Are expats being tempted by Thailand?

[Henryford]

"Favourable tax rules" what like the 300% tax on wine and imported cars.

[Ponti001]

Since when tax in Thailand on world income? Source?

[Artisi]

19 minutes ago, Ponti001 said:

Since when tax in Thailand on world income? Source?

the posts saying that is the case are absolute nonsense, therefore there won't be any source forthcoming. 

[spidermike007]

There are likely only 15 wealthy (worth over $5 million?) ex-pats living here, and through the various schemes, Thailand may succeed in bringing another 5-10 affluent ex-pats here to live. But, very few wealthy ones, for a dozen good reasons. Wealthy people like yachting, lower priced luxury goods, reasonably priced cars, and a higher standard of living. They like to get around using helicopters, and high speed rail. They like to deal with a qualified sommelier at a good restaurant. All things Thailand does not have, due to a lack of planning, and a stunning lack of understanding. Thailand is still too primitive for all but a few wealthy souls. It is just a stupid pipe dream, thought up by silly men, who know next to nothing about the outside world, and are hypnotized by fake nationalism, into constantly over estimating their own nation, to their own peril. 

 

Now, if they were smart, which they are not, they would change the real estate laws, so that wealthy people could own houses and villas, and land outright. Then, they might have a chance of attracting a few hundred wealthy people to at least buy homes here. Would they stay? Likely no more than 2 months a year, but I guess that would be something. 

 

But, always a wise idea to not hope for, nor expect progressive policy, from the retrograde brigade. 

 

 

[spidermike007]

On 9/10/2021 at 7:58 AM, Rookiescot said:

Rich people are generally not going to buy their way into a country like Thailand when other options are available but I suspect its not rich westerners they want anyway.

Rich Chinese on the other hand might be tempted as its a way of getting money out of China.

Very true. In many countries you can now get a passport, by investing a half million, or a million dollars into the local economy. And that includes purchasing a home or condo. On so many levels, many countries of the world are decades ahead of Thailand, and moving forward, while this nation continues it's backwards march towards obscurity, and irrelevance. 

[BritManToo]

53 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Now, if they were smart, which they are not, they would change the real estate laws, so that wealthy people could own houses and villas, and land outright. Then, they might have a chance of attracting a few hundred wealthy people to at least buy homes here. Would they stay? Likely no more than 2 months a year, but I guess that would be something. 

 

Disagree,

Smart countries don't let foreigners buy their land.

[matta01]

Why should rich people come to thailand for a vacation. 
When rich people from thailand spend their holidays abroad.

[josephbloggs]

8 minutes ago, matta01 said:

Why should rich people come to thailand for a vacation. 
When rich people from thailand spend their holidays abroad.

Same in every country, no?  

Not sure what your point is.

[tsigane]

On 9/9/2021 at 5:39 PM, Mike Teavee said:

Thailand's Visa Requirements are not difficult, especially for the "Rich" as they have a number of options available to them (Elite/Investment Visas being the 2 obvious ones), they're only difficult for people unable or unwilling  to invest & (rightly or wrongly) these are not the demographic that Thailand is trying to attract.  

 

 

You'd be hard put to find as easy or cheap visa requirements in the region, Philippines is probably the only one with it's SRRV (though this involve as jumping through as many if not more hoops), Malaysia has recently doubled it's financial requirements for MM2H, Cambodia has a dodgy business visa that could be clamped down on anytime & I don't think Vietnam has anything... 

 

On balance if you're able/willing to put the money into Thailand, it's relatively straight forward to live here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Philippines, you can stay with a tourist visa for 4 years without leaving the country. 

 

Your list focused on ASEAN countries only.  But there are many other regions with similar or better climate. 

 

South and Central America havel super popular retirement destinations.  Many have special benefits for seniors.  I am not aware of any having laws prohibiting foreigners from owning land.

I know quite a few very happy expats living in Colombia, residency obtainable by purchasing real estate over 200-300 k USD (or opening a shell company with much less $ or living with a Colombiana).

In Ecuador, you get residency by depositing 20k USD in a bank for 5 years.

 

Farangs (dirty/sex-crazed, as Thai minister of Health labels them) marry Thais, support their whole families and can never get residency.

 

 

[spidermike007]

On 9/10/2021 at 8:02 AM, ThailandRyan said:

The rules and laws here in Thailand have not been changed and foreigners gain no advantage at all here.  You still can not own the land yourself, you get no citizenship, and are not even a permanent resident like many other countries.  A major inequity is what it is, yet many of us have bought vehicle here, houses, and or Condos and live here as if it were our permanent residence.  Thailand however looks upon us as just long term visitors and nothing more.  For those friends I know who are looking at retirement in the next year or so many have decided on Portugal, Panama, and Spain, as they can buy the house, own the land and gain citizenship as well as attain residence and a passport.  Thailand, not so much, they may buy a Condo for use as a family asset when the world reopens to travel.

We do bring in alot of stable income.  Even the rural folks benefit. Alot of the nicer houses in the poorer farming areas were built with money from expats. Alot of trucks, cars and income coming from expats. Countless business employing many. To say it is insignificant, is a blatant misunderstanding of Thai economics. Thousands of hotels, restaurants, countless airlines and many tour companies, also benefit. By comparison, an average ex-pat spends how much per month? I would say alot of us spend 50,000 to upwards of 100,000 baht a month. I know I do. No value in that? I know some live on less. However, since the average GDP of the nation is around $570, that means about 18,000 baht a month?

I think ex-pats should be treated with the kind of respect and acknowledgement we deserve. One may have hoped after the kind of economic beating Thailand has taken over the past 2 years, there might have been some room for learning, progressing, and improving? However as we know, that does not happen with dinosaurs. 

 

What we should be seeing is a change in attitude. We have decided to change our policies, and we now realize how much you guys bring to the table. An immigration officer will now come to your home to renew your visa, to show our appreciation, of your continued support. You will only be required to sign one form, and we will give you a five year, multiple entry visa. Free of charge. And we will include a 10,000 baht voucher, good for any hotel in the country, for one year. 

 

I think xenophobia is utterly rampant, in all segments of the government here, from the feds right on down to the local amphur. However, I do not think most Thai people are that way. I think most either like us, or are indifferent to us. Which I can handle. 
 
Princely treatment. Thank you so much for helping to rescue our economy and our people. We appreciate it, and aim to show it for a change! We are past the era of thugs like the big joke. And we apologize for all of his abuse. We realize we have been moving the country backwards. And Covid has given us all some time to reflect. We are going to start changing things, and attempt to move the nation forward, instead of backwards. 

 

 

[matta01]

On 10/25/2021 at 5:19 PM, josephbloggs said:

Same in every country, no?  

Not sure what your point is.

For some Germany is a beautiful country

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, matta01 said:

For some Germany is a beautiful country

Yes, parts of it are.  But pretty sure rich Germans generally holiday abroad.