Thread: Visa Rules Overhaul

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

, relaxed property-holding rules and incentives for retirees and startup companies."

Going to believe it when I see it I am afraid.

Too many times we have seen proposals along these lines. Easier visas, less requirements, incentives etc. Either finally scrapped, or made so difficult that nothing changes.

In amongst a sea of bad new over the past week, a glimmer of hope for expats and long-stay travellers. You better sit down…


The Thai government are looking into changing the long standing 90 day reporting for people staying in Thailand longer than 90 days on a long-stay visa. But don’t get out the champagne just yet.


For the last few decades any foreigner staying in Thailand for more than 90 days had to report to Thai Immigration about their current whereabouts. Immigration officials added an online alternative a few years ago but its reliability has been patchy.


As far as The Thaiger can tell, the online reporting has been down for at least 3 months. (Comment below if you’ve had a different experience)


The Bangkok Post reports that the changes form part of a strategy “to boost investment and tourism revenue”.


For hotels that have had to report the arrival and location of any foreign arrivals, the equally unpopular TM30 form, the online posting of this information has also been equally patchy over the last few months (many hotels simply don’t bother – it’s up to YOU to insist they check you in with the Immigration system).


Though there has been no official announcement made at this stage, the desperation for visitors and tourist, that used to fuel up to 20% of Thailand’s annual GDP, is forcing all departments to look at relaxing earlier draconian or outdated paperwork in favour of encouraging more arrivals, during the Covid-era or or after.


Immigration officials have often cited the need to track transnational crime as the reason to maintain its strict, and often inconvenient, rules – 90 day reporting, TM30s and TM 28s.


But none of this has reached beyond proposal stage at the moment but, according to the head of a government taskforce investigating the proposals at the moment, there will never be a better time to bring Thailand’s immigration and investment rules into the 21st century.

Chayotid Kridakorn, a former head of JP Morgan Securities, in now leading a Thai government economic panel to recommend changes that will make it easier for investors and travellers to enter into, and stay, in Thailand, according to Bangkok Post.


Even on their most optimistic guesses, the Bank of Thailand says GDP is unlikely to return to pre-Civd levels until Q3, this year. Many pundits would say this is optimistic, indeed.


Other groups to fall between the immigration cracks, up to now, have included the digital nomads – people who want to work remotely, anywhere, anytime. Their creed is ‘have laptop and wifi – can work’. Most digital nomads have used various visas, and border hops, to keep living and working in Thailand. Under current rules, their work has been, strictly, illegal and a specific visa wold allow the Thai government to better control this huge resource and tax them more effectively.

Mr Chayotid says that Thailand doesn’t “want to be left behind and die with old technology”.


Proposals to get rid of 90 day reporting and ease investment rules in Thailand | Thaiger

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Too many times we have seen proposals along these lines. Easier visas, less requirements, incentives etc. Either finally scrapped, or made so difficult that nothing changes.

Been hearing this schpeel since 2005. Nothing changes. Boils down to leadership or lack thereof

The desperation for funds might actually stimulate some action.

But yes, we've heard it all before.

This is certainly positive news, let's see how it develops.

I had not seen this thread and started a thread of my own abut it, Please feel free to delete it.

No word on when the 90 day and hotel reporting systems will be back up. Even the local police are sick of the wife turning up occasionally to report a non-Thai staying at her homestay. As for the rest of it, I've only been living here three years and I'm sure elements of this have already been 'announced' in that time to no avail. Seeing is believing and I'm not holding my breath.

I for one would certainly consider moving some money in if they allowed home ownership for farangs.

it is telling that they use the word "lure" in describing their plans.

synonyms for lure include decoy, entice, inveigle and seduce.

not that it makes any difference though, they have been talking about this for years. changes will be fought by immigration, because the rules as they stand at the moment allow for the vast amounts they make from under the table payments from those who do not, will not or are unable to comply with the regulations as they stand. from penury afflicted retirees to foreign labourers and their agents, its a gold mine for the immigration department.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

I for one would certainly consider moving some money in if they allowed home ownership for farangs.

With university aged children, one's house can always be bought in their name, as they're gonna get it anyway later on in life. If more than one child of age, the better, and split the property ownership between them equally (I presume it isn't an issue for the property to be legally owned by more than one Thai). Can also get a 30 year Usufruct on it after purchase, granting you all control.

Have stuck to condos in the past, will wait until The Bladdy Kid is of age before doing the house thing.

It gave me a chuckle...how many times have we heard the same shit before?

Some time ago we had the word 'Big Joke' Hakpan was back in favour with the ruling junta and a few of you may recall from reports before his fall from grace that he was pushing for reform, one of which was to abandon the pointless reporting regime. He also leant towards re-aligning Thailand from a repository for anyone who fancies staying to a more exclusive destination only permitting the wealthy and those sponsored by Thai nationals.

I fear there may well be a sea change in the laws and the days of the western farang are well and truly numbered.

The record may have been changed but the old tune still lingers on.

...after an agent completed my 90-day inconvenience, she told me that retirement visa renewal was expensive because "we have our own immigration officer"...if the 90-day nonsense is done away with, I imagine "travel" agents and Immigration personnel will have to come up with other revenue streams...

^There's no money in 90 day reports, agents typically charge a couple of hundred Baht to do them and some do them for free if you got your Retirement visa or Extension thru them. Was so easy to do them yourself when the website worked