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expatriate living in thailand

Showing 37 questions

This page displays all the results for the Expatriate Living in Thailand tag, sorted by the most recent activity. There are a total of 37 questions that have been tagged with Expatriate Living in Thailand. Explore the questions to find discussions and information relevant to this topic.
Feb 11, 2025
11 days ago
Albert ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’ve read and watched several videos about retirement visa requirements. The Thailand government website says either 800k baht or meet the monthly income requirement. One video says I’d have to do both meet the monthly requirement and $800k baht. I’m sure someone here has some actual experience. Why I don’t like Google for answers . Multi answers.
Feb 1, 2025
21 days ago
Clare **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi my Husband & I are currently in Vietnam after using up our 60 day visa, we are going to apply for the DTV 5 year visa. How long do we have to wait before applying given that we have only left Thailand for 3 weeks now, is it still 30-60 days before we can apply or because it’s the DTV can we apply online straight away? Many thanks 🙏
Feb 1, 2025
21 days ago
Danish *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hoping to get some help/guidance with my prospective DTV.

I've been looking into ways where I can live and work from Thailand, I hit every qualifying point on the LTR visa except the minimum individual income requirements, I don't make $80,000 USD per year individually myself.

The DTV seems like the way, except it seems a bit confusing or I've been getting some contradicting information on it:

• I live and work in Canada currently (Canadian Passport Holder)

• My company trades on a major stock exchange and is headquartered in USA. It does allow me to work remotely.

• The company I work for has "entities" and cost centers it can open from various locations globally where it can allow me to transfer to and work from.

• Although I don't yet have $22,000 CAD saved to show in my bank (500K THB equivalent), I should be able to come up with this in short order - likely by April.

The issue or contradicting information I'm running into is whether I'd be able to qualify for the DTV based on my company credentials. As mentioned above, the company has "global entities" and cost centers they would open up for various locations globally. Currently the company does have a position they could transfer me to and have me work from the APAC (Asia-Pacific) Region. They would open a "cost center" for me in Thailand, and essentially I would be getting paid in THB while working remotely in Thailand. This is where I believe the trouble is, as in order to qualify for the DTV, the income I'm making would need to be coming from _outside_ of Thailand - is this correct? And if so, what signifies or defines that exactly? Income sent to my Canadian Bank account (regardless of what currency it's being deposited as)? A work certificate stating that I'm a Canadian citizen working for a USA corporation being paid in Canadian dollars versus THB?

I probably didn't explain the situation as best as I could here so please feel free to ask any clarifying questions to help guide me along with this 😊

I will also use this time to ask for any leads to a well respected agency that could help with my DTV application if anyone knows - thank you in advance!

- Danish
Nov 11, 2024
3 months ago
Raymond ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys talk of 60 day visa and the tm30. Whats the story here if l stay at my girlfriends place. Do l need to document this fact and if so with whom and when
Oct 26, 2024
4 months ago
Charles **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Are airport/border immigration currently requiring to see any supporting docs for when you re enter on a DTV ?
Oct 15, 2024
4 months ago
Bob ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi again All,

Could I get clarification please. I am now living in Ireland and when I go to Thailand I get "30 days Visa Exempt"...Am I to understand that I will now get "60 days Visa Exempt" ?

Thanking you.
Oct 11, 2024
4 months ago
Gigi ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
May I know if I need to go back to my home country every 3 months to do something, does it mean I have to pay the 10,000baht everytime when I come back to Thailand? Or the 10,000baht is for 5 years? Does this visa suitable for me? 🤔
Sep 17, 2024
5 months ago
Scott ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All,

I’m new here, first post, please be nice.

I have spent roughly 2 days, approximately 10 hours reading previous posts before posting. However, it’s hard to get definitive information when so much of it is contradictory.

I also apologize in advance for the length of this post. Moderators, if this post is too long just delete it. I’ve got a copy and can re-post in smaller chunks. Readers, don’t flame me, just move on if this is too long for you to read. Thanks!

Me:

50+, have 800K for the bank deposit, in good health, no criminal record. I believe I will have no problem qualifying for the Non-immigrant O-A visa. Dual US and Australian citizen. I intend to enter on my Australian passport, assuming either is equally “good” with Thai immigration. I will be living with a friend in Bangkok, so in a private residence rather than a condo with a signed lease.

Visa:

I have no problem paying an agent, and that was my original plan. However, after reading posts in this group, I don’t want to be locked in to using an agent for each year’s renewal.

I emailed a visa agent (not one from this group) for some general advice. Here was their reply:

Questions:

· *If I intend to get a retirement visa, it is ok to first enter Thailand on a 90-day tourist visa and begin the process of the Non-O visa?*

· *Or is it wiser to get the retirement visa outside Thailand i.e. in Australia first? I would prefer the above.*

· Can I get the Non-O visa within the 90-days of the tourist visa? I believe I would have no problems with the eligibility and financial requirements.

The most important requirement to get a retirement visa in Thailand is to deposit 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account. If you already have a Thai bank account (Note: I do not), you can enter Thailand with a tourist visa and then begin the process of a Non-O retirement visa as soon as you arrive in Thailand and deposit 800,000 THB into your bank account.

In case you do not have a Thai bank account, we would recommend you apply for a Non-Immigrant type O from the Thai Embassy in your home country before coming to Thailand. Since the recent changes in Thai bank regulations that have not allowed tourists to open a Thai bank account. If you enter Thailand with a tourist visa, we are unable to assist you in opening a Thai bank account.

However, if you enter Thailand with a Non-O visa (3 months) obtained from the Thai Embassy in your home country, we can help you open a Thai bank account so you can then deposit 800,000 THB into your account after you open an account. For extending a retirement visa in Thailand, a deposit of 800,000 THB must be maintained in the bank for 2 months before starting the visa extension process.

In the past, we offered assistance in opening a Thai bank account and applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand with a tourist visa. However, Thai banks have updated their regulations, and now a tourist visa holder can't open an account. As a result, if we can't help clients get a Thai bank account, we are unable to assist them in applying for a Non-O visa as well.

>>> From other posts in this group, it seems that Siam Legal could help with getting the bank account, even if one entered on a 90 day tourist visa? Is this still correct? <<<

· *What about first getting a DTV for 180 days, then progressing to the Non-O visa?*

The DTV visa application must be submitted in person at your local Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate. Changing from a DTV visa to a Non-O visa is impossible since it is a different visa category.

Further research on getting the Non-Immigrant type O from the Thai Consulate in Sydney:

[[members only]), which has a link to:

[[members only]/), and finally:

~~Long-stay (O-A) for foreigners aged over 50*.~~

Edit: I was confused, this should be Non-O visa for foreigners aged over 50+, NOT O-A visa (thanks Brandon)

Its requirements are:

1. Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document

2. Photograph taken within the last six months

3. Document indicating current location

4. Letter of qualification endorsement issued from Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) (valid for only 60 days since the date of issue)

Finally, summarizing the above as well as other posts in this group, here is my plan/checklist:

1. Get Non-O visa in Australia before travelling to Thailand. This will be for 90 days.

2. Have my friend complete the TM-30 once I arrive at their place. I assume private citizens can complete the TM-30. I think it also wise to have them come with me to any immigration or bank appointments.

3. Question: Given the Non-O visa, the TM-30, plus my friend coming with me to the bank, do I also need to first go to immigration to get a Residency Certificate, as I have seen from other posts?

4. Open a bank account. Have my friend come along: vouch for the TM-30 plus translation help if needed. Dress well for the bank visit. Politely ask for the manager if there is pushback.

a. Is it possible to open two accounts with the same bank? I would prefer the 800K THB not be comingled with my everyday account.

5. Transfer 800K THB into that account from my Wise online bank (cheaper currency conversion from AUD to THB).

6. “Season” the 800K for 2 months.

a. Is this required in the above scenario?

7. After two months, get required documentation (bank book, letter, etc) from the bank verifying the 800K THB.

8. Book an appointment with immigration to extend the 90-day O-A for 1 year.

Lastly, I *would* like to use an agent for any required 90-day visits to immigration. I value my time more than the cost of paying an agent 3 times a year for this service (I assume the annual renewal must be in person). Would an agent help me with this service if I did not use them to get the initial visa?

Again, apologies for the length of this post. Please correct any errors in this planning checklist. Thanks and best regards…
Sep 14, 2024
5 months ago
Matt *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I just arrived on DTV which was finally granted in the Nick of time.

Couple of questions for the group.

1) if I move hotels, or get a condo, does that mean I have to tell immigration via some form?

Someone said something about a TM30…

2) at this point I’m heading to the USA for a couple of weeks in December, departing 94 days after my initial arrival in Thailand.. does that mean I have to do a 90 day report before I leave?

3) what’s the official website for filing this 90 day report (if needed)? I don’t want to end up at some scam page.

DTV documentation was really just a printout with no guidelines about on-going requirements so it’s a bit hard to find info.

Thousand thanks.
Sep 4, 2024
6 months ago
Yvette *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Does anyone know if you can purchase a motorbike with DTV, considering it needs registration with Dept Land Transport, requiring some kind of residencey visa??
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