Resident Visa

[Ironman]

Hi I am a UK national 39 years old. I run a company that has a new Expat insurance product which I want to promote from Bangkok to all the expats in the Far East / Australasia etc.

I want to bring my family to Bangkok for two years.

Question - I have seen the Thai Embassy who have said that I can only get a 3 month visa?

Can somebody give me some guidance on what I need and how to get it?

Thanks

[Sulaphat]

I think that there is detailed info elsewhere on this site concerning getting a non-immigrant B visa, obtaining a work permit and then extending the non-immigrant B from the initial 3 month period to an annual basis.

Bottom line is that you would have to work for a company incorporated in Thailand and have a work permit to stay here for a prolonged period unless you are married to a Thai national or are of retirement age or are very wealthy. I think you can get residency on an expedited basis if you bring in baht 10 million or so and invest it. Not sure what the investment options are and the amount may be higher now.

The other option is to leave Thailand and come back every 90 days on new tourist visas. Lots of people have been doing this, but it might not be convenient for a family. Also not sure whether immigration will allow this liberal policy to continue. If you are serious about doing business here you probably wouldn't want to use this approach.

By the way, what type of insurance product does your company handle?

[rocky]

Contact the

http://www.thailand-visa.com/

Tell them what you are trying to achieve and they will be very helpful

I needed some information and contacted them , they gave me al the information and I know the information i have is correct.

Good luck

[Baaksida]

I’m no expert.

[kanbur1]

Hi

You have a number of options open to you:

1) Register a Thai private limited company with B2 million registered share capital. This will allow you to apply for a work permit for one year, which you then renew. Your family will then be able to apply for dependents' visas

2) Open a Branch Office of your UK company. This is quite a lot more complicated than registering a Thai private limited company.

3) Invest B3 million in the form of fixed deposits in any government bank, OR purchase of government bonds or state enterprise bonds, OR purchase of a condominium, to qualify for the (IM) Capital Investment Visa.

For all of the above, initially get a three month non-immigrant visa, come to Thailand, set up, and re-apply for the long-term visas.

There are other options, to numerous to go into here. I suggest you contact The Sutlet Group: www.sutletgroup.com or [email protected]

Fast and efficient service by expats.

Hope this helps.

[Ironman]

Thanks for the response very helpful

Ironman220

[alanw]

"Hi I am a UK national 39 years old. I run a company that has a new Expat insurance product which I want to promote from Bangkok to all the expats in the Far East / Australasia etc."

I hope you have done some form of detailed market survey, specific to Thailand (and then for the other countries you mention), and established that there is a strong long-term market for your product.

Why? Obviously I don't have any details about the product, however you mention "Expat insurance", which could mean a range of subject areas. If it's really some form of ' personal investment / long term growth product / pension/life insurance plan' etc etc., then you should be aware that this industry has a very poor reputation in Thailand.

It's an inductry which is basically unregulated / uncontrolled, and attracts lots of tourists who think they can get rich quick trying to sell these forms of products. Most fail fairly quickly, most get caught out, when they can get an ex-pat to listen to their sales talk, because they can't begin to answer the obvious questions. End result, as mention above, this industry has a very poor reputation. Plus, perhaps a bit unfairly, the fairly recent 'boiler room' scams operating out of Bangkok haven't helped.

Unless your product has very high margins (doubtful), then you will need to close a lot of deals every month to make good money to support a whole family, pay for education etc etc.

Please give it some thought.

Regards

[Ironman]

Thanks for the email - product is not one of the categories that you outlined. iWithout going into any detail it is similar to a travel policy but for 'emergencies' only.

Regards

Ironman220

[alanw]

Following might be of interest to you, for awareness of what could be your competition.

I work for an international management consulting company, I'm based permenantly in Bangkok, and I travel all Asia frequently. My company provides a global membershop of 'International SOS'.

I've never used their services, and I hope I never will.

I've visited their office in Singapore (not to arrange the membership). They appear to very professionally set up. They offer (short list):

- Medical help at the location

- Fast local payment of medical bills

- Recovery of dead bodies

- Urgent evacuation - for either medical or security reasons (fully accompanied and with whatever medical services are needed during travel)

- Legal referral at location

- Instantaneous translation services by phone for all languages used within both North, South, and SE Asia.

etc

They send regular e-mail updates in regard to many other locations (Pakistan just one example). Their updates are very well organized and very detailed, but without being verbose.

Their website is www.internationalsos.com/world-network

Hope this is helpful.

Regards

[Ironman]

Have been away from the site so have just got your mail.

Iam aware of the company and there are other similar companies that offer Expat medical insurance / services.

The product that I am aiming to market does not conflict with these but tap into a gap in the market.

In simple terms the product pays for all travel and accomodation for you and or your family to return to the UK if a Close relative is seriously ill / has a serious accident or dies. The policy can also be bought by the UK relative in the event that you suffer one of the insured perils.

Cost is very competitive.

Appreciate your feedback / thoughts.

Thanks