medina21

The tax will start at 300 and quickly become 1,000 and more. Give governments an inch and they take a mile. It's not the tax per se , it's the negative image it sends to potential customers. If countries charge a tax for visiting their countries and contributing to their GDP, why not High Street chains demanding a fee to enter their stores?

"No oversupply"? Farcical. Bangkok is awash with empty condos. In my building, completed in 2017, and in a prime location, the developer still has around 20 units to sell at a 20% discount on the original prices. I asked them if they had any units on higher floors. They said, 'no'. I now discover they have two units on my floor. You cannot believe a word the sales people tell you. Even the juristic office doesn't know the real figure. Add in private sales and I reckon that 20% of the building is for sale. I know of Thai owners trying to sell at a 20 % loss. This situation is repeated in condo towers across Bangkok. It's the same in Cha Am, Hua Hin, Pattaya et al.

I went to CW on Tuesday to get another Non O Extension of Stay for retirement. On arrival, you fill out a Covid declaration. Received queue ticket at 13:00. This has a QR code so you can check your progress using the photo app on your phone. I was number 90 in the queue. At 15:45 I gave my documents to the 'Document Check' desk, and then waited. My number came up and a second officer checked all my documents (passport, 12 months bank statement, K Bank certificate of balance, bank passbook,TM30, and hand drawn location plan of my address), asked me to sign 3 forms (minimum bank balances, overstay and one other), took my pic, took fee of 1,900, gave me receipt and stamped new extension in my passport. She did not ask to see the original of my TM30 and did not need the 'credit Advice/Receipt' form from K Bank providing details of inward transfer (some years they want it, and some years they don't). I then had to go and see a third officer who checked everything again. She looked very carefully at my bank statement whilst cross referencing the info with my passport. My balance was never less than a fraction under 700K. I was then asked to wait. My passport and bank passbook disappeared into the dark hole of bureaucracy. Twenty minutes later they were returned to me by a smiley chap/chapette. Don't try and understand the multiple checking; bureaucracy has its own logic. I was done and dusted by 16:45, but then waited 30 minutes for a taxi willing to turn on the meter. Hope this is of use to anyone about to do their annual extension.

Thanks for replying. I have a Non O visa for the purposes of retirement and do not need health insurance as a requirement of this visa. I have health insurance because it's the wise thing to do. So my question remains, does your health insurance to re-enter Thailand have to be valid until the expiry date of your extension, or are they just happy to see that you have a policy.

I posted this question yesterday. Perhaps someone knows the answer today. I have health insurance with Pacific Cross. The policy expires in mid August 2022 and will be renewed. If I take a short trip from Thailand between my 'extension' renewal in mid January 2022 and the expiry of my health insurance, would I only be 'stamped in' until the expiry date of my insurance? I have read that your health insurance must match the period of your 'extension'. Hope someone knows the answer. Thanks.

I have a Non O visa with extension of stay for 'retirement'. I have 10 million cover with Pacific Cross. My policy expires in mid August. The policy covers Wu Flu. The expiry date of the policy and the expiry date of my extension of stay do not match. So, if I leave Thailand for a trip to Europe, will I only be 'stamped' in until the expiry date of my health policy? In this case, I'd have to buy a policy covering the period until my extension expiry, or delay my trip until I have renewed my private cover. This does not seem well thought through.

How did they arrive at one million? Seems like it was picked out of thin air; it's a fantasy figure.

The UK government needs to explain why Astra Zeneca in Thailand is not the same as Astra Zeneca in the UK. It's time for the Ambassador to demand an explanation and for the government to provide one.

Real property rights for 5 years is not freehold ownership in perpetuity, it's a 5 year lease priced at freehold values. Insanity.

I've never had a problem with immigration apart from the usual requests for more photocopies, but that happens in all countries when you deal with bureaucrats. Sure, 90 day reporting is a pain, but I do it by post and that works well. I have health insurance and the premium is circa 53,000 with a deductible of 300,000; I'm late 60s. My rent is a fraction of what I'd have to pay for a similar prime location in a UK/European capital. The electricity and water bills are peanuts. The internet connection is vastly superior to many parts of my home country. The sun shines and I have a pool and gym at my disposal, plus the beaches are a short flight or bus/van ride distant. Ninety nine percent of my interactions with Thais have been positive. There are a'holes in every nation on earth. The Thais in my condo are delightful and I enjoy friendly banter with the staff in my local 7/11. The street vendors in the nearest soi are full of smiles and waves. This is my fourth country. Nowhere is perfect, nowhere. Does the bureaucracy suck in Siam? Sure it does, but have you experienced Greece, Italy, Spain or France? Of course there are problems here, but have a look at the Anglo Saxon world and its obsession with wokery. Take your pick. If you are having a down day, just imagine Biden, Trudeau, Macron. Morrison, Ardern or Johnson as your PM and maybe you'll have a different perspective on life in Siam. I've no problem with the 'retirement visa' financial requirements. If they do a 'Malaysia', I won't stay, but I can't see them doing that. With the catastrophic decline in tourism, the government needs every satang it can gather. So, for the moment, the combination of sun, swimming pool, and relaxed lifestyle suits me well. You can make bad choices anywhere, but you can make good choices too - up to you. Just avoid 'buffalo broken leg syndrome' and you'll be fine ????

This guy makes mince look intelligent. Insanity.