DodgerRodger

I emailed BOI about this very subject in January this year. This is their reply...

May I ask if there was anything other than the lease required?

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions oldcpu and yes, I agree, BOI need to clarify and I will perhaps seek guidance in due course. I too considered the option of reapplying after 5 years and pay a further ฿ 50K. That would still be cheaper than extending my Thai Elite visa. And I believe evidence of the USD100K self insurance is only required for the 12 months prior to application for the LTR visa.

Totally agree. I have been looking at LTR as an option going forward when my 5-year Thai Elite visa expires (I can hopefully extend another 15 years for ฿ 400K though) but I am too old to get health insurance except for a ridiculous premium. If, as you and I surmise, BoI want to see 5years of bank statements showing that the USD100K requirement has been met throughout then I feel this is not for me. So many things can happen and the future uncertain. I recall reading about Non-O retirement renewals being denied because the ฿ 800K requirement was not met, even by just a small amount. And I doubt that there will be any real clarity on this until the first LTR applicants reach the end of their 5-year visas.

There's some information buried way down on the LTR website under application process - vis issuance, and it (partly) clarifies the point raised:- Visa period and staying permission According to the annoucement of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the applicant who passed the qualifications endorsement for LTR visa (and has had the visa issued in the period within 60 days from the date of qualifications endorsement letter issuance) will receive the 10-year visa stamp from the Immigration/Thai Embassy on the date of your LTR Visa issuance. However, the immigrantion will grant the permission to stay in Thailand with unlimited accesses to the Royal Thai Kingdom (multiple re-entry) for no more than 5 years. This means that you will get a 5-year visa stamp first. And, before the expiration of your first staying permission, your qualifications and criteria will be verified again (you will be required to submit documents and proof via the system). If your qualifications and criteria do not meet the requirement e.g. for Wealthy Global Citizens catagory, if the value of your investment in Thailand is less than USD 500,000 because you sold your property, or have canceled your health insurance and did not have a proof of the health insurance for the past years* etc., in such cases, the LTR visa shall be revoked. * Remarks: * You are required to report to LTR Visa unit if your purpose of staying in Thailand is different to the purpose you applied for the LTR visa i.e. For LTR : W and LTR- H as staying in Thailand with an incorrect type of visa might be against the law.

A question for those already holding the LTR visa if I may. If I successfully obtain a WP LTR and arrive to stay in BKK area, how can I obtain a certificate of residence in order to get a driving licence from DLT? My research tells me such a certificate can only be obtained from Immigration (my Embassy has ceased providing this service) and only after submitting a first 90-day report. Under the LTR I envisage not needing to do the 365-day report for many years as I will be travelling in/out too regularly, too regularly to even manage a 90-day report. Grateful for any insight. Dodger

I've been following this thread of late and by coincidence spotted this newspaper article on the subject today. Some may find it insightful... https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/experts/article-12611045/Avoid-inheritance-tax-moved-Australia.html?ico=mol_desktop_home-newtab&molReferrerUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fhome%2Findex.html&_gl=1*encpou*_ga*MTQwOTA3MDQ2Ny4xNjg2MzgzODQz*_ga_XE0XLFFF16*MTY5NjkzMTI0Mi40MzAuMS4xNjk2OTMxNjIyLjAuMC4w&_ga=2.133917962.586128520.1686383843-1409070467.1686383843

I'm with AIS and yes they charge for SMS when you are not in Thailand. I always keep a reasonable balance to cover these charges when not in Thailand because I also send a monthly SMS to keep the account active. Small price to pay because during covid I didn't do this and lost my "lucky" Thai mobile number as a result.

Thank you Sheryl and that is exactly what I just did with minimal effort using google. My research quickly showed me not to worry. Here's the wording from the Double Taxation Agreement between Thailand and Hong Kong Article 18 PENSIONS Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions (including a lump sum payment) and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting Party in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that Contracting Party. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, pensions (including a lump sum payment) and other payments made under a pension or retirement scheme which is : (a) a public scheme which is part of the social security system of a Contracting Party or local authorities thereof; or (b) an arrangement in which individuals may participate to secure retirement benefits and which is recognised for tax purposes in a Contracting Party, shall be taxable only in that Contracting Party.

My suggestion to the OP; google the lock's name, model etc and download the user manual. It'll tell you about codes, keycards, how to change etc and importantly if there's a master code/card that the landlord can control separately.

my thread is more recent (using Chatujak as location, same as Mo Chit)

I'm following this thread with interest after having my visa application rejected in February last year. I initially registered with thaievisa in 2019. My registration was acknowledged by email from [email protected] and asked me to click on a link to activate the account. No problem experienced. Two points that maybe of interest. Firstly I was addressed as "Dear Applicant" and secondly my inbox labelled this incoming message as being from a mailing list with a link where I was directed to if I wanted to unsubscribe (I didn't). Fast forward to last year. I applied for a METV in 2022 through the visa portal. About 3 days later I received an email from the same source as above (also indicating it was from a mailing list) as per attached I was massively unimpressed at the ridiculous requests but also at the same time being told my application is "cancel" so didn't follow up (I eventually arrived in Thailand visa exempt and vowed to apply for Thai Elite). I got a second email the next day; note that this time my full name appeared in the first line (not dear applicant) but also the same "this is from a mailing list" message was present. Is it possible that this "mailing list" is one and the same as @BritTim's Taximail?

I was away from HKG for 3.5 years for similar reasons and recently returned for a visit and to get my permanent ID card replaced. Without any effort on my part, they gave me a permanent ID card!!! As for the OP's travel advice, next time pay a little extra and fly Emirates First Class. You won't regret...

Also consider KV Mansion near On Nut BTS http://www.kvmansion.com. One month = 15K

May I ask the age of the car when you started the rental? Any mileage restriction? Also, where did you source the car? Interested.

I have the Thailand Elite Visa and was able to use the Thailand Elite Visa and services of their wonderful staff to "officially" open a bank account and to obtain a driving licence. Details are on the website if you care to look.

Good choice (as indeed they all are). Went to see them live in the early 1970s back when I rode a Honda C50 ????

Chris Rea's "Road To Hell". The whole CD.

This is not the case. Maybe visit the official website quoted above to refresh your understanding?

Some useful advice, especially @Liquorice @BritTim and @DrJack54 above. But if you would like further local advice, there's a helpful Facebook group under the name Expats in Roi-et/Thailand that may help further.

They are definitely using the traffic lights at Bangkok DLT (Chatujak). I was there in April doing the test. Clear, bright colours. You won't get far using the IDP unless you travel bak to UK every year to renew it. Can only be done in person.

Here's the text from the Thai Elite application declaration, several of the points are of relevance to the OP. The declaration goes on (later paragraph) to say that if you are later found out to have made a false declaration, TE membership will be cancelled with no refund.

It seems DLT prefer IDPs for the simple reason they are all in the same format and easy to read and understand. I earlier posted a screen cap from DLT website. A non-English driving licence can be translated and attested by one's Embassy. Don't know of anyone using this method, but might be preferable to undertaking the 2-day test process.

Using IDP is an option, your local licence is also accepted. They do not ask for both. My agent didn't insist on the IDP but preferred to use that instead of my UK licence.