Imigration question

[osorio6969]

Hi guys,

 

I am new on the forum, have a few questions and thought I ask on here because many of you guys knowing those things.

 

Would there be any reason to pay 10000 Euros for a 5 year resident visa in Thailand?  Sounds like a bit much to me. And is there something like an immediate 5 years residency visa for a first time imigrant or is something like this only possible after a few years of visa renewls?

 

And is there a minimum stay if you are a resident in Thailand?

 

Last question, is it possible, as a foreigner, to open a bank account in Thailand without beeing a resident? I mean only on a tourist visa? I guess it's not? And if yes, under what circumstances is it possible? For examble is it possible if I buy a condo, but am not a resident?

 

Thanks so much guys

 

Osorio

[saakura]

Welcome to the magic Land of Smiles. Opening an account to  bring money into Thailand, no problems. 

[steve187]

47 minutes ago, osorio6969 said:

Would there be any reason to pay 10000 Euros for a 5 year resident visa in Thailand

what visa are you talking about, are you referring to a Thai elite visa? 

 

normal ways of staying long term are to enter on a non immigrant 'O' visa ( 90 day permission to stay stamp given on arrival )and then obtain a year long extension of stay reason of retirement, must be over 50 years old, at local immigration 1.900 baht, financials apply

[osorio6969]

1 minute ago, steve187 said:

what visa are you talking about, are you referring to a Thai elite visa?

Well, I don't know, just wanted to know if something like that exists? It's not me who's wants to do this, but someone I know is telling me stories about it and I have my doubts? So just wanted to check on here if anyone knows something

[BritTim]

The main way of getting a 5-year visa is via the Thailand Elite program. The cost is 500,000 baht (about 13,000 euros). There are also 10-year and 20-year versions. This is not quite the same as a resident visa. It does not confer the right to work in Thailand. There is also an investment visa, but this requires investing quite large sums in government approved vehicles, and I do not recommend it.

 

There is no minimum stay to maintain the rights conferred by any visa type. Some methods for long term stay which involve year-by-year extensions of stay require you to be in Thailand at the right time of year to apply for a new extension.

 

Opening a bank account on the tourist visa is possible. However, you are quite likely to run into resistance at some banks/branches. Perseverance may be needed.

[Langsuan Man]

58 minutes ago, osorio6969 said:

I am new on the forum, have a few questions and thought I ask on here because many of you guys knowing those things.

Well then why don't you go to the Thai Embassy Web site in you home country, they have all the immigration information there

 

Start with what type of visa you are eligible for and then all the other questions will relate 

[osorio6969]

9 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The main way of getting a 5-year visa is via the Thailand Elite program. The cost is 500,000 baht (about 13,000 euros). There are also 10-year and 20-year versions. This is not quite the same as a resident visa. It does not confer the right to work in Thailand. There is also an investment visa, but this requires investing quite large sums in government approved vehicles, and I do not recommend it.

 

There is no minimum stay to maintain the rights conferred by any visa type. Some methods for long term stay which involve year-by-year extensions of stay require you to be in Thailand at the right time of year to apply for a new extension.

 

Opening a bank account on the tourist visa is possible. However, you are quite likely to run into resistance at some banks/branches. Perseverance may be needed.

 

What would that Thailand Elite program include? I mean what can I do or not do with it? And what are the requirements?

 

Cheers

[tonray]

9 minutes ago, osorio6969 said:

 

What would that Thailand Elite program include? I mean what can I do or not do with it? And what are the requirements?

 

Cheers

https://www.thailandelite.com/

[BritTim]

13 minutes ago, osorio6969 said:

What would that Thailand Elite program include? I mean what can I do or not do with it? And what are the requirements?

The only real requirement is money from outside Thailand that passes anti money laundering verification. The main benefit is the multiple entry 5-year visa, with a full one-year permission to stay each time you enter Thailand until the expiry date of the visa (if you do not want to leave for over a 12 month period, you can get an automatic one-year extension also). There are various other perks. It is probably best to read up on the program at the  Thailand Elite website, and some long threads on this board.

[osorio6969]

1 minute ago, BritTim said:

The only real requirement is money from outside Thailand that passes anti money laundering verification. The main benefit is the multiple entry 5-year visa, with a full one-year permission to stay each time you enter Thailand until the expiry date of the visa (if you do not want to leave for over a 12 month period, you can get an automatic one-year extension also). There are various other perks. It is probably best to if read up the  Thailand Elite website, and some long threads on this board.

cheers Tim, how does the anti money laundering verifiocation look like? I heard some bad stories about Thailand and money laundering?

 

[JackThompson]

@osorio6969 - are you over 50 years old?  If so, you could apply for a Non-O and/or Non-O-A Visa (depending on which country you are a resident) for a fraction of that cost.  The Non-O-A can get you 2 years of stay in Thailand, and either a Non-O or Non-O-A entry to the country allow easy application in Thailand for 1-year "extensions of stay" based on retirement.

 

If you are under 50, that is another story.

[BritTim]

9 hours ago, osorio6969 said:

cheers Tim, how does the anti money laundering verifiocation look like? I heard some bad stories about Thailand and money laundering?

Anti money laundering procedures are pretty standard internationally. The authorities these days try to have them applied whenever large amounts of money change hands. If you make payment using a transfer from a major bank, the checks are pretty simple, and there should be no issue. The most common problem you can hit is if you, for some reason, try to make the payment in cash. Although better exchange rates can be achieved that way, do not do it.

 

If you want to know all the gory details about anti money laundering legislation, and international agreements around them (which I certainly am not fully familiar with) I am sure some Googling will lead you to the appropriate subject matter.