Thailand considers express visa issuance to lure foreign business

Junta to amend law to allow greater inflow of talent from overseas

APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT, Nikkei staff writer

 

BANGKOK -- The Thai government is planning to amend its foreign business law to boost inbound investment, as it tries to stimulate economic growth to catch up with its neighbors.

 

The country's junta is considering measures it hopes will draw foreign businesses and investments to its Eastern Economic Corridor, the much-flagged special economic zone aimed at developing high-tech industries such as biochemicals, petrochemicals, robotics, aviation and electric vehicles. 

 

The measures under consideration include a "smart visa" program which would give express visa issuance to selected applicants that the government sees as vital to economic development, sources said. It aims to attract science and technology experts, senior executives, investors and startup business talent. 

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thailand-considers-express-visa-issuance-to-lure-foreign-business

 

-- NIKKEI ASIAN REVIEW 2018-05-28

I am a little confused as this already exists as of Feb this year.

 

http://www.boi.go.th/upload/content/BOI-brochure 2018-smart visa-EN-20180125_97687.pdf

 

https://www.interactivethailand.com/thailand-smart-visa-4-year-application/

 

Edited May 28, 20188 yr by Peterw42

Smart visa from immigration?

5555555

???

59 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand considers express visa issuance to lure foreign business

Yep, back to the fishing man sitting with the right lure, and catching his fish. He always wondered why the ones that got caught never smiled.

The "smart" visa just isn't.  Thailand's neighbors have much better things on offer. 

Just another case of a Thai Ministry not checking in with the ThaiVisa cognoscenti before issuing some new policy directive.

Let them consider whatever they want, all I know is that I have to go to the Immigration office next week with an entire copy of may old passport AND an entire copy of my new (logically empty) passport to get my visa transferred from one to the other. Talking about wasting a perfectly fine day ....

I think you have to lure a bit harder. Maybe shanghai them from foreign airports.

AFAICT, the OP article here is just a late rehash of the previously announced visa program aimed at start-ups, entrepreneurs, tech types, etc etc., where minimum investments and various other requirements are imposed.

 

As per Peter's #2 post above.