Long Stay in Thailand with Bike
 

We plan on staying at least 1 year in Thailand with our bikes. we read we don't need a carnet, so we don't have one. We also read recently that there is a max 6 months temp import into Thailand. Will this be a problem when we leave in a year. We read there is a fine of 100Th Bt to a max of 1000Bt(£15). If this is true it will work out far cheaper than a carnet? Any info please! We have applied to work with VSO, if this comes about then the stay will be 2 years!! Any problems there????

Many thanks

Andrew Owens

Easy solution: take occasional trips to Cambodia or Laos in order to get new papers.



Simon

You are aware that it is getting quite dodgy to stay a long time in Thailand right? You can only renew the 1 month visa 3 times a year and then you have to go to an embassy in Mal or Camb. to get a 2 month visa.

GL

I dont know about the bike but you staying for one year might be the hard thing, if you get a work visa no probs, or you can get a 3 month visa and get it a 2 month stamp at the airport (dont ask me why) when 2 months are up you can extend that for 1 month and extend that for about 10 days, after that you have to cross the Thai border to get a 1 month visa you can add about 10 days to that you can do that 3 times then your out for 6 months. i think the bike can stay with you just the same probs every month and the fines will be more like a max 10000/20000 bhat £150/300. If your there for 1 year why not bye a cheap bike? what bike will you be taking?

Good luck

If you work with VSO they will sort out the visa, if not you may have to apply for a "O" visa for a year, but I'm not sure about how to go about it.

Temp import is for 30 days and you can get extensions up to 6 months at any customs office for free. I just got one on Ko Samui. Then, as stated above, take a trip to Cambodia or Laos and start over.

The max. fine you have to pay is 2000B I was told on GT-Rider.com. Don't keep your bike in T for more than six months at a time or customs will get heavy on you.