13 hours ago, ericthai said:

why?  They can get a visa.. 

 

I have few friends that work rotation. They all have visas, actually the one is now a Thai citizen. 

They all have wives and have a Non-imm visa. 

I have non idea what other visa is available but my own retirement visa (and tourist ofc). What visa would you recommend to a 25 year old dude working 1:1 rotation and with no other relation to Thailand but the weed and party scene?

4 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Well you can buy a real ticket to Cambodia for about 1400 Bhat or less than that and trash it. 

I always bought a real, cheap onward ticket 

I did the same. Never understood why risk anything by doing it even cheaper than that. If they can't afford an outbound ticket of around 1000-1200 baht, what are they even doing in Thailand?

1 hour ago, Kandinski said:

I have non idea what other visa is available but my own retirement visa (and tourist ofc). What visa would you recommend to a 25 year old dude working 1:1 rotation and with no other relation to Thailand but the weed and party scene?

Tourist visas are the safer choice, especially multi entries, METV. This crackdown is regarding the visa exemptions, and the repeated border bounces.

And they have the "new" popular DTV visa, which should suit thousands of travellers in that age group, valid for 5 years. Attending a class while they're here, or maybe getting the DTV showing proof of work outside of Thailand. It's a multi entry visa.

Few genuine tourists need more than 90 days. For retirement and legal work purposes, there are suitable visas. Those who dishonestly try to exploit the system are to blame.

1 minute ago, Ajarnbrian said:

Few genuine tourists need more than 90 days. For retirement and legal work purposes, there are suitable visas. Those who dishonestly try to exploit the system are to blame.

Yes, Reverend...........🥸

On 11/25/2025 at 8:21 AM, hotchilli said:

Will that extend to IO officers who take a cut from the agencies?

I haven't heard that Parliament will adjust the salaries of immigration officers. And as long as that is not happening, it will be business as usual. I'm pretty sure of that.

19 hours ago, ericthai said:

This is Thailand you know nothing is even done 100% and rules are enforced depending on the mood of government offical at the time.

 

they are not after the people coming every few months. 

They are after the people that do boarder runs. Go to Cambodia, Vietnam etc for a few days or a week and return. 

It's been a like this for decades now.

First it was so many days in a 6 months period, then cash in hand, then return flights.

There has been no change, they are now going to implement checking that the return ticket shown is valid. you needed it before it's just now it will be validated. 

Absolutely.   My wife and I went through these same never ending hurdles in 69/70 when Pattaya was heaven on earth.  

9 hours ago, Kandinski said:

I have non idea what other visa is available but my own retirement visa (and tourist ofc). What visa would you recommend to a 25 year old dude working 1:1 rotation and with no other relation to Thailand but the weed and party scene?

unlike when I first moved to Thailand they now have choices. 

Elite Visa is an option also DTV.. Then there's a multi-entry tourist visa. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9 hours ago, Ajarnbrian said:

Few genuine tourists need more than 90 days. For retirement and legal work purposes, there are suitable visas. Those who dishonestly try to exploit the system are to blame.

I think that genuine people who have been here for 20 years and have a Thai wife and child and own a house, have proven themselves to be honest and valued occupants of Thailand. 

I think they should be granted a retirement residence visa and make a one off fee for it, not allowed to work but can live peacefully without hassle. 

My Thai wife has a NZ passport and her Thai one, my son has both, my whole family gets free medical care from NZ I think it is about time Thailand reciprocates and stops treating people like us like gangsters and gives us a good deal. 

After all we poor lots of money into Thailand and support Thai family, I have supported my wifes mother and my wifes family for many years. 

Now look how people like us get treated. 

It's not good enough Thailand. 

23 hours ago, ericthai said:

what rules have been changed every few months?  

 

The Philippine has some nice places, but for me I dont feel safe there.  It's not has bad as it was 30 years ago, but still not a place a prefer.

No way would I be out drunk walking a street in the Philippines at night. It really makes me uncomfortable when McDonalds has armed security guards.

Last time I worked there (6-7 yrs ago) they still had brown outs.

 

If you're not happy with Thailand I would look at Vietnam or Malaysia before the Philippines.   I feel allot safer in Vietnam than the Philippines. 

English in Vietnam is ok, cleaner than the Philippines and cheap. Malaysia is nice and clean, but feels more formal not laid back like Vietnam.

 

If you're receiving a UK state pension, then the PI is the only country in the region where it is not 'frozen'.  This is exact;y why I'm relocating from Laos to the PI.

On 11/25/2025 at 8:21 AM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   No, the tickets haven't been paid for (no payment to the airline, its just a booking )

 

The criteria has been "evidence of onward or return travel" but I'm sure they'll make up some rule about a ticket being "bought and paid for" call it a law and keep the airlines busy with involuntary repatriation passengers.

14 minutes ago, simon43 said:

If you're receiving a UK state pension, then the PI is the only country in the region where it is not 'frozen'.  This is exact;y why I'm relocating from Laos to the PI.

 

All that international relocation hassle for a few quid? Madness.

10 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

I did the same. Never understood why risk anything by doing it even cheaper than that. If they can't afford an outbound ticket of around 1000-1200 baht, what are they even doing in Thailand?

 

Getting as far up your nose as they can?

On 11/25/2025 at 12:11 PM, stevenl said:

He should get a non-immigrant visa. That's the way it is now as well, the same discussion was here already many times in the past.

Why would a 25-year-old offshore worker get a Non-O for 3 x 4-8 week trips to Thailand a year? You guys assume everyone is 50+ 

On 11/25/2025 at 12:23 PM, Free the 115 said:

Why is that going to affect genuine tourists?

 

Large queues at immigration after a long flight.. they might be genuine but they have to queue still

On 11/25/2025 at 10:36 PM, ericthai said:

This is Thailand you know nothing is even done 100% and rules are enforced depending on the mood of government offical at the time.

 

they are not after the people coming every few months. 

They are after the people that do boarder runs. Go to Cambodia, Vietnam etc for a few days or a week and return. 

It's been a like this for decades now.

First it was so many days in a 6 months period, then cash in hand, then return flights.

There has been no change, they are now going to implement checking that the return ticket shown is valid. you needed it before it's just now it will be validated. 

I'm not talking about the intention; I'm talking about how it will put off tourists. Yes, genuine tourists will be stamped through but it's the hassle which will put them off.

 

News of longer queues at immigration on arrival caused by these will put people off who don't want to wait hours after a long-haul flight because immigration is going through every page of every backpacker's passport.

 

"I'm thinking of going to Thailand next year, you went last November Bob, how was it?" said Clive

 

"Thailand was amazing but my god, was the airport immigration queue terrible, I'm never going to fly that far to wait 2 hours to be stamped in before I can get to the hotel to sleep, PH next time for me" 

2 hours ago, ryandb said:

Why would a 25-year-old offshore worker get a Non-O for 3 x 4-8 week trips to Thailand a year? You guys assume everyone is 50+ 

Because that's the requirement.

scamming gangs, money laundering gangs, and Illegal business owners  are the people immigration claim use border runs.  I've never heard such nonsense.  The people who use border runs agencies are tourists who initially come for a few months and like a lot of people got the Thailand bug and just stay longer than they thought they would, or backpackers who keep putting off going to their next intended destination as they're enjoying Thailand still, or some people who can't meet the financial requirements of other visas.   Highly sophisticated crime networks aren't using border bounce visa agencies. Absurd!  and immigration know that.  funny how they stopped it just as high season approached.  what's the betting it will be back to normal when it hits low season again.   

20 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

I think that genuine people who have been here for 20 years and have a Thai wife and child and own a house, have proven themselves to be honest and valued occupants of Thailand. 

I think they should be granted a retirement residence visa and make a one off fee for it, not allowed to work but can live peacefully without hassle. 

My Thai wife has a NZ passport and her Thai one, my son has both, my whole family gets free medical care from NZ I think it is about time Thailand reciprocates and stops treating people like us like gangsters and gives us a good deal. 

After all we poor lots of money into Thailand and support Thai family, I have supported my wife's mother and my wife's family for many years. 

Now look how people like us get treated. 

It's not good enough Thailand. 

that thumb must be twisted and sore

7 hours ago, stevenl said:

Because that's the requirement.

he's to young for a non o

The old "safe entry agencies" must have paid quite a bung...

Just been chatting to a mate who's currently working in China. He's 47 and was considering retiring early next year. Thailand was top of his list until he received this:

 

On 11/26/2025 at 6:08 AM, Ajarnbrian said:

Few genuine tourists need more than 90 days. For retirement and legal work purposes, there are suitable visas. Those who dishonestly try to exploit the system are to blame.

no, there are no suitable visas for medical retirement, there is only 50+ visas

2 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

he's to young for a non o

there's different categories of non-o, not just retirement. 

23 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

I think that genuine people who have been here for 20 years and have a Thai wife and child and own a house, have proven themselves to be honest and valued occupants of Thailand. 

I think they should be granted a retirement residence visa and make a one off fee for it, not allowed to work but can live peacefully without hassle. 

My Thai wife has a NZ passport and her Thai one, my son has both, my whole family gets free medical care from NZ I think it is about time Thailand reciprocates and stops treating people like us like gangsters and gives us a good deal. 

After all we poor lots of money into Thailand and support Thai family, I have supported my wifes mother and my wifes family for many years. 

Now look how people like us get treated. 

It's not good enough Thailand. 

If someone wants to spend the rest of their life in Thailand and dont want to deal with yearly visa process they can apply for permanent residency or become a Thai Citizen. 

It's not easy or cheap and it takes years, but it can be done.  I have two friends that became Thai Citizens. 

 

 

 

 

2 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

Just been chatting to a mate who's currently working in China. He's 47 and was considering retiring early next year. Thailand was top of his list until he received this:

 

so he was planning on living in Thailand using visa exempt entries?? 

If he want to live in Thailand he should get a visa. 

While he's still working apply for a DTV visa that will get a him a few years then a Non-O when he turns 50.

5 minutes ago, ericthai said:

If someone wants to spend the rest of their life in Thailand and dont want to deal with yearly visa process they can apply for permanent residency or become a Thai Citizen. 

It's not easy or cheap and it takes years, but it can be done.  I have two friends that became Thai Citizens. 

 

 

 

 

As you said it is not easy and many do not qualify for it. For most it is not a realistic option.

1 hour ago, ericthai said:

so he was planning on living in Thailand using visa exempt entries?? 

If he want to live in Thailand he should get a visa. 

While he's still working apply for a DTV visa that will get a him a few years then a Non-O when he turns 50.

 

He was planning to spend approximately 6 months of the year here and 6 months back in Australia, in order to set up everything here for the future 'O' visa and wrap up everything in Australia.

 

DTV is coming under the same scrutiny as SETV, METV and VE so that is not a route he wants to risk taking.

 

On top of all this, the 'O' visa requirements and process are frankly silly now.

 

Why not choose another country that makes the process simple and easy? 🤔

4 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

that thumb must be twisted and sore

 

You think there is a difference between his post and yours?

 

You are just as entitled.

 

 

 

7 hours ago, ericthai said:

If someone wants to spend the rest of their life in Thailand and dont want to deal with yearly visa process they can apply for permanent residency or become a Thai Citizen. 

It's not easy or cheap and it takes years, but it can be done.  I have two friends that became Thai Citizens. 

 

 

 

Its almost impossible. 

What I am saying it should be made easy for the genuine people that have been here for years, when I took my Thai wife to Nz she got a work permit and NZ residence and free medical within 2 years, in fact it saved her life. I think there are thousands that have been living in Thailand for years that should be granted a retirement residence visa, no need to have work permits included just a residential visa after all look at what genuine expats have put into this country after living here law abiding and supporting their Thai wife's and children and family I have done this same as thousands of us and we should be able to live our lives here without being classified as the same drug dealing scum they welcomed into Pattaya and Phuket, now they are wanting the genuine people to be punished along with the criminals they gladly let in