Thailand to launch new 10 year multiple entry visa for over 50s

[fforest1]

2 minutes ago, thurien said:

 

exactly this is the question as to the future policy of immigration!

 

How long will they still offer a one year extension? for how long will they suffer from 1900 baht, why not increase to say 5000 baht? for how long will they still be happy with 800k/400k to be shown when extending, why not finally move it up to 2 mill / 1mill??

Well I guess if you don't come from the chosen 12 countries you would really be hurting then... 

[david555]

2 hours ago, Luckysilk said:

Rich in, poor out.

 

Good luck trying to sell property in Pattaya/Jomtien now.

+1 and nowhere talking if you can get your money out of Thailand if you like to stop this "arrangement "

[darksidedog]

Just now, Catkiwi said:

"14 nationalities eligible: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada and United States of America"

 

No UK mentioned there DSDog... Anyway I  don't care because they don't want any Kiwis.

If you look at the OP, the final words state it has been edited to correct eligible nations. I pointed out the mistake and it was corrected by the OP.

Initially the United Kingdom was listed as well as Great Britain and Northern Ireland..

[Catkiwi]

5 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Or, I think they're betting, you won't last that long!!!

Could be a safe bet with the high number of people topping them selves here. That and motor bike accidents must keep the Expat population at a minimum surely...

[Catkiwi]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

If you look at the OP, the final words state it has been edited to correct eligible nations. I pointed out the mistake and it was corrected by the OP.

Initially the United Kingdom was listed as well as Great Britain and Northern Ireland..

Ok, didn't see that bit. Still I think it still must be a miss print as no NZ there on the list! I'll just have to save my 3 mil for more wine women and song.

[SirBuwanaDogbossKing]

16 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

You get to start all over again...lol

 

14 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Or, I think they're betting, you won't last that long!!!

So really it's just a five year recurring visa?

[Chivas]

comedy gold 3 million and a thai medical insurance policy covering the whole period, the downward spiral of stupidity continues

[brucegoniners]

What a bunch of bullshit. 3 million baht! Who is going to tie that much up in a Thai bank account and just leave it there?

 

This is for a very few rich people who have enough money to spread around.

 

I'll go ever year thank you.

 

Idiots!

 

They ruin everything.

[ujayujay]

3 Million in Bath on a Thai Bank? Never ever. I'ts like to go gambling in a Casino.

[Catkiwi]

3 minutes ago, SirBuwanaDogbossKing said:

 

So really it's just a five year recurring visa?

only once.

[nausea]

Interesting, as an indication of how they're thinking, should they ever decide to review the retirement extension rules - 3 million baht, compulsory health insurance, it's a kind of wish list.

[Catkiwi]

1 minute ago, ujayujay said:

3 Million in Bath on a Thai Bank? Never ever. I'ts like to go gambling in a Casino.

If that was your only concern there are several overseas banks here, UOB & Standard Chartered as examples. But...I would'nt bother with the whole process, as many here have pointed out, a retirement visa is renewable and not that much hassle.

[weegee]

When i read the Headline, I really thought Thailand had taken a step forward on this. Sadly us who live here to be with our Family, are all still out in the cold with this....I still say, if you are Married to a Thai and support a Thai Family, then a 5 yr Visa should be the normal without having to place 3M Baht in an account and leave it there....Some here couldnt afford to do that AND keep up to the demands of looking after their Family....

When will the Government see this and make the much needed changes...We can all still report every three months if they wanted....

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

8 minutes ago, SirBuwanaDogbossKing said:

 

So really it's just a five year recurring visa?

If you were alive 5 years later, you'd have to re-qualify yourself to get the 2nd five year visa...

 

If I caught Joe's follow-up posts correct, I believe that would mean paying another application fee, showing proof of Thai medical insurance, and having the required income and/or Thai bank deposits... along with any other of the original requirements.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 minutes ago, Catkiwi said:

If that was your only concern there are several overseas banks here, UOB & Standard Chartered as examples. But...I would'nt bother with the whole process, as many here have pointed out, a retirement visa is renewable and not that much hassle.

Standard Chartered is getting out of retail banking in Thailand as of this August, and has already agreed to sell their retail banking operations in Thailand to Tisco Bank. So need to cross SC off your overseas bank list for Thailand.

 

[realenglish1]

There is no way I would want medical insurance from a Thai company I have Cigna health Why would I want a Thai carrier that is only limited to Thailand

 

This was an ill thought of Visa

[Catkiwi]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Standard Chartered is getting out of retail banking in Thailand as of this August, and has already agreed to sell their retail banking operations in Thailand to Tisco Bank. So need to cross SC off your overseas bank list for Thailand.

 

Good info TallGuy.

[dutchbull]

It is only interesting for some people if you can skip the 90 days visit to immigration....also miss our Belgium friends in this list

[Na Lee]

OK.  I'll give you 1900 Baht.  If I ask you to give me ten times that back, will you give me 190000?

Yes if you apply for me a new retirement visa each year 10 years long.

Sent from my BLL-L22 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[SirBuwanaDogbossKing]

11 minutes ago, Catkiwi said:

only once.

read the previous posts, after 10 years you start over again, hence it's just a 5 year recurring visa.

[Lee4Life]

3 hours ago, Thomas Hannah said:

It is.All visa,s are.

then the requirements to have the funds in a Thai bank would not have to be met if the visa was applied for in the home country and the applicant had sufficient funds in a bank there

[Capt Rob]

14 minutes ago, Capt Rob said:

What is not clear is does the 5 year renewal also cost another THB 10 K ?

The cost of insurance is fairly high in later years, or virtually no-existent.

The multiple re-entry is a plus.

 

It is all about getting market share as other Asian countries are offering better deals. The pros and cons of  health care, political issues etc need to be considered of course.

 

At Chiang Mai Immigration they have definitely lifted their game and the chances are you will be processed quickly with helpful staff.

On the assumption that some government employee is detailed off to read newspapers, TV gathering comments on government edicts. I suggest they might be better off re-drafting the requirements to be beneficial for both parties :-

 

Suggestions :-

 

>  I think a medical contingency fund requirement of retirees which is acceptable be that of a 'traditional' medical insurance, or  a 'sinking' fund where one would start with a deposit amount of THB ( less than proposed THB 3 Million! ) region of THB 3/400K with the need to add to it yearly to allow for inflationary costs.

Conditions for accessing and  toppping up again to be listed. 

 

>  Other current requirements income/bank amounts to remain the same as per yearly visa. In order to demonstrate visible means of support.

 

>  With the continuation of the 90 day reporting, retirees could thereby authenticate the above on the one year anniversary 

 

I think the Thais are smart to ensure that ' guests ' do not become a drain on the public purse but the announcement for a 10 year visa amounts to puffery.

 

Like other TV viewers I regard the conditions sublimely unattractive

 

 

[Catkiwi]

1 minute ago, SirBuwanaDogbossKing said:

read the previous posts, after 10 years you start over again, hence it's just a 5 year recurring visa.

Yes that is why it re occurs only once. Read the post I was quoting.

[DavisH]

If this is aimed at "medical tourists", why is the health insurance required? I would have thought that the aim was to come to Thailand for medical treatment, and that they would be paying out of their pocket....? The visa requirements don't seem to gel with their target audience. I would imagine most retirees would just stick with their regular retirement extension of stay. Once a year visit to immigration is not a big deal unless you are bed-ridden. The financial requirements seem excessive too. If I had that sort of money I'd be investing it and not tying it up in some 1% interest savings account. 

[fforest1]

The Elite card was launched in 2003  its now 2017 that's 14 years and they now have 4,348 members...

 

I doubt this 10 years visa will even come close to meeting this very low goal....

[SABloke]

 
Reading between the lines it appears that for this visa you wont need to get a re-entry permit, and if so this visa would in fact be cheaper than a retirement extension for anyone who goes in and out fairly often.
 
So I suspect that this visa targets those who intend to go back and forth a lot, and who may not be here all the year to be able to renew an extension, whereas the retirement extension targets people who mostly want to stay put. Indeed the article itself mentions that the visa is designed to promote medical tourism.

A multiple re-entry permit is 3800 Baht so only 19 000 Baht + 9500 Baht for 5 extensions. Ok 20 000 Baht "Cheaper", but you don't have to lock away 1.5 Mil for 5 years (After 1 year you can take back 1.5 mil - this is from the original report last year).

[newnative]

I wonder if medical insurance from a foreign company that is recognized by Thai hospitals would meet the requirement for Thai medical insurance.  I am insured with April International.  Any guesses? 

[MyFriend You]

3 hours ago, SOUTHERNSTAR said:

Wrong friend. I got a quote last year from a Thai company and with a very big deductable included my cover here excluding inpatient cover would have been 3 times my international cover. The reason is simple they hit you with extra premiums due to higher than 25 BMI. So instead on paying B 54 000 for Thai cover I got US cover for B 17 000. My estimate is to get yourself covered will cost you more than B 120 000 that is if you can get cover. But try and let us know. By the way they only said what the price of the visa was and not for the re-entry permit which they could load on top of it. You must also bring in the cost of renewal at 5 years. Sit back first and see what happens and then do calculations. 

Its a Multiple Entry Visa, no need for Re-Entry permit..................

[Catkiwi]

6 minutes ago, newnative said:

I wonder if medical insurance from a foreign company that is recognized by Thai hospitals would meet the requirement for Thai medical insurance.  I am insured with April International.  Any guesses? 

Should be good as. Unless I am missing something, I think when they say Thai insurance they must mean insurance that is applicable in Thailand and not necessarily from a Thai insurance company.

[Suradit69]

5 hours ago, BigBadGeordie said:

In comparason to my Non O, followed by 10 extensions of stay based on retirement, this does not seem particularly attractive.

 

I fail to see which group it is aimed at?

Yes, 10 years ago I might have considered it, but at this point just renewing the retirement extension seems the easier road to stay on especially since this new plan seems more onerous than just doing the extension and sending someone to do the 90 day reports. Will be interesting to see how popular it is.

 

Seems about time to consider allowing long term stayers to renew extensions less often. If you've been doing it for more than 10 years they should allow renewal every two years or 5 years.