It's not as good as you think...

In this video I discuss and analyze the newly announced Destination Thailand Visa and the recently announced changes to visa rules.
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[@zoranem7486]

Thank you Cal, your videos are amazing🙏

[@thebangkokguide]

Cheers. Thanks for the kind words!

[@hiddenproductionfilm]

Unfortunately we got only 30 days, on arrival on June 2. Looks like they have not implemented the change yet.

[@thebangkokguide]

I heard this... the update didn't go into effect, which doesn't surprise me with about 3 days notice from the government. Thanks for the input!

[@Steven91637]

What did you expect from a 3 World Country?

[@mactravel112]

@@Steven91637 is a dude that thinks Thailand is a third world country lol. Welcome to this century

[@nineseven420empire3]

Not going to let them TAX me 25% of my $$$$$$.... That kills the whole reason to retire there.

[@thebangkokguide]

The tax issue is still unclear. There are definitely some workarounds for this. Will be interesting to see how it plays out during tax season in the next few months.

[@AndrewCouch]

Beginning of the year I was planning on getting the Elite Visa but then changed my mind to getting the LTR work from thailand visa at the end of this year. Hopefully you can use the DTV as a multi-entry or is stackable. Personally I wouldn't mind having to pay 10k twice a year but if it has weird quirks I guess I'll have to deal with the bureaucracy with the LTR visa. The issue is I hope the DTV doesn't restrict any access to other visa's like the ED visa's affect on the Thai Elite visa.

[@thebangkokguide]

This is exactly what tends to happen with these visas... big announcement that looks great and then it goes into committees and comes out as a monstrosity of limitations and restrictions. Let's see what happens!

[@elvinrook8442]

well, let´s wait and see... but im very curious too ;)

[@thebangkokguide]

It’s a step in the right direction but the government definitely does a lot of total u-turns when it comes to these policy announcements. Last month the main government announcements were about overtourism 😂

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Cal

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks!

[@marijusofficial]

There is visa on arrival 60 days from 30 days since June 1st,yes DTV is nice but still 500000 baht that's a lot,but overall big improvement.I know they conquering with Vietnam about visas thing 😂Prices of living in Vietnam are cheaper ,but services and environment cleaner in Thailand and also food too

[@thebangkokguide]

There is definitely a competition starting to heat up for the digital nomad money. I agree that the 60 day visa exemption is a big improvement! We will see what happens with the DTV as there isn't any actual plan for it.

[@tonystark8201]

Good video en intel for people who consider to move to Thailand or planning to stay for a longer while. But you are right, the thing with Thailand is that they are quite impulsive there when it comes to laws and regulations. They often spontaneously introduce new regulations and after a short time they abolish them again.

[@thebangkokguide]

This happens a lot. But it actually seems that they will go ahead with the new visas. This surprised me!

[@tonystark8201]

@thebangkokguide Yes me too. Also I was surprised when they added 30 more xtra days to the tourist visa last month. Now you don't have to apply for a visa so quickly unless you want to stay longer than 60 days

[@suniskys78]

This would be great! Would love to see an update on this once you hear more. So if you want to learn the language and enroll you can be eligible under that as well? Or did I misunderstand that?

[@thebangkokguide]

Thai language classes will normally use the ED visa which can actually have a longer duration. I believe that the policy has been implemented but the dates are not clear yet!

[@suniskys78]

@@thebangkokguide awesome, thank you!

[@e-town0603]

It took all my willpower to not buy that privilege Visa. I would be so pissed rn. I'll be following along keep up about the DTV and tax changes

[@thebangkokguide]

Yeah that's my thought. But it's still hard to know what will happen with this visa. Let's see!

[@SvirepiyBambr-xw8rw]

Do not forget that the main difference between a first world country like the USA and a third world country like Thailand is that former is stable and their promises are solid while the latter is chaotic and their promises are worthless. Were you ready to pay 2,500,000 THB upfront for their promise to leave you in peace for the next 20 years? Not a good idea when you deal with people who are able to turn 180 any moment and break their obligations without a second thought. For all this "fear of losing face" blah-blah-blah we constantly hear, Thai government cares surprisingly little about their reputation.

[@BB-yi6qn]

You made the right choice to come to Asia. Asia is rising. China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and the Asian century is coming.

[@thebangkokguide]

I agree. Cheers!

[@SvirepiyBambr-xw8rw]

"Asia is rising" - have you taken into the consideration that China, Japan, and South Korea aку aging super fast? They have so little children in South Korea that in 40 years this may become a ruined country of old beggars barely able to afford rice.

[@marynarkw]

It is a mistake there. It is mentioned July 2025 but should be 2024

[@Swenser]

Not a chance of happening. Local immigrations and border run companies won't allow it. Sad. Would be great for Thailand overall.

[@thebangkokguide]

I doubt it will happen as well. just another announcement that will go nowhere IMO

[@colleenstorr]

I’m not sure if I asked u this question, but I’m literally asking every KZbinr that is living in Thailand, whom are “digital nomads”, with this new visa, can I stay in Thailand for 150-179 days, every year for more than 5 years,

[@howtomoderate]

Speaking as a North American, my options are to spend $400 a month upfront on a 5-year elite visa, marry, or pay double taxes on my money for the privilege of staying in Thailand long term. I would rather deal with crime in Latin America or go to the Philippines. That $400 a month I would use for an elite visa is the extra cost of living in Latin America. Thailand seems to always be 20 years behind in this sector.

[@thebangkokguide]

I'm not a big fan of the elite visa either... they raised the price too much with that 900k bump. In terms of taxes, if you paid taxes in your home country it should be covered by a double tax treaty, so it's unlikely that you would be double taxed... although there could be a differential. But I think the bureaucracy of it all will just be an added headache that pushes people to alternatives as well. Cheers!

[@howtomoderate]

@@thebangkokguide yeah before they decided on smoking yaba and raising the price I was actually thinking about buying the 20 year one because it made sense at a little over $100 a month over that time period. And yeah the problem for me being an American is not the Thai government but my own. Dealing with Thailand and taxes is a lot more simple than Uncle Sam fondling me in audits etc.. we will see how this plays out but as of right now it's a huge L if they don't open up for long term tourists like Latin America does.

[@SvirepiyBambr-xw8rw]

​@@thebangkokguide The whole idea of taxing expats' REMITTED money is wild. Being a Canadian tax resident I have a number of tax exemptions like the capital gain on the sale of my principal residence. Plus I have an annual income tax exemption which allows me to slowly melt my RRSP tax free. If I become a Thai tax resident, I cannot bring this money to Thailand to buy a condo, for example, without having to pay rather high foreign income tax. No way in hell I am going to do it. So, I would slowly siphon money via ATMs and live low profile by the "rent everything, buy nothing" motto.

[@Boddav]

If you spend all your time n Thailand without visiting the neighboring countries,Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and maybe some day Myanmar you are shortchanging yourself.For me 50 days is ideal.I enjoy visa runs.There is so much to see and learn in this wonderful part of the world.

[@thebangkokguide]

I think it's a good approach. I work in Thailand, but I travel often. Cheers!

[@Steven91637]

As long you have enough money and you are still healthy.you can do it.

[@dqrossvideography5134]

One of the more mature and sensible videos on the subject thank you. It’s been somewhat entertaining to watch people speculate on the immigration announcement, particularly the DTV; I too got excited at first until I remembered that if something seems to good to be true, it usually is. This year I got a multi entry tourist e-visa which only took 3 days to process and was very affordable (300AUD). The increase to 60 days on each exemption is great news but I suspect it will still be limited to twice per calendar year so the multiple entry 6 months visa is still the best option for me. Incidentally, a lot of people think/say that if you enter the country through an airport, you can get unlimited exemptions but that is technically not accurate. People may get away with more than 2 but it’s in no way a foregone conclusion and the actual rule is 2 per calendar year no matter how you enter the country; just thought I’d mention it since we’re on the subject. Your content is always useful, well thought out and presented. Thank you for taking the time.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. The policymaking process in Thailand is something of a different beast. Usually there is a grand announcement before any planning occurs, and then once the actual planning starts the whole thing changes or falls apart entirely. But big announcements do make for great click-bait lol. The new visa actually reminds me a bit of the METV, as it can and is manipulated to get 9 months quite easily. So there isn't necessarily that big of a change with this visa. Let's see what happens!

[@zacghent8564]

Is there any way to get a Thai bank account from your home country before you arrive in Thailand?

[@thebangkokguide]

No, and the government has made it much harder to open a Thai bank account as a foreigner even if you're in Thailand. If that's the goal, I have no idea how they would implement it, and this makes me skeptical.

[@skyyeo2858]

@@thebangkokguide you need a work permit to open a bank account

[@thebangkokguide]

@skyteo2858 agencies can open bank accounts without a work permit…it’s very common.

[@SvirepiyBambr-xw8rw]

@@thebangkokguide Oh yes, the legendary TIT 😂 The laws are made excruciatingly hard to obey so that you have a lot of incentive to circumvent them with help of "agencies" 😉

[@kleerogers]

I'll believe it when I see it. I hate 30 day visa free on arrival, and wasting half a day (or more) to get a 30 day extension. 60-180 days visa free on arrival would be a game changer for my wife and I!!!!!!!!!!

[@thebangkokguide]

I feel the same. I never trust a big announcement from the Thai government. We'd be on the moon already three times over lol. I think the 60 day exemption will come into effect very easily though. Nothing revolutionary on that one, just extending an existing policy. So that is a big plus!

[@kleerogers]

@@thebangkokguide 60 day exemption would be fantastic for us!!!!

[@googleisdumb266]

I think you cant extend the 180 days..? The new destination visa is only for 180 stay per yr.

[@googleisdumb266]

Basically 5 yrs visa for every yr 180days. I read on thai legal company website. Do you know?

[@thebangkokguide]

I think it is more likely to be a 180 day visa with 1 extension that must be used within a 5 year period, after which the visa will expire... so max of 1 year with the visa before you would need to apply for a whole new visa.

[@JaKi052]

Yep, lets wait and see... my first thought was actually the folks who say now that BKK is not as cheap as it used to be...if this visa comes through or the government comes close to hitting those lofty tourist targets, BKK will be even more expensive and crowded...cheers from toronto

[@thebangkokguide]

I agree. Actually I don’t think the existing infrastructure would cope with those numbers…it would become a horrible place!

[@SvirepiyBambr-xw8rw]

It is a free market with a working feedback mechanism. The more expensive and crowded BKK becomes the lower attraction it will have for tourists. At some point the increase in tourists' numbers will stop 🤷

[@magicfire1]

DTV visa... You think thai government gonna let people stay 5 years straight for just 10k thb per extension and hindering all the others long term visa ? No way. And we all know big announcement like this is always followed by a huge void.

[@thebangkokguide]

My guess is that nothing will happen as well. Otherwise it seems more like a longer METV with 1 year in 5. Cheers

[@hiddenproductionfilm]

Anyone get the 60 day exemption yet?

[@thebangkokguide]

I think it just went official… so it should be in effect now

[@erlend1587]

Does anyone know if one actually need a return ticket when entering Thailand?

[@Leafy_901]

they often don’t check but can’t say that’s always the case.

[@erlend1587]

@@Leafy_901 what happens if they check and you don't have a return ticket ? could you buy one on the spot ? or do they send you home direct / arrest you or what

[@erlend1587]

@@Leafy_901 i think buying a flexible ticket is key if you don't have your plans nailed yet

[@darrylknight2675]

Eva Air would not let me board the plane to Bangkok last year unless I had an onward ticket. I bought a $90 Air Asia fare Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and never used it.

[@michaelgolumbeski2608]

I just came for 30 days with a one way ticket and left on May 31st to The Philippines. No issue at all.

[@zachi1010]

Everyone move to Dubai, Malaysia and other countries, no one want to deal with Thai government bullshit policy to foreigners.

[@thebangkokguide]

It does get annoying.

[@vincentboutron2910]

60 days rule exemption is effective in june ?

[@thebangkokguide]

Yeah, this was the announcement. I guess see what happens June 1st…

[@vincentboutron2910]

@@thebangkokguide Cool, my arrival is on 5 June, it's a good surprise

[@torres8988]

Do Australians get the free 60 day visa as well?

[@hiddenproductionfilm]

We are flying to Bangkok today June 1. We will see if we get the 60 days...

[@thestoictraveler1114]

@@hiddenproductionfilmkeep us posted!

[@Steven91637]

Nonsense Visa i called it

[@thebangkokguide]

Let’s see what happens. But for now… I tend to agree.

[@michaelthegreat44]

Why make a video until the actual rules are released, literally everything you said can be found by a quick google search

[@thebangkokguide]

Actually most of what I said in this video isn’t found by a quick google search… not sure what video you watched but most of this is my opinion on Thai government policymaking.