DodgerRodger

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.

And yet the agent for the UK Government, i.e. The Post Office, issue the 1949 version for travel to Thailand (mine did at least...) I understand Thailand are recent signatories to the UN's 1968 Convention meaning they currently are signatories to both 1949 and 1968. There's no doubting DLT's requirements at the moment.

You could try emailing them here [email protected]

So, there are a couple of us in this predicament, i.e. cannot do 90-day report and cannot get residency proof from the Embassy and relying on IDP being potentially unlawful. Both the Embassy and DLT say you can get from the other. I got mine last November and I understand the British Embassy ceased issuing them in December. I told them by email that it was a mistake for the reasons outlined in this thread but obviously to no avail. Although it may still be possible to get it done on an exceptional basis. To even get to contact them you have to email, which goes to a "civil servant" in London who tries to fob you off with quotes from the gov.uk website. I was insistent that my question was Thailand specific and eventually got referred. When I was at DLT last week I spoke to a new arrival from Singapore who had his brand new Embassy certificate. Not fair doesn't even come close to describe this cluster****

Sorry for the delay, but I think clarification on a couple of points may help. Firstly, I used an agent for speed of process because when I was last in Bangkok in November last year even an agent could not get me an appointment within the 5 week time I had to get the job done. This time around all went very quickly. I don't actually live in Thailand full time yet. Secondly the use of the IDP is as per DLT requirements, please refer to DLT website (here's a quick screen cap

I got my UK licence converted into a Thai driving licence last week at DLT in Jatujak Bangkok with the help of an agent. I was fortunate to have obtained my certificate of residence (actually called an affirmation) from the British Embassy last November. It is valid for one year. I also had an International Driving Permit from UK (better to use this if possible as no need to show your UK licence at all). The process was quick and easy. I attended DLT last Wednesday for appointment booking and document checking which took 5 minutes. Passport needed also of course. I was able to get an appointment for the next day but chose Friday. That gave me a clear day to get a medical certificate from a clinic near my home (cost 250). Turned up on Friday, completed the 4 tests for colour, spacial awareness, reaction time, and periferal vision, all very quick and easy to do. There is no need to undergo the 1 hour video learning (although I had done so thinking it was a requirement) but there is a short video explaining the 4 tests which takes 5 minutes to watch while you wait. Then its off for photo taking and licence issuing (205 baht for car and 105 for motorcycle). All done inside 90 minutes. Total cost to me was 2,400 baht (agent paid the licence costs - 205 for car and 105 for bike). Having completed the process I'd say it is easy enough to do yourself as DLT staff were OK with English explanations, but the agent was able to get the early appointment for me otherwise I believe it was closer to 10 days.

I was intrigued to read the above posts but when I checked BTS website it says Eligibility for use of Senior Rabbit cards Senior Rabbit card Senior Rabbit card may only be used by Thai Senior Citizens aged 60 years and over, according to date of birth as shown on Citizen ID, which must be presented upon request be BTS Staff.

You could use the snail mail option https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1149714/br19-interactive-application-for-a-state-pension-statement.pdf

If you are staying in Thailand for more than 90 days you will need to do a 90-day report (all handled by TE if you are in one of the areas where 90-day reporting service is provided by TE - which includes Phuket) and a TM30 will be needed at that time.

I was thinking that, if no source of income documentation is asked for, would it not be possible to recycle the same 65K every month into and out of Thailand at the cost of the FX transfer fees?

Yes, you are correct. My AIS account was obviously set up with International Roaming activated. I just didn't know it ???? If you need to activate this function click on "More" at bottom right of AIS home page, then you'll see "International Service". Click that for access to the option. However, this may be a moot point if you can't receive the OTP to log in in the first place ???? I hope the OP is like me and has this option already activated.

You should not need to activate roaming. I have the same set up as yourself (AIS and Bangkok Bank mobile apps). Turn on your phone with the AIS sim inserted. Connect to wifi. Your phone should by default connect with Vodaphone UK. Make sure data roaming is off or you may get charged for some data being consumed by apps working in the background. You can log onto AIS app easily, they send you the stupid OTP to your phone by SMS. There's no charge for receiving the OTP. But sending one SMS to Thailand costs 13 Baht.

Useful info, thanks. May I ask what you get in return as proof of TM30 registration? It'll be needed for 90-day reporting and applying for certificate of residence in future. Thanks.

I did the download of the app last October whilst I was in the UK. Specifically you have to have an Apple ID that has to be assigned as Thailand when you set up the ID and password. It's not the physical location of the iPhone or the service provider that matters. I logged out of my usual ID. Created a new one (do not include payment cards in the registration process as not needed for free apps), did the download, then immediately logged out and returned to my usual ID. Just checked, the app is still working fine.

You won't be able to even see this app in App Store on iPhone unless your Apple ID is registered as being in Thailand. You have to follow the advice given by Saltire earlier in this thread. It worked for me.

and...?

appraised values are quite low, especially for farm land, here's a typical example from the lands office website