Keith5588

I renewed my UK passport last year, I think for the larger passport + courier fee it was £138 payable by CC. I made an appointment Trendy building in Bangkok. So I had to travel to Bangkok for this with all the necessary documentation, photo copies of every page of my old passport, photos of myself, the filled in form. They notified me when they had my new passport ready for collection. Luckily a very good friend had to go to Bangkok so I just gave him a note giving my consent to collect it. It's everyone's personal choice, I have never used an agent but maybe I will need to one day. Personally I would not wish to risk my old passport being lost by an agent, I have read that this has happened.

Hi, I bought my house in the UK in 1980, was working and lived in it as my only home. 5 years ago I retired, rented out my house and came to Thailand. I now wish to return to the UK, live in my house for about 6 months while I sort out a few things as well as selling my house. So I lived in my house as my only home for 37 years, then rented it out for 5 years. Does anyone know what the rules are for me paying Capital Gains Tax? Thanks in advance Keith

Hi, I now live in Hua Hin, about 3km inland of the centre. I do have a car and scooter so not need taxis often. We will need a taxi in near future to pick us up at home and then drop us at the Bus station on Petchkasem road not far from Bluport. Also very occasionally when out to take us home or possibly home to a hospital. I would love to have two or three contact details of taxis companies based in Hua Hin suitable for such short journeys. Also I have never used Grab or Bolt, can you phone these or does booking need to be done via their apps? Thank you I'm advance for any help Keith

Thank you @FriendlyFarang very precise good information. In the past I also concluded that I will not change the address in the registration books. I think the only small problem is that if you get an automatic speeding fine it will go to the wrong address, then when renew the tax you will pay more. That's the way it should work but knowing Thailand it doesn't and it may be an advantage in not paying any fine. I will very soon be moving to a rented house that I think I might stay at for a long time so thought it would be nice to have that address in the books. I will try to phone again today as going to PKK by car would be OK but not by our small Honda Scoopy. I am starting to feel that doing nothing might be best.

Hi I bought a car and also a scooter when myself and my Thai girlfriend were living in rented accommodation in Khon Kaen so both vehicles have Khon Kaen number plates. We relocated to Hua Hin just over 1 year ago. The addresses in both registration books are just rented appartments in Khon Kaen and so totally wrong. A couple of weeks ago I felt that I wanted to change the ownership of both vehicles into my girlfriends name. We went to the Transport office in Pran Buri which is about 24km away, so not far from Hua Hin. They said that they cannot change ownership because the number plates are Khon Kaen and that we would need to go to the Transport Office in Prachuap Khiri Khan (PKK) town to have the number plates changes to Prachuap plates first. PKK is about 100km away. OK so now I know that Prachuap Transport offices can only change ownership of vehicles with Prachuap plates. I have now decided not to change ownership but I do want to change my address which is in the registration books. At the moment the Transport offices are not answering their phones. Can anyone please help. Can I change my address that is in my car and scooter at the Transport Office in Pran Buri while still keeping Khon Kaen number plates? I am getting the feeling to update anything in the car or scooter registration books whilst in Hua Hin I will need to make two trips to PKK to have the number plates changed. If I go to PKK to have the number plates changed + change of address what documents do I need to take other than the registration books? Cert of Residence? Photocopies of the registration books? Thanks Keith

Thanks a lot @lukkrungand @KhaoYai

Thank you @4MyEgo for good information and advice.

KhaoYai, thank you for the very good information, it's much appreciated.

@StevemercerThank you so much for the very detailed, informative and helpful information and the very good advice.

For this post I would like to understand the situation if I bought a house and also bought a 30 year lease of the land from a Thai National. Also assume that house prices do not change. Lets say the house is 6 Million baht but that includes 2 Million baht for leasing the land for 30 years. So 4 Million for the house + 2 Million for the land lease. 1. When a house is advertised at 6 Million baht lease hold is that price usually the total price that includes the house and the lease of the land for 30 years? 2. I assume that after 30 years if the Thai owner of the land would not renew the land lease for another 30 years then that Thai person would own the land and everything on it. They would own the land and the house and the foreigner would own nothing. Is this correct? 3. Assume I wish to sell the house after 20 years what is the situation? Would the house + the remaining 10 years land lease be worth just 2 Million? But if the new owner could form a new 30 year land lease for 2 Million baht with the Thai land owner then the house would be worth the original 4 Million? Thanks in advance for any help Keith

Very good information Tim, I see they have the Non Imm O Visa Retirement. I had a quick look at gov.uk foreign travel advice for curiousity and it advises not to go to Myanmar except for Yangon region. So OK to go there but I currently live in Hua Hin so would be best for me to fly and I would prefer to have a weeks holiday in Kuala Lumpur, no visa requirements for me, and I think more relaxing. Thanks again for the information

Thanks zzzzz, good information.

Thanks Jack. I am now thinking of buying a rent a flight as you suggest. It will be a lot cheaper than buying a throw away flight for about 1,600 baht, I can then relax and I will also be learning something new as I haven’t used rent a flight before. Thank you Keith

Thanks Jack, if I found that obtaining a Non O in Kuala Lumpur seemed very straight forward I might have considered going straight to the Thai Consulate there. Of course if a problem then can always return visa exempt. At the moment I think you are right and visa exempt is the best way. If I do that at the moment I will put it to the test in that I will take proof that I live in Thailand, maybe politely ask to see a supervisor at check in if they are not busy. If they insist I can purchase a throw away flight for near the end of my visa exempt permit to stay. Cheers Keith

Thanks Joe, I have definitely seen posts on here stating that the Non O can be obtained in Penang, in fact if my memory is correct someone obtained a multi entry Non O in Penang. But these were probably about 2 or 3 years ago. Also I have seen stated on here that Penang requirements are the same as Savannakhet in that medical and police checks not needed. I posted because I had not looked at the Thai Embassy / consulate sites before and wondered if I was doing something wrong. I don't need to change my O-A to an O until May next year and as requirements may change I will either contact the Thai consulates near the time or more likely speak to my local immigration office and then come in visa exempt. Cheers Keith

As I do not want to purchase health insurance next year I will try to change my Non Imm O-A to a Non Imm O. I have read a lot of helpful information on here and I may choose to return to Thailand Visa Exempt but I thought I would consider applying for a Non Imm O abroad. I think there is a small possible inconvenience of needing proof of onward travel if flying into Thailand visa exempt. In that case I would first show proof that I actually live in Thailand at check in. Hopefully they would show common sense but I would also be prepared to purchase a throw away air flight. My first thoughts were that myself and my Thai gf would fly to Kuala Lumpur for 1 weeks holiday so I looked at the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur https://kualalumpur.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/visa-requirements-i-3 It lists all visas and one is NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (O-Retirement) Required Documents include police cert and medical cert so I thought I would have a look at Penang. https://penang.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/114490-visa-requirements-ii I have never looked at this before but it is a bit concerning that Non Imm O Retirement is not listed? Anyone know if Penang has stopped issuing Non Imm O Retirement visa’s? 1. TOURIST VISA (TR) - For tourism purpose 2. TRANSIT VISA (TS) - To transit through Thailand to another country 3. VISA FOR PARTICIPANT IN SPORT COMPETITION (TS) - To participate in sport events in Thailand 4. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (B) FOR BUSINESS PURPOSE - To engage in business-related activities in Thailand 5. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (B) FOR EMPLOYMENT - To be employed in Thailand 6. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (B) FOR EMPLOYMENT AS TEACHER - To be employed as teacher in Thailand 7. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ED) FOR NON-BUSINESS CONFERENCE/MEETING - To attend non-business conference/meeting in Thailand 8. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ED) FOR EDUCATION - To study or take academic course in Thailand 9. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (ED) FOR UNPAID INTERNSHIP AND TRAINING - To participate in unpaid internship, workshop or training in Thailand 10. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (O) FOR VOLUNTEER - To engage in volunteer works in Thailand* *see also remarks (2) below 11. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (O-A) FOR LONG STAY - To stay in Thailand for a long period 12. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (O) FOR DEPENDANT - For dependant of the main visa applicant or foreign spouse/ children of a Thai citizen 13. VISA FOR DIPLOMATIC AND OFFICIAL PASSPORT HOLDER 14. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (F) FOR OFFICIAL VISIT BY ORDINARY PASSPORT HOLDER - To attend event hosted by an authority in Thailand 15. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (M) FOR MEDIA AND FILMING - To cover the news or to shoot films/ documentaries/ commercials in Thailand 16. NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (RS) FOR RESEARCH AND SCIENCE - To engage in research and science activities in Thailand 17. SMART VISA PROGRAMME - For foreign experts, executives, entrepreneurs and investors who wish to work or to invest in Thailand in targeted industries

Thanks Jack, I did suspect I would need an onward flight even though I think it illogical as I live in Thailand. Cheers Keith

Hi, I am from the UK. 5 years ago I obtained a Non Imm O-A visa just before travelling to Thailand. Because of some very helpful people of this site (it was then Thai Visa) I knew what best to do. Myself and my Thai girlfriend had a holiday in Vietnam just before the Enter Before date on my visa. Concerning health insurance I decided to self insure. I have more than 800,000 baht a Thai bank account. I obtained my first 1 year extension based on retirement at a cost of 1,900B The changing of the rules then started to affect me in that I needed health insurance for further 1 year extensions. I had planned to change to a Non Imm O visa but Covid put that on hold. So 3 times I have had to buy almost worthless Thai approved health insurance for 7,700 baht per year. In May 2023 I will have to pay a lot more for health insurance but the borders are open ….. Yippee …… It is now time to convert to a Non Imm O visa! A good excuse for a holiday! I now live in Hua Hin and my plan is fly to Kular Lumpar to have a short holiday, then return with a 30 or 45 day visa exemption, then go to Hua Hin immigration to obtain a Non Imm O visa. They have already said that they can do that. I have one question concerning proof of onward travel. I have been living in Thailand for 5 years, I rent a condo in Hua Hin and have the rental contract. I own a car and a motorbike in Thailand and have Thai driving licences. I will be buying return Air Asia tickets for my Thai gf and myself Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur for 1 week. Because I will be entering Thailand with a visa exempt stamp, in my situation would I really need to purchase another flight out of Thailand that I would obviously not use? Thanks in advance Keith

@Mickeymaus I think you are right and it could cause suspicion. It is best to do everything correctly and legally, no reason to not to. I will have a look at the notes I printed for my girlfriend and make a correction if necessary. I will make a note in "Google Keep", I now use that regularly as I find it now more easy to forget. Thanks Keith

@JimGant Thanks again for good solid information and advice. Just before I wrote my Wills I read on the internet that a farang died but had no Will. All his assets went to his family in his home country. His girlfriend / partner of many years, who looked after him for many years especially his last few years had to pay for the funeral but received nothing. I therefore visited the bank to have her open a Fixed account which I then transferred 400,000 baht into. Then I wrote the Wills. My Wills are also very simple except my bank accounts are in my name and I also have a car and Scooter in my name. I did also write and printed a page of instructions. I did mention to use my ATM card to withdraw as much as possible and gave my PIN. I also stated a Lawyer for her to contact. I now realise that a Lawyer may not be necessary if no probate is needed but I think it is well worth the few thousand baht to take the legal worry away from my girlfriend and to make sure things are done correctly if I am not around. They may even give further advice (on top of what I wrote) on how best to proceed with my UK Will. Anyway I feel very healthy at 69 years old so hopefully my Wills will not be needed for many years. Hopefully you are healthy too Cheers Keith

@JimGant and @Liverpool Lou Thank you both so much. I started this post because someone said very positively that my Thai Will needs to be in Thai language, similar to some people posting here.It made no sense to me that MY WILL needs to be written in a language I do not understand. I would not sign a Will I do not understand and so it would be worthless. As said any Will can be translated later if the Thai court needs that to be done.You have both confirmed what I previously concluded and also given me extra information and good links.I think a lot is common sense. I spent a lot of time making sure that both Wills (Thai and UK) were very clear and concise. At first my Will fitted on 2 pages, I was going to sign and have witnessed each page, but in the end after playing with font sizes etc. managed to fit each Will on 1 page. That was the extent I went to just to make sure.The only problem was some people recently saying very positively that my Thai Will needs to be in Thai language which made no sense to me.I guess the reason is that all Legal Services and Lawyers in Thailand are mostly Thai people. They probably write their Will template in Thai language and then translate to English (they may or may not offer a translation to a different language other than English). So they already have their Will templates in Thai Language and in English language. So very little work to give you both. I have never been to any Legal Services or Lawyers in Thailand to have my Will done but I guess that I would only sign the English written one.I didn't write my own Wills to save money. If possible I like to understand and have control over my affairs. It is the same with dealing with immigration, I have always made sure that I understand and so have never used an agent or paid any "tea money". Even for my yearly 1 year extension based on retirement I have always been in and out in less than 1 hour.Sorry now I am going off topic.Thank you both again for your very good help. Keith

I thought exactly the same as you @Liverpool Lou thank you. And thank you for your other sensible and helpful comments.

@JimGant You seem like a very intelligent helpful person, thank you very much. Unfortunately Thailand does like to have lot's of paperwork and a few weeks ago I did sign bank forms written in Thai while inside a main bank while opening new bank accounts. But when it is something important like your own Will that you have total control of I am amazed that some people think that it best to sign the Will that is written in a language that they do not understand? Soon after I posted on here I received the strange comments so I also posted elsewhere. There I received good advice as I have from you. Some comments were from a Lawyer (not a Lawyer in a private company looking for work) and they said exactly as you in that later a Thai court can have my Will translated into Thai or request that it is done, if they wish. It's common sense really and what I originally thought. Thanks also for your other comment about can have just the one Will, that makes sense. I did spend quite a lot of time 2 years ago forming the Wills, condensing them to just the one A4 page each. My UK Will clearly states it is only for my UK assets. I also mentioned that I have a separate Will for my Thai assets. My Thai Will states similar. I am now happy again that they are good. Thanks again Jim

Thank you @arithai12 . My Thai Will is in English language, the only language that I understand. I would not sign it if it was written in Thai language. I can understand you doing so because you were very confident that the Thai translation was correct. If I died my girlfriend will take my Will to a Lawyer in Thailand to help process the probate at a Thai court. At this point why can't my Will be officially translated into Thai language for the court if necessary? Why can't this all be done while living in Thailand? This is what I am having a lot of trouble understanding.

Thanks again @nigelforbes My Thai Will is in English language with very clear instructions etc. I started this post because someone put doubt in my mind and so I was prepared to have my Wills checked by a Lawyer. I now feel again that I have done things correctly. I believe that no Thai translation needs to be done until just before it is presented at a Thai court before probate. I have left details of a Lawyer for my girlfriend to contact, then my girlfriend can have the translation done as you describe or what the Lawyer or court says it needs.