Expats

Stay updated on the latest expat news and insights in Thailand with The Thaiger. Our all-inclusive coverage brings you vital information on residency, visas, work permits, property, healthcare, and other expat-related issues. Adapt to the Land of Smiles seamlessly with our advice, guiding you through various aspects of life as a foreign resident in this enthralling country.

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    Choosing the best health insurance for retirees in Thailand

    Featuring sunfilled beaches, majestic palaces, and historical temples, Thailand is at the top of every retiree’s bucket list as the dream destination. Meanwhile, retirees should consider securing health insurance in Thailand to protect themselves wherever their journeys take them. Health...

  • 10 common mistakes to avoid while buying health insurance

    10 common mistakes to avoid while buying health insurance

    Understanding health insurance can be tricky with all the options and terms. It’s essential to get it right to ensure both your health and financial security. With so many options and details, it’s easy to make mistakes that could affect you later. In this article, we’ll explore the ten common mistakes people make when buying health insurance. We’ll help you…

  • Tips for riding motorcycle in Thailand (2024)

    Tips for riding motorcycle in Thailand (2024)

    PLEASE NOTE: We’re not recommending that you should ride a motorbike or motorcycle in Thailand but, if you do, these tips will help… Riding a motorbike in Thailand is a great way to get around, especially in heavy traffic where it’s often the quickest option. While some may warn against it, those who avoid hopping on a 110cc scooter miss out on…

  • The 10 (expat) influencers in Thailand you need to follow today

    The 10 (expat) influencers in Thailand you need to follow today

    The online world is filled with unique influencers, each carving out their own space with distinctive content. In Thailand, the expat community is no exception, with many sharing stories, advice, and inspiration from their lives in the Land of Smiles. From travel bloggers and digital nomads to automotive enthusiasts and culinary explorers, these expat influencers have made Thailand their home…

  • Retiree’s paradise or visa maze? Thailand’s options but no land grabs

    Retiree’s paradise or visa maze? Thailand’s options but no land grabs

    Thailand is a popular choice for foreign retirees, offering several visa types including annual extensions, a five to 20 year Elite visa, and a 10-year Long Term Residence (LTR) visa. However, none of these options allow direct land ownership, nor do they guarantee a pathway to permanent residency or citizenship. Foreigners can purchase condominiums but this typically doesn’t come with visa…

  • Irishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned

    Irishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned

    Tragedy struck a swanky 5-star hotel in Pattaya in the early hours of this morning when an Irishman plunged to his death from the 31st floor. The Irishman, Michael Browne, shocked hotel staff and patrons as he fell to his death from the 31st floor today, August 19. The shocking incident, which has left the Pattaya police baffled, raises questions…

  • British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar

    British tourists breathe easy: Bangkok slips off the scam radar

    Good news for British tourists heading to Bangkok for a holiday: the Big Mango has dropped five places from No.1 to No.6 as the globe’s most likely destinations to get scammed or robbed. Antivirus company McAfee compiled a new list highlighting cities where tourists are often robbed of their hard-earned cash, with a popular Spanish resort now claiming the top…

  • Phuket motorists disrupted by Heroines Underpass pole relocation

    Phuket motorists disrupted by Heroines Underpass pole relocation

    Motorists in Phuket should prepare for further disruptions at the Heroines Monument as Thalang Traffic Police continue the relocation of power poles along Thepkrasattri Road. This work is part of the preparations for constructing the Heroines Underpass. The initial phase of this relocation project, which started last Wednesday, July 31, has been completed. Yesterday, August 4, Thalang Traffic Police announced…

  • Top health and travel insurance companies in Thailand for travellers and expats

    Top health and travel insurance companies in Thailand for travellers and expats

    Do you plan on making Thailand your new home? Or are you planning on visiting Thailand on a short trip? While travelling and living in Thailand can be fun, you’ll also want to plan with your medical and travel insurance, providing you with comfort. When it comes to health and travel insurance for travellers and expats in Thailand, look no…

  • SCB X delays end of Robinhood food delivery service

    SCB X delays end of Robinhood food delivery service

    Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) X PCL has made a significant decision to delay the termination of its Robinhood food delivery service, initially planned for the end of this month. The company yesterday, July 29, submitted a formal request to the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) to extend the service’s operation. Manop Sangiambut, Chief Financial Officer of SCB X, revealed the…

  • Foreign tourists found safe after night search in Doi Nang Mo forest

    Foreign tourists found safe after night search in Doi Nang Mo forest

    San Kamphaeng police, forest officers, and other relevant agencies initiated a search at 8.30pm yesterday, July 28, for two missing foreign tourists who had become lost in the Doi Nang Mo forest area near the Mae Pha Nhaen Reservoir in Chiang Mai. The search was prompted by the coordinates sent by the tourists before their signal was lost. The dense…

  • Thailand eases visa rules to attract long-term visitors

    Thailand eases visa rules to attract long-term visitors

    New visa regulations issued by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have made it significantly easier to visit and stay in the country long-term. The number of countries eligible for visa-free entry has increased from 57 to 93, now including India and China. Visitors from these countries will receive a 60-day entry stamp, which can be extended for another 30 days…

  • Weed way to go! Thailand flip-flops on cannabis laws again

    Weed way to go! Thailand flip-flops on cannabis laws again

    In yet another exercise of political flip-flopping in Thailand’s cannabis saga, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans to legislate marijuana for medical use. This unexpected move marks a significant U-turn from recent proposals to re-criminalise the plant, leaving many questioning whether the government knows whether it’s coming or going. Thailand made headlines as one of the first Asian countries…

  • Patong tuk tuk driver fined after aggressive road confrontation

    Patong tuk tuk driver fined after aggressive road confrontation

    Patong tuk tuk drivers are again under scrutiny after an alarming confrontation between a driver and a resident in traffic. The incident, captured in a 51-second video, ignited a wave of criticism and concern among Phuket residents. A resident, who has been living in Phuket for eight years, documented the encounter and posted the video on the Facebook page Driving…

  • Expats: New Thai visas make elite status obsolete

    Expats: New Thai visas make elite status obsolete

    Longstay expats are in uproar as Thailand’s new visa policies render their costly long-term options nearly worthless. The introduction of a 60-day visa-exempt policy and the 180-day Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) has left many feeling shortchanged. Geoffrey Fisher, a Brit who recently forked out 900,000 baht (approximately £20,000) for a five-year Elite visa, lamented, “I’ve wasted my money as more…

  • Phuket enforces 48-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holidays

    Phuket enforces 48-hour alcohol ban for Buddhist holidays

    Patong police announced a 48-hour ban on alcohol sales in bars and restaurants as Thailand observes the Buddhist holidays Asarnha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa this weekend. Violating the alcohol sales ban could result in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to 10,000 baht, according to the notice issued by Patong Police. Officers informed bar…

  • Tourists warned of dietary supplement scam ring in Pattaya

    Tourists warned of dietary supplement scam ring in Pattaya

    A group of foreign nationals has come under scrutiny in Pattaya, accused by locals of running a scam ring targeting tourists. Operating mainly at the Made in Thailand Night Plaza on Pattaya’s Second Road, the gang is also seen near the Avenue Shopping Mall and on Beach Road, according to local reports. These men, described as possibly Pakistani or Middle…

  • Rail ale rally: Bangkok victims group derails alcohol repeal bid

    Rail ale rally: Bangkok victims group derails alcohol repeal bid

    Over 50 members of the Bangkok Drunk Driving Victims Network, led by President Jessada Yamsabai, submitted a petition opposing the repeal of the ban on alcohol sales and consumption on trains and at train stations to the acting Governor of the State Railway of Thailand, Jarae Rungthanee. This petition, submitted yesterday, July 11, follows a tragic 2014 incident where a…

  • Stinging situation as Bluebottles sighted around Racha Islands

    Stinging situation as Bluebottles sighted around Racha Islands

    The Thai authorities issued a warning about the presence of Portuguese Man o’ War, also known as bluebottles, at the Racha Islands, located south of Phuket, following an incident where a tour boat staff member was stung yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has identified bluebottles at Ao La, Ao Tu, and Racha Yai Islands. Tourists and…

  • British pedophile’s 30-year Thai escape leads to 30 new charges

    British pedophile’s 30-year Thai escape leads to 30 new charges

    A British pedophile arrested at a London airport after hiding in Thailand for almost 30 years is facing an additional 30 historic sex-related charges. Richard Burrows, one of the UK’s “most wanted” fugitives, saw his 50-year reign of terror come to an end when he was apprehended on Thursday, March 28, at Heathrow Airport after hiding in Thailand and evading…

  • Kanchanaburi police race to rescue British teen’s lost luggage

    Kanchanaburi police race to rescue British teen’s lost luggage

    Kanchanaburi Tourist Police swiftly responded to a report concerning a British teenager who yesterday left his shoulder bag on a taxi’s roof. The 19 year old man, identified as Southgate, had travelled from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and forgotten his bag, containing his passport, a 50 baht banknote, and some foreign currency, on the taxi’s roof upon arrival at his guesthouse.…

  • The best methods for learning the Thai language

    The best methods for learning the Thai language

    If you are planning to stay in Thailand, then learning Thai may be a good idea as it can be handy and help you survive long-term. Different methods of learning Thai can offer different benefits, and it really depends on what method is convenient depending on your needs. Learning Thai with a mobile phone app If you’re a complete beginner…

  • Taste bud triumph: Time Out names Bangkok one of best food cities

    Taste bud triumph: Time Out names Bangkok one of best food cities

    Bangkok has been named the sixth-best city in the world for food by the renowned lifestyle magazine Time Out. The announcement was made today, June 5, bringing joy to many in Thailand’s capital. Chai Wacharong, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, revealed that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is thrilled with the news. Time Out, known for its focus on lifestyle,…

  • Thailand to tax residents’ foreign income irrespective of remittance

    Thailand to tax residents’ foreign income irrespective of remittance

    The Revenue Department of Thailand will amend a law to tax individuals with foreign income, even if that income is not brought into Thailand. Director-General of the Revenue Department, Kulaya Tantitemit stated that the current tax law mandates individuals residing in Thailand for over 180 days per year to pay taxes on foreign income if it is brought into the…

  • British man found dead in Sattahip condo, suspected suicide

    British man found dead in Sattahip condo, suspected suicide

    A 58 year old British man was found dead in his condo bathroom in Sattahip, Chon Buri on May 27. Sattahip police responded to a report of a suspected suicide at a luxury condominium behind Bang Saray Market. Upon entering the third-floor room, police discovered the man, identified by police as Michael Devalle, dead in the bathroom. He appeared to…

  • Thai Consulate Savannakhet: No more walk-in services

    Thai Consulate Savannakhet: No more walk-in services

    THAI CONSULATE SAVANNAKHET POLICY CHANGE The Royal Thai Consulate in Savannakhet, Laos, will go to online appointment booking only effective June 1st (actually on Tuesday June 4th which is the first day they’re open after the holiday). The consulate will no longer allow walk up service, you have to book an appointment to get in the gate. At this time the…

  • Pattaya police powerless unless three British men lodge attack complaint

    Pattaya police powerless unless three British men lodge attack complaint

    Pattaya Tourist Police declared they cannot take action regarding the assault on three British men, which left one of them in a coma, unless an official complaint is lodged. Three British men were attacked on Friday, May 24, at the Helicopter bar on Soi 6 in Pattaya over an unpaid bar bill. One of the men is now in hospital…

  • Deranged expat threatens murder in Phuket over rental dispute

    Deranged expat threatens murder in Phuket over rental dispute

    A Phuket neighbourhood was rocked by a chilling threat when a disgruntled Swedish expat promised to return and kill a local homeowner after being barred from his rental house. The shocking incident was brought to light on the Phuket Residents Seek Help Facebook page, prompting immediate action from the authorities. Immigration officers, accompanied by the Tourist Police, set up surveillance…

  • Beloved Brit found dead in Thailand hotel room

    Beloved Brit found dead in Thailand hotel room

    A 47 year old machine operator from Pontypridd, South Wales was found dead in his hotel room in Thailand, leaving family and friends devastated. Simon Brown, known as Browny, was discovered lifeless last Saturday, and an investigation into his untimely death is underway. Loved ones describe their state as one of total shock and sadness, as there were no prior…

  • Thailand introduces 10-year EEC visa to attract global talent

    Thailand introduces 10-year EEC visa to attract global talent

    Aiming to bolster the Eastern Economic Corridor‘s (EEC) potential as a regional industrial powerhouse, Thailand’s Cabinet has sanctioned a novel 10-year visa specifically designed for top-level professionals and experts. The EEC visa is part of a strategic move to attract talent to the country’s targeted industries, as announced by deputy government spokeswoman Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri following a recent cabinet meeting.…