Presnock

there is nothing whatsoever about requalify each year. Once a year you or your agent has to verify your current address, if you leave Thailand, then like the 90 day report, your next reporting of address to the immigration folks is one year away. As for maintaining the qualifications, every visa in Thailand that I know of in order to be kept by the holder is required to maintain the qualifications for that visa though I guess some folks don't but haven't been caught. Each immigration officer/office might make something else necessary but the BOI immigration office only asks for address, filling in TM.95 (application for the visa extension each year if you are in Thailand< tm 6 if you have it. But no tax on overseas incomes of any type, no 90-day reports and cheaper in the total 10 years. For me it is the best with the most benefits for the least money.

Actually the BOI from my experience really prefers the tax returns for the past couple of years as it shows sustained income over the 80K the stickler may be in the 50K USD hospitalization part of the health insurance requirement. The only way to know for sure is to fill out the TM.95 and ask the BOI folks. They are very patient and helpful and speak English.

that might end retirees coming here...but who knows what might come about here. Now today we learn that Prayut & co. have been cut out of the good positions in the new govt...but I thought he was in charge of putting together the new charter for the govt...guess he will change all to military again but who knows, not this old man.

the cost of the elite visa is 10-30 times more and no tax on remittances available. So one gets to hang out a some Thai hi-so places - not my bag. I'm no millionaire by a log-shot, just a pensioner that spent 40+ years to get what I think I earned/deserved. The only yearly bit is advising immigration of one's residence. After 5 years, don't know for sure. I believe most people that pay taxes have some documentation of taxes paid and people either have health insurance already but just need the company to spell out "$50K" for hospitalization as most policies I guess just say "unlimited" for hospitalization. My company wrote such a letter to a previous person who got his LTR and advised via this forum about the company spelling it out. At least those of us from the states have done this okay - as for those from EU countries with their govt health systems, I have zero knowledge also their tax systems. I can only really speak for myself. The LTR is perfect for me,.

hope that changes and the "big guy" spends a long time in some prison.

Consider the various visas available as some require health insurance especially international companies and coverage. As a retiree, you might want to check out the Long term visa from the Thai board of investment- depends on pension, financial and health insurance for people like me. I had a retirement O until this LTR came about and saw that it fit my situation perfectly. One can obtain it from an embassy or consulate also. One of the benefits is any foreign funds remitted to Thailand are not taxable, one can still work with a work permit while other retirement visas do not and taxed at a different rate. Can find info on this visa at "boi.com" or Long Term Visa Thailand. Goodluck

I never played any golf until I came to Bkk in 1976, always thought it was a stupid game - after playing first round at the OLD Khao Yai course (armed guards for tigers and caddies wouldn't go in the woods for any balls hit there. 5 of us lost 80 balls on the 1st nine holes. Loved it too much. 3 of us it was our first round of golf - we all three ordered clubs the following week. I think anywhere else starting golf other than Thailand might have kept me from falling in love with the game. I live in CM now and have had a few problems with wrists so stopped playing a couple of years ago but now am anxious to get back out there.

The State Department Credit Federal Credit (sdfcu.org) will open accounts for Americans living overseas (do not have to be a US govt nor StateDept employee), full account, credit cards, etc. I have been a member for over 4 years when my BOA account (50 years in use) was closed since I had no US address or phone numer. My pension check goes to them and then I transfer how much I want whenever. No problems. I also have seen on this forum other banks too incuding I think EUR citizens are able to open accounts. Ask that question and folks will probably answer you,. Good luck

well Lee Trevino if you know who he is, during an interview he as asked what he would do if he was playing in a thunderstorm and his reply was "I would play my 1-iron because not even GOD can hit a 1-iron!!"

absolutely not! I had a retirement O for 20 years, I went through the different changes both at CW and especially in Chiang Mai for many years. When I read about the BOI LTR I was amazed at how well it fit with my situation as a long term resident, The only 3 weeks of having great support in the BOI office, I had my stamps and couldn't be happier with any other visa. I had many choices of where I could retire including in the US but after having lived in just about every liveable continent, Thailand was my first choice and I have not regretted it even one day. I realize it is not perfect but I sure don't Know any other place that could be better for me. Right now am finding it difficult to not be super happy every day! Good luck to you and others that also love living here and hope it only gets even better.

Has been this way since I first came here in 1972...but, as long as one doesn't let all the "murkiness" get you down, it can still be like a paradise compared to our home country.

Thanks Mike, exactly my feeling too! just wish that those pushing the taxing would come out with the COMPLETE program in a clear and concise manner so that everyone could just relax. Thanks for all your work to date...must seem like having a new career since you have to spend so much time repeating because people just can't accept what might or might not be required. take care be safe enjoy paradise

Trump 's only win was because so many Democrats voted against Hillary Clinton!!! She should have been locked up!

well lately, we see "suspiscious" fires at warehouses storing e-waste. from news articles, there is so much e-waste because in 2017 Thailand signed with China who outlawed the e-waste storage so that it would come down to Thailand. Now that there was the fire in Ayuttaya, the govt hinted at greater investigation of said facilities to ensure proper handling of the waste Then we had the Cadmium fiasco, which then has been followed by many more fires. I believe many will just say oh that is because of the really hot weather, but in my opinion, it has to do with the waste materials burning and the fact that the government appears ready to investigate the waste storage conditions and its effect on the public. Once an investigation occurs, then depending on who pays for solving the problems, it will either go away quietly or nothing will happen at all until the next govt tries to fix things. That is my opinion. It is not an easy solve that is for sure but I hope the govt can begin solving it as it seems to be getting much worse.

yeah they need to come out with the policy completely thought out - i.e. if we have unassessable income remitted, do we ignore get a tax id number? do we ignore filling out forms that have no place for unassessable income, do we have to provide proof of our govt pensions taxed already? I would think that by now after coming out with this taxation last year, that some definite decisions on what exactly we ex-pats can expect from the Thai Revenue Department. Seems that each is a tax entity on its own so we the ex-pats need the govt to explicitly advise us what they need from us or this might deter people from retiring here or living here less than 180 days, thus causing a loss of funds that they could have. Just saying as we have been hearing all sorts of rumors from forum members, tax agents, etc and we still are in the dark with the 180th day rapidly approaching. I am not overly concerned as I feel I will not be affected by these tax interpretations but, TIT so who really knows? Good luck to all

Seems a lot of people that read this forum still do not understand anything about the LTR visa, it is just another option for people that meet the qualitifications and there are ads from the Thai BOI (Board of Investment). has 4 categories for applicants, depending on financial and health insurance situations. It is a 5+5 (10 year) visa with yearly providing the immigration folks with residence (can also be done by an agent) and I assume REQUALIFICATION after 5 years but haven't received info on that. One can obtain a work permit while holding the LTR also but while all funds remitted from overseas are tax exempt by royal decree, if one earns money in Thailand that is taxed but at a better rate for the individual. The one-year report of residence to immigration can have the date reset to the following year if one leaves the country and then returns later. If one gets a retirement visa O with multiple exits/returns, the LTR is actually cheaper (50K baht) and some have provided the figures on this forum. In my opinion, for me, the benefits and costs are much better under the LTR than a retirement visa. That doesn't mean it is better for YOU. One should check out the BOI ad on this visa and if there are still unanswered questions, contact the BOI (they speak English well) and they have always been very helpful and patient with this old guy. It took a total of 3 weeks to get the visa once I applied plus several phone calls. If one can fit into one of the categories then I think that they too will agree in the long run that this LTR is the best one for them. And like all the Thai visas, if one checks with the BOI they will inform you that to keep the visa, one must maintain the qualifications - that is the same for all visas. It doesn't mean right now anyway that they are going to be doing yearly checks on LTR holders - if one goes to an immigration office elsewhere in Thailand, then that office might have additional requirements just like with other visas and other immigration officers. Good luck.

People, there is no having to reconfirm qualifications at the yearly report - at least none that I have been advised of and I have an LTR. It is to report your residence yearly only - and if you are in Thailand you or your agent who makes the report just need a to fill in a form.sign it and as for the 5-year, I haven't seen anything yet on exactly what will be needed. And yes by leaving the country, like the 90-day, one's yearly residence report resets the time for the next one. One does not need to go to the BOI to do the yearly report - only immigration and the immigration office at the BOI is much more convenient than going to some of the other immigration offices. No one is being forced to get an LTR but for me it is the cheapest and most beneficial of all the visas. I had an Retirement O for almost 20 years of doing those yearly plus 90-day reports. the LTR is for a RESIDENT in my opinion but some people have one and travel much during the year I guess.

I am pretty sure that all foreign remitted funds to Thailand are exempt under the LTR benefits (by royal decree). If one works legally in Thailand with the LTR work permit, the earned funds will be taxed a a different rate than normal- BOI will probably send you confirmation soon.

Well I don't plan to fight into any crowd at regular immigration elsewhere when there is an immigration office inside he BOI area - that is where I plan to do my yearly report next March after I receive the card from the BOI that the visit is due.

Well in the not-distant-past, the inter-changwat buses would have pit stops along some road - women would go into the grass on one side of the bus and men on the other side. I saw it many times.

Well, the PM and locals are begging for the Chinese to come back just like they were previously. They raise their children entirely different that mose westerners are familiar with.

TM.95 is the application for the LTR visa.

biggest problem is that these people are tourists from a country totally different in culture and every other aspect in Thai and wherever they are from. I can recall the first time I rode in a taxi in Japan and the driver stopped and took a leak right there on the side of a busy street. I have been at "quality" restaurants here in Thailand and have seen Chinese boys too just urinating near the outdoors tables occupied by other foreigners too - happened to be farangs and they were outraged to say the least but the Chinese took no notice of them and their comments nor was anything ever said to the children. A bathroom was less that 5 meters away and widely marked for all to see. As for this happening at a revered temple, enough properly marked signs should be provided at entrances to avoid such behavior as it seems to upset the locals so much. my opinion anyway - I have seen way too much flagrant violation of local customs around the world for this to have any effect on me - just the forum comments.

in addition to this....every visa in Thailand requires the holder to maintain the qualifications for that particular visa for the period of that visa in order for the visa to be kept by the holder. From what I as an LTR holder have seen, during the yearly notification of address there is nothing that indicates and check of the original qualifications, and as mentioned nothing has been seen by me yet of any qualifications check for the 5 year renewal. I assume it will be the same figures but who knows?, not me!

Thai immigration law says that qualifications for any visa must be maintained during the period of the visa in order for the visa to be retained. The LTR is no different. As far as I know, there are not going to be any yearly checks when one advises the BOI or immigration of their current address. As for the 5th year renewal/extension of the LTR I have yet to see any documentation on what will be the requirements provided by the LTR holder. For this retiree, I find the LTR to be the best for the money/ease of qualifying, and best benefits for me.