New fees for Thai visas from August 2003

[chuang]

I understand with effect from 26 August 2003, foreigners visiting or living in Thailand will be required to pay greatly increased official fees at immigration offices in accordance with a new Ministry of Interior regulation.

The new fees for the immigration services are as follows-

800 baht       Transit visa, single entry

1000  -         Tourist visa, single entry

2000  -         Non-immigrant visa single entry

5000  -         Non-immigrant visa, multiple entry - 1 year

1900  -         Application for visa extension

1000  -         Application for single re-entry permit

3800  -         Application for a multiple re-entry permit

7600  -         Application for a residence permit

191400  -      Approval of a residence permit

95700  -        Approval of a residence permit (spouse of Thai

                  or holder of residence permits, and children).

So folks enjoy you stay in LOS....                      

[PattayaSteve]

Chuang - just for comparison, what were the old fees?  Thanks.  

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Chuang

Where did you get the information ?   Thai visa fees have not been increased since 1986, so I guess it is time for a rise.

[MaiChai]

These are not index linked increases, and we all know how little government officials are paid in Thailand. So what is the justification for just large hikes? And how can this be justified when tourism has been really hit? Can someone call immigration and confirm?

[dazdaz]

1000  -         Tourist visa, single entry

Is that you pay when you depart Thailand, aka the departure tax?

I still get very confused over the multiple taxation systems, I go crossed eyed and then faint.

Regards

[dr_Pat_Pong]

No Daz that is the proposed cost of a 60 day tourist visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Mai Chai......after 17 years it seems kinda due for an increase perhaps they are gonna pay the officials more !

[Thetyim]

These price increases were approved about a year ago but then never implemented, so it could well be true.

Where did you get the date from, Chuang.

[hukster]

I don't believe the increases until i see it on an official web site. all these sites are visa services.

[george]

It's in the Royal Gazette, so it should be correct info.

I have added the new information to thaivisa.com web site here:

Immigration Bureau to introduce huge fee increases

We reported on the planned hike already in February 2003 .in this thread.

Note: The new extension fees are now confirmed by Immigration Bureau, but I have been unable to have the new visa fees confirmed by the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, who controls the Thai Embassies and Consulates

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ADDED: The new Immigration fees is in effect from 2003-08-26

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[pschef]

Just another way to extract money from farrangs, and how can this be justified when tourism has been really hit?

I would have assumed lower fees, plus make it more easy for farrang. No this is LOS TIT, I am off to Iraq?

[DaveYo]

Hi all.  Listen up everybody.  These fee increases are astronomical and out of this world.  For a permanent residence this fee increased (if married to a Thai) jumped over 1,000 usa dollars. Seems they say discreetly you want to stay marry a Thai!  If not here is your fee, $4,558.00 USA dollars just to stay in Thailand!  Christ!, in America we only charge $400.00 for everything just to stay in America.  To apply for visa jumped from 40.00 to 180.00 usa dollars. Ok fair amount here competitive with USA fees.   With this in mind folks, Thailand wants to keep foreigners out as much as possible especially for Permanent Residence.  Not to mention what the new Fees will be just to become a Citizen, I am afraid to even ask!  They only want you to visit max it to 90 days, spend your money and get out.  They do not want foreigners to stay in their country.  That is the reason for the huge fee increases, and in their way of thinking these new fees will all but kill any desire to want to stay in Thailand and the applications will drop like a dead bird falling from the sky and even tho it is a country with the land of the smiles, they don't want us around to live in their country, because they want to keep the wealth, the cultures intact and they don't care of who you are, all they want is your money to be spent like confetti.   One official made a comment during one of their meetings about 2 months ago, and this is the quote  " we like the retired people, they not cause us problems, we like them here because they spend their money here, but we not like other foreigners because they take advantage of us, and cause us many problems.  Foreigners bring in the dope, cause our Thai cultures to go bad, cause economic and social problems and they spend very little when they stay here."  Unquote.  This is the very same person Dr. Pat Pong, that I mentioned to you earlier.  I got the warning signs from this comment 2 months ago and had a bad feeling that something was up in the air.  So now we just get the news, and BANG we got hit with the fee increases.   It will be interesting to see if tourism is going to take a dive from this increase, and I can bet you that it will definitely hurt the industry within a year or two once these fees is worldwide implemented.  Bottom line, Thailand wants no foreigners living in their land, and eventually and they will carry out this threat slowly but surely as long as their system remains intact till they get hit with another crash like in 1997 or 1998.  Or another revolt taking place if the people get fed up.  This definitely has a lot to do with putting money in the piggy bank because this crash is about to take place some time soon if you have been watching the indicators recently, and they need to back their butts up when it does happen for some emergency cash reserves.  So soon the Thai people will be saying Adios to Foreigners instead of Aloha!   When the exodus begins, Thailand will cringed and shrivel up and cry out to all come back, come back, but by then foreigners will have found another place to enjoy.   I make this prediction and so dated.   :blues: ???

[sabaijai]

As a one-time fee for obtaining permanent residency, I don't thing the fees are that out of line. Certainly I'd pay that much if I were elgible for permanent residency (not yet). I don't care what other countries charge.

However I don't kid myself that the increases will go to higher salaries for officials. It'll go straight into the pockets of the higher-ups in the responsible ministry, just like the hiked national park fees for foreigners and of course the massive amount of wealth generated by the TOT and CAT telephone/internet monopolies. That's the name of the game in Thailand, always has been and probably always will be.

Will the astronomic rise in PR fees deter tourism? No way, you don't need PR to be a tourist obviously. The tourist visa fee is still quite reasonable. So this will have no effect on tourism.

Retirees can still get year-to-year visas. The only ones it will affect are the relatively small number of foreigners who seek PR.

Naturally I'd rather pay less, but I won't be eligible for PR for another two years anyway. I can save enough between now and then to pay the new fee, pay it and then not have to worry about visas ever again.

[edd]

Put up the cash required to stay here, what a good move by the Thai think tank.

it will NOT have any impact on the Thai people.

EXEPT: house building will come to a halt [no farange to buy them] everything that the expat buys from cars to insurance to food the list is endless.

Now the expat might be a bit slow but even the slowest mild manered one can see that the countrys around Thailand are welcoming to expats with money to spend.

The thai government is like a child with there perseptions of the outside world.  

[homeless007]

There will be quite an uproar if this proofs true.... The FALANG can pay....

Regards!

[Brian]

I've seen this with many businesses in LOS. Instead of dropping prices to increase the number of customers when times are tough, they instead raise prices so that the profit remains the same.

[flackjacket]

If true, this confirms that the Thai Government is both totally greedy and stupid to boot. At a time when Thailand is trying to re vitalise their tourist industry and bring back the lost tourists, what better way to do it than massively increase the visa fees.

Just like many hotels, lack of guests-increase room rates!!

Also they want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, make it astonomical for people to live/retire here, after all they ONLY spend all of their retirement cheques here. Some Farangs who have built homes here, employing Thai builders, buying Thai producte, may well not be able to afford to live in Thailand. Ah, all the better, Western style homes for Thais with no pesky Farangs living in them. A kick in the teeth for the honest and loyal Thai wives (and there are quite a few) now Farang husband will not be able to live in Thailand just as if he was in his own country.

When I first read this announcement I thought the Government had mistaken the date for All Fools Day, now I am sure is is a new All Fools DAy. Lets hope it is a wind up but I doubt it.

[DaveYo]

To all, my response here.  Many of you do not understand the real true purpose of these huge fee increases.  We are talking of an increase such as 10 times the previous fees.  For example 25,000 if married to a thai now up to 95,000.  This alone is over a 75 % increase or over 3 times the normal amount.  Now compare that to 191,000.   That is an increase of also over 75% or over 3 times the base being 50,000.   By the way this does not include the requirements of meeting the income standards being in the banks my friends, and the rest of the criteria. And the retired people are also coming  under the gun with this too.   Don't kid yourselves.   Read behind the lines that are hidden with these fee increases.  If your country did that to the public what do you think will happen?  I am sure a lot of them will raise ####.  Do they dare do this in Thailand?  I doubt it since it only affects foreigners.  Yet many in the population are helpless because they know now getting foreigners is going to be 10 times harder.  Also with these fee increases, it makes the foreigners think twice before moving or living there.  Look what is happening with the land deal that Thailand government was hoping would work out.  It fell flat on their face.   We foreigners are not that stupid to do what they hoped we would do.  As a result, many housing projects and condos are left empty. If you Don't believe me, go check it out yourself.  I did with my own two eyes.  When are people going to wake up and realize the Governments are the biggest headache to the public and that they deceive us to the bone.  This includes Thailand and they are no exception.  Like I said I made a prediction and I stand behind it and Thailand is going to take a fall big time sooner before later.   Guess where we all might be moving out to enjoy life better?  Ever consider Vietnam.  They are crying for Foreigners and want business so bad it is outrageous on some of their handouts.  Only one problem --Is the Government still like China or are they willing to let it go loose and soak up captial to make life easier for them?  Currently Vietnam is nowhere near having a red light district Capital reputation like Thailand has now.  I can say this much my friends, if Thailand eliminated the Red Light deal, shut down Hookers, and the rest of the business involving that aspect, which they are now undergoing and trying to figure out how to eliminate it all, watch what happens to tourism.   Many go there for only one purpose, and we all know that purpose.  Currently Vietnam does not allow it at all.  So what happens if they allow it and it opens up?   Hey, we all slide on over, just 1.5 hour away flight time, and we can have it a lot easier because their regulations are totally different than it is in Thailand, and Vietnam currently is working on it.  That is the last I heard.  So if some of you want to close the shades from blinding you go on ahead, up to you.  If any of you are street wise, you obviously will see my point loud and clear.              ???   :blues:

[flackjacket]

Good words Dave Yo, unfortunatly Politicians here tend to bury their head in the sand and worry where the next Mercedes is coming from. When the next collapse comes (and it will) maybe the World Bank will not be so forthcoming to bail Thailand out. Then where will the cash come from, all the ill gotten gains from Government Ministers, Ha Ha, no the poor old Thai people. I am commited to living here as I have "invested my cash in building a house (and I love the "ordinary" people amd the country but even I am wondering if I have made the wrong decision. Just look at the way Malaysia is trying to persuade people to live there. maybe Thailand should take a leaf out of their book.

[george]

The new visa extension fees are now confirmed by Immigration Bureau, but I have been unable to have the new visa fees confirmed by the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, who controls the Thai Embassies and Consulates.

Will keep you posted.

[pschef]

Keep me in, or push me out ???

What the ####, they really dont know what they want, I say Thai rat rich Thai end of story. Just enjoy whilst you can, anyone know Thaksins email address?

[haha]

when I first heard of thailand increasing visa fees, I was somewhat upset.  ..but somebody said that the usa recently raised their visa fees (november 1, 2002).  so, I checked to confirm that rumor..  ...well, it's true.  the usa charges foreign visitors at least 100 us dollars to get a visa to enter the united states.

I'm still upset about having to pay more for a visa to enter thailand, but how can I justifiably complain when my home country started this trend?

it seems someone in foreign affairs in the usa is getting greedy?  how can we blame thailand for just following suit?

[singa-traz]

Yet many in the population are helpless because they know now getting foreigners is going to be 10 times harder.  Also with these fee increases, it makes the foreigners think twice before moving or living there.

Which foreigner, the expat type ... ? I doubt this fee increase will actually deter any foreigner to move to Thailand, if he comes to do any serious business.

It will not affect tourist, as most don't need to apply for such Visa.

It might affect the backpackers, would be english teacher, who come to live or should I say, survive in Thailand.

Do you really think Thailand need them to prosper ... ???

I can say this much my friends, if Thailand eliminated the Red Light deal, shut down Hookers, and the rest of the business involving that aspect, which they are now undergoing and trying to figure out how to eliminate it all, watch what happens to tourism.

They are smarter than you think ... they will sooner or later legalise and regulate this business, and collect Huge Tax from it.

As for the rest of the post ... complaining about the Visa Fee Increase, Restriction of Night Activities, and impact on the tourism $$$ ...  

Sometime, I think Thai are too tolerant ...

If the same "Scums of the Universe" were trying to settle in our neighborhood back in our country, just because Sex is Cheap with our Daugthers/Sisters... how will we react ?

Real investors looking to do business in Thailand, trying to get a Visa B, would not care if it cost them an extra 500 THB ... for them,   500 THB is less than 15 minutes of their time at the coffee machine.    

Yes, the Thai Government would prefer to attract Rich Foreigners  ... why would they want to attract the poor ?

[robertT]

I wouldn't get too hotted up about these proposals as the ministries have demonstated (from the BBK Post articles that I have read) that they have no coordination. When the man with the big smile in immigration finds that his counterpart in tourism is not smiling there may be a retraction. We got to be cool and see what happens.

[dazdaz]

Increased rates worldwide are a symptom of globalisation or the Americanisation if you prefer that term which is based upon the American dream or quite simply greed.

Survival of the fittest is nothing new.  What has changed is the level of greed, he who earns more, can live a normal lifestyle and he who does'nt, is forced to live a sub-standard lifestyle.

This does make Singapore, Hong Kong or maybe even China "more attractive" for the expat as you have a greater chance to earn a salary that's paid in relation to your skillset and the global economic market conditions as opposed to a local Thai salary which is usually pittance.

I think a knee-jerk reaction to every rise would be bad, it's better to look backwards, see what changes have been implemented, and then work out a rough prediction of future trends.

Regards

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Sanity creeps into the argument. As I pointed out before, visa fees have not been increased for 17 years.

[DaveYo]

Hmmmm, very interesting.  Well, I am not the one who plans on eliminating the red light business, nor am I the one who is bringing in the dope or shall I say coming from the Higher ups in Thailand government corrupting Thai cultures etc.  I am merely quoting only what the top brass is saying to the news people and from what I am reading coming from the Thai visa newsletters.  Now with that said, hmmmmmm I would suggest if it interests any of you to look it up and read it.  OK.  As of not having any fee increases for the last 17 years, Dr Pat Pong is well understood , but many of you don't realize that just to get a BOOK being a Permanent Residence book COSTING YOU A COOL NEAR $5,000.00 USA DOLLARS, in legit terms.  Now if that does not sink in, I dare challenge anyone to tell me if there is anyplace around in the whole world that would charge you for permanent residence Permit ---  a cool $5,000.00 usa dollars by legit means.  Not the shady crap.   Not Citizenship, just a mere Permanent Resident Permit or Card or Book!!  I am not knocking the Thai people who are the general public, and I do grant that the fact that they do slave just to make a living, for the fact I know of one who is living proof,  --- I am KNOCKING THE TOP BRASS dittos  In their attempts to grease their palms and making their piggy banks a bit more shiny and glittery for over doing it and going for it lock stock and barrel!!  If any of them got any sense, I think they lost it this time really big.  We have not heard the rest of it yet of what is to come shortly once they make their announcements.  This is only just the beginning!   I did make the point that just to visit them is not the issue cause that is all the Thai Government wants in the first place.  I said the way it seems to be heading they don't want foreigners to live in their country with the rest of my comments. I did say Tourism is going to take a big hit once this starts to sink in around the world of the fees.    Once we start digging into our pockets for the change, I am sure many of you will be bitter to see just what amount you will be paying and complaining about it will be too late.  In fact there is no one in the Thailand Government that acts as our go in between to keep things smooth.  To go there and open Business sure, a lot of people want to be owners, etc as we dream of some day, but that is not what they are attacking my friends as of now.  That part is soon coming because this is a precursor of what is yet to come.  If anyone believes and trusts the Governments in this world, I have pity for you.   :blues: :cool:

[sabaijai]

Dave Yo wrote:

"Many of you do not understand the real true purpose of these huge fee increases."

But your ensuing argument seems to miss the point, in my opinion, and so I think it's you who do not understand the true intent behind the increases.

I contend it's to line the pockets up the higher-ups. You contend it's to discourage foreigners from living in Thailand. OK we're each entitled to our opinions. But don't you think if they really wanted to stop foreigners from getting PR, they'd simply stop issuing PR (which they did, temporarily, when Purachai was interior minister)?

Anyway, the percentages of increase don't prove a thing. What's more important in deciding what the 'real' intent is, in my opinion, is to know how Thai officialdom think. Having dealt regularly with Thai khaa raatchakaan for 26 years thus far, I say the issue is money, period.

I also stand by my conclusion that the new fees will have virtually NO affect on tourism. I predict tourism will increase next year and the year after that, regardless of fees for residency. Don't confuse residency with tourism ...

[MaiChai]

Visa fees not increasing for 17 years does not give an excuse for such large increases. How about saying, well last year it was X, this year it should be 5% or 10% more. Making it say a 100% increase is totally unacceptable; its hard to absorb such huge increases, particularly if you are a small business. A large increase upsets the system and causes radical changes. Before we had SARs, Iraq, 9/11, now we have visa increases.

Prostitution was made illegal 4 or 5 years ago; now they want to legalise it so they can tax it. What happened to all the moral arguements that justified making it illegal? One would assume that collecting taxes is a greater moral need than the previous humane arguements?

From what I have heard, Vietnam is a much better place to do business. So if you have a choice between Thailand and Vietnam, the sensible money would choose Vietnam. Vietnam was the hub of SE before the Vietnam war, how long will it take for Vietnam to reachieve this dominance? Its just a matter of time IMHO.

[chonabot]

[

english teacher, who come to live or should I say, survive in Thailand.

Do you really think Thailand need them to prosper ... ???

[

Yes , if speaking English is as important as Taksin has recently stated

[MrSam]

The new visa extension fees are now confirmed by Immigration Bureau, but I have been unable to have the new visa fees confirmed by the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, who controls the Thai Embassies and Consulates.

Will keep you posted.

I've also looked into this. My girlfriend's uncle works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is also the Thai ambassador to Laos. He said he hadn't heard this as of yet, but he's checking it out for me. Said he'd call me back sometime tomorrow or on Monday.