Expats

Thailand expat news, visas, work permits, property, and healthcare—stay informed with essential updates and insights for foreign residents. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for expat news in Thailand.

  • Sponsored

    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • English tourist assaults tuk tuk driver over fare dispute in Phuket

    English tourist assaults tuk tuk driver over fare dispute in Phuket

    An English traveller in Phuket has been caught in a troubling confrontation with a local tuk tuk driver over a fare dispute. The incident, which has been widely shared on social media platforms, shows the tourist physically assaulting the driver after accusing him of withholding change. The video clip reveals the English traveller forcefully gripping the driver’s neck and shouting…

  • Australians in Phuket gain easy access to visa services

    Australians in Phuket gain easy access to visa services

    From Monday, April 29, Australians residing in Phuket can access visa services and provide biometrics within the city, according to a statement released by the Australian Ambassador to Thailand, Angela Macdonald. The service, which was previously only available in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, is now available in Phuket through the Australian Biometric Collection Centre, operated by VFS Global. “The Australian…

  • Russian to respect: Phuket hospital calls for law-abiding visitors

    Russian to respect: Phuket hospital calls for law-abiding visitors

    Vachira Phuket Hospital called upon the Russian community in Phuket to respect Thai laws and hospital regulations following a string of incidents involving Russian nationals. Recent episodes include a Russian man refusing to settle his medical bills, and a woman threatening hospital staff with a baseball bat. A man of Russian nationality was arrested on April 19 for intimidating the…

  • Phuket launches free electric bus to drive sustainable tourism

    Phuket launches free electric bus to drive sustainable tourism

    Phuket is gearing up for a greener future with the launch of a free air-conditioned electric bus service in the heart of the city. Scheduled to accelerate on May 9, this eco-friendly initiative is driven by a collaboration between local companies under the banner of PKCD and the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation. The announcement for the 22-seat Smart Bus EV…

  • Fat farang strips naked and poops in Bangkok shrine (video)

    Fat farang strips naked and poops in Bangkok shrine (video)

    Thailand’s tourism drive suffered another setback this week when Bangkok bore witness to yet another repulsive, badly-behaved fat farang who saw it fit to strip naked, bathe and poop in a Buddhist shrine. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been playing catch up for the past four years, after the Covid-19 epidemic, to attract more tourists to the Land of…

  • Airfares drop for popular domestic routes ahead of Songkran

    Airfares drop for popular domestic routes ahead of Songkran

    Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit announced a decrease in airfares for three popular domestic routes by 3.8% to 14% starting this Friday, in line with the Songkran festival. The fares for the six airlines offering flights between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Phuket have been set at a maximum of 3,000 baht (US$80) per one-way trip. The anticipated fares for…

  • Phuket RBC’s urgent call for blood donations ahead of Songkran

    Phuket RBC’s urgent call for blood donations ahead of Songkran

    Phuket Regional Blood Centre (Phuket RBC) issued an urgent call for blood donors of all types to help increase the blood supply during the Songkran holidays. To incentivise donors, the centre is offering free Give Blood Save Life T-shirts to those who donate blood at their Phuket Town offices between April 9-11, from 8.30am to 7.30pm, or between April 12-16,…

  • Game, set, match: International beach tennis served in Pattaya

    Game, set, match: International beach tennis served in Pattaya

    The sands of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, right in front of the Dvaree Hotel near Soi 12, have been transformed into an international sports arena as the Pattaya International Beach Tennis IFBT World Cup Tour 2024 is underway. This global beach tennis tournament is a spectacle that sports enthusiasts should not miss. Last night, the beach courts were buzzing with…

  • Phuket court to revive tourist section amid rising crime against visitors

    Phuket court to revive tourist section amid rising crime against visitors

    The Phuket Provincial Court is set to revive its tourist section in response to an increasing number of court cases involving tourists. This initiative is led by the acting chief justice of the Phuket Provincial Court, Kriangsak Rodpunshoo. He disclosed that the influx of both local and international tourists in Phuket has led to a spike in both criminal and…

  • Disabled son of Premier League star in Muay Thai ring goal

    Disabled son of Premier League star in Muay Thai ring goal

    The disabled son of a former Premier League football star is poised to shake the ropes and rattle traditions while taking a bow at the home of Muay Thai in Thailand on Friday. Jake Peacock, son of former Newcastle United and Chelsea captain Gavin, gets into the ring on Friday, April 5, for ONE Friday Fights 58 in Thailand against…

  • UK police catch British pedophile at London airport

    UK police catch British pedophile at London airport

    The UK police bullishly declared they “finally got their man” when arresting a British pedophile at a London airport after almost 30 years on the run for historic sex crimes. Alleged pedophile 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…

  • Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand

    Italian national arrested for drunk driving in Phuket, Thailand

    A drink driving incident yesterday led to the arrest of an Italian national in Phuket, Thailand. The man’s blood alcohol content (BAC) was found to be 95mg/dL, which is significantly above the legal limit. This 50 year old Italian man was apprehended by Patong Police around 4am in the vicinity of Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach.…