racket

Why can't you just link it to us?

You need 500,000 baht in the bank.

I have also sent them an email but didn't receive any response yet.

As I understand it, you don't need to leave after 180 days. You can extend your stay for another 180 days for a fee of 1900. Once you have reached a total of 360 days, you'll have to leave and return to activate another 180-day period.

More information about DTV in Cambodia can be found here: https://phnompenh.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/destination-thailand-visa-dtv?page=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a1&menu=5d73b14415e39c46f40076a3

Agreed. Perhaps it would help to apply for a new passport to clear up all the pages with retirement stamps. You'll likely be in the system, but it could be a good first step.

Do you mean one can apply for a DTL at a Thai embassy in Cambodia or Vientiane? I went to thaievisa.go.th and selected both countries, but I received the following message: ‘You are not eligible to apply for a visa through the Thai E-Visa system. Please apply for a visa in person at the nearest Thai Embassy or Consulate.’

This woman has her sights set on snagging a Swedish passport, all so she can retire in style while he does all the work. It’s like she’s plotting a hilarious twist in a rom-com! Poor guy has no idea he’s about to trade in his nine-to-five for her beach hammock dreams. Reality check incoming!

The key factor to consider is the income tax requirements. I believe an individual becomes liable for income tax in Thailand after staying in the country for 180 days or more, unless a tax treaty applies. However, it’s relatively easy to circumvent this by leaving Thailand and returning before reaching that threshold. It will be interesting to see how this situation evolves. Here are more details on the tax requirements: https://www.expattaxthailand.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FOREIGNERS_PAY_TAX2024.pdf

Question, if that's the case with the PDF. Why is it necessary for someone to be in your home country to apply for the Destination Thailand Visa? A person currently in Thailand or a neighboring country could easily apply without returning home. How would they confirm that you were actually in your home country?

Alright, thanks. That’s exactly what was needed to know. Now it makes more sense why someone would pay a premium price—because being elite isn’t cheap!

I understand your first point. However, let's consider a scenario where you begin your elite visa journey and are currently three months in, with 9 months remaining in the first year of your 5-year elite visa. You decide to leave Thailand for a short trip to Singapore and plan to return after a week. If you return to Thailand without a re-entry permit, does this void the remaining 9 months, or do you receive a new 1-year entry? From my understanding, if you don't apply for a re-entry permit, you will lose the remaining 9 months and instead receive a new 1-year stamp on your passport based on your 5-year elite visa, effectively starting your second year. That’s why I have repeatedly said that one might need to apply for a re-entry permit if you’re going to continue your stay based on your initial 1-year stamp.

Interesting. What happens if you want to extend or continue your stay without getting a new 1-year stamp? Wouldn’t that completely invalidate your current status? I know it's not required, but It wouldn’t be wise to take a short trip, say to Singapore, and come back with a new 1-year stamp if you haven’t fully utilized your stay. I could be wrong, but my understanding is that all visas require a re-entry permit to continue your stay.

Yes, the Thailand Elite Visa is a multiple-entry visa. It allows visa holders to enter and exit Thailand multiple times during the validity period of their visa without needing to apply for a new visa each time they reenter the country. However, if you plan to leave Thailand temporarily and want to keep your visa status intact, you still need to obtain a reentry permit to ensure your Elite Visa remains valid upon your return.

You ALWAYS need a re-entry permit if you are planning to leave the country regardless of visa type in your passport. There are two types of reentry permits available: 1. Single Reentry Permit: Allows you to leave and re-enter Thailand once. 2. Multiple Reentry Permit: Allows you to leave and re-enter Thailand multiple times within the validity period of your visa.

That’s not necessarily true. You can enjoy airport perks and access to VIP lounges when flying domestically to different provinces, along with discounts on many facilities, which counters your point. Furthermore, if you leave the country without obtaining a re-entry permit, you’ll void your elite visa, rendering it invalid, which is a crucial consideration. The elite visa is specifically designed for individuals under 50 who don’t qualify for a retirement visa but want to live in Thailand long-term without needing work permits or tourist visas. In fact, this visa offers benefits like extended stays of up to 5 years without the need for frequent renewals. I have friends who visit Thailand 4-7 times per year, and they don’t consider the elite visa, preferring other short-term visa options.

No, I don’t work for Elite Visa. If you read my first post, you’ll see that I strongly criticized it for anyone considering that option if they don’t plan to stay in Thailand for at least five years, as it’s a waste of money. The issue with your 800k statement is that you’re assuming everyone is 50 years old. You can’t get a retirement visa if you’re under 50. It’s called ‘Elite’ for a reason: you’re paying a premium to avoid other measures that make it harder to stay long-term in Thailand. The Elite Visa program is designed for individuals who want to avoid the hassle of annual visa renewals and other bureaucratic requirements. I think the basic elite program might either become cheaper or be reorganized due to the effects of DTL.

A retirement visa in Thailand is available for those aged 50 or older. If you are under 50, you can still retire but will need to explore other visa options, such as the Elite Visa or another appropriate alternative.

1 million baht is not a lot of money, and you can't retire if you are under 50.

You seem to think everyone is 50 years old or older. Sure, By paying 2,000 baht, you expect to secure 800,000 baht or generate a monthly retirement income of 65,000 baht..

You can’t retire if you’re younger than 50. While it might be cheaper, it requires depositing a significant amount of money in a Thai bank. In Thailand, retirement visas are generally available only to those aged 50 and above. Additionally, to qualify for a retirement visa, applicants must either have a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB (approximately $2,000 USD) or a deposit of 800,000 THB (approximately $24,000 USD) in a Thai bank. These financial requirements ensure that retirees have sufficient funds to support themselves while living in Thailand.

There are millions of individuals around the world who don’t qualify for retirement but have money in the bank. Therefore, a long-term visa option should be available for these individuals. For instance, many professionals and entrepreneurs accumulate significant savings but do not meet the age requirement for retirement visas. While one might argue that the 800k THB in the bank is still ‘your money,’ it essentially becomes a deposit fund you can’t touch as long as you are in Thailand, making it inaccessible for other investments or emergencies. The Elite visa, however, has no such requirements, offering greater financial flexibility. Additionally, retirement visas are only available to those over 50 years old, excluding younger expatriates who might want to live in Thailand long-term. Considering that the Thailand Elite Visa program offers residency options ranging from 5 to 20 years with benefits such as expedited immigration services and exclusive privileges, it makes perfect sense for those planning to stay more than 10 years to choose this option.

The Elite Visas can be a total waste if you are not planning to stay for a very long time. For the same amount of money, you could open a small business or invest in an already established company and stay in Thailand long-term. The cost of the 5-year Elite Visa increased from 500,000 baht to 900,000 baht after COVID, with only minor policy changes and additional perks. Moreover, the Elite Visa does not offer a path to permanent residency or citizenship, which means you'll need to continue renewing it or find other solutions for long-term stay. With limited benefits compared to other long-term visa options, it seems like a poor investment short-term. Extending the visa-exempt entry was a wise move for Thailand, especially given Malaysia's 90-day visa exemption for tourists from many countries. This change was anticipated, as the new Thai government, under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has shown a stronger commitment to boosting tourism and foreign investment compared to the previous administration led by General Prayuth Chan-o-cha. The new government’s policies are aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector, which had suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and attracting more international visitors and investors to stimulate economic growth. Additionally, what this elite visa holder may not mention is that the Elite Visa offers the possibility of extending for up to 6 years initially. By paying an additional 400,000 baht before the initial period expires, he can extend the visa for another 10 years, making it a total of 16 years. This makes the Elite Visa a compelling option for long-term residents. In contrast, the Thailand Elite Visa provides various benefits like expedited immigration services, access to a concierge service, and no need for annual visa renewals, which can be cumbersome with other visa types. Both the Digital Nomad Visa (DTL) and retirement visas come with their own set of complications, such as requirements for income verification or ongoing compliance with specific regulations. Therefore, the Elite Visa offers a premium solution that simplifies the long-term stay in Thailand, avoiding many of the common obstacles associated with general visa options. If he stays on the elite visa program for 16 years, he’ll end up paying just 6,770 baht per month, which is quite reasonable compared to other long-term residency options..

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul has reviewed and signed all four announcements. They are now in the process of being presented to the Prime Minister for signing. After that, they will be published in the Royal Gazette, and all announcements will take effect from July 15, 2024, onwards. So the Prime Minister is the last guy to sign the announcements, so to my understanding travelers should receive 60 days visa exempt by July 15 and onwards.

Is this now 100% confirmed that travelers who enter on July 15 will get 60 days visa exempt?