Will investing in stocks in Thailand give me any benefits as a foreigner?

[EdrigoSalvadore]

I used kasikorn to invest in stocks in many different companies in Thailand. Could these investments get me any benefits such as better visa situation or such?

Thank you

 

30ish from EU.

 

When I visit Thailand I use a normal tourist visa, but would like to retire in SEA one day.

 

Edrigo Salvadore

Edited July 30, 2019 by EdrigoSalvadore

[topt]

On 7/30/2019 at 3:22 PM, EdrigoSalvadore said:

Could these investments get me any benefits such as better visa situation or such?

No.

But depending on how the companies perform and relative exchange rates you may benefit from increasing your wealth when you cash them in - or the reverse of course 

[EdrigoSalvadore]

9 hours ago, topt said:

No.

But depending on how the companies perform and relative exchange rates you may benefit from increasing your wealth when you cash them in - or the reverse of course 

I heard about an investment visa, but not finding too many details about it. Therefore I was thinking if I buy enough of Thailand stocks I could perhaps be eligible for this visa. Have any ideas about this? Right now I am -2.5% after 1.5 years since investing.

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Short answer: No.

 

I'm not an expert but AFAIK investment visa requires you to invest minimum 10 million baht in either a condo, government bonds, or fixed deposits - or a combination of those. I don't think stocks apply, but you might want to check with immigration or a lawyer.

[1FinickyOne]

a bigger smile when you stop by if they recognize you..

 

scb gives us umbrellas and big gifts at christmas.. 

[Brunolem]

It's a good idea that you invest in Thailand, because you will dearly need the money when you reach retirement age and all the EU pension funds will have long gone bust. 

 

Also your money in Thai baht will regularly appreciate against the moribund euro. 

 

[peterpop]

No but if you are obliged to keep say 800,000 bht in Thailand, there are some steady companies that pay quite good dividends like Land and Houses bank.  And their shares can rise too.  Do your own research, and of course nothing is guaranteed.

[Time Traveller]

Your typical immigration officer has no concept of what investment income is. So, no it won't help you visa situation.  

Edited August 2, 2019 by Time Traveller

[johnnysunshine]

Invest in something real like GOLD...which will be going up and up!

[Dcheech]

On 7/30/2019 at 3:22 PM, EdrigoSalvadore said:

I used kasikorn to invest in stocks in many different companies in Thailand. Could these investments get me any benefits such as better visa situation or such?

Thank you

No

[khunPer]

23 hours ago, EdrigoSalvadore said:

I heard about an investment visa, but not finding too many details about it. Therefore I was thinking if I buy enough of Thailand stocks I could perhaps be eligible for this visa. Have any ideas about this? Right now I am -2.5% after 1.5 years since investing.

According to Sunbelt Asia 10 million baht that shall be invested in specific items for an "investment visa". You can read more here (Sunbelt) and here (Thailand Property).

 

An Elite Visa is probably a better visa-solution; you can get 5-year for 500,000 baht, or 10-years for 800,000 baht, or 20-years for 1 million baht. The latter is 50,000 baht a year, which shall be compared to the costs when choosing other long-stay visa solutions.

 

Your benefits from investing in SET (Stock Exchange of Thailand) is that your dividends are paid in baht, so you avoid currency exchange fluctuations, if your are going to spend the dividends in Thailand. As a foreigner you should stick to NVDR-stocks (non-voting depository receipt); however your can buy others, but that require some paperwork. You can easily buy and sell online with minimal fees, using some Thai bank's trading platforms. Your dividend withholding tax is 10%, which might be lower than when investing in a number of other markets.

 

If permanent resident of Thailand, and investing in off-shore stock markets, some countries might offer a reduced dividend tax due to double taxation agreements.

 

I've been investing in SET three full years by July, and is up 30+% plus dividends, which in average has been 3% annually after withheld dividend tax. It's a question about which stocks you choice for your portfolio, some NVDR stocks can pay up around 6% in dividend, and others are up between 50% and more than 100% in value...????

 

 

[bubba45]

Hope you have better luck in the coming year.  Playing the market is a challenge and you have to have money you're able to lose.  

A quick search found this on the web; I guess it's ok to post it, it's from Siam Legal web page.

 

There are several options open to foreigners in Thailand who wish to apply for permanent residency status. The first one is based on investment, which consists of two components: presenting proof of investment both before permanent residence is granted and after it is granted. Before the permanent resident status is granted, the applicant must have invested at least 10 million baht into the country. Thereafter, the applicant must maintain the investment for three consecutive years after the permanent resident status is granted. Specifically, that amount of money must be invested in one of three targets: (1) a Limited Company or Public Limited Company (2) a bond issued by the government or a state enterprise in which the Ministry of Finance or Bank of Thailand is a guarantor or (3) shares or other instruments in the Thai stock market which has been certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The documentary evidence that must be presented in each case is as follows:

1. Where the applicant has invested in a Limited Company or Public Limited Company, he or she must submit: a certificate of company registration from Ministry of Commerce issued within the previous three months, evidence of Value-Added Tax or Specific Business Tax registration, and copies of the financial balance sheets and corporate income tax returns for the previous three years.
2. Where the applicant has invested in government or state enterprise-issued bonds, he or she must submit a letter from a Thai bank certifying the purchase and a copy and original of the bond certificate.
3. Where the applicant has invested in financial instruments the Thai stock market approved or certified by the SEC, he or she must submit a certification of the purchase and evidence of the investment.

Thereafter, by the end of September for the next three consecutive years, the foreigner who has been issued permanent residency status must submit evidence to the Bureau of Immigration that his or her investment has not been transferred. Furthermore, the Bureau of Immigration will also investigate to ensure that the investment meets the aforementioned criteria. Failure of the investment to meet the criteria would cause the permanent residency status to be revoked.

[khunPer]

18 minutes ago, johnnysunshine said:

Invest in something real like GOLD...which will be going up and up!

 

 

100 year gold price chart...

 

 

 

Compared to stock market...

 

 

[EdrigoSalvadore]

 

11 minutes ago, bubba45 said:

Hope you have better luck in the coming year.  Playing the market is a challenge and you have to have money you're able to lose.  

A quick search found this on the web; I guess it's ok to post it, it's from Siam Legal web page.

 

There are several options open to foreigners in Thailand who wish to apply for permanent residency status. The first one is based on investment, which consists of two components: presenting proof of investment both before permanent residence is granted and after it is granted. Before the permanent resident status is granted, the applicant must have invested at least 10 million baht into the country. Thereafter, the applicant must maintain the investment for three consecutive years after the permanent resident status is granted. Specifically, that amount of money must be invested in one of three targets: (1) a Limited Company or Public Limited Company (2) a bond issued by the government or a state enterprise in which the Ministry of Finance or Bank of Thailand is a guarantor or (3) shares or other instruments in the Thai stock market which has been certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The documentary evidence that must be presented in each case is as follows:

1. Where the applicant has invested in a Limited Company or Public Limited Company, he or she must submit: a certificate of company registration from Ministry of Commerce issued within the previous three months, evidence of Value-Added Tax or Specific Business Tax registration, and copies of the financial balance sheets and corporate income tax returns for the previous three years.
2. Where the applicant has invested in government or state enterprise-issued bonds, he or she must submit a letter from a Thai bank certifying the purchase and a copy and original of the bond certificate.
3. Where the applicant has invested in financial instruments the Thai stock market approved or certified by the SEC, he or she must submit a certification of the purchase and evidence of the investment.

Thereafter, by the end of September for the next three consecutive years, the foreigner who has been issued permanent residency status must submit evidence to the Bureau of Immigration that his or her investment has not been transferred. Furthermore, the Bureau of Immigration will also investigate to ensure that the investment meets the aforementioned criteria. Failure of the investment to meet the criteria would cause the permanent residency status to be revoked.

This really makes it sound as if I buy stocks for >10 million baht, and dont touch them for three years, I could get some juicy permanent residency status. I assume that is too good to be true.

[strabel23]

15 minutes ago, bubba45 said:

Hope you have better luck in the coming year.  Playing the market is a challenge and you have to have money you're able to lose.  

A quick search found this on the web; I guess it's ok to post it, it's from Siam Legal web page.

 

There are several options open to foreigners in Thailand who wish to apply for permanent residency status. The first one is based on investment, which consists of two components: presenting proof of investment both before permanent residence is granted and after it is granted. Before the permanent resident status is granted, the applicant must have invested at least 10 million baht into the country. Thereafter, the applicant must maintain the investment for three consecutive years after the permanent resident status is granted. Specifically, that amount of money must be invested in one of three targets: (1) a Limited Company or Public Limited Company (2) a bond issued by the government or a state enterprise in which the Ministry of Finance or Bank of Thailand is a guarantor or (3) shares or other instruments in the Thai stock market which has been certified by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The documentary evidence that must be presented in each case is as follows:

1. Where the applicant has invested in a Limited Company or Public Limited Company, he or she must submit: a certificate of company registration from Ministry of Commerce issued within the previous three months, evidence of Value-Added Tax or Specific Business Tax registration, and copies of the financial balance sheets and corporate income tax returns for the previous three years.
2. Where the applicant has invested in government or state enterprise-issued bonds, he or she must submit a letter from a Thai bank certifying the purchase and a copy and original of the bond certificate.
3. Where the applicant has invested in financial instruments the Thai stock market approved or certified by the SEC, he or she must submit a certification of the purchase and evidence of the investment.

Thereafter, by the end of September for the next three consecutive years, the foreigner who has been issued permanent residency status must submit evidence to the Bureau of Immigration that his or her investment has not been transferred. Furthermore, the Bureau of Immigration will also investigate to ensure that the investment meets the aforementioned criteria. Failure of the investment to meet the criteria would cause the permanent residency status to be revoked.

Interesting but what happens in the course of investing you buy and sell and your Thai stock market portfolio drops below 10 million?

[ericthai]

12 hours ago, peterpop said:

No but if you are obliged to keep say 800,000 bht in Thailand, there are some steady companies that pay quite good dividends like Land and Houses bank.  And their shares can rise too.  Do your own research, and of course nothing is guaranteed.

thats for a retirement visa, he is only in this 30's