Is It Easy to Get Things Done in Thailand, or Is It Laden with Needless Formality?

[hankypankee]

When I first arrived in Thailand eons ago, I was struck by how smoothly certain things seemed to operate and on a very informal basis. A friendly smile, a little charm, maybe a small tip, and doors seemed to open effortlessly. In the eye of the locals, it also seemed like Westerners were more in vogue back then, so they often used kid gloves to make things even easier for us to navigate. Whether it was renting a condo, getting a phone number, getting a car driving license, or even handling minor bureaucratic tasks, things felt refreshingly simple compared to the rigid systems back home in the West at the time.

 

Fast forward to 2025, and I can’t help but wonder, has that ease disappeared? These days, even routine matters seem to come with layers of paperwork, additional requirements, and stricter enforcement of rules, laws and regulations. Take something as simple as opening a bank account. Back then, I walked into Bangkok Bank with just a crisp ฿100 note in hand and a photocopy of my passport photo page and then the old typewriters immediately started hammering away onto a fresh passbook and instantly I had a Thai bank account. Now, depending on the bank and branch, foreigners may need a work permit, proof of residency address, a long term visa, and/or a whole stack of other supporting documents just to get started.

 

Of course, some might argue that these changes bring Thailand more in line with global standards and that the old way, while it was convenient, it wasn’t necessarily sustainable. Others, like myself, may feel differently though in that the country has become overly bureaucratic, rife with red tape replacing the once-flexible, and more pragmatic, Mai-Pen-Rai approach.

 

What's your take? Have things really gotten more difficult as I suspect, or is it just a natural shift as Thailand modernizes and industrializes?
 

Yes, public transport, internet, and some other things have improved and gotten a bit safer and with more accountability, but would you say it is easier or harder now to get things done in the hub of hubs as compared to the times in decades past? 

[Ralf001]

Yeah used to be a right pain in the anoos but as the years have gone by things have improved and I learnt to read/write/speak Thai as well... I reckon that alone was the biggest thing that makes my life fairly easy these day... for the menial stuff though, my assistant takes cars of all that.

[Will B Good]

 

Just applied for my visa extension......six hours door to door.....not a happy camper.....laden with needless formality.

[connda]

37 minutes ago, hankypankee said:

When I first arrived in Thailand eons ago

When I first arrived in Thailand eons ago.....

 

...but just found Thai Visa/AseanNow.

These posts never fail to amaze me.

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, connda said:

When I first arrived in Thailand eons ago.....

 

...but just found Thai Visa/AseanNow.

These posts never fail to amaze me.

 

 

You do know people resign and rejoin under a different moniker?

[Will B Good]

20 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

Just applied for my visa extension......six hours door to door.....not a happy camper.....laden with needless formality.

 

Just thought....having said the above.....I asked 3BB for an internet connection.....two days later (and we are way, way out in the sticks).....all wired up and working perfectly.

 

Swings and roundabouts......or business and government?

[BritManToo]

58 minutes ago, hankypankee said:

with global standards and that the old way, while it was convenient, it wasn’t necessarily sustainable. Others, like myself, may feel differently though in that the country has become overly bureaucratic, rife with red tape replacing the once-flexible, and more pragmatic, Mai-Pen-Rai approach.

 

No changes, they just want much bigger tips?

[Lacessit]

I do wonder what would happen if Thailand ran out of paper.

 

Today, I picked up some steak at Makro. Two labels on it, a price for chicken ( cheaper ) and a price for beef. The checkout chick scanned the chicken label, even though the steak was clearly visible.

 

Stopped at the door, wrong price paid on the receipt. One form generated to refund my money, give back the steak. Then another receipt after I paid the correct amount.

 

20 minutes of faffing around. Just as well I didn't buy ice cream.

[bkk6060]

The Bank situation seems way over done now.  I went in to change my phone number and must have signed 6 documents, copy of passport, photo, bank book.  Then, was told I had to wait 7 to 10 days for an sms before I could log onto my account with instructions to complete the transfer of the new number.

I get scams and fraud, but when you have been with a bank for 12 years I would think it should be less of a hassle.

[OneMoreFarang]

A few years ago, I visited one of those leading countries in the EU. I was shocked about the bureaucracy and the horrible attitude from many so-called service workers over there.

And email; one email account for the whole department. You can send something to them per email, then they print it and distribute it internally. And they answer of course with ordinary mail on paper, after weeks. Unbelievable, but true.

 

Recently I needed a new ATM card in Thailand. I called them and they told me I can get it at any branch. So, I visited them. At the end it took about 30 min. But that was for me waiting and a friendly woman filling out about 20 forms and then all was done. Perfect? No. But a lot better than waiting a month with unfriendly people somewhere else.

[OneMoreFarang]

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I do wonder what would happen if Thailand ran out of paper.

That is nothing compared running out of plastic bags. 😉 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

That is nothing compared running out of plastic bags. 😉 

It's a toss-up, one can always use banana leaves instead.

 

IMO Immigration would not accept applications written on banana leaves.

[atpeace]

25 years now and most things seem to be "much" easier now than before.  I rarely have to interact with immigration face to face and life in general is easy to navigate.  Still miss the late 1990's for other reasons 🙂

[GammaGlobulin]

It''s very easy to get things done, and to get others to help you get things done.

 

Just always remember to do one thing:

 

Say KRAP at the end of each sentence you utter.

 

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, connda said:

When I first arrived in Thailand eons ago.....

 

...but just found Thai Visa/AseanNow.

These posts never fail to amaze me.

Many people are unaware of the AN forum, the handful of regular posters being a minority of foreign visitors and being here for many years does not mean that they should be aware of it or join as a member.  Reading the forum does not require membership and there is no need to be a member unless one wants to post!

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

You do know people resign and rejoin under a different moniker?

How does that work, "resigning" from AN, I mean?  Membership can be voluntarily cancelled by the member?  I don't think so.  We can check out but we can never leave!

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

How does that work, "resigning" from AN, I mean?  Membership can be voluntarily cancelled by the member?  I don't think so.  We can check out but we can never leave!

We are not all just prisoners here of our own device....you can leave and rejoin.....'susanlea' and 'Bob' is a prime examples

[Liverpool Lou]

1 minute ago, Will B Good said:

We are not all just prisoners here of our own device....you can leave and rejoin.....'susanlea' and 'Bob' is a prime examples

No, we cannot leave.  We can stop posting and re-register under a new name, breaking the rules. but we remain members under the original account.  Of course, I could be wrong and if I am someone will describe the resignation/leaving procedure to cancel a membership.