gejohesch

I went to KL 2 weeks ago, so just a bit later than you. I found the MDAC system straightforward as far as filling in the details are concerned, and indeed got a reply by email, quite rapidly (cannot remember, maybe just a few hours, not more), with a pdf file attached. However, the pdf did not contain a QR code. I could get confirmation on the MDAV website that my application was indeed received, however, when going to get the QR code, the system replied with the message that "no record was found". I tried multiple times. I got a bit nervous, having to fly to KL without a QR code. There was absolutely no explanation whatsoever on the website why I would not get a QR code. So, rather poor show I think! Arriving in KL, I could go through the automatic gates (EU passport) no pbm. Maybe that's where the MDAC system recognises me as having registered online? No idea! Leaving KL, a bit of a nagging doubt again - what if immigration asks to see that damn QR code - which I never got? But I went through no question asked. Conclusion, it's a good system. Makes entry-exit easy and quick. Shame it was a bit obscure wrt getting, or not, that (in)famous QR code. Having had a few minor but annoying issues when registering for entering Thailand during COVID times, I rather expect the Thailand equivalent MDAC system to be even more obscure. Ah, that's the word, is it not, about Thailand : obscure....

Thanks, interesting .... and vague as usual for most stuff coming from Thailand. What does "elderly" mean? Older than 65, 70, 75, 83 and 3 months????

Thanks, good to know

I didn't know that was possible. Interesting.

I'm planning a trip to Nepal in September, accompanied by my Thai partner. During that trip, we I intend to do a trek of 6 to 8 days. I had some trouble finding an insurance for myself (EU citizen) that would include search and rescue cover, which is required to trek in Nepal, but eventually found one - worked as ca. 220 Euros for 3 weeks. However, I have even more difficulties finding a similar insurance for my partner (Thai woman). Lots of stuff found online is specific to citizens to one part of the world only, which means that it takes an awful time sifting through all the links, when searching. I found an offer for her with World Nomads but it's sthg around 1,000 USD. No way, I'm going to take anything like that!!!! Would anyone on this forum have a recommendation? I would be very grateful!

It is not at all uncommon that one would have to declare for tax in a given country even if that does not involve a tax liability. I give an example I know very well. Certain foreign residents in Portugal have had for years been living under the so-called RNH system ("Residente Não Habitual") with the requirement to declare their worldwide income to the Portuguese authorities while as a matter of fact the taxation rate applied to the declared income was 0% (YES!). Needless to say, that system was fiercely attacked by other countries and the taxation rate under the RNH regime is not 0% anymore (but still rather low).

I'm not clear about what you want to say here, but one thing I can tell you to make it clear is that a DTA (Double Taxation Agreement) is not an agreement that allows 2 countries to tax you on the same item. On the contrary, it is an agreement to avoid double taxation. Now, each DTA between "Country 1" and "Country 2", be it Germany-Zimbabwe, USA-Timbuktu or Croatia-PNG will have all sorts of bells and whistles and they will differ from DTA to DTA. Certain income items will be taxable in Country 1 and not in Country 2, others will be taxable in Country 2 and not in Country 1 - and yet other items might not be taxable at all.

"Many visitors feel targeted due to nationality-based pricing, viewing it as an implicit form of discrimination." Yes, I cannot help it, but I indeed feel targeted. "Furthermore, the higher costs could deter some tourists, potentially affecting Thailand's competitiveness compared to neighbouring nations without such policies. Charges for foreigners can be significantly steeper, leading tourists to question the fairness of paying more for identical experiences as locals." It certainly deters me. It's been years I have refused to visit any of those places that would charge me so much more than if I was a local. I do not like being treated like a walking ATM. And that by the way is not only in Thailand, but also in India for example. I remember the entrance to the park on the other side of the Yamuna River, opposite the Taj Mahal, charging sthg like 5-10 times more a foreigner than an Indian national - I did not enter. Or visiting the sites in Yucatan, Mexico - sthg like 30+ EUR or USD pp - what the hell do they think, tourists are loaded with millions? Those charges come on top of everything else and it ends up being a bit OTT.

Could be interesting, but do you know more about possibilities to do that, either in THB and in Thailand, or in another currency and that would be paid to her being resident in Thailand?

Correct also in the jurisdictions that apply to me : the pensions are transferred to the surviving legal spouse (with substantial reductions from what they were being paid to me). Nothing could possibly pass to my GF. So the question for me is how to either: 1) Make an investment on my GF's name. Best seems to be a life insurance. I checked: a life insurance would not be considered as part of the estate upon my passing away, so it would be 100% to her benefit. or 2) Make a will to the benefit of my Thai GF, taking into account that it can only be whatever remains after the parts that would go by law to my children. I think it would be possible not leaving any part of the estate to my legal wife, which would not worry me as I have very well looked after her and she would get my pensions (reworked). However, this may not be the better option because: it needs legal work (tedious, intricate) + the fiscality that would apply to a beneficiary other than the ones dictated by the law (the ones that cannot be disinherited) would probably be heavy.

Yes. I just checked that. It's exactly how it works.

Again (!) : No, that is not always true. Different countries (citizenship, pension sources), or better said : different jurisdictions > different laws. Just read what Red Phoenix explained, and my replies above. In most Western European countries, one cannot disinherit children. And to be precise, at least in the jurisdictions that apply to me, the laws are very precise in stating how the estate is distributed between children (and surviving spouse if any), and that leaves 0% for anyone / anything else.

Thanks again, your construction is interesting. I have 2 children and I know for sure that at least one of them will refuse to pass on anything whatsoever to my Thai GF.

Ah, that's very clear, thanks very much. As I said in my reply to so else just a minute ago: - A) I'm a citizen of a Western European country. - B) I'm still married in a Western European country. - C) My pensions are sourced from 2 Western European countries. Point 1 you make is particularly of interest : children cannot be disinherited. That's the case in the Western European countries A, B, C above. I have 2 children. If I write a will stating that I leave even 1000 THB to "the noodle shop lady down the street", the lawyers will just have a good laugh and ignore it. So, in my case, securing the future of my "de facto wife" but "legally speaking GF" has to go via donations or some investment entirely in her name.

Good point. That's exactly my worry. I'm a citizen of a country in, I'm still married in, and my pensions are sourced from Western Europe (note that these are not necessarily the same and unique country). When deceased, these countries will exercise their laws, and I suspect that these will prevail on anything I try to do "on the legal side" in Thailand.

Donations to the wat : indeed, that's a concern. My partner is more sensible than most others I see around in her region, and she has seen the world with me (outside Thailand) so she has a bit of a sense of reality. However, she remains a Thai person, and whenever we are back in her village, she turns back being glued to the wat and everything that revolves around. Buddhism is a nice thing, which I respect, in principle, but the way it is practised in Thailand is a corruption of what it origially was meant to be.... Pension: yes, I have pensions (plural), related to past employment. However, not being legally married with my Thai partner, and still having a legal wife in Europe (very difficult to divorce for various reasons), the law in my case - given my nationality and where the pensions are being paid - would completely override any will I might have signed, wherever. So, a reasonable option I get from a number of contributors in this discussion would be to invest in a condo, on my Thai partner's name, that would secure her a regular income. Key would then be to invest in a quality condo with quality management. And hoping she would not sell it once I'm deceased to waste it all between the wat and her family, but again, that would be up to her. There are limits to what one can do!

That's indeed an investment idea, thanks. There are pro's and con's when compared with eg a bank account of some sorts: - bank = no need to worry about administration, the bank will do the admin. Like many Thai people, my partner has no clue how to manage any sizeable project. The trick being to arrange sthg with a bank such that she (and her family) cannot pillage it! - a house = a property = sthg that can not vanish easily into thin air. One never knows with a bank.... - a house needs to be looked after, and if it is rented out there are always going to be issues with managing the rent, risks of getting difficult tenants etc.

"she will have to make her own decisions and I only hope she takes regard to what I tell her now." True!

Thanks to all those who responded to my question. It's all been constructive and straight to the point. Really appreciated!

Thanks also to you. Indeed, a formula with limited withdrawal amounts would be a good idea. You obviously understand sthg of the Thai culture ! 🙂

Ah, maybe that's the way : a joint account. I could check that out with a bank in T...

Thanks, obviously. I just forgot to say that I'm not legally married - some issues with my past life "back home" prevent me from marrying in Thailand. Any will I could write to the benefit of my "de facto wife" in Thailand would not be legally valid.

I have been living for nearly 20 years with a charming Thai woman. As I'm getting older (we all do!), I'm gradually getting concerned about the possibility that one day I will be gone, leaving her alone. She is 20 years younger than me, so that is quite a likely situation to happen some time in the future. I would like to find a way to put money away for her to secure her standards of living from that point in time onwards. Something like an in an investment or savings portfolio, say sthg in the order of 1-2 million THB, that she would know of but could only touch once I have disappeared. Why am I asking? Because, as sweet and lovely she is, I still cannot trust her entirely. I would not want to give her the opportunity to cash out while I'm still alive, me not knowing, and who knows what she would do with the money, what sort of silly "project" she would use the money for, "project" that would miserably fail? Most people on this forum know the Thais sufficiently to understand what I'm talking about. I'm aware that I could shop around the banks in Thailand and ask. However, if anyone in this forum could give me some appropriate advise, that would save me time and I would much appreciate it. By "appropriate advise", I mean that please, abstain from unnecessary comments on my personal relationship with my wife. That's not what I need!

You have summarised it well!

"Thai government intervening to help struggling expats is a welcome event" I guess that comment was with tongue in cheek!