My next door neighdoor just called to inform that she has ju st read that MAYBE a 5 year retirement visa will be introducted

I like such posts which are full of details.   I mean supported by statements such as "....she just read..." but didn't say where she read it.   Continued on with "....MAYBE..."   Maybe you can call your neighbor back and get some more details?  

Has been in numerous media   articles over last week....and then again over several years.....progressing at teh speed of a startled turtle.

 

Example below from 28 October

http://pattayaone.news/en/tourist-minister-floats-ideas-new-five-year-visas/

 

A replication of this from 26 October

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/featured/2016/10/26/tourism-minister-talks-5-year-visas/

 

Numerous others with very slight alteration.

'

This bit may be of interest to some...

 

" Kobkarn also singled out complaints about delays at the Chiang Mai immigration office, saying it needed to increase staff because it takes more than six times longer for expats to extend their visas there compared to offices in other provinces. "

Edited November 3, 20169 yr by mamborobert

Now when the head of immigration or the PM proposes a 5 year retirement Visa I'll take notice and keep my eyes and ears open.  But wen the Tourism Ministry proposes/mentions it, I'll just go back to sleep.

They'll probably demand 5 x 800.000 bht deposit 

That was the topic the tourism minister started last week after the "long term resident" meeting in Chiang Mai, where the head of immigration was the only key figure not to attend. So go figure. 

15 hours ago, MESmith said:

They'll probably demand 5 x 800.000 bht deposit 

Actually, you`re probably not far off the mark.

 

It might mean having to purchase a 20 million baht condo approved by Thai immigration or subscribing to some kind of elite card or other scheme.

Not necessarily, they already issue work permits for 3 years. It's only a logical step to do this for visas for long term residents as well. It is certainly driven by the need for more efficient processes rather than more administrative effort like different requirements for deposits. But if it happens, who knows. That guy in Dubai could have made it possible as he did for the general population...

2 hours ago, MadMac said:

Not necessarily, they already issue work permits for 3 years. It's only a logical step to do this for visas for long term residents as well. It is certainly driven by the need for more efficient processes rather than more administrative effort like different requirements for deposits. But if it happens, who knows. That guy in Dubai could have made it possible as he did for the general population...

 

Logical 

My mistake ...

Edited November 4, 20169 yr by MadMac

A friend of mine has residency and he has to do a 5 year reporting to main police station in CM, not to Immigration Police as we do on our 90 day or 12 month visas.

 

john 

how did he get that JW?