Sea Traveller

As for me starting this  thread I am more than happy with the helpul responds as to now close this thread.

Hope also others have the possibility to get good medical coverage insurances within Thailand or through insurance companies for example in their home countries that covers good medical care in Thailand and not are very expensive. The insurances I get through Sweden does not have any age limitation but can have limitations for medical issues as  known when to get the insurance.

22 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

@Sea Traveller

Firstly, forget any implied tax implications, as it wouldn't apply to the situation you describe anyway.

Yes looks not apply to me as long as I make sure stay less than 180 days per calendar year in Thailand as per current and simewhat revised rules as come to force 1 January 2024.

22 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

 

You basically covered your alternative options to stay long term in Thailand, although I could suggest another option that would allow staying for almost 5 months without depositing any funds in a Thai bank account, that said I think it's always good practice to have funds in a Thai bank account if staying long term to cover any emergency medical expenses.

I will always keep funds on my and my wifes bank accounts in Thailand as is indeed a good practice. However if I am staying only max. 90 days each time it will be less than if I am on a 1-Year Permission of Stay.

The Emergency Medical Insurance when I and my wife are in Thailand have been solved as described this and past times as follows. Me and my wife have via my Home insurance in Sweden a freevof charge Medical Care Insurance that is valid world wide exept for USA and Switzerland for 45 days after leaving Sweden. To this one I pay for a extension medical care insurance for longer visits as get automatically in force on day 46. I have to been paid before come to force but best before paid before travel from  Sweden. If to stay longer than originally planned and paid for it can be extended for example while  we are  in Thailand as long as long as paid for before the before covered period has expired. All Swedish Insurance companies and some of the nearby countries as well own together SOS International Call 24 hours call service as located in Copenhagen. When possible I shold call them if something of medical care feels nesessary. SOS international will if they see a need for medical care then advice you what to do and if going to a hospital not hopefully far away advice which and if ambulance is to be called by them or by you? If accident and you from beginning ended on a not desirably bys SOS International get moved when safe to do so. In rare cases is also move from for example Thailand to Sweden but this again is rare as normally is much less expensive to get treament on the location. 

22 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

 

Obtaining and entering Thailand with a Non Imm O visa based on Thai spouse from the Thai Embassy in Stockholm would grant you a stay of 90 days. Correct that that visa is stamped as 'used' on entry, but the granted 90-day permit of stay is separate and valid. You could apply for a 60-day extension to the 90 days granted on entry to 'visit Thai spouse' towards the end of that 90 days, (1,900 BHT), which would allow you to stay for a total of 150 days,

Good! I did not know that it is possible to apply 60-day extension on the 90 days granted. I had only heard about and also applied on 30 days extensions in past basis when I entered on Visa Exempts and that is also possible to get 30 days extensions  on the local immigration offices if entered on a tourist visa. 

22 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

 

Good sense to keep funds in a Thai bank account though, in case of emergency.
If you applied for a 1-year extension of stay based on Thai spouse, although 400K THB is required to be in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to submitting the extension application, once the application is approved, you can immediately withdraw that 400K THB and use as living expenses for th

Extensions based on retirement can be approved the same day while yoExtensions

Extensions

based on Thai spouse have to be approved at regional level, which can take 30 days.Thso called 'extra' documents for extensions based on Thai spouse, is actually a few photos, a Kor Ror 2 or 22 and 2 copies of all documents. If that ——— hardship, how do your friends manage to make it to a bar unaided. I'm assuming you married in Thailand?

 

This to is very valuable and new information as for me and extension/permission of stay based on Thai spouse get even lesepted an option for me as I look on it. We are married in Sweden but have got through the process of getting our marriage and change of the Surname on my wife registrered also in Thailand. It went rather complicated and took some time but this done. As from Sweden is not possible to get a Marriage Certificate. The only we can get is an ”extract from the population register” from the Swedish Tax authorities as on it can be seen we are married and on which day…This is  by the Thai Embassy in Stockholm as when apply for Non-Imm O Spouse E-visa. A certificate by the Swedish Embassy in Bangko or Marriage Certificate issued in Thailand is required. 

Thanks for all your comments and helpful comments! Sorry for make a mess when to commements but the Ipad seems not be the preferred device as writing as is if I am pointing where I want to edit it writes somewhere else…
 

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

It doesn't matter, from a tax perspective, what type of visa you have or whether you are married or not. The only thing that matters is the number of days you spend in Thailand, during each calendar year. If you stay more than 180 days in Thailand, you are Thai tax resident, under that you are not.

 

Please see below, a tax guide that may help you better understand what's involved.

 

 

Thanks Mike!
 

This was indeed a very comprehensive general Tax Guide which I now been reading but also saved as to be able to quickly find and read again. Seems to be very clear about the less than 180 days per calendar year stay in Thailand part.

But I will have to study this guide a more as it appears like transfer of money to Thailand as it appears can be causing tax issues under some cases? As for example when I recently sent quite a lot of money from my bank account in Sweden to my and my wifes bank Thai bank accounts for the purchase of a car i Thailand. I will have to see if any unwelcome surprises  comes up or not? And for just living in Thailand I have send money from Sweden on regularly base but this will be not in comparison get near as much per transaction. 

56 minutes ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

My advice is to use option 2 - get a 12 month Marriage Visa mulitple entry - and stay in Thailand less than 180 days in total from 1 January to 31 December and you are not a tax resident.  You can do 179 days in Thailand in one trip, or you can do multiple trips over the calendar year that total up to 179 days.  Get a new 12 months Visa in Sweden each time - avoid the annual extension khrapp here in Thailand. 

 

I will say that after a few years you might want to stop all the travelling back and forth between Thailand and Sweden.  I did the same between Thailand and Australia for a few years with my Thai wife (who is also an Aust citizen) and it became 'not so enjoyable' - and it is a lot less travel time/issues than going to/from Thailand and Sweden.  If that happens you might want to stay long term in Thailand - until you get much older and then because your wife is citizen you can move back to Sweden at any time - either for a while, or forever. Obviously that would entail a lot of planning and working things out.

 

You are only taxable in Thailand on 'income' that you remit into Thailand. If you remit savings etc. then that is not taxable in Thailand - only income. But this whole new world of Expat taxation in Thailand is something that is going to evolve over the next few years - it would be a great time for you to only stay <180 days while it sorts itself out. When that is all sorted out in a few years (as much as anything can be in Thailand), then get financial and taxation advice in both Sweden and Thailand and decide what to do - plan well and be flexible.  Avoid the financial legal sammers here - especially the Scandinavian ones - yes there are a few here.

 

Drop me a direct message if you want more advice about my Swedish mate and what he is doing and why.

Thanks! The Multiple Entry Non-Imm. O E-visa has been removed as an option to select from the Thai Embassy in Stockholm unfortunately since the year change I believe. I heard this is the case from some other Thai Embassys in other countries to but I don’t know which ones specifically? But I am regardless thinking at moment in the direction that you advice. I like also to meet my now adult childrens and grand childrens and to stay away like almost 180 days in a row is long time…

The point of be flexible is important when it comes to Thailand . I did see the article on Asean Now and the thread on the new Thailand Visa fees from New Zeeland and is just to see what will happens with fees from other countries? When things changes I have to do so sometimes as well. I had some years ago Multiple Entry 1-Year Non-Imm. O-A Visa but that went not an option anymore when the requirement to have insurance in Thai insurance company went to force. 

Thanks so much to all that replied at same time that I did write my self. 

It have now come several answers whick I am to read with or without links that are very helpful as for me to take a decision about the path forward for me personally. 

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, @Mike Lister may be able to advise.

There is a long thread running about tax implications.  

Yes there is indeed a long thread about tax implications but have not managed to find out if my option number 1 is is the better and safer choice as to avoid be taxed as well in Thailand? Both option 1 as 2 is as can be seen to stay less than 180 days in Thailand per calendar year. If option 1 is best choice I will Not send +800.000 Baht to one of my bank accounts in Thailand which I need to do while I on this visit in Thailand. Thus as I to my understanding need then to get a FET receipt from in my case Bangkok Bank as evidence that the money/currency come from a country outside Thailand into my bank account. Not sure if the FET has to be presented to Immigration if and when apply for 1 -Year Permision of Stay? Just been reading a lot trying to find out the rules but get lost…
 

I am Swedish man and soon 63 years of age and is married with a women that have both Thai and Swedish citizenships. I plan to be be living in both Sweden and Thailand on a long term basis going forward.The base case as to be counted as having the permanent residence in Sweden is to stay minimum 6 months in a row per 12-month period. This is how I want it to be and this means also that I will be fully taxable in Sweden. However this get access to almost free health care in Sweden etc. Going to also mention that Sweden and Thailand has a double taxation agreement without going into what is written in that..

I am looking on two options regards to stay in Thailand quite a lot in the period from like mid October to mid April but to make sure that I always stays less than 180 days in Thailand per calendar year (1 Jan. - 31 Dec.). To my understanding if I stay more than 180 days in Thailand I will automatically be deemed as taxable in Thailand as well…Right or wrong?

I look on two options:

1. I travel to Thailand on the normal Single Entry Non-Immigrant O E-Visa based on that I am married with a Thai woman as I get via the Thai Embassy in Stockholm and stay up to 90 days i Thailand. I travel back to Sweden for a period sometime during the winter season and do then apply for a new SE (The ME is removed) Non-Imm. O E-visa before to go back to Thailand with another max. 90 day stay period. With this plan is get some ticket expense. But I don’t have to put +400.000 or +800.000 Baht to one of my Thai bank accounts. Of course I make sure that I every calendar do stay less than 180 days in Thailand.

2. I apply for and get a 1-Year Permission of Stay with 90-Day Reportings based on my Non-Imm. O E-visa as married with Thai women. I purchase also a Multiple Re-Entry Permit as to be flexible to be able to travel out and back to Thailand on a short notice as whatever happens. But will I with this option be deemed as taxable in Thailand as I have a 1-Year Permission of Stay regardless if I actually make sure that I stay less than 180 days in Thailand on every calendar year?

Which one is recommended as to Not likely get counted as taxable in Thailand as well? (if possible?)

As info only and I request no comments. But if someone likes to do so please do so of course. 
 

The Swedish Embassy in Bangkok do still issue ”Income Certificates” for people that like to use the minimum 40.000 Baht per month as for example married with a Thai or minimum 65.000 per month to a Thai bank account as retired. However they do only approve basis some certain and few types of incomes and which ones can be read on The Swedish Embassy in Bangkok site. For example regardless how much money you have on Bank accounts this do not qualify. Thus only option is to place either minimum 400.000 or 800.000 Baht on a Thai Bank account in your name only. I have speak with quite a few as in Udon Thani and everyone I spoken so far with advice me to Not even try to go with 400.000 option as married with a Thai women. They say is possible but so much more paperworks and that Immigration have done quite a few visits to some. For me personally as is to live partly in Sweden and Thailand I will for sure select based on the Retirement option but will for some years ahead use the minimum 800.000 Baht methode. 

I skip write term of for example ”Retirement Visa” or ”Marriage Visa” as if it is actually  about a ” 1-Year Permission of Stay with 90-Day reportings this is referring to. My Visa is cancelled at the moment the Immigration Officer (normally at the International Airport) at the entry into Thailand puts a stamp in my Passport. Ok is possible to have Multiple Entry Visas but still there will get a stamp of how many days I am entitled to stay in Thailand at each entry to Thailand.  Why use the wrong terms as is confusing specially for the not so experienced? 
 

10 hours ago, mrwebb8825 said:

Get the single entry Non-O every year then get a multiple reentry permit (basically the same thing and price)

 

As for the TM-30, check this thread

 

Thanks I read the thread and will check with Immigration in Udon Thani how they see on TM30 and need for re-reporting when I for example return after a trip with our car with visits to a few hotels on the way? 
 

Otherwise I am very pleased with the helpful comments from several on this thread and things are much more clear now for me moving forward. And some other things like open another Bangkok Bank account my wife told we dont try anymore in Udon Thani but wait until we go to the other place we stay in Thailand and use her contacts over there…

For my concern Is ok to now close this thread if a moderator would like to do so. 

I plan to visit a Bangkok Bank at the other place we stay at and  bring a person with me and my wife that works for the Ampur over there and also owns a popular sea food restaurant for Thai manily (great food, prices and location but simple and not to the expectations regards to a high standard as most farrangs look for). This person is  a friend and close relative to my wife and recognised by most Thai over there.  When my wife had some issues with Bangkok Bank previously of which one was to open new accounts it went suddenly no problems at all when this person was with her at Bangkok Bank. One issue was that she had also a Bangkok Bank - Udon Thani branch ”Fixed Account”. When she came back to Udon Thani she went closing this account as there is no point in have an account that only can be withdrawn money from at a Bangkok Bank in Udon Thani. It is not even possible to move money from the ”Fixed Account” to another acoount in Bangkok Bank via the Bangkok Bank Internet-bank. Is only possible move money into the Fixed Account”. Had I known this when opened this type of account like 5 years ago I had gone for another ”normal” savings account. 
 

Thank’s Liquorice for your's  replies! 🙂 

—————-

The Non Imm O ME visa is no longer available from a number of Thai Embassy/Consulates. If you make frequent visits, then obtaining the Non O single entry to enter Thailand, then applying for a 1-year extension of stay with a multi entry permit is the solution. 400K THB required in a Thai bank account in your sole name for 2 months prior to submitting the 1-year extension application.

——————-
My reply: Yes this is my plan from like beginning of November this year. We plan to live in Sweden like from middle of April to beginning of November as to get more than 183 days stay in Sweden as per specific Swedish rules and stay less than 180 days in Thailand per year as linked to Thailand tax rules…

Yes. I will probably however applying for 1-year extension of stay based on retirement  instead as per advice from forums and also some friends that tried both options. For me it will minimum 800K THB to keep on my ”Fixed Account” on Bankok Bank Udon Thani branch. This is an account that only allows me to take out money on Bangkok Banks located in Udon Thani. I have asked if I can close this and open another account but Bangkok Bank say that if I close they will not allow me to open another account as new rules have come to force which only allows farrangs to open one bank account! I have informed that I am not in country as a tourist but it does not change anything they replied me. Luckilly I have also a ”Savings Account” to which I have a ATM & Bank-card connected to which not is limited to if money to be taken out to Bangkok Banks in Udon Thani only. 
————————————

4 hours ago, Liquorice said:

I'm sure that will be a receipt from a TM30.
If on the second line down it states 'Have received notification of alien's address from', then it's a TM30 receipt.

Okej now I found out how to reply…

The receipt is from the TM27 I believe. When I put in a question of TM30 the Immigration officer my wife spoke with in Thai said something like that TM30 was not necessary this time as I am to stay less than 90 days. I did also only see a TM27 as my wifes Thai ID-card was copied in on the form.

4 hours ago, Liquorice said:

 

You should use the Immigration office which is located to what you'd call your' permanent' address and treat the other address as a 'temporary' place of stay.

Having registered your 'permanent' address with the local Immigration office, then go to stay somewhere else 'temporarily' then there is no further requirement to file any further TM30 forms, provided you will return to your 'permanent' (registered) place of residence.

OK! For me I will then always thus be travel tonand visit the local immigration in Udon Thani. I have seen notices of within 24 hours and also 72 hours however. Which one is correct and is it arrival to Thailand or from  I have arrived to my final destination that counts? 
 

I am Swedish man of age 62 and is currently in Thailand on a Non-Imm. ”O” Visa based on marriage with Thai woman.  Will this time stay in Thailand less than 90 days but are preparing for possibly at next travel to Thailand apply for Extension of Stay. When I applied for the Non-Imm E-Visa visa recently the option of apply for a ”Multiple Entry” via the Thai Embassy in Stockholm was not there anymore..So I had to go for Single Entry…

My wife and I live on two places in Thailand far away from each others. My Wife can however only be registred to my understanding to one address as in her Dark-blue Tabian Ban. So far when I have arrived Thailand we have gone the next day or if is a weekend as soon as possible to the local immigration. My wife have  thus have to do a TM27 report and I have got a Receipt Of Notification as to keep in my passport with her address. However this is the bottom section of a document and I am not sure is from the TM27 or TM30 as this is not seen the receipt.

Now question: When I have arrived Thailand (normally via Suvarnabhumi) must I visit the local immigration office as where my wife lives oficially and also I live when in Thailand. Or is it also an option for to go to the other location and visit the local immigration over there? 
 

Will I then have to do a TM30 and as we move to the other place visit the local immigration over there to do another TM30? By going with our car between our two places we stay most of the times it can thus get many visits to make TM30 reports for me…

Thank you treetops! I like to read and have now saved the information you provided. 
 

With this last info I don’t need any more assistance.

Thanks all that replied 🙂

Thanks! Now 3 that informed that a onward ticket is Not required.  
 

Still hope on that somebody can present evidence as this must be in writing some place. Is not good scenario to stand at a check-in counter with a long cue behind and the person doing the check-in have to spend time to look up information on the screen, speak with or call others to finally find that onward ticket is not required. Better than to have the evidence in place and ready to be presented as to get a speady check-in. Or have a onward ticket with max. 90 days stay in Thailand. 

I have heard so but have not managed so far to find in black and white it is like that. 

I am a Swedish man of age 62 that got married with a Thai (and Swedish) women in Sweden last year. I am currently in Sweden and my women are currenty in Thailand. We are right now in the process to also registrering our marriage in Thailand. When this is done I plan to apply for a Non-Immigrant ”O” Marriage (Family) Visa (Single or Multiple) to be allowed to stay up to 90 days after entry to Thailand. My women do have both Swedish and Thai passports + ID-cards but she are going to renew the Thai ones after the registering is done as she have my surname (family name) in the Swedish dito since the marriage was registered in Sweden.
 

- In order to apply for Non-Immigrant ”O” Visa based on marriage with a Thai (that in my case will be via the Thai Embassy in Stockholm). Must thus the marriage also been registered in Thailand? Or should it be sufficient to show evidence that we are married in Sweden only?

- When I have traveled to Thailand from Copenhagen airport in past without a visa or with a  tourist visa. It has been required  at the check-in going to Thailand to show a flight ticket out from Thailand within max 30 or 60 days. If this not is presented at the check-in there is risk that I not get a boarding pass to the flight(s) going to Thailand. Is it required or exempted to show a flight ticket out of Thailand when traveling with a Non-Immigrant ”O” Visa within thus max. 90 days? If not so please show me evidence which I can print and bring with me to present to the persons at check-in when traveling to Thailand. 

Please note that I have no ”Extension of Stay with 90 day reporting” linked to any kind of visa presently and is not planning for apply for a such when visiting Thailand the next time and for some time ahead. 

18 hours ago, OJAS said:

Is there really any good reason why a new car has to be in your name rather than your wife's? IMHO you may be making life unnecessarily difficult for yourself if this is the main reason for you needing a fresh non-immigrant visa of the OA or O variety.

 

I have, in effect, personally purchased 2 cars in my wife's name since moving out here in 2008, with zero adverse consequences arising from these vehicles being in her name rather than mine!

 

Yes there is a reason. Why women (we are not married) went in as a guarantor for a friend that purchased a car maybe like 8 years ago (way before we had meet each others). The friend did then make the monthly payments to my understanding for like 500.000 of in total like 800.000 but did then just stop pay  for unknown reasons. The case is waiting to come up in court but have not been so far. I went with my women and talked with a lawyer that was pretty sure that they are waiting until it gone +9 year and then will bring up the case against my women and person that bought the car. My women has a very low educations level and has get in several traps thrusting friends... Is not good that she owns a new car because that will be the first thing they will take from her. She owns a house but is more difficult to take. There is a 10 year limit but by just open the case there is get another 10 years. Lets see what will happen and I am of course on my women side...My women have of course been try talking with her ex friend that bought the car and the company that the car was bought from,but is very unclear what will happen. Her ex. friend has a job unlike my women. My women don't even have a bank account in her name but we share an account in a Swedish bank to which we each have our own bank cards connected to as to take out money in ATM also in Thailand. We do however use the Thai bank ATM card that is in my name to take out money in ATM's in Thailand.

About if to purchase a car is like a wish but is not a must have for us. If SEK vs Baht excahnge rate would move the right way and a lot = maybe yes to buy a car. If no exchange rate changes and the Baht is even get stronger = no way!     

4 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

2. I have PM-ed you a comprehensive roadmap containing al details and options, on how to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

 

3. Health-insurance is only required when applying for a Non Imm OA (long-stay) Visa in your home-country, AND when applying for a 1-year extension of stay based on that Non Imm OA Visa for reason of retirement.

 

#, When you apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO, and you use the money-in-bank method to show the financials, you need to prove that the funds originated from abroad.  A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do.  So better enquire before sending over the funds that such evidence will be available when the money arrives on your thai bank-account.

 

 

Hi Peter!

Tank you and I have been reading the extensive Roadmap PM and I try use my Ipad but it did not work well so I went now back to use my laptop.

Not sure yet which option that will best suited as for me yet and it also depends on what changes there might come about Thai Visas and the Thai Health Insurances? I hope like many that my foreign insurances should qualify for O-A Visa, but I am not expecting it will become so.

One option that ii forgot about is the Thai Elite membership and the PE (Priority Entry) Visa. But that option can only be of interest as to be used in a future and as last option as to able to enter Thailand and if the currency rate Swedish krones vs Thai Baht goes very much in the right direction. It would also be a quite a bad experience to after get for Elite that also then only Thai Health insurance might get necessary for be able to enter on a PE Visa. I don't think it will be like that however saying no more... 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This seems quite important and I try look up on internet myself but I failed to figure out what and how to be done?

I read in the PM that is an option when using Transferwise to get this matter right from the very beginning. I have now created a Login on Transferwise but not done any transactions yet. But I see it is possible to make like "Test Transactions" and did thus get a message when i did a really large test transfer that Transferwise did say "sorry we are in this case not the cheapest option". A Very good start and I will test to use Transferwise. 

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

There are forums about this issue. Side note look into pink card from agent on net or from friends.

Thanks I will look into the Pink Card.

I now found this thread as did give answers on the questions that I had.

For how long time you can get Thai driving licenses is however connected to which kind of Thai Visa your are on. So I see it at least partly as an matter for  he Thai Visa forum. You need to have as i can see as minimum a Non Immigrant "O" 90 day as be able to get 5 Year Thai Driving licences as "kind of tumb of rule only".    

Turning a 2 year temporary license into a full 5 year one?

About to eventually purchase a car in Thailand is possible also linked to which Thai Visa we are on. But was very much a side note but is like my women wants as car ha ha..But I am not going to purchase a car until there have something positive SEK (Swedish krones) vs Thai Baht. If you compare SEK and how it gone vs Euro and USD you get the picture. My philosophy is to not spend more than I have to do in Thailand as it is. Hoping that Baht is going down by sit in the boat and just wait... 

A total side note is that i did see on Swedish forum that one guy living permanently in Thailand but are working in Norway says that he have a NOK (Norwegian krones) Foreign account at Bangkok Bank and that he is getting much better exchange rates when he moves money between his NOK account to his Thai Baht accounts and he say it is possible to also create same but as for SEK. Very interesting If anybody reading knows about this and can give some advice or link as for to read more about this. 

Sorry I am really a newbe not only on this but also on other forums. This is the firts time I do write on any forums actually. 

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

I think that one of the main reasons is a misunderstanding by many.

When you are on (an extension of) an OA - retirement Visa and want to switch to an O - retirement Visa, unfortunately you cannot simply apply to do that at your local IO.  Because the 'IO rules' stipulate that you cannot simply switch Visa category, but the permission to stay of your present Visa needs to have expired before you can apply for a different Visa category.  In practice that means that you have to exit Thailand just before the present permission to stay of your OA Visa expires.  Having done that, the permission to stay based on that OA Visa is 'dead'.  And then you can apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - immigrant Visa.  But the misunderstanding by many is that this has to be done where you exited Thailand.  Indeed, you CAN do it there but it is also possible to this at your local IO, which is actually more convenient. 

Another possible reason is that the origins of the funds to meet the financial requirements need to be proven (again) when applying at your local IO.  When those funds on your bank-account date from yesteryear it might be difficult to prove that, which would force you to transfer the funds abroad and then re-transfer them to Thailand.  But the origin of the funds does not need to be proven when applying abroad, so that might be a factor to do the application in a neighboring country.

Navigating the thai visa-jungle is not always easy...

Hi Peter!

Thank you so much for your effort as to spend so much of your time today as to reply me! Sorry for a long text again but is like a summing up as from my side as I now for sure knows a lot more than i did before. 

I do now understand a lot better and you was so correct about that reason why I applied for O-A Visa as of course was because it had not a requirement to present a "Pension Certificate". I am above 50 and it took a little effort and time to get the other requirements as required collected togther before I sent these togther with my Passport to an agency in Stockholm. It took then almost two weeks before I had my passport returned with my Thai O-A Visa, but it was on worst possible time of the year and should normally go quicker. 

One reason why i decided to apply for O-A Visa is because I have work mates that was stopped to use the 30-Day Visa excempt methode by Thai immigrations. Because they was less than 50 years of age they solved the problems by get Tourist Visas. They had like me relation with Thai womens in Thailand and even childrens together. Even though I am aware they did do this year around and my self not only staying in Thailand like October to April, i simply did not want to risk to also get stopped to enter Thailand. So one of my resons to apply for O-A Visa was just a preventative action. 

As I can see I have several options looking ahead.

1. Leave Thailand as in April without requesting any re-entry permit (single or multiple) and just let my O-A Visa to expire as on 24 June 2020. Then return to Thailand in like October and use only 30-Day Visa Excempt methode again as I have done for about 5 years before I got the O-A Visa.

2. Same as the above but with the difference that I apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visa at local immigration office in Thailand which in my case is in Udon Thailand when I am returning to Thailand in maybe October.  As I am leaving Thailand way more often than 90 days so I see no problem with change to use "O" VIsa. 

3. Purchase a Single or Multiple re-entry Permit before to in April move from living in Thailand to start live in Sweden again. Base on that i have got a "Permission to stay" until 3 April 2021 in my Passport then use this for do entries into Thaland as long as i can do so. Is well noted that i don't then should have to purchase the Thai health insurance. I think this might be my prefferred method as thinks it might help me to get 5 Year renewals of my Thai driving licences and if i go the road as of purchase a car in Thailand. I should tomorrow look if i can find some facts as how it is and create a another tread as is likely not only me that is wonder how it is?

4. Apply for a new O-A Visa after my current has expired. I see clearly this as Not a prefrerred option! And I am not voluntary want to purchase a possibly useless Thai Health insurance or with a coverage that is not cover much ecomically vs the price I have to pay. I have also observed how expensive it will become looking some years ahead when i have become older (without having any pre-existing conditions to my knowledge). My long term preferred is solution is to keep on purchase my Travel insurances based on still be registered as be living in Sweden. by Swedish insurance companies. Yes it will also be more expensive as the older I get but the coverage is very high as in comparison vs the price and there is no age limits either. So for sure best option as I see it.   

5. Tourist Visas either Single or Multiple is not prefreed either as for reason i mentioned earlier, but if the only options why not? It might even be other Visas that I have not even thought about so far that i could possibly get? If the vessel I am working on is to move to operate in Thailand waters I will have to get  a Thai Non Immigration "B" Work Visa plus Work Permit. I hold such in Malaysia and Australia currently by the way and has in past have Work visas it in other contries as well. 

As a preventative action I plan also place like 850.000 baht on my savings account at Bangkok Bank as it will make it much simplier to thus get evidence of that i have enough savings than try to show savings as on a bank account in Sweden. I will then just go to Bangkok bank and let them make a statement as to give to Thai Immigrations (or whom that others that asks for it?) 

I am aware that I should not have to present a departure ticket out from Thailand when I am holding a O-A Visa (as I believe) to either present to the immigration on requests or when to check in on the airports when travvelling to Thailand. This is to my experience however a must when to travel to Thailand and enter on the 30-day Visa excempt methode. I have just kept this practise to let my company to send me also the departure tickets as before I travel to Thailand every time. I might from next authum be back on using 30-day Visa exemptions so i will just keep this practise to go on unchanged. 

Well I see now also that I should been changed to English language and spelling correction somewhere as my laptop is set to Swedish. Almost every single word is marked as incorrectly spelled with a red under-score line making it hard to read as for my self. So sorry for all errors it might be.

44 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

C. Yes, definitely you need to avoid overstay.  When you have the choice of applying for an extension of stay (1900 THB) which grants you 30 days extra, OR paying the fine for 3 days overstay (1500 THB - 500 THB per day).  You should DEFINITELY avoid the overstay, as it can jeopardize any later options for staying in Thailand (and might put you in big trouble when checked during your overstay-days).

 

>>> Yes, in Sweden you need to have a Pension certificate, when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

And that's why you applied for a Non Imm OA.

BUT there is no such requirement when applying for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO in Thailand.  Attached a link with the requirements >

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

Note: Clause 8 of the requirements asking for evidence of a Rental Agreement between the Applicant and the Landlord, as well as a Location map of the house is ONLY applicable when you apply at Chiang Wattana (CW government complex in Bangkok).

Very interesting about the option as to be able to apply for  Non Immigrant "O " Visa based on "Retirement" as from my local Immigration Office. I noted the requirements as in the link are somewhat different than in Sweden.

It feels that i have missed something important as I read that so many are going to Laos or Malaysia mainly as when they are to apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visas for both reason for "Retirement" or for "Marriage" with a Thai citizen or having Thai childrens. Why are they doing so when it appears like you have not go longer than to the local Immigration office as to get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa? Maybe this also is matter for another thread? 

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Not fully sure whether I understand the issue her.

But if it is that you need to show a return-ticket when applying for a Visa, this is easily solved by either:

- booking the cheapest one-way outbound flight from Thailand (e.g. HuaHin to KL with AirAsia for approx 850 THB)

- booking a fully refundable ticket using Expedia, that can be cancelled after arrival at no cost

- booking a rental-ticket (Google > fly onward) that is valid for 24 to 48 hours, cost approx 10 US $

The tickets are not bought by my self going as between my work and Thailand. The tickets are bought through an travel agency looking for the cheapest "seaman tickets" (econmy class but fully re-bookable) there are like two weeks before to travel normally  I do however always stress on that I have already must have my departure ticket as out from Thailand with me when I arraive to Thailand every time (and i have always minimum 20.000 Baht with me). This becuause I hope not meet a Immigration officer one day that say  i am not allowed to enter Thailand because I have not any departure ticket or enough money. 

I shall already when apply for Multiple Entry Tourist be able to shows several arrival and departure tickets into and from Thailand which I possibly can't do. I can possibly do as your suggestions but? A single Toursist Visa would not work either as I have then to fly to Sweden from my work locations as in south east Asia (no in Thailand) as for matter when to apply every time. And my place of living in Sweden is far from both Stockholm and Gothenburg.

______________

4. Copy of reservation tickets, showing arrival and departure dates for Thailand.

_____________

The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa is challenging as to get for me as to say as i need to present at least reservation tickets for miniumum two arrivals and two departures from Thailand to attach to the application.  

http://thaiembassy.se/en/tourist-visa/

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa

Required Document in detail

1. A completed and signed visa Application form (Click here to download) Children must have their own visa application and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must sign the form on the child's behalf.
2. An original Passport with a validity of at least 6 months. Containing at least two empty visa pages.
   Copy of passport on A4 paper size, do not cut or alter the copy. Page with your face and information on it.
3. Two photographs, size approximately 3cm. x 5cm. Front facing and not older than six months. No photographs.
4. Copy of reservation tickets, showing arrival and departure dates for Thailand.
5. A bank statement showing deposit account (CASH ONLY) with an amount of at least 57 000 SEK (200 000 baht) in the past 6 months.
6. An employment certificate in English from an employer mentions the applicant's job position, salary, the purpose of visiting Thailand, and the date when the applicant is expected to return to work. For self-employed, Please submit the business license or business registration indicating the applicant's name. For a student, please submit an original certificate of student status in English from the school, college, or university. In the case of unemployment, you are not eligible to apply for this visa.
7. A copy of the hotel/Accommodation reservation in Thailand. (showing your name, date of arrival and departure and full address of hotel reservation) OR if the applicant stays at a friend's house, please submit a letter of invitation, a copy of the friend's ID card or passport and a copy of house registration or leasing contract.
8. A copy of Personbevis showing relationship for applicants who traveling with family.
9. For EU citizens (except Swedish citizens) a copy of personbevis and a copy of a valid Swedish visa/residence permit (Uppehållstillstånd) Swedish visa/residence permit must be valid during the period of traveling and returning to Sweden.

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

TVF Member Help required on this one.

I am quite confident that there are more options to get a 5 year thrai driving licence, than having a Non Imm OA Visa.

But I am not fully knowledgeable on that topic, hence some HELP requested here from TVF Members.

The matter of get as currently two years or five years drivings licences as for motorcycle and car is not so important.

The matter of be able to purchase a car and register it on me is more important. As i been reading after searching on this topic on forums I will not be able to purchase a car in my name if I am in Thailand on 30-day Visa excempt or on a Tourist Visa. I am not sure if this is correct or not however as for matter of fact? It looks anyhow as more straight forward as to do a purchase when I have a O-A Visa as the base. 

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

When applying in Sweden (or any other country for that matter) for a new OA Visa, health-insurance is now required.  There are 2 options then:

a) If you have a health-insurance policy in Sweden that meets the thai IO requirements, you could request your insurer to fill-in and sign the Foreign Insurance Certificate.  But as that Certificate refers to thai legislation and requires 2 director-level signatures from the insurance company, that might prove difficult to get (at the present moment).  However, there are already some foreign thai embassies that are willing to provide the OA Visa, when shown the cover-page and relevant clauses of your present insurance policy that prove that it meets the (ridiculously low) requirements.

b) When you do not have foreign insurance, you could indeed sign up to the cheapest thai insurance policy (Pacific Cross standard with a deductible of 300K).  That would cost you approx 20.000 THB for a year.  But that's a lot of money for a bogus insurance policy which is as good as worthless.  So, if you do this don't consider this a valid insurance alternative (it is not), but simply see it as wasted money for a paper ticket to be provided your OA Visa. 

Also take into account that there is the  (easy) alternative to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa, which - once in the extension of stay stage - has exactly the same conditions/requirements as the Non Imm OA Visa, but does NOT require health-insurance.  So a No-Brainer, which one is the Visa of choice at the moment.  

 

A. I am when travelling to and from and while on work covered by health insurances that my employer by laws and agreements must have for me. I am however not on my free periods as in Thailand covered by this health insurance. As when go straight from my work to Thailand I can't fill in with a Travel Insurance from most of the Swedish Insurances as I have as you then stayed minimum 10 days but in Sweden. But there is one excemption and it is European ERV Insurance company. As for this current leave period i do spend fully in Thailand I did go in and bought a such Travel insurance valid for my 28 days of holiday. ERV is as most others sharing the service with SOS International call center as is located in Denmark. Call and SOS International will advise you to got to Bangkok hospital for example. If an emergency I keep always a card on me with in my wallet and in my passport which I hope they find as to get me to best possible treatment there is availble. I have even taken Swedish insurance for my Thai women as i want also her to get the best health care there is if somethings serious would happen.

B. Did comment as in other that i am not retired and at least can't thus get a "pension certificate" as is required if to apply for Non Immigrant Visa caterogy "O" from the Thai Embassy as in Stockholm.  

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

A. There are no financials that you need to prove when buying a re-entry permit.

You only need to prove that you have the required financials (800K on a thai bank-account being one of the ways to do this) when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO.

In your case, with a permission to stay till 3 April 2021, you would to that earliest May 2021.

 

B. When you bought a single-entry or multiple-entry re-entry permit BEFORE exiting Thailand end of April 2020, that will keep your permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  So on entry in October 2020, you will be stamped in till 3 april 2021 (and without the need to show health-insurance as your original OA Visa was issued pre Oct 31).

 

C. If for any reason you would not be allowed entry on that re-entry permit in October 2020 (only reason I can think of is that you lost your passport or ruined the page with the re-entry permit), you can enter the country Visa Exempt and will be stamped in for a permission to stay of 30 days. 

Note: Such a re-entry permit can be easily extended with an additional 30 days at any IO, if you want to stay longer in Thailand. You could of course then also decide to initiate the Non Imm O - retirement process.

 

 

A. Very good news! Lets hope it stays as I am fully aware that rules can change at any time when it is about Thailand. 

B. Yes I am aware about that both single as multiple re-entry permits must be purchased Before exit Thailand. But is very good that you say this as I see also on other forums that so many seems not to be aware about this.

C. Yes I have at one or two occasssions when enterered on 30-day Visa excemptions had to extend for further 30 days to a cost of 1.900 Baht as i can remember. It had thus to do we worked 5-5 weeks on/off periods and I thus ended to stay some extra days. The local immigration office told me thus that no problem just pay fine for some days...But I did not go that road as I don't want to any kind of overstay records.

I can't however see how I can get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa based on "Retirement" as I can't any "Pension Certificate" until i have at least taken as minimun 25% retirement as can happen from an age of 63 earliest for me according to the pension rules in Sweden. I have noted however that if i look on requirements in some other contries than Sweden there is not required to present a such "Pension Certificate". But I am not wanting to get later issue that I have in anyway told that I am retired but in fact are still not so

This is about Non Immigrant Visa "O" based on Retirement as taken from the Thai embassy in Stockholm 

This type of visa is granted to a person who is retired and receive pension from government. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Quick Checklist

• Application form (click here to download)
• Original passport
• Copy of passport (the page with your information)
• Two photographs
• Pension certificate from Pensionsmyndigheten/ Försäkringskassan 
• Pension statement showing at least 18 500 SEK in pension income per month after taxes 
• Or Bank statements) with an amount of at least 57 000 SEK
• Personbevis
• Visa Fee. 700 SEK, single entry
  1750 SEK, multiple entries

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

3. You OA Visa was issued before 31 Oct 2019.  So you will NOT be required to present health-insurance when entering or re-entering Thailand on the permission to stay that Visa granted you.  The health-insurance requirement will only kick-in when on expiry of your permission to stay, you would apply for an extension of stay based on your OA Visa for reason of retirement.

4. When you re-enter Thailand on 4 April 2020 with that OA Visa which is valid till 20 June 2020, you will be stamped in for the full year that the OA Visa entitles you.

Your permission to stay will thus be valid till 3 April 2021. 

IMPORTANT > Before exiting Thailand again as your plan to do end of April, you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep that permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  Because exiting Thailand without such a re-entry permit will void your permission to stay when re-entering after your Visa validity date (20 June 2020).

A single-entry re-entry permit can be bought at any IO (1000 THB) or at the departure hall of all major thai international airports.

The base here is that I am not wanting to renew my O-A Visa later this year as I will not be able to do so without purchase a expensive Thai health insurance.

Yes a single re-entry before to exiting Thailand in April will also work fine for me as to be able to be able to return in like October. I can then use this kind of system when having my base in Thailand going out to work as to then be allowed to enter Thailand again with keep my "permission to stay" valid until 3 April 2021. Or start with get a Multiple re-entry permit If a get this correct?

I am not booking my trips my self as leaving Thailand when going out to work and it can sometimes be short of time when to change from Domestic to International departures so I feel somewhat insecure if I will have time to purchase re-entry permits on for example Suvarnabhumi departure hall. But can't I do this instead on for example the local Immigration office in Udon Thani as is my location. Maybe possible to fix at same time i go and do the 24 hours TM28 reporting after arrival to Thailand (and TM30 report for my Thai women)?