Wait, did I wake up, from a dream, or have we seen this a few months ago, or is there a subtle change that I missed.

3 hours ago, Johno57 said:

"revise long-stay visa criteria for retirees to attract expats who can support sectors like real estate and health tourism"

Wires crossed? To me, that's two different things, unless they want to attract pensioners (who must NOT work) to work in two restriced sectors.

As always, the details are missng and/or ambiguous. Anyway, next instalment of this saga due end August, so let's not hold our breath.

NB: I took the quote from Johno57, my comment is not aimed at him/her

3 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Thailand is the complete opposite of the UK or EU or USA where immigrants are given LOADS of free stuff and even given free money every month for being freeloaders doing nothing...

Expats in Thailand are given zero benefits....Expats don't cost Thailand anything..

Expats are a win win for Thailand and the Thai economy...

does this mean Falung land agents to sell the thousands of unsold condos and houses in gated communities that are going up everywhere in Hua hin, there must be thousands of these gated communities that are mostly empty and a lot of them have cracks and are not well built and cant sell. Up by immigration they are being built everywhere.

WRT visa-exempt, my opinion is they should leave it at 60-days but remove the +30 day in-country extension option, and cap it at 3 visa-exempt per rolling 12 months (no 1 January "reset" nonsense). Also cannot use another visa-exempt entry within 60 days of the previous departure.

This keeps the visa-exempt allowance in line with regional tourism rivals, but makes it more difficult for those abusing it to work illegally and more inconvenient for those just gaming the system.

36 minutes ago, impulse said:

Someone needs to do a condo share website where you can alternate your Bangkok condo with someone who has an HCM condo and wants to do the same. No money to change hands, and you never even have to see each other... I kinda expected it to happen just to bypass the new 180 day/yr tax law in Thailand.

I’ve thought the same thing. There was a website that I came across that had some sort of weird token system (can’t remember the website) but it would be tough to match like for like both with regards to the condo itself and with the person you are trading with. In theory, it could work….in practice, I have my doubts.

I don’t know how Thailand expects to lure more retirees by offering them overpriced condos and healthcare. The asking prices for condos are too high and with regards to healthcare, many procedures are actually less expensive at the surgery centers that have opened in the US than the private hospitals here in BKK.

Got to love how they are "evaluating the 60-day exemption scheme due to concerns over misuse for illegal work or activities in neighboring countries."

Like they think that it's the "60 day" stamp that's responsible for so much crime as though criminals weren't doing the exact same things when they could only get a 30 day stamp.

"Oh Triad-san - Thailand has changed it's 30 day visa exemption stamp to 60 days ! Let us begin criminal activities in neighbouring countries right away now that we only half to do half as many border runs as before !"
"Agreed Yakuza-san. Having to do border runs every 30 days was not profitable enough but now that we get 60 days, we shall commence criminal activities at once !"

Seriously.

And those "criminals" would likely have NO problem getting DTVs and staying 6 months at a time anyways.

But you can go to Dubai (most countries at least) and get a 90 day stamp, no questions asked.

And I recall in my time in Afghanistan, at the Dubai airport you could simply and easily apply for an "e-pass". They scan your passport and take your fingerprints and issue you a card that lets you skip the Immigration line completely.
Scan the card at the "e-pass" gate, enter, press whichever finger the screen tells you onto the scanner, light goes green and the far gate opens and you walk to the luggage carousels.

(The only issue I ever had was when I tried to leave the country one time just 5 hours after I'd arrived. They hadn't programmed their system to handle people that were catching connecting flights on other airlines (requiring you to leave the Arrival Area to check in for the next flight and then go through Immigration again) less than 6 hours after arriving.
Luckily they have 1 Immigration officer that overseas the e-gates and he can stamp you out in a couple seconds.)

Something like that would VASTLY decrease the workload for Immigration at the airports and land crossings - and even at the Immigration offices around the country.

Walk into the local Immigration office, scan your "Immigration E-Pass" card, press "90 Day Report" and "click" - it spits out a little receipt with your next report date on it.

Press "Visa Extension" and it spits out a queue number and the IO already has all your relevant information (passport images, prefilled forms, address verification) and just needs to scan your Bank Book and Bank Letter and collect the fee before stamping your passport with your new "Valid until......" stamp.

Press "Residence Certificate" and get a ticket to the counter, pay your fee and collect your new Certificate of Residence in seconds.

Press "Re-entry Permit", select single or Multi, get the ticket and go to the counter, pay the fee and get the stamp in your passport. Quick, simple, efficient.

And if you get stopped by the Police anywhere, they could simply scan (using a phone app) your Immigration Card and find out instantly if you are on overstay or skipped your 90 day report or your passport is expired - or just find out your address so they can have a taxi take your drunk @ss home.

(Yes I know, people who are on overstay or have expired passports wouldn't likely hand their card to the cops in the first place in which case the police would take them to their station and get the information the old fashioned way.)

Would make like so much easier in so many ways.

As someone who's been a retiree here since the early 2000s, I think there isn't much wrong with the retirement system the way it is. The 800,000 Baht in the Bank is no problem, 90 day reports can be done online, or at the local Immigration office, instead of having to travel to Bangkok or Pattaya, like in the old days. The annual renewal takes less than 30 minutes to complete, if there's no queue. It works fine, as it is.
From reading the forum over the years, most retirees spend far more here, as normal living expenses, than the native Thai people do, and contribute substantially to the Thai economy.

2 minutes ago, Airalee said:

In theory, it could work….in practice, I have my doubts.

I'm in agreement.

I'm actually in a similar (but different) situation, spending about a week each month in Thailand. I can just about rent a cheap condo for the entire month for about what I spend on a cheap hotel for the week. That way, I could leave my bags behind, travel lighter and have a big screen, bicycle, and other toys in Bangkok when I arrive. I'm reluctant to pull that trigger, too. Largely because it's a health care thing and I don't know how long it will go on. I expected a few months, but it's almost 3 years now.

Anyway, I digress... Thx for the polite reply!

4 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Thailand is the complete opposite of the UK or EU or USA where immigrants are given LOADS of free stuff and even given free money every month for being freeloaders doing nothing...

Expats in Thailand are given zero benefits....Expats don't cost Thailand anything..

Expats are a win win for Thailand and the Thai economy...

What are you on about? Visas for legal immigrants which are over 95% + into UK are now the most expensive in Europe. You try bringing in a foreign born lady wife for example. Moreover legal migrants do a lot of work like carers, cleaners, Amazon deliverers, kitchen staff, construction work etc

Illegal migrants, boat ppl etc are often escaping wars and awful oppression like Afghanistan or Africa etc. Moreover under human rights laws established post Holocaust when Jews were killed in their millions we created human rights for Asylum Seekers.

Maybe your reading the papers for elderly right wingers like Daily Mail or Daily Express which peddle much nonsense.

probably related to this article, I received a survey from the BOI concerning my comments on the LTR. Very easy to answer all of this as i feel it is the absolute best visa for anyone meeting the requirements for either of the 4 categories available.

6 hours ago, ashkale said:

I do suspect they are going to go after the 800k retiree segment this time, probably introduction of a private agency and much higher deposit requirements.

Am not a fan of this either so no need thumb me down, but the rhetoric, wealthy,highvalue, rich is loud and clear. These guys are in a hurry to line their pockets and foreigners are an easy target.

8 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Bangkok Post is reporting 60 day VE will be reduced back to 30....

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3195519/shorter-visafree-stays-on-the-cards

What difference will it make with so many people even overstaying the 60 day exemption, sometimes for years, with complete impunity?

With birth rates falling globally, I expect a LOT of countries to start offering deals to attract people who are still able to produce kids.

I really don't understand what's the news here. I've been on the DTV for nearly 2 years now

"What actually ARE the updates – no details have been given.

I solved the Thai visa, double pricing, opening a bank account, terrible wifi connection, how many times a year can you enter the country and how long can you stay, what entry or exit costs they come up with, no one knows how these things will change, but they change constantly and all the time, there are many all kinds of problems so I did as many others have done by switching to really easy and affordable Vietnam.

I hope I'm wrong, but if "reading between the lines" in the report, I think it's a bit scary and probably means middleclass retirees out, except for the very wealthy ones who can invest in real estate and those with wealth investing in health projects gaining health tourism to Thailand.😟

Felt

17 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

I hope I'm wrong, but if "reading between the lines" in the report, I think it's a bit scary and probably means middleclass retirees out, except for the very wealthy ones who can invest in real estate and those with wealth investing in health projects gaining health tourism to Thailand.😟

Felt

Or “reading between the lines” maybe they’ll give all kinds of bonuses to condo owners and anybody who spends more than a predetermined amount on healthcare. It won’t have to only target the wealthy. There are oodles of sub million baht “condos” looking for owners and the private hospitals would love a few more cash paying patients even if it’s just 50 or 100k per year spent.

So…maybe no more 90 day reports? No more tm-30s? Exempt from income taxes (the government and the economy would get more just from the condo purchase than the small amount they might get from cash remittances)? Special line at immigration the one time per year you need to go renew your visa only having to show a chanote and your cumulative healthcare receipts?

Maybe….just maybe…there will actually be a benefit for the retirees and the pendulum will swing slightly in their favor.

Otherwise, if it’s going to be a cleansing of the filthy middle class as you surmise, I myself am happy to spend more time in Da Nang and back home in the US where at least the air is clean.

I'm sorry but some of you need to be very careful for what you wish for.

The previous adminstration basically opened the flood gates to more tourism. Go look at their backgrounds, they were property owners who want to flood their empty condos. But what has been the cost to Thai society?

Most upcoming developing nations protect their populations from Mr Big just coming and taking over jobs, property, business. Thailand, like many countries like India, has protectionist policies in place for it's citizens so they are not trodden on. Remember some of the population earn less than 400 baht a day.

I have seen personally local thais having to move out of condos they have lived in, even middle class Thais, because western foreigners have taken over, landlords pushed up rent. That's just one example, we are also seeing the slow creeping over of many foreigners working here illegally. Just go to any area of Phuket and see for yourself, you have Russians basically opening up beauty salons as one example - how can a Thai compete with them?

Then there is the horrific behaviour by foreigners in Thailand. We love Thai society, the way we love Japanese society .... this society must be protected, not flooded with westerners taking a dump all over Thai culture and changing it. We come to Thailand for this culture, not to see it erode because Bendirom Brits can't control themselves.

Tourism is welcome. They need to go back to 30 days - to eliminate those staying longer for other reasons, and when you stay 2 months you are not going into a hotel. You are going into short term lets. The hotel industry suffers badly.

Secondly there needs to be an immediate ban on the DTV. That is far too relaxed and easy. No other country has basically opened its borders like this to unfiltered immigration. Over 200,000 have taken this up - thats mass scale immigration.

If they do intend to keep it then the requriements needs to be jacked up, stronger detection for fraud, and A CRIMINAL CHECK IS A MUST !!! Even country has a relevent body that will give you a criminal check clearance.

Thai culture is erorded - but one sector property moguls benefit.

All I know is Thailand has become a total dump and rubbish pit since the rules were changed and they let everyone and their dog enter without much checks.

Far too many criminals and badly behaved visitors, violence and drugs around.

Can we go back to the old system please ? Tourists enjoy a nice safe country to visit, not a drug infested hell hole.

Does anyone know the reason why they decided to skip asking for a criminal record check for the DTV ? Every country that I have visited that lets you stay long term has this requirement but Thailand basically said no need. Could this be a contributing factor to the criminality in Thailand ?

“Efforts to streamline existing visas are ongoing, reducing 17 visa codes to seven, set to be fully implemented by August 31.”

This says it all for me. They don’t know quite what they are going to do, but it’s all going to be done by 31st August.

Well I for one shan’t be holding my breath.

8 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I have seen personally local thais having to move out of condos they have lived in, even middle class Thais, because western foreigners have taken over, landlords pushed up rent.

This happens wherever digital nomads go. It happened in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Lisbon, Valparaiso, and Medellin. They really are a plague of locusts.

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I'm sorry but some of you need to be very careful for what you wish for.

The previous adminstration basically opened the flood gates to more tourism. Go look at their backgrounds, they were property owners who want to flood their empty condos. But what has been the cost to Thai society?

Most upcoming developing nations protect their populations from Mr Big just coming and taking over jobs, property, business. Thailand, like many countries like India, has protectionist policies in place for it's citizens so they are not trodden on. Remember some of the population earn less than 400 baht a day.

I have seen personally local thais having to move out of condos they have lived in, even middle class Thais, because western foreigners have taken over, landlords pushed up rent. That's just one example, we are also seeing the slow creeping over of many foreigners working here illegally. Just go to any area of Phuket and see for yourself, you have Russians basically opening up beauty salons as one example - how can a Thai compete with them?

Then there is the horrific behaviour by foreigners in Thailand. We love Thai society, the way we love Japanese society .... this society must be protected, not flooded with westerners taking a dump all over Thai culture and changing it. We come to Thailand for this culture, not to see it erode because Bendirom Brits can't control themselves.

Tourism is welcome. They need to go back to 30 days - to eliminate those staying longer for other reasons, and when you stay 2 months you are not going into a hotel. You are going into short term lets. The hotel industry suffers badly.

Secondly there needs to be an immediate ban on the DTV. That is far too relaxed and easy. No other country has basically opened its borders like this to unfiltered immigration. Over 200,000 have taken this up - thats mass scale immigration.

If they do intend to keep it then the requriements needs to be jacked up, stronger detection for fraud, and A CRIMINAL CHECK IS A MUST !!! Even country has a relevent body that will give you a criminal check clearance.

Thai culture is erorded - but one sector property moguls benefit.

Have to agree with you, but I'm afraid it's too late. They have the regulations, but greed and corruption seem to have won.

Felt

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I'm sorry but some of you need to be very careful for what you wish for.

The previous adminstration basically opened the flood gates to more tourism. Go look at their backgrounds, they were property owners who want to flood their empty condos. But what has been the cost to Thai society?

Most upcoming developing nations protect their populations from Mr Big just coming and taking over jobs, property, business. Thailand, like many countries like India, has protectionist policies in place for it's citizens so they are not trodden on. Remember some of the population earn less than 400 baht a day.

I have seen personally local thais having to move out of condos they have lived in, even middle class Thais, because western foreigners have taken over, landlords pushed up rent. That's just one example, we are also seeing the slow creeping over of many foreigners working here illegally. Just go to any area of Phuket and see for yourself, you have Russians basically opening up beauty salons as one example - how can a Thai compete with them?

Then there is the horrific behaviour by foreigners in Thailand. We love Thai society, the way we love Japanese society .... this society must be protected, not flooded with westerners taking a dump all over Thai culture and changing it. We come to Thailand for this culture, not to see it erode because Bendirom Brits can't control themselves.

Tourism is welcome. They need to go back to 30 days - to eliminate those staying longer for other reasons, and when you stay 2 months you are not going into a hotel. You are going into short term lets. The hotel industry suffers badly.

Secondly there needs to be an immediate ban on the DTV. That is far too relaxed and easy. No other country has basically opened its borders like this to unfiltered immigration. Over 200,000 have taken this up - thats mass scale immigration.

If they do intend to keep it then the requriements needs to be jacked up, stronger detection for fraud, and A CRIMINAL CHECK IS A MUST !!! Even country has a relevent body that will give you a criminal check clearance.

Thai culture is erorded - but one sector property moguls benefit.

I’d like to focus on this quote….

“Then there is the horrific behaviour by foreigners in Thailand. We love Thai society, the way we love Japanese society .... this society must be protected, not flooded with westerners taking a dump all over Thai culture and changing it. We come to Thailand for this culture, not to see it erode because Bendirom Brits can't control themselves.”

It’s interesting that we can “love Thai society” and “love Japanese society” but if we try to apply that to any western country, we are called racist white supremacists.

It’s not only white people or western countries that have subhuman dregs of society.

And it’s not just “countries of color” that have culture that is worthy of preserving.

12 hours ago, Bally Jaggers said:

Does anyone know the reason why they decided to skip asking for a criminal record check for the DTV ? Every country that I have visited that lets you stay long term has this requirement but Thailand basically said no need. Could this be a contributing factor to the criminality in Thailand ?

I have no idea why. But I do think that it isn’t the length of a visa that’s important, but the stringency of the checks made prior to getting it.

If the checks are good enough and the people pass them, welcome them with open arms to stay 90 days.

But if there are no checks, you will get some dregs of society even if the visa length is only 30 days.

How is this contributing to an economic revival?

https://aseannow.com/topic/1387361-thailand-eyes-30-day-limit-on-visa-free-stay-for-security-reasons/

I've lived in Thailand for 10 years and been to all of those places. Considering Thailand's trash problems, air quality, electric spaghetti, dodgy construction standards, sink holes, etc .... I stand by my belief that high end tourists don't find this attractive.

I do find it odd though, that you are posting the timeshare website concept along with a link (which doesn't even apply to my post) as a response to many comments. Are you selling something? I'm not sure if that's even allowed here.

Who spends a lot in Thailand ?

The 2 or 3 week drunks who come for the girls ?

The digital nomads, expats who come to work but are already supplied with a condo in Bangkok and are to busy behind their screens to fool around on a daily basis.

Or is those who own property, those grumpy western retirees we love, and who are regularly and faithfully maintaining their homes and spending large amounts here ?

On 2/11/2026 at 6:21 PM, baansgr said:

A lot of expense and inconvenience but horses for courses.

I don't think I would ever buy anything anywhere, but I could see myself renting in more than one country.