term visas. You will be required to do the occasional visa run / renew your visa with immigration, but you won’t be limited to a certain amount of time so long as your business is operational. There are plenty of warehouses and factories for sale in Thailand, so getting started with a business is entirely possible.
- Get a job: There’s plenty of employment opportunity in Thailand for expats who want to remain long-term. As long as you are employed with a work permit, you can renew your Non-immigrant B visa every year. You are quite limited with what kind of work you can do, however, if you meet the right criteria, there is no shortage of jobs. Some examples include:
- Teaching
- Digital marketing agency work
- Real estate
- Diving instructor
- Working for multinational companies
- Embassy work
- Hospitality
- Property investment: If you have considerable savings and would like to invest in property in Thailand, you can get on the new ‘Thailand Elite’ programme with visas up to 10-years.
- Marry a Thai national: Spouse visas are another option. Obviously, this only works if you are marrying for love and not for convenience. Unless you are in a healthy, long-term relationship with a Thai national and plan to remain in the country forever, this isn’t a recommended path to take.
Other than the above, there aren’t many other ways to remain in Thailand, legally. Some people try to manipulate the system by staying on a tourist visa and leaving the country every 90-days to renew, however, the government are cracking down on this and it’s becoming far more difficult.
There are many wonderful benefits of travelling the world solo, however, if you are tired and fancy a break from the constant moving around, we encourage you to explore the four methods mentioned above and see if you can spend some quality time in Thailand.
