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