| The Thai immigration and naturalization system has | | | | are very difficult to obtain and require one to spend a |
| grown increasingly byzantine as different | | | | great deal of time as a non-immigrant resident in the |
| bureaucracies tinker with the immigration and visa rules. | | | | Kingdom of Thailand. In the case of prospective |
| This article briefly discusses the options for foreigners | | | | retirees, the Thai retirement visa can be a useful travel |
| under the current Immigration regime. | | | | document. Only those age fifty and above can apply |
| Recently, Consulates that were known as "visa run" | | | | for this type of visa. With that in mind, it is very |
| destinations began restricting the issuance of multiple | | | | beneficial for those with bona fide retirement intentions. |
| tourist visas. Places such as Penang, Malaysia and | | | | Those in Thailand on this type of visa are not entitled |
| Vientiane, Laos are seeing a decline in "visa runners" | | | | to apply for a work permit. |
| as these new Consular policies drive them elsewhere. | | | | People thinking of moving to Thailand full time should |
| Many long term tourists as well as expatriates began | | | | do all of their "homework" and be certain that they are |
| toying with the notion of remaining in Thailand on | | | | prepared to deal with all of the legal requirements |
| non-immigrant or immigrant visas. | | | | related to living in the Kingdom. This is especially true |
| This brings up the issue of long term non-immigrant | | | | for those who mistakenly believe that they can remain |
| Thai visas. Thai visas are usually issued with a validity | | | | in Thailand for a prolonged period of time on a tourist |
| period based upon the perceived needs of the | | | | visa or visa exemption. An even worse notion is the |
| applicant. For this reason, a properly prepared Thai visa | | | | idea that one can simply remain in Thailand on |
| application is essential to acquiring the type of visa one | | | | overstay (in the Kingdom without proper Immigration |
| desires. A collateral issue is that of work authorization. | | | | documentation). |
| In Thailand, much like the United States of America, the | | | | Some people in the past would remain in the Kingdom |
| right to work and the right to remain in the country are | | | | for years without making certain that their immigration |
| two different types of entitlements. Therefore, one | | | | status was kept up to date. People of the opinion that |
| must submit separate applications to separate | | | | this is an acceptable way of remaining in the Kingdom |
| government agencies in order to obtain a Thai work | | | | of Thailand should note that Royal Thai Immigration |
| permit and a Thai visa extension. | | | | takes a dim view of visa violators and will detain them |
| Thai Immigrant visas, also known as Thai permanent | | | | if caught. Also, a person without legal status cannot |
| resident visas, allow the bearer to remain in the | | | | obtain a work permit or other necessities of residence. |
| Kingdom in perpetuity. However, these types of visas | | | | |