aublumberg

44 minutes ago, Smokey and the Bandit said:

Surely the information about your visa type must be in the computer database which they check when they 'swipe' your passport?

You'd think so, yes. With a human in the middle theory and practice don't always match.

4 hours ago, oldcpu said:

This LTR visa is still new - and some learning (and some mistakes) are likely still being made.

Yup exactly, happens even in Bangkok. Went through the Suvarnabhumi Fast Track channel (where you would expect the IOs to be very familiar with LTR since it's one of the few permissible visa types to use Fast Track) a week ago and at first the IO stamped me in visa exempt, then she asked whether I have a visa and I said LTR and pointed out the LTR visa stamp page, she then manually edited and signed the immigration stamp and revised permission to stay until date. Made a mental note to point out the LTR visa page proactively during future returns to Thailand.

On 2/22/2024 at 12:11 AM, BillStrangeOgre said:

Hi, I'm a Brit looking to open a Stirling bank account. I have a Bangkok bank account here in Bangkok but opening a Stirling account with them is still not easy and banking in Thailand is not cheap.

Have you considered HSBC Expat? Found them good to work with. 

https://www.expat.hsbc.com/international-banking/products/bank-account 

Interest rates offered: https://expatexplorer.hsbc.com/interest-rates 

38 minutes ago, proton said:

she can use the ATM card, just don't tell the bank. Also some banks allow joint signatories but its not a joint account. My mrs goes into Krungsri with the book and takes money out, how do they know i'm still alive? 

For many the 800,000 would be in a fixed deposit account, so ATM card won't work in that case

20 hours ago, Pib said:

Below are LTR Visa applications snapshots as of end of 31 Dec 2023, 31 Oct 2023, and 31 Aug 2023 to give an idea of applications activity since the LTR Visa Program kickoff 1 Sep 2022...snapshots from the BoI LTR website that now seem to be in the groove of providing updates every month or two on their website. 

 

Averages out to 376 applications per month over the last 16 months...since the program's kickoff 1 Sep 2022.  Of course when the program initially opened the number of applications per month was probably much higher....that spike you see with any new program.  Now, if just looking at the last 4 months of 2023 the average was 294 applications per month.  Seems the LTR program is settling into a groove of appox 300 applications per month.  

 

Please note this is applications (applies); it does not say how many of the applications were endorsed (i.e., approved).   The Pensioner category is still the most popular closely followed by Work From Thailand Professional category.....Dependents category in third place.

Thanks for sharing the latest stats. I would have thought the tax exemption for remittances under LTR-T, LTR-WP and LTR-W would become a bigger draw, but perhaps that is yet to come.

So it looks like we're on target ;-)

"Thailand on Thursday (1 Sep 2022) started accepting applicants for its new Long Term Resident (LTR) visa scheme which hopes to attract 1 million wealthy or highly-skilled foreigners over the next 5 years and generate some 800 billion baht (S$30.5 billion) in new investments in the country."

12 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Foreign currency can be carried in without limit, and without it being taxed, but anything over $20k has to be declared.

Foreign currency brought into Thailand exceeding USD15,000 or equivalent has to be declared. 

Exchange Control Regulation (bot.or.th)

ศูนย์บริการศุลกากร - Customs Care Center

47 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

The separate "Fast Track" entrance is closed

It's not closed at all but if you don't meet the criteria (see photo above) for Fast Track then you are being directed to the other immigration queue.

Agree the 'Priority lane' to the far right of the normal immigration queue could be better sign posted.

2 hours ago, GypsyT said:

I hear you but look: They eliminated not only you but also MICE....

Thailand Privilege = Elite 

15 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Long Stay, like O/A visa? When was that promised?

I think the photo above is dated, here is what it looked like in April. As you can see they dropped First / Business class and changed ‘Long stay’ to LTR. Since a couple months they usually have an immigration officer there that by default tries to keep people out. Even with my LTR and separate APEC card at one time I was refused, probably IO ignorance. 9/10 it works just fine. No queues, and multiple booths.

Mind you, over on the departure side it still has ‘Long stay’ as well as F and J class. 🤷 

PromptPay has been integrated with equivalent mechanisms like FPS (Hong Kong) and Paynow (Singapore), there may be other countries as well, not sure. You can use your respective banking app from HK, SG and scan the QR code in Thailand to pay. I think this generally hits your debit card or savings account, not aware whether it works with foreign credit card. But certainly helpful to avoid carrying baht in cash.

Joint Press Release Launch of PromptPay x FPS Link between Thailand and Hong Kong (bot.or.th)

Microsoft Word - Media Release - PayNow - PromptPay v7.0 - clean (abs.org.sg)

2 hours ago, DodgerRodger said:

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?

Got mine from Immigration Department at Chamchuri Square, that's where BOI issues your LTR visa, used at DLT for same reason.

3 hours ago, phetphet said:

I remember that a few years ago, Bangkok Bank ceased offering Visa Debit cards. They replaced them with either MasterCard or Union Pay.

 

Many different Visa card options ... Bangkok Bank Credit Cards

54 minutes ago, TravelerEastWest said:

What is the LTR email address for questions?

 

ltr [at] boi.go.th

FYI ... it's an advertorial but some useful content and further clarity here

Mazars in Thailand to Advise Thai Taxpayers on New Taxation Rules for Foreign Income (bangkokpost.com)

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

That doesn't show the user ID it asks for user ID

Lol ... yes of course it does because you're setting up the app for the first time

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

If you go onto the app there is no user ID, if you find it let me know. The app has changed since March

First item in the screenshot posted earlier ('User ID') as per latest app

11 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

Why exactly did you have to go to the branch? Did you not have (or remember) your User ID?

 

Yes that was the case for me. I only had the account for a year and never signed up for the iBanking (browser based online banking) account because the app is just fine. But without the iBanking account (which is the first option in the mobile app registration screen I posted above), it doesn't work.

So last weekend I went to the branch and they explained to me that I can actually do it myself at their ATM, there's an option to register for iBanking account. It gives you a temporary ID (some x long digit number) and you set a 4 digit password. Then you can use that to activate the mobile app, and you can use iBanking where you can change the password to something more complex and also change the random digit string to a new user name.

So strictly speaking 'branch' visit (with associated waiting time) not needed, can do self-service at an ATM. But it requires obviously that (a) you're in the country and (b) you still have the same mobile number that they have on record for your account.

Thailand Foreign Source Income Personal Tax - SHERRINGS

23 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

3 options, one was enter account details (for Thais although it's in English), one was User ID that needed a new setup, 3rd one can't remember,

Here are the 3 options (plus credit card option)

Same issue here, new iPhone. Kasikorn, SCB, UOB no worries and works fine to register on new phone.

Bangkok Bank app big drama. All latest app already. Branch visit this weekend ...

15 hours ago, K2938 said:

Could work or not depending on how far back they look 

What makes you think it would be retroactive? Any indication in any announcement or regulatory changes? Their announcement says effective 01 Jan 2024.

At long last we may see a rapid rise in LTR visa interest if the tax exempt benefit for LTR-T/P/W categories remains (and no indication for any changes).