Expats Face Visa Uncertainty in Thailand Rules Shift

On 3/30/2026 at 6:01 AM, ikke1959 said:

The visa rules must be for everyone. You can't make rules for every single person. Education visas are being abused. There are a lot of "fake" educations where a visa is applied for., but make clear rules. If you study Thai, you can get an ED visa if you can show how you can pay for your stay in Thailand, and the visa will only be given if you study at official recognized institutes. The visa is valid for the duration of your education. every year you have to show your attendance list and your improvement, In fact 3year max. Now I know there are people working fora church don't study anything but have an ED visa. Muay Thai or other cultural educations the same. This story is about 1 person, but as said visa rules should be for everyone, and if they can't meet the requirements it is sadly for the applicant...

Last year ... I was attending a Thai language course in Hua Hin, and on day 1 there were 13 people enrolled

week # 2 it dropped to 5 people and eventually just 3 of us

AMAZINGLY !!! .. the other 10 people showed up on the day immigration came to take photo's of the attendee's .. they left as soon as the officer was gone ... and .. you guessed it ... they did not show up for any other classes

Virtually all comments here getting excited as a SS officer in world war 2, grumpy old man who hate on younger generations living here long-term, while most oldies are broke on top of that all.

I mean hope those who do this get that that was the entire characteristics of a SSer.

22 hours ago, lou norman said:

I have lived here for 40 years and held a retires visa for 25 years. It costs me less than 100USD and takes half a day once a year. Its really not that difficult if you follow the rules.

Lucky you. Mine used to also take half a day. The last one took me five visits due to new requirements. Including having to go two months before visa expiry to make an appointment, ( and check for any new requirements they may have thought up since the last year.)

At least now they have introduced two new apps to help book appointments...if they work.

8 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I'm sick of seeing old white guys, living just above the breadline smearing dog food on sliced bread to save money. They need to back to their own country and bang their own h**kers. Thailand doesn't need you anymore. Thais are doing the right thing. Thais also need to consider raising the cost of expat visas to $30k USD per year.

I think they should consider raising the cost to around $100,000 USD per year to limit access and change the demographic profile of who can afford to stay in Thailand. It feels like the current system caters too much to the lower end of the market, and I’d prefer to see a shift toward a more exclusive environment. I realize that leave you out in the cold.

1 minute ago, nick supreme said:

I think they should consider raising the cost to around $100,000 USD per year to limit access and change the demographic profile of who can afford to stay in Thailand. It feels like the current system caters too much to the lower end of the market, and I’d prefer to see a shift toward a more exclusive environment. I realize that leave you out in the cold.

No, not the way they think here. All about numbers not quality. If numbers fall, requirements loosen towards less discerning sources!

1 hour ago, Luuk Chaai said:

Last year ... I was attending a Thai language course in Hua Hin, and on day 1 there were 13 people enrolled

week # 2 it dropped to 5 people and eventually just 3 of us

AMAZINGLY !!! .. the other 10 people showed up on the day immigration came to take photo's of the attendee's .. they left as soon as the officer was gone ... and .. you guessed it ... they did not show up for any other classes

Thank you..it shows the abuse of the ED visa... No wonder rules are being stricter now. People complain, but if you have good intentions there is never a problem, only for those who are not following the requirements and rules they have a problem and complain

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Lucky you. Mine used to also take half a day. The last one took me five visits due to new requirements. Including having to go two months before visa expiry to make an appointment, ( and check for any new requirements they may have thought up since the last year.)

At least now they have introduced two new apps to help book appointments...if they work.

I'm not sure what new requirements you are referring to. I have never used an appointment. I walk in at about 0800 and always out before noon.

5 hours ago, JerryM said:

The new policies at Bangkok Bank are possibly due to BOT scrutiny of accounts that may be used for money laundering. Banks that "assisted" agents would have had many accounts opened and closed in a span of a only a few days and thus come under the spotlight resulting in a knee jerk reaction.

So under the new April 1 BOT regs, bank accounts with unusual In&Out activity as you describe MAY be more readily identified and who in management authorized and stamped them. Then it would become a matter of deciding what are 'good fraud' accounts and which are 'bad fraud' accounts.

Or as some might say, it isn't "good fraud", it's facilitation.

Oh yes. Maybe a can of worms on the horizon.

21 hours ago, mijens said:

It isn't (or wasnt) in January. I misinterpreted the "money in bank" rule and didn't transfered the 800K untill 3 month before renewal which the IO ofc came down upon. Agent and I went straight out the door, grabbed one of whatever the insiders are called in front of the IM, paid the fee (remembered it to be 15 or 20K) back in for the photo shoot and visa ready in a couple of days later.

On a different note. Before choosing an agent I was default quote the dodge procedure by the 3-4 agents I saw. This was in January -26

That's why you NEVER touch that 800K!

22 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

That's why you NEVER touch that 800K!

OFC you can use [some of] the 800K. Rules are in place and can be obtained from IM

2 hours ago, lou norman said:

I'm not sure what new requirements you are referring to. I have never used an appointment. I walk in at about 0800 and always out before noon.

Renewal of retirement extension is no longer allowed here in Samui without making an appointment. It was no longer than a month before, but when I tried in December 2025, I was told” Next year 2 months in advance, but appointment cannot be made for more than 45 days before visa expiry.

3 minutes ago, mijens said:

OFC you can use [some of] the 800K. Rules are in place and can be obtained from IM

Sure you can! But...will you remember to fiddle it back in in time??? I NEVER take the chance!

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

No you don't. Simply go there and have a pic taken. Varies with office perhaps. Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.

Never needed to leave my p.port ever. Always got ext. same day.

Btw., there are agents who organise it that you don't even have to come to get your picture taken.

To leave it with immigration is one thing. To leave it with an agent is another. Latter I would never do.

2 hours ago, phetphet said:

Renewal of retirement extension is no longer allowed here in Samui without making an appointment. It was no longer than a month before, but when I tried in December 2025, I was told” Next year 2 months in advance, but appointment cannot be made for more than 45 days before visa expiry.

Wow. I guess CW is not so bad.

They prefer the 3 week "quality tourists" who will spend not so much any more and only come for the booze and the dope maybe ? Many foreigners who can, are now selling off their homes (on leasehold or freehold) or condos and are shifting elsewhere in Asia. Far to much hassles.

Many other countries in Asia or all over the world. give a harassment free long stay multiple entry visa to any foreigner who has purchased property in their country. Only proof of purchase of the property is required during submission. But obviously Thailand is doing it all wrong and to bad for them to loose the quality retriees.

5 hours ago, potless said:

Oh yes. Maybe a can of worms on the horizon.

I was recently told one reason the agent assisted extension is sacrosanct is because bank branch office managers are involved.

That is the same reason BOT may get involved.

21 hours ago, 1tooth said:

I'm sick of seeing old white guys, living just above the breadline smearing dog food on sliced bread to save money. They need to back to their own country and bang their own h**kers. Thailand doesn't need you anymore. Thais are doing the right thing. Thais also need to consider raising the cost of expat visas to $30k USD per year.

Sounds like you're a sort of "I'm all right Jack" type of person! ☹️

5 hours ago, lou norman said:

Wow. I guess CW is not so bad.

Yeah, Samui Immigration is notorious for "nit picking" and bending the rules/requirements as they see fit.

15 hours ago, Letseng said:

Never needed to leave my p.port ever. Always got ext. same day.

Btw., there are agents who organise it that you don't even have to come to get your picture taken.

To leave it with immigration is one thing. To leave it with an agent is another. Latter I would never do.

From the hap hazard way I have seen passports handled in there thousands at immigration I have to wonder.

On 3/31/2026 at 12:28 AM, geisha said:

Who said 800 000 baht ?

Isn't that what Immigration is looking for yearly when you extend your stay for a year for 1900 baht ? Yes it's a grossly high figure I agree.....

On 3/30/2026 at 5:05 PM, wensiensheng said:

Hard to comment on a particular individuals situation, but in my view educational visas should be for those studying at a recognised educational facility, such as a university. Academic or Physical education. Not somchai’s boxing ring in a back alley or nok’s language studio above a massage shop.

But it’s up to Thailand what it deems to be “education”. None of my business.

Spot on, ED visa seems to be ( or was ) the under 50 not retired long stay ticket......

On 3/31/2026 at 12:17 AM, jacko45k said:

No you don't. Simply go there and have a pic taken. Varies with office perhaps. Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.

I’ve done retirement visas in Udon and Phuket and never had to leave my passport overnight. 20 years worth.

Every time I present my documents and after checking them the relevant stamps are added, counter signed and the passport given back to me. Then I do a re entry visa, same process.

I enter with my passport, I leave with my passport. Never any suggestion of leaving it with them overnight.

A couple of years I did a slightly different visa at Savannakhet in Laos. That DID require the passport to be left overnight.

3 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

I’ve done retirement visas in Udon and Phuket and never had to leave my passport overnight. 20 years worth.

I think I did mention that some offices vary.

Over my 20 + years I have drifted from doing it myself to using an agent (unnecessarily many think). From not even attending immigration to going there for a 2 minute photo only. But always, as far as Jomtien is concerned, I had to come back tomorrow or wait a few more days for the agent to call.

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I think I did mention that some offices vary.

Over my 20 + years I have drifted from doing it myself to using an agent (unnecessarily many think). From not even attending immigration to going there for a 2 minute photo only. But always, as far as Jomtien is concerned, I had to come back tomorrow or wait a few more days for the agent to call.

Oh right. I thought you said you had to leave your passport overnight even if you did it yourself. I misunderstood if you meant whilst using an agent

“Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.”

On 3/30/2026 at 7:35 AM, ronster said:

I am a UK citizen

There you go. You're not an "asylum seeker".

On 3/30/2026 at 12:20 PM, sambum said:

Even 40,000 baht a month is a lot more than the average Thai earns!

When it comes down to it the sole purpose of visas like DTV and retirement is to bring foreign spending into Thailand. The minimum they set for this on retirement is 65k/mo. Marriage is a bit more complicated because it has a humanitarian aspect beyond just financials so they set the bar lower.

On 3/30/2026 at 4:34 AM, simon43 said:

IMHO, Thailand is no longer an attractive retirement destination for 'Mr Average', because of the requirement to tie up 800,000 baht in a Thai bank, (plus of course the 90-day report, re-entry visa costs when leaving the country etc).

I'm Mr Average, and now use Cambodia as my home base, with no bank deposit required and only $300/year for my annual retirement visa, and NO 90-day reports, and NO re-entry permit costs etc.

It's not ... er..... rocket science is it? :)

Damn, I thought you had your cosy little empire down in Phuket with the guest house etc?

17 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Oh right. I thought you said you had to leave your passport overnight even if you did it yourself. I misunderstood if you meant whilst using an agent

“Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.”

Yes I did, always at Jomtiem, although some of the historic ones my memory may be hazy. I always left immigration with a spring in my step, pleased that it was pretty much over and done with, and a numbered laminated tag to collect my passport after midday the next day. Pain in the ass really as I live far from immigration,

On 3/30/2026 at 5:35 AM, ronster said:

Not true . I am a UK citizen and have lived in Thailand for 17 years . I went to UK just as COVID started and couldn't return to Thailand as was closed .

I applied for UK benefits and was told I would have to be in the country for 2 of 3 years before I could receive them despite being disabled and unable to work.

You didn't enter as a 'refugee', that's the difference.

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Yes I did, always at Jomtiem, although some of the historic ones my memory may be hazy. I always left immigration with a spring in my step, pleased that it was pretty much over and done with, and a numbered laminated tag to collect my passport after midday the next day. Pain in the ass really as I live far from immigration,Yes I did, always at Jomtiem, although some of the historic ones my memory may be hazy. I always left immigration with a spring in my step, pleased that it was pretty much over and done with, and a numbered laminated tag to collect my passport after midday the next day. Pain in the ass really as I live far from immigration,

I’m similar. Visa renewal is no big deal if you have the right documents and money but for some reason, once I have the renewal I feel a huge mixture of joy and relief.

Silly really, but there we are

6 hours ago, FriendlyHorse said:

You didn't enter as a 'refugee', that's the difference.

I did say that over the phone to the benefits people. I said I bet if I had rocked up in a dinghy I would have got money and allowances . They tried to say well that's not true and I said so how are these people all managing to have food , clothes and money then after getting of a boat with nothing. They changed subject after that .