Thai Immigration

  • Thailand NewsTak immigration chief reassigned amid trafficking concerns

    Tak immigration chief reassigned amid trafficking concerns

    The Immigration Bureau has transferred the superintendent of Tak Immigration to a different post following reports of foreign nationals disappearing after being deceived into entering Thailand. The incident is suspected to be linked to human trafficking activities in Tak province. Police Major General Prashaya Prasansuk, the Acting Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, signed an order (No. 24/2025, dated February 12)…

  • Bangkok NewsSouth Korean influencer sparks concern regarding Thai work permit

    South Korean influencer sparks concern regarding Thai work permit

    The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) is being urged to investigate the activities of South Korean Internet celebrity Ji Gamin. Concerns focus on whether Ji operated within legal parameters during her time in Thailand, including work authorisation and tax compliance. Songchai Niamhom, who leads the Prachapak Phithak Sathaban group, formally submitted a complaint to Major General Phutthidet Boonkrapue, head of…

  • Thailand NewsChinese fugitive running luxury scams in Thailand arrested

    Chinese fugitive running luxury scams in Thailand arrested

    Thai immigration authorities nabbed a Chinese fugitive running an illicit tour operation in Bangkok. Following a tip-off about an Asian man suspected of working and residing illegally in Thailand, officers launched an in-depth investigation. Duan, a 42 year old Chinese fugitive residing in a posh condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng district was apprehended. Duan was already on the radar in China…

  • Thailand NewsBangkok: Thai authorities crack down on illegal immigrant workers

    Bangkok: Thai authorities crack down on illegal immigrant workers

    Thai immigration officers cracked down on immigrant workers allegedly encroaching on local professions in Bangkok’s bustling Ratchathewi district. Thai immigration officers, alongside immigration police and Phaya Thai police, have disclosed a meticulously planned operation aimed at eliminating immigrant workers accused of infringing upon the livelihoods of Thai locals without proper authorisation. The operation, which took place yesterday, saw more than…

  • Thailand NewsMalaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption

    Malaysian tourists inquire Thai immigration arrival card exemption

    Inquiries from Malaysian tourists have flooded hotel operators, eager for the inside scoop on Thailand’s immigration policy regarding the exemption of arrival cards for travellers from Malaysia. Songchai Mungprasitthichai, chairman of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that Malaysians are particularly curious about potential extensions beyond the current expiry date of April 30. Travellers from all corners of the globe…

  • Thailand NewsPM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi

    PM Srettha orders immigration control improvement at Suvarnabhumi

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has ordered improvements to the immigration control services at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, citing concerns over long queues and excessive waiting times. PM Srettha conducted an unexpected inspection of the airport on Saturday evening, his second unannounced visit since February 5. The prime minister revealed that he had personally timed the duration of various procedures from the…

  • Crime NewsVisa villains vamoosed: Thailand’s Immigration Police pounce on six suspects for fraud, overstays, and shady transactions

    Visa villains vamoosed: Thailand’s Immigration Police pounce on six suspects for fraud, overstays, and shady transactions

    Thailand’s Immigration Police recently nabbed six foreign suspects in three distinct cases of visa fraud, overstaying, and illegal money transactions. According to the Immigration Bureau (IB) commissioner, Police Lieutenant General Itthipol Itthisaranachai, some of the culprits are now awaiting deportation to their home countries for prosecution. Highlighting the first instance, Itthipol drew attention to a group of four Pakistani individuals…

  • Thailand NewsChinese Christians seeking asylum in Thailand fear repercussions if they’re deported to China

    Chinese Christians seeking asylum in Thailand fear repercussions if they’re deported to China

    Members of a Chinese Christian church seeking asylum in Thailand fear they will be jailed if they are deported back to China. Thai immigration officials yesterday detained 63 members of the Mayflower Church, a Chinese Christian church seeking asylum in Thailand. The group, including men, women, and children, had been attempting to relocate to the United States since August of…

  • Visa InformationDeadline to apply for “Covid” visa extension now May 24, immigration gets stricter

    Deadline to apply for “Covid” visa extension now May 24, immigration gets stricter

    The deadline to apply for the 60-day “Covid” visa extension scheme has been pushed back another two months. The deadline was set for last Friday, March 25, but Thai Immigration quietly pushed the deadline back to May 24 (as they have in the past). No formal announcement was made, but a signed document was leaked by expats on social media.…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | More competition for thai taxis!

    Thailand News Today | More competition for thai taxis!

    A leading epidemiologist has questioned Thailand’s rush to declare Covid endemic as infections and deaths surge. Dr. Chakrarat, director of the Bureau of Epidemiology, is suggesting officials slow down a bit, as he casts doubt on the wisdom of trying to declare the virus endemic by July 1. Despite raising the country’s alert level to level 4 on February 21,…

  • Visa InformationDeadline this Friday to apply for 60-day “Covid” visa extension

    Deadline this Friday to apply for 60-day “Covid” visa extension

    This Friday is the deadline to apply for the 60-day “Covid” visa extension, which is no longer offered to those on a Non-Immigrant Visa under the latest order. The extension is intended for those who cannot return to their home countries due to the pandemic and the deadline has been pushed back numerous times, without any formal announcements from the…

  • Thailand NewsThailands new long term 10 year visa for wealthy foreigners & Digital nomads

    Thailands new long term 10 year visa for wealthy foreigners & Digital nomads

    Thailand is offering new long term 10 year visa for wealthy foreigners and digital nomads. What are the specifics and regulations regarding this visa? Is it going to be similar to the smart visa plan? Where do the digital nomads fit in all of this? Tim sits with Ben Hart from Integrity legal to find out more.

  • Thailand NewsHow do you get permanent residency in Thailand?

    How do you get permanent residency in Thailand?

    What is the point of getting permanent residency in Thailand? What are the benefits of having such a document? What are the things you can and can’t do? What is the criteria for being able to apply for a PR? Find out more in todays episode where Tim sits down with Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal to talk about the…

  • Tourism NewsThai aviation sector calls for visa waiver for international travellers

    Thai aviation sector calls for visa waiver for international travellers

    Thailand’s aviation sector is calling on the government to introduce a visa waiver scheme for international arrivals to boost demand. The Airlines Association of Thailand says global competition for tourists is getting tough and the government needs to do more to attract international visitors. “We are in a fierce competition as every country needs tourists to cushion the economic impact.…

  • Crime NewsTwo arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman, posting video her tied up on TikTok

    Two arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman, posting video her tied up on TikTok

    A Burmese man and woman were arrested for allegedly kidnapping another Burmese woman, and then posting a video of her with her ankles chained and hands tied on the social media platform TikTok. The suspects allegedly abducted the woman, who is said to be a popular social media influencer among Burmese netizens, in Pathum Thani, which is north of Bangkok. …

  • Thailand NewsThai Immigration launches online 90 day report system

    Thai Immigration launches online 90 day report system

    A new online system for 90-day checks with immigration has been launched by Thailand’s Immigration Bureau. Online 90-day reporting has been glitchy in the past… So let us know how it worked for you. A confirmation could come through hours after applying. And be sure to check the spam folder. You can register at https://tm47.immigration.go.th/tm47/#/register/add Foreigners who are permitted to…

  • Visa InformationGovernment officials meet to discuss long-term visa options for foreigners

    Government officials meet to discuss long-term visa options for foreigners

    A government spokesman says the Thai PM has met with several members of his cabinet to discuss long-term residency options for foreigners. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana says PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is currently in talks with a number of ministries and relevant agencies as to how to attract more foreign investment to the kingdom. The Bangkok Post reports that the PM met yesterday…

  • Visa InformationNew deadline to apply for Covid visa extension confirmed as November 26

    New deadline to apply for Covid visa extension confirmed as November 26

    Thai immigration officials have confirmed that the deadline for a so-called Covid visa extension has been moved to November 26. The previous deadline was September 27. The new date means foreigners in the Kingdom can avail of permission to remain until early next year, at a cost of 1,900 baht. The Covid visa extension scheme came into force last year…

  • Visa InformationThai cabinet approves new visa package to lure wealthy expats and digital nomads

    Thai cabinet approves new visa package to lure wealthy expats and digital nomads

    The government is forging ahead with a new visa package that targets rich expats, in an attempt to inject some foreign money into an economy decimated by Covid-19. The package will include attractive perks, such as a 10-year visa that covers not just the individual, but their spouse and children too. It also partially addresses the so-called digital nomads – people…

  • South Thailand NewsThai immigration official transferred amid allegations of bribery

    Thai immigration official transferred amid allegations of bribery

    A Thai immigration official has been transferred and an investigation launched following allegations of corruption. The officer is accused of demanding regular bribes from an immigrant in the Hat Yai district of Songkhla, in southern Thailand. Officers from Immigration Division 6 have now launched an investigation into the claims. They insist the investigation will be transparent and impartial, adding that…

  • Pattaya NewsAmerican charged after not wearing a face mask at a Taco Bell in Pattaya

    American charged after not wearing a face mask at a Taco Bell in Pattaya

    A 33 year old American man was recently charged for not wearing a face mask at a Taco Bell in Pattaya. Earlier this month, the expat and another foreign resident got into a heated argument at the soft opening of Taco Bell over whether to wear face masks while in line to order at the fast-food restaurant. After being confronted…

  • Thailand NewsPublic warned about immigration police impersonators asking for bribes

    Public warned about immigration police impersonators asking for bribes

    The Thai Immigration Bureau is warning foreign residents and the general public to be careful of people who are impersonating as immigration police officers and asking for bribes or other payments. Apparently, the people posing as immigration officers are approaching individual foreigners and are inspecting establishments like factories, which tend to employ migrant workers. If approached by someone claiming to…

  • Crime NewsAlleged leaders of a drug cartel in Germany arrested in Phuket and Koh Pha Ngan

    Alleged leaders of a drug cartel in Germany arrested in Phuket and Koh Pha Ngan

    The suspected leaders of a European drug trafficking network arrested by Thai police this week had reportedly been living in Thailand for several years as fugitives. Reports say German officials had filed an Interpol red notice for their arrest in a crackdown where 20 people allegedly involved in the drug trafficking operation were arrested in Germany. Allegedly, they were trafficking…

  • Visa InformationFinance Ministry challenges tax cut proposal for holders of new long-stay visa

    Finance Ministry challenges tax cut proposal for holders of new long-stay visa

    A proposal to introduce a long-stay visa for 4 target groups of foreigners has already hit a hitch, with the Finance Ministry pushing back against a suggested tax rate of 17% on local earnings. The ministry argues that the reduced rate will affect government revenue. Under the proposal, wealthy foreign nationals could apply for a special visa that would permit…

  • Visa InformationThai Immigration says online system for 90 day reports is back up and running

    Thai Immigration says online system for 90 day reports is back up and running

    The Thai Immigration’s online system for 90 day checks for foreigners living in Thailand is back up and running. So we’re told anyway. Expats should now be able to report their address every 3 months online rather than in person or by mail. The announcement was made on the immigration bureau’s Facebook page and was written in Thai. Just yesterday,…

  • Visa InformationForeigners advised to do 90 day reports by mail while Thai Immigration system is down

    Foreigners advised to do 90 day reports by mail while Thai Immigration system is down

    While the Thai Immigration’s online system for 90 day reporting is down (it’s been down for many of our readers who have been trying to do their 90 day reports for over 3 months), foreigners living in Thailand still need to report their address every 3 months. Deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Natapanu Nopakun says there are…

  • Visa InformationProposals to get rid of 90 day reporting and ease investment rules in Thailand

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

    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…

  • Visa InformationThailand visa extension explained, April 2021 | VIDEO

    Thailand visa extension explained, April 2021 | VIDEO

    Some clarification about the 60 day extensions to visas that had been extended in the past as part of the Covid visa amnesty for foreign travellers in Thailand who were ‘stuck’ in the country or wished to stay for whatever reason. Caitlin Ashworth from The Thaiger explains the details. For the latest details on everything about the re-opening of the…

  • Thailand NewsFormer immigration chief “Big Joke” back at Royal Thai Police

    Former immigration chief “Big Joke” back at Royal Thai Police

    The former immigration chief known as “Big Joke” has been appointed by PM Prayut Chan-o-cha as advisor of the Royal Thai Police after a 2-year hiatus from law enforcement. Surachet Hakparn, nicknamed Big Joke by Thai media, suddenly fell from grace in back 2019 when he was sidelined into an inactive role without any published reason. He even ended up…

  • Visa InformationVisa Emergency Extension extended to May 30 this year for stranded tourists

    Visa Emergency Extension extended to May 30 this year for stranded tourists

    Stranded foreign tourists, either genuinely stuck in Thailand since April 2020, or stuck here by choice, are able to stay in Thailand until May 30, according to an order signed by the Immigration Bureau last week. The order empowers local officers to grant a 60 day visa extensions from January 29 up to May 30. The order coincides with the…