visa
- Visa Information
Immigration police round up visa overstayers in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand
Koh Pha Ngan island in southern Thailand is so idyllic that some foreigners just can’t bear to leave, even when their visa runs out. Yesterday, Surat Thani Immigration Police, and Koh Pha Ngan Provincial Police went on a tour of Thailand’s fifth-biggest island on the hunt for visa overstayers in the kingdom. Three foreigners were arrested and detained at Koh…
- Visa Information
Chinese man overstays visa in Thailand for 7 years over ‘cult’ beliefs
Immigration police arrested a Chinese man at a condo in Bangkok this morning who overstayed his visa by over seven years (2,662 days). He said he wanted to stay in Thailand because his religious beliefs are not accepted in China. In the early hours of this morning, plain-clothed immigration officials – one wearing a “rasta baby” T-shirt – were patrolling the Bang…
- Visa Information
Thailand expands e-Visa service to 23 countries worldwide
Thailand just expanded its e-Visa service to nine additional embassies and consulates worldwide. A Thai visa can now be obtained online in 23 countries. Applications for all types of visas in Thailand can be done online through the e-Visa official website for passport holders of 23 countries. Instead of going to an embassy, simply create an account, fill in an…
- Visa Information
Chinese nationals top applicants for Thailand’s 10 year LTR visa
In September, Thailand launched the 10-year Long Term Resident (LTR) visa to attract foreigners with ‘high potential’ into the kingdom. Chinese nationals represent 60% of LTR visa applications made to date, according to Chinese media. Before the pandemic, Chinese nationals topped the list of foreign arrivals in Thailand every year, mostly arriving in big groups on guided tours. However, bus-loads…
- World News
Philippines offers attractive alternative to Thailand’s 10 year LTR visa
The Philippines launched a Special Investors Resident Visa (SIRV) offering permanent residency to any foreigner who invests at least US$75,000 in business or securities. The visa reaps more rewards for a smaller investment than Thailand’s 10 year Long Term Resident (LTR) visa, which hasn’t attracted as much attention as initially hoped since its launch last month. Once a foreigner has invested…
- Visa Information
Thailand to extend Smart Visa scheme to draw talent
Thailand is extending its Smart Visa scheme, aiming to draw in more talent to the kingdom. While the scheme used to cover 13 industries, the Thai cabinet yesterday approved extending the scheme to cover 18. Since 2018, Thailand has offered a SMART visa for foreigners who wish to work or invest in the following industries… Next Generation Automotive Affluent, Medical…
- Visa Information
Thailand officially grants longer stays to tourists with extended visa on arrival
Tourists arriving in Thailand will soon be permitted to stay in the kingdom for longer. Today, Government Spokesperson Traisulee Traisornkul announced that Thailand’s Cabinet had approved the temporary extension of both visa on arrival stays and visa exemption stays. The government hopes the extensions will stimulate tourism and the economy, which is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Between October…
- Expats
LTR visa: will the benefits lure expats to drive the economy?
The new 10-year long-term resident visa was launched on Thursday to convert visitors into expats by offering benefits and tax breaks to attract foreigners from around the world. Though, they’ve made clear that they’re looking only for the top-tier wealthy travellers to move to Thailand and take advantage of the LTR visa. The new visa is only offered exclusively to…
- Tourism News
Thailand’s CCSA talk tourist stats, visas on arrival & home isolation
Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Administration Situation (CCSA) met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today, August 19, to talk about coronavirus-related topics and foreign arrivals. The CCSA said Thailand is transiting into the “post-pandemic stage.” The CCSA said Thailand’s Covid situation is improving and its classification is changing from a “serious communicable disease” to a “communicable disease under surveillance.” Home Isolation…
- Visa Information
Thai tourist visa fees might be suspended until the end of 2022
To boost arrivals and increase spending by international visitors, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has approached the government to consider suspending all visa fees till the end of 2022. The current price is 1,000 baht for people applying for a visa before arrival and 2,000 baht for those countries, that are required to pay a vis fee, applying for a…
- World News
Thailand or Cambodia? Comparing 10 year visa programmes
Cambodia has launched a “My 2nd Home” programme to encourage foreign investment in the country. The programme features a 10 year long “Golden Visa” with unlimited entry and exit and other benefits. But how does it compare with Thailand’s 10 year Long Term Resident visa? Applicants for the “My 2nd Home” Golden Visa must be a foreign investor with an…
- Crime News
Foreign tourist breaks into bank, goes on rampage in northern Thailand
A foreign tourist broke into a Bangkok Bank branch in Pai in the northern province of Mae Hong Son yesterday evening. He smashed his way through several glass doors with rocks and proceeded to cause significant damage to the bank’s property. Police detained him and discovered he was illegally residing in the kingdom. A foreigner named Kent Douglas Meades –…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Thailand to target “wealthy foreign tourists”
Thailand’s deputy health minister is hoping to see an end to Covid-19 by the end of this year, despite the risk of new variants. Satit Pitutecha made his prediction yesterday, saying Thailand is proceeding with its plan to declare the virus endemic. The World Health Organisation has yet to make any recommendation on according the virus endemic status. Satit…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Nok Air’s latest investment failure is costing the airline millions
Thailand’s Covid situation is continually improving and is expected to be declared an endemic disease more than half a month earlier than expected. According to the Ministry of Public Health, his office originally planned to declare Covid an an endemic disease on July 1 this year. Yesterday, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit announced that Thailand now plans to…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Crashed China eastern flight possible “intentional nosedive”
Black box data on crashed China Eastern 737 suggests possible “intentional nosedive” Investigators are now examining further if the crash of China Eastern Airlines 737-800 on March 21 was indeed due to “intentional action on the flight deck”. The early reports say that there is, so far, no evidence of a technical malfunction. The Wall Street Journal reported this week…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Tourism surge on Phuket and Koh Samui
The country is still under an emergency decree which will last at least until the end of this month, and could be extended again for another 2 months, as it has since April 2020. The emergency decree bypasses all Covid-related matters and budget from the Thai parliament, with the CCSA, chaired by the prime minister, meeting every 2 weeks…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today I Still no idea what “endemic” in Thailand means
As the west holds concerts in packed stadiums without masks, here in Thailand we still have no idea what endemic means for us. According to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the National Communicable Diseases Committee has STARTED talking about post-pandemic measures when the coronavirus is declared endemic in Thailand, and whether travellers should still wear face masks. Speaking to Thai…
- Visa Information
Cabinet announces changes to Thailand’s SMART visa
To accelerate the development of the Thailand’s “target industries,” the Board of Investment offers a 4 year SMART visa to foreign investors, executives, entrepreneurs and highly-skilled experts. Yesterday, Thailand’s Cabinet announced changes to the SMART visa requirements and expanded the list of targeted industries. The Cabinet did not specify when the changes would come into effect. SMART visa holders are…
- Visa Information
Who is eligible for a 50,000 baht 10 year LTR visa in Thailand? The fine print.
Today, Thailand’s Cabinet announced that the fee for a 10 year Long Term Resident visa would be halved from 100,000 baht to 50,000 baht to attract foreigners with ‘high potential’ to reside in the kingdom. Not only has the fee been reduced, but the eligibility criteria has become more “flexible,” according to Deputy Spokesperson for the PM’s Office Ratchada Thanadirek.…
- Visa Information
Cabinet cuts 10 year Long Term Resident visa fee to 50k baht
Thailand’s Cabinet has agreed to reduce the Long Term Resident visa fee by 50% to attract highly skilled foreigners into the kingdom. The fee for the LTR visa, which allows you to stay in Thailand for 10 years, has been reduced from 100,000 to 50,000 baht. Changes to the visa requirements could make the lucrative “digital nomad” lifestyle a more…
- Visa Information
Applying or renewing your visa in Thailand made easy with TMT Visa Services Phuket
Press Release When it comes to moving to Thailand, whether it is for retirement, to study, or just for relocation, everyone knows that the most stressful part is getting your visa sorted and cleared. Whether you are new to Thailand or already in Thailand, it’s one of the most important things to look after – ensuring you have the right…
- Visa Information
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.…
- World News
Is Vietnam opening its borders to international visitors?
Press Release Vietnam is one of the most visited countries in Southeast Asia. Before the pandemic shutting the international borders of countries around the world, Vietnam was regularly competing with Thailand for being the most popular destination in the entire region. Once the coronavirus proved to be here for the long haul, the government had to make the difficult decision…
- Visa Information
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 News
Swedish woman who hid child in Thailand sentenced to prison
A Swedish woman who was arrested by Thai police in January has been sentenced to one year and three months in prison in Sweden for hiding her child in Thailand for over a year. The woman lost her custody battle with the child’s father but disappeared with the child in December 2019 before the court’s decision was enforced. The woman…
- Visa Information
Work permit programme for Elite cardholders launched to draw in foreign investment
A work permit programme aimed at attracting rich foreigners and drawing in foreign investment has been launched by the Thailand Privilege Card company, which operates the Elite Card scheme. Cardholders who are eligible for the new Flexible Plus Programme must make an investment of US$1 million, which is around 30 million baht. Under the new programme, cardholders with a membership…
- Tourism News
Phuket, Krabi resorts no longer accepting credit cards from Russian guests
Resorts and hotels in tourist destinations such as Krabi and Phuket are no longer accepting credit cards from Russian guests, according to a Thai PBS World report. The decision comes after 7 Russian banks were excluded from the SWIFT financial global messaging system, leaving many Russians overseas unable to use their credit cards. Card providers Mastercard and Visa have also…
- World News
Mastercard and Visa suspend services in Russia, Russian banks downplay effects
Mastercard and Visa have announced that they will suspend their services in Russia. Visa cards issued in Russia will also stop working outside the country. The US President Joe Biden said that he welcomes the suspension. Meanwhile, Russian banks are downplaying the effects it will have on their clients. The Russia Central Bank stressed that cards would still operate normally…
- 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…
- Visa Information
Many foreigners caught unaware of stricter Covid-19 visa rules
Confusion and dismay are hitting long-staying foreign travellers in Thailand, as many were relieved to see the Covid-19 visa exemption extended, but missed the strict revisions in the fine print. While the decree was extended from the January 25 deadline at the last minute to March 25, the people who are allowed to take advantage of the easy-to-extend visa exemption…
