4 minutes ago, ViajeroLA said:

 

LOL yeah,everyone in Pattaya uses PayPal & Venmo 😂 especially PayPal after 2022 👍

Yeah exactly!

I wish I could get PayPal here.

Is Venmo a thing in Thailand?

Easy to see who is not from a technologically advanced economy. The complaints are coming from UK and US nationals with a smaller contingent of grumpy elderly Australians.  I have spent the last few months commuting between multiple EU countries. Most are exclusively e commerce and have moved to electronic immigration procedures. Transiting Schengen to non-Schengen  zones is now done in minutes.  I have not paid cash for anything while here in the EU. I dread my return to Thailand where I will have to load up on cash for basic  purchasing. Most young people in the EU rely on options like Google or Apple Pay and are not afraid of electronic progress.

I am sure a  Thai tourist would have no problem opening a bank account,

in London , New York ,Paris or anywhere in the West.........of cause I am

been sarcastic , so why do Farang on tourist visa expect to open one in Thailand.

 

regards worgeordie

8 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

To navigate these changes, expats are turning to digital wallets and peer-to-peer apps such as PayPal and Venmo

 

Paypal and Venmo? Nonsense. More likely PromptPay and TrueMoney. 

There is no way Thailand can go to a cashless QR code system. They rely too much on foreigner dollars and people arriving in Thailand are not bound to use the cashless system in their own countries. So they will not be able to do a cashless system while in Thailand. 

Who writes this garbage? Trying to make it sound like QR codes are a sign of end times or something.  Also, they just dropped most of the financial requirements for the 10 year visa.  The DTV is also easy to get, so the visa situation seems to be getting better, not worse. 

 

12 hours ago, Trippy said:

I've never had my cash turned down anywhere in Pattaya. 

I got irritated in Bangkok by a well known coffee chain refusing to take cash, but Pattaya isn't like that. I do pay my utility bills by scanning a QR Code, but that is about it!

Good. Get rid of the bums. 

sidelines sounds good to me

Mutate or perish

13 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Rubbish 

 

Probably three people in the entire Thai government could explain Blockchain technology.

 

I challenge this.

Really?

That's great. Please explain it to me?

I think many would like to know too.

14 hours ago, bdenner said:

And the agents have to come up with a new method to get potless expat's extension over the hurdle.

800K into a bank account for 5 minutes is over, nation wide.

In my Isaan location some 70% use these agents. ALL their arses are twitching.

 

The relationship between agents and willing IO officers will find a way

7 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The relationship between agents and willing IO officers will find a way

Now don't go leaving the bank staff out of the party!

Soon Thailand will have the latest gen Chinese  "social credit" system with 24h monitoring on the expenses, social media interactons or whereabouts of the falangs  (only)  of course...that is if there are any foreigners left at one point here. 

"The banking atmosphere adds another layer of complexity. Tourists attempting to open bank accounts face numerous obstacles"

 

It does seem true most of the banks have made it more difficult for foreigners, certainly tourists to open accounts.

But the rest of the article 'sparking panic' is just fear mongering again, nothing really has changed!

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo courtesy of Techsauce

 

Pattaya, once renowned for its easy-going vibe, is undergoing a digital revolution, leaving many retirees and expats grappling with its rapid changes. The city has embraced digital control, prioritising cashless payments, stringent visa regulations, and advanced surveillance technologies—forcing long-term residents to reevaluate their place in this new landscape.

 

For years, Pattaya was seen as a haven for relaxed living, but today it demands more than just a laid-back attitude. QR codes, clean records, and a willingness to adapt to digital compliance are now part of everyday life. As the city evolves, many older expats find themselves questioning if they still belong.

 

Some residents argue that the essence of Pattaya remains unchanged, albeit with steeper prices and increased traffic. However, others, like longtime expat Tom Tuohy, observe a shift beyond rising costs. They see the fading of a once carefree lifestyle, replaced by a stricter, technology-driven regime. Gone are the days of cash-in-hand jobs and visa shortcuts, leaving traditional expat tricks as relics of the past.

 

Visa regulations are tightening, directly impacting retirees. Those who previously depended on agents to inflate bank balances for visa renewals are finding these loopholes closing fast. The government’s adoption of digital ID, biometrics, and blockchain monitoring is reshaping both governmental and financial landscapes.

 

The banking atmosphere adds another layer of complexity. Tourists attempting to open bank accounts face numerous obstacles, and a recent scare proposed limiting retirees to two-year driving licences instead of the traditional five. With a growing trend towards cashless transactions, even major chains like Starbucks and DHL are opting for digital payments, as local food vendors display QR codes instead of cash trays.

 

To navigate these changes, expats are turning to digital wallets and peer-to-peer apps such as PayPal and Venmo. While these tools ease financial transactions, they come at the cost of reduced privacy.

 

Benjamin Hart, an American lawyer and Thai citizen, attributes Thailand's new direction to global influences. In his videos, he cites the World Economic Forum’s push for a tech-driven surveillance state. Hart cautions that emerging policies, including negative income tax and increased data harvesting, could have unintended consequences for both locals and expats.

 

The truth is clear: mass tourism, online booking apps, and urbanisation have transformed Pattaya into a bustling metropolis. Whether retirees can still find their place in this evolving city relies heavily on their ability to adapt to new technologies, financial stability, and acceptance of a world that values digital compliance over privacy.

 

As Pattaya moves forward, its identity is reshaped, and expats must decide if they will adapt or watch from the sidelines. The city’s future is undoubtedly digital, and the challenge lies in whether its long-time residents are willing to embrace these sweeping changes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-27

 

15 years or so ago, in a miserably FAILED attempt, I was trying to tell Pattaya business owners about  QR Codes, Google Maps, text messaging former customers about daily specicials/discounts. etc.

I was working with a magazine salesman that had a book of business already. They all looked at me like I had corn growing out of my ears.

 

I guess I was ahead of my time. Certainly ahead of their time.

13 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Stricter immigration rules on top of that? The Guesthouses are emptying.

 

Skint lefties on top of it

Aww, look at you all angry for being poor. 

13 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The relationship between agents and willing IO officers will find a way

 

So Thai Immigration isn't digitized yet. No surprise because having a digital trail of funds would hinder brown envelopes. The agents and IOs have a sweet deal going. 

At the risk of infringing forum rules, I’m confused by the use of the phrase “sparks panic” in the title of this article.

 

Nothing in the main body of text talks of “panic”.

Dictionary

Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

 

 

 

 

 

 

pan·ic¹

/ˈpanik/

https://ssl.gstatic.com/dictionary/static/promos/20181204/pronunciation.svg

noun

1. sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.

   "she hit him in panic"

A common site will be the girls with a QR code tattoo on the back of their neck……..be warned 🤣

9 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

The relationship between agents and willing IO officers will find a way

I need to go to my agent to do my 90 days next week, so I'll get an update on the latest rules. Especially as I need to use Bangkok Bank and I'm not sure whether they will allow 80 yo's like me to keep my app. Krungsri Bank have already locked my app because of my age. Are there any guys here who use agents that don;t request a Bangkok Bank app. 

8 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

Easy to see who is not from a technologically advanced economy. The complaints are coming from UK and US nationals with a smaller contingent of grumpy elderly Australians.  I have spent the last few months commuting between multiple EU countries. Most are exclusively e commerce and have moved to electronic immigration procedures. Transiting Schengen to non-Schengen  zones is now done in minutes.  I have not paid cash for anything while here in the EU. I dread my return to Thailand where I will have to load up on cash for basic  purchasing. Most young people in the EU rely on options like Google or Apple Pay and are not afraid of electronic progress.

Over the past year, I have rarely used cash THB (Thai Immigration being a notable exception) for my purchases/payments  in Thailand that typically exceed 100,000 THB monthly. Payments are quickly completed with QR code, True Wallet and direct bank transfers or similar. 
Mindful of the potential for a given app or system to not function at any given time, I do maintain enough cash THB on-hand to make normal payments for 2 weeks or more.  
 

US citizen on my 9th Retirement Extension using income method, and can say I’ve never even met ‘Agent’. 

Overall, as a single man living in a small Isaan village, life is good and much easier than other countries I have lived in. 
cheers

14 hours ago, baansgr said:

More rubbish...DL exactly the same for retirees,.why should a tourist be entitled to a bank account, no other country does it...

Visited Australia as a tourist in March, and it was pretty easy to open a Bank-account which I did in first days of my arrival there.  Proved useful because even when I prefer to always pay cash, there are many shops in Australia that do not accept it anymore.  If possible I try to avoid those ones, but is not always possible. 

14 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Rubbish 

 

Probably three people in the entire Thai government could explain Blockchain technology.

 

I challenge this.

Well, I agree with you.

You said it too British. 
==================

Garbage news.  & I doubt ONE person in the government could explain blockchain technology on my 2 year old daughter's Leggo set!

Best from a Florida Man 

9 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Now don't go leaving the bank staff out of the party!

That could be right to the point as the last time I renewed my retirement visa the people who had the Bangkok Bank app on their phones where in and out of the bank in about 20-30 minutes. Whereas the non app people had to wait 5 hours. That's why I bought a new phone as my old Samsung phone wouldn't support the Bangkok Bank app.

14 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

Given the skint nature of the Pattaya expat the value to the nation is probably net net negative. They could all disappear and only a some floozies purses a bit lighter. No fuss will be raised. Bye bye 

 

I live in BKK and use only cash. I will as long as possible 

 

 

I live in Bangkok and use cash so infrequently now that I sometimes don't even bother carrying my wallet. 

It's just so easy to use TrueMoney or scan with the Kbank app.  

14 hours ago, johng said:

I continue to pay cash  everywhere...  at immigration, at the DLT at Lotus,sssss  Big C , 7/11  and the noodle vendor  use cash    keep the digital demon's at bay buy using cash wherever you can...once it goes all digital  then everyone will be  enslaved to the digital panopticon and there is no escape...they will know your every move  but more importantly  they will be able to dictate how you spend your 'own money'

What alarms me is seeing street vendors taking phone payments gladly maybe massage next 

14 hours ago, baansgr said:

More rubbish...DL exactly the same for retirees,.why should a tourist be entitled to a bank account, no other country does it...

Not true. Some other countries allow tourists to open a bank account. I've done it.

I don’t trust keeping 800k in a Thai bank.

 

see all these freezes occurring?

 

but I have no problem pushing 65000 a month to my Thai account as a requirement to renew

8 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

 

 

I live in Bangkok and use cash so infrequently now that I sometimes don't even bother carrying my wallet. 

It's just so easy to use TrueMoney or scan with the Kbank app.  

 

Right...and

 

the banks, credit companies, government know precisely where you were at any given moment and always will. They know what you buy. None of this matters of course - until it does. Look at the nightmare of social media it's quite similar except even more invasive

 

The transaction time is approximately the same given digging for coins and waiting for card to go thru. Wash I suppose

 

You pay for that *privilege* btw

 

I make one simple WD a month.

 

I'm also conditioned in thinking...years ago you couldn't do anything more stupid than giving your card to someone. Virtually guaranteed to be compromised 

 

Ive lived and traveled abroad nearly 35 years. Never had a card comprised. Never will bc I don't give out my card to anyone. Simple. Perfect. Technology is not always the solution, these days it's often the problem. Works great for tech companies! 

 

Visa loves you bro