The three recurring tasks
| Task | How often | If you miss it |
|---|---|---|
| 90-day report | Every 90 days of continuous stay | Fine (~฿2,000) |
| Re-entry permit | Before every trip out of the country | The visa is cancelled when you leave |
| Annual renewal | Once a year | You lose residence |
The 90-day report
It's the most frequent one, and the one most people forget. It consists of notifying immigration of your address every 90 days of continuous stay. It's not a renewal or a payment: just reporting where you live. It can be done in person, by mail or online, and there's usually a window of several days before and after the date. Filing it late costs about ฿2,000 (~€50) in fines; nothing serious, but silly to pay.
Important: the counter resets if you leave the country. Every time you come back from a trip, the 90 days start over from that entry.
The re-entry permit
The classic rookie trap. If you hold a long-stay visa and leave Thailand without a re-entry permit, the visa is cancelled the moment you leave — and you'd come back having to start the process from zero, with everything that costs. You get it at immigration or right at the airport before flying, in two versions:
- Single re-entry: for one trip.
- Multiple re-entry: for the whole visa period, if you travel often — it pays off compared to getting one for each trip.
The annual renewal
Renewal depends on your route — retirement, marriage, work — but they all share the same logic: keep the requirement that got you the visa (funds, job, marriage) and renew on time. Bank deposits have rules on seasoning and minimum balance around renewal time: emptying the account right before is the mistake that sinks the most renewals.
Where Bexpat fits in
We explain and schedule the first round of these tasks when we hand over your apartment (it's part of your first month). For year-on-year renewals, many expats use a local agent who handles them for little money; we guide you on setting up that calendar so it doesn't depend on your memory. If you still don't know which visa fits you, start with the test.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 90-day report?
Notifying immigration of your address every 90 days of continuous stay. In person, by mail or online. It's not a renewal, just reporting where you live. The counter resets if you leave the country.
What if I miss it?
A fine of about ฿2,000 (~€50) for filing late. It doesn't suspend the visa on its own, but it's easy to avoid with an alarm.
What is the re-entry permit?
The permit to leave the country without your long-stay visa expiring. Without it, the visa is cancelled when you leave. You get it at immigration or the airport, single or multiple entry.