foreigners
- Thailand News
Foreigners can now own land in Thailand: Land Dept
Thailand updates criteria for foreign land ownership: heirs can inherit land, investors need 40 million baht, writes The Nation. Foreign land ownership in Thailand is a complex issue, primarily dictated by the Land Code Act of 1954, which generally prohibits foreigners from owning land outright. This law is designed to maintain national control over Thailand’s valuable natural resources. There are,…
- Business News
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…
- Thailand News
Ring rage: Brawl erupts at Phuket boxing stadium
A viral video capturing foreign boxers and their cornermen brawling in the ring sparked widespread criticism online. The explosive incident occurred at the Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket, during the main event on May 26. The showdown featured an Irish boxer in the red corner and a Russian boxer in the blue corner. As the ring announcer prepared to…
- Crime News
Foreigners detained for illegal daycare services on Koh Pha Ngan
Police in Surat Thani detained several foreigners suspected of illegally running a daycare and a wakeboarding service centre on Koh Pha Ngan. Tourist Police apprehended a 26 year old Russian woman and an 18 year old Myanmar woman at a residence where they were taking care of foreign children. The Russian woman confessed to the police that she had been…
- Pattaya News
Water gun incident sparks foreign tourist dispute at Songkran event
The lively Thaweewong Road, on Patong Beach in Phuket, bore witness to a heated dispute between two foreign visitors at a Songkran event. This incident, occurring around 4.20pm on April 13, was sparked by a minor altercation involving a water gun. The Songkran event is renowned for its playful water fights, which are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Despite…
- Thailand News
Over 400 Thai firms suspected of foreign nominee operations
An inspection by the Business Development Department has revealed that over 400 firms across Thailand’s major tourist hotspots may be operating under foreign nominees. The firms under scrutiny are located in bustling provinces including Phuket, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, and Chon Buri. The businesses investigated span various sectors, such as tour guides, restaurants, car rentals, hotels, and real estate.…
- Thailand News
Phuket’s property pandemonium: Foreign buyers drive real estate prices sky high
Phuket’s property market has been catapulted to unprecedented heights, with foreign interest igniting a buying spree sending prices soaring. Phattarachai Taweewong, director of Research and Communications at Colliers International (Thailand), revealed that the allure of owning a slice of paradise in Phuket has pushed land prices to astronomical levels, hitting as high as 25 to 100 million baht per rai.…
- Thailand News
Love across borders: Malaysian women flock to southern Thailand for forbidden unions
In a surprising trend, Malaysian women, primarily from the East Coast states, are crossing borders to tie the knot with foreign nationals in southern Thailand. The Narathiwat Islamic Council revealed that 90% of these brides were widows, seeking love and legality beyond their homeland. Vice-president Abdul Aziz Che Mamat unveiled the reasons behind this cross-border love affair. “The most common…
- Thailand News
Occupation lockdown: Thailand’s Labour Ministry draws the line for foreigners, 27 out, 13 in the conditions
The Ministry of Labour in Thailand outlined a list of 40 occupations that are off-limits for foreigners, with 27 being completely restricted and 13 permitted under certain conditions. These occupations are classified into four categories, aiming to address the shortage of local labour in areas where Thai nationals show less interest, particularly in light of the large-scale arrival of foreign workers…
- Crime News
Phuket firm probed for illegal foreign business operations worth 440m baht
A legal accounting firm in Chalong, Phuket, faces an investigation by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for its involvement with nearly 70 foreigners illegally operating companies with an estimated total value of 440 million baht. The firm is suspected of leveraging nominee shareholders to allow foreigners to control several companies unlawfully. DSI Director-General Major Suriya Singhakamol led the raid…
- Crime News
CIB arrests Thai man who allegedly stole foreigner’s car in Phuket
Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested a Thai man who allegedly stole a foreigner’s car in Phuket. The suspect allegedly stole an SUV from an unidentified foreigner at a housing estate in Koh Kaew in Phuket’s main city district, The Phuket Express reported. The CIB reported announced this week that its officers arrested a Thai male suspect, whose name and age…
- Phuket News
Three foreigners in Patong restaurant brawl fined 2,000 baht each
Three foreigners who were involved in the Patong restaurant brawl this week have been fined 2,000 baht each, according to an update from the Phuket Provincial Police. Yesterday, it was reported that a customer, 34 year old Australian national ‘Karen,‘ admitted that he started the dispute by throwing a water bottle at two restaurant staffers because he thought they were…
- World News
Bali to ban foreigners from renting motorbikes
Governor of the Indonesian island of Bali, I Wayan Koster, said that foreigners will soon be banned from renting motorbikes and scooters on the island. He said he will request all motorbike rental shops to ban foreigners from using their services. The governor has had enough of foreign tourists violating traffic rules… “As tourists, act as tourists, using the vehicles prepared…
- Hot News
Phuket immigration launches ‘red card’ system for wayward foreigners
Phuket immigration is launching a ‘red card’ system for wayward foreigners which will see them deported after two offences. Praphansak Prasansuk, Commander of the Immigration Region 6 office, announced the system yesterday. “Under the system, a foreigner will be designated a ‘yellow card’ for a first offence. The foreigner will be issued a formal warning and the relevant embassy will…
- Crime News
Police ordered not to name nationalities, arrest Swedish man with gun and meth
The Royal Thai police have given foreign troublemakers a bit of a Christmas gift. In an order put out late on Christmas Eve, the RTP told all provincial police bureaus to no longer release to the media the nationality of any foreigner arrested in Thailand. A spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police said that people accused of a crime in…
- Hot News
1 of 6 suspects arrested in Koh Samui Russian cryptocurrency extortion case
A suspect in the Koh Samui Russian realtor couple extortion case has been arrested in the province of Chon Buri. The suspect, Andrey Nizhegorodtsev, 37, a Kazakhstani, was arrested at a house in tambon Huai Yai of Bang Lamung district Wednesday afternoon. Police charged him with physical assault without causing bodily or mental harm, collusion in theft, and coercing people…
- Krabi News
Navy rescues foreign passengers in Krabi after yacht trip goes wrong
A yacht trip has gone wrong for a group of foreign passengers in the southern Krabi province on Thursday. The yacht broke down in the middle of the sea, although it is still unclear what caused the yacht to break down. The passengers were left waiting for help from the Royal Thai Navy. Fortunately, the navy arrived on the scene…
- Politics News
YOU can voice your opinion on Thailand in PR online survey
If you ever wanted a chance for your voice to be heard about Thailand – and judging from our comments section, a lot of you really, really do – now is your chance! Simple click here and fill out the impressively-catchy named survey “Foreigners’ Awareness, Confidence in Important Government Policies, and Perceived Image of Thailand.” The thoroughly titled survey was…
- Crime News
From Pattaya with Love, or How To Win Friends and Taser People!
A training session held last week on Wednesday, June 22, on Jomtien Beach has convinced anyone that public relations are not a strong characteristic in the ranks of the Pattaya Police. Thanks to Adam and The Pattaya News for the video and pics. The display was an apparent demonstration of the skills of Pattaya police to be able to handle…
- Phuket News
Phuket homeowner checks CCTV to find foreign couple canoodling outside house
A Thai woman away in Germany was lost for words on Tuesday when she checked her Phuket home’s CCTV camera footage to see a foreign couple – a man and woman – having sex in front of her house. Homeowner Waralak Frisch often resides in Germany with her husband, so she installed security cameras to check on the safety of…
- Visa Information
10-year visa to attract engineers and IT experts, boost technology development
The 10-year visa scheme for wealthy foreigners and highly-skilled professionals is expected to attract engineers and IT experts, potentially boosting technology development in Thailand as the country anticipates a shortage of digital workforce over the next few years. The long-stay visa scheme was approved in principle by the Thai Cabinet last month, targeting foreign investors, highly-skilled professionals and wealthy retirees…
- Travel
Common expat varieties in Thailand 2022
Thailand has a lot to offer and it’s no surprise why so many foreigners want to live here. Some folks come for a short vacation and never want to leave. Despite the pandemic, it seems like the amount of expats is growing every year and they come from all over the world. So here’s shortlist of the most common expats…
- Thailand News
Plans shot down for property incentives to attract foreigners
A proposal to attract foreigners by lengthening property leaseholds from 30 years to 50 years and allowing foreign condo ownership to increase over the 49% current restriction was shot down today by the Centre for Economic Situation Administration. The committee, headed by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, rejected those proposals but did seem open to foreigners being permitted to own up to…
- Visa Information
Thailand approves plan to attract highly-skilled foreign workers, investors, wealthy retirees
Measures aimed at attracting wealthy long-stay foreigners to Thailand have been approved in principle by Cabinet. The government is targeting foreign investors, highly-skilled professionals and wealthy retirees in a bid to develop the Covid-battered economy. Long-term residence visas of up to 10 years are on offer, along with work permits for those who qualify, according to Thai PBS World. Government…
- Property
Thai residences must stay affordable to attract foreigners
The chairman of the committee for real estate development at the Thai Chamber of Commerce is warning that real estate property must remain affordable for Thais in order to attract foreigners. While the government has set out to attract talented foreigners to relocate to Thailand through new property ownership measures, the chairman, Issara Boonyoung, says zoning and volume limitation regulations…
- Thailand News
Nearly 70,000 foreigners register for vaccines on expatvac site
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, almost 70,000 expat and foreign residents have signed up for Covid-19 vaccines using the expatvac website. The website was created by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, along with the Ministry of Public Health, and open to the public on August 1. The website was set up to help all the expats and foreigners that…
- Thailand News
August vaccination plan: 80% of Bangkok residents; open to general public, expats
Thailand has opened its mass Covid-19 vaccination campaign to the general public who are at least 18 years old, including foreign residents. Priority is still given to those who are 60 and above, and those who have one of the specified underlying conditions that puts them at risk of severe infection if they were to contract Covid-19. By the end…
- Bangkok News
Bang Sue walk-in vaccinations for elderly expats to end Saturday
Walk-in vaccination services for elderly expats at Bangkok’s Bang Sue Grand Station is ending on Saturday. The government is preparing to roll out the next phase in its Covid-19 immunisation plan. Starting Sunday, August 1, registration in Bangkok will open up to those 18 and older, but there will be no walk-in services. Until Saturday, foreign residents who are 75…
- Thailand News
Minister: Foreigners, migrant workers are cared for amid Covid-19
Facing mounting criticism of the plight of migrant workers, often Burmese or Cambodian immigrants, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Minister of Labour Suchat Chomklin has spoken out in defence of the treatment of foreigners within Thailand. He stressed to the press that all laws and policies are non-discriminatory and that the government has addressed the concerns and safety of foreign…