Concerning this new “retirement visa”, the one you can apply for if you have $15,000us in a Thai bank account, I had heard not too many things good about Thai banks. 15k is a nice little chunk of change, is there ANY Thai bank that you guys would feel comfortable with, not going bankrupt and losing that money. Mac, from what you’ve posted, it sounds like you’re gonna do it.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Heath insurance for over 65s
I have heard from friends that BUPA Blue Cross does not provide health insurance for people older than 65. Is this true? If so, are there other insurers in Thailand that will give coverage? I am fast approaching this age and am worried I will soon have to pay for my medical expenses out of my own pocket.
Healthy but worried, Phuket.
“BUPA Blue Cross offers health insurance for your whole life. However, when you turn 50, you will have to sign a new policy that will cover you until you reach 65. And when you turn 65, you will have to sign another policy that will cover you until you are 70. For people 70 or older, we offer coverage on a year-to-year basis.
We do this because people aged 60 or older are statistically more prone to becoming ill.
I know of no other insurance company in Thailand that offers health insurance to people aged 65 or older. In fact, other companies send their customers to us because we offer coverage for elderly people.
To apply you will need to come to the Phuket branch of BUPA Blue Cross at 156/15 Phang Nga Rd (opposite the bus terminal), in Phuket Town and bring with you the original plus one copy of either your ID card or your passport.
For more information call 076-355815-6 or 076-355818 during office hours or fax 076-355814
Thatsanee Wonglar, Executive Assistant Manager, BUPA Blue Cross, Phuket branch.
DRIVER’S LICENSE SAGA
Foreigners and Thai driving licenses
I recently renewed my Thai driver’s licenses (BRITISH SP.)Having held Thai car and motorcycle licences for more three years, I asked to be issued with lifetime licenses for both. I was told that these are available for only Thais and foreigners who have been granted residency. Is this true?
When I submitted my application, including the letter from Immigration confirming my current address, I was told that the fee would be double for each license. Why is it necessary to pay for a change of address when the officer concerned has to type all details on the new license anyway?
Regardless, apparently it is not imperative for a license to show an accurate address, so I chose not to display my correct address and saved the money.
Why would anyone bother to change the address on their license if no one seems to care about the accuracy of the details supplied?
Long term resident, Chalong
“First, yes, only Thais and holders of Thai residency permits are allowed long-term licenses.
Second, if you change any details on your licenses when you renew them, there is no need to pay more than the fee for renewing them.
Thai law requires every person holding a driver’s license to notify their local Transportation Office of any change of details stated on the license.
For more information please call the Phuket Provincial Transportation Office at 076-214929 or 076-214930. ”
An officer at Phuket Provincial Transportation Office.
AMERICAN CITIZEN ADVANTAGES?
TREATY OF AMENITY
Special benefits for American citizens
I’ve been living in Phuket for the past four years, and several times it has come to my attention that US citizens are entitled to special business benefits due to an agreement between the Thai and American governments.
For example, I have been told Americans are entitled to be the sole owners of companies in Thailand, and are subject to different rates of tax on imported goods.
I would appreciate it very much if someone could clarify this for me or tell me where I could find more information.
Manfred Rackow, Rawai
“The same rates of import duty apply to all people of any nationality in Thailand. ”
Jarun Nakrat, Chief, Phuket Provincial Customs Office.
“Americans may own 100% of certain types of businesses in Thailand. However, the list of Interior Ministry regulations governing what types of businesses Americans may own 100% of is long, detailed and complex.
At the minimum, registering a 100% alien-owned business in Thailand requires 3 million baht paid-up capital, which must be verified by the Interior Ministry.
It would be best for you to consult a lawyer or law firm that is up to date in his field. ”
Friedrich Fauma, Managing Director, International Law Office.
Special benefits for American citizens
I’ve been living in Phuket for the past four years, and several times it has come to my attention that US citizens are entitled to special business benefits due to an agreement between the Thai and American governments.
For example, I have been told Americans are entitled to be the sole owners of companies in Thailand, and are subject to different rates of tax on imported goods.
I would appreciate it very much if someone could clarify this for me or tell me where I could find more information.
Manfred Rackow, Rawai
“The same rates of import duty apply to all people of any nationality in Thailand. ”
Jarun Nakrat, Chief, Phuket Provincial Customs Office.
“Americans may own 100% of certain types of businesses in Thailand. However, the list of Interior Ministry regulations governing what types of businesses Americans may own 100% of is long, detailed and complex.
At the minimum, registering a 100% alien-owned business in Thailand requires 3 million baht paid-up capital, which must be verified by the Interior Ministry.
It would be best for you to consult a lawyer or law firm that is up to date in his field. ”
Friedrich Fauma, Managing Director, International Law Office.
“For more information about the regulations governing what types of businesses Americans may own 100%, call Dusit Uchupongamorn of the Department of Commercial Registration, Ministry of Commerce, in Bangkok, at 02-547-4411. ”
Retirement Visa
To apply for a retirement visa as one among the other non-immigrant visa categories available, the applicants are required to submit to any Thai
Consular Missions a copy of application form filled out, a copy of passport or travel document and the applicants two photos, together with financial documents to ensure that the applicants have in possession of money amounting not less than 800,000 Bath or monthly income of 65,000 Bath or saving and annual income totalling not less than 800,000 Bath. The said amount must eventually be transferred to any bank in Thailand. All the documents submitted will be mailed through the pouch to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Bangkok for consideration. The Consular Missions will be notified to issue visa to the applicants when the Office of Immigration
Bureau has given approval. It is worth noting that the applicants must be 55 years of age of above and not be prohibited from entering the Kingdom under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (A.D. 1979). The applicants are entitled to stay in the Kingdom for one year but visa renewal is available at the Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District,
Bangkok.
http://www.thaivisa.com/
http://www.asiatradingonline.com/visas.htm
Pension Changes
The visa regulations for NEW pension visas has changed to 50 years old. The preceding regulations were you had to have 800,000 Baht in the bank OR an equivalent amount of income of not less than 65,000 baht every month with proof of pension income before applying for a one year visa. Cost is 500 Baht.
http://www.thai-la.net/car-impt.htm
Importing automobiles
for the idiot who wants to do it
http://www.geocities.com/visathai/visathai.htm
http://www.guidetothailand.com/retirement.htm
This site has the answers on the right side in blue. Cannot copy the information as it is a pop up java script.
50 years old bringing in 800,000 baht for one year
or income of 65,000 / month and or savings combined to be more than 800,000 baht that can be transfered to a Thai account.
application
passport photos
financial documents
photocopy of passport
submit to Thai embassies internationally
The Thai Embassies then submit the information to BKK Immigration
Thai Consulate in LA
I think that this one is the best as it has the visa downloads;
http://www.thai-la.net/visa.htm
This one is the Thai Embassy in London
http://www.thaiinuk.com/visa_section3.html
Thai and Philippine Retirement
http://au.news.yahoo.com/020825/19/c6f8.html
To qualify for Thailand’s “geezer visa” retirees must have at least 800,000 baht (19,000 dollars) in a Thai bank account or a regular transfer of 65,000 baht a month guaranteed by their embassies.
The number of retirees living in Thailand is hard to estimate. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says that 93,583 retired and unemployed people visited Thailand in 2001, but the organization has no way of knowing how many are
long-stayers.
However, anecdotal evidence shows that the resort towns of Pattaya and Phuket, with its energetic nightlife, are packed with retirement-age men
from abroad who spend part or all of the year in the country.
http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/retirement.htm
VISA ISSUANCE FOR THE SENIOR AGED 50 YEARS AND ABOVE (NON-IMMIGRANT VISA – CATEGORY “O-A”)
This type of visa will be issued to applicants aged 50 years and above, wishing to take a retreat in the Kingdom for a period of at least one year..
I. QUALIFICATION OF AN APPLICANT
A foreign national whose age is 50 years or above.
Not being prohibited from entering the Kingdom under the Immigration Act
B.E. 2522 (A.D.1979).
Having in their possession an amount of money that is not less than 800,000
Baht *** or a monthly income of 65,000 Baht, or savings and annual income totaling not less
than 800,000 Baht. For instance, if you have an income of 30,000 baht a month, you would need to show savings of 440,000 baht – 800,000 less (12
times 30,000)
II. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR VISA APPLICATION
A copy of visa application form completely filled out.
Two passport-sized photos of the applicant taken within the past six months.
Photocopy of the applicant’s travel document with validity not less than 18
months.
Financial documents (copy) as stated in I.
III. CHANNELS TO SUBMIT VISA APPLICATION
Applicants can submit their applications both at the Thai consular missions abroad and at the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Thailand.
The whole process will take about one to one and a half months.
IV. Procedure for consideration and issuance of visa
Consular missions aboard
Once the application form is submitted, together with required documents, the Consular officials are required to examine such documents to see that they are in good order and completed as stated in II. Then they must be mailed to the Ministry in Bangkok.
The Consular missions will be notified to issue the visa to the individual applicant when the Office of Immigration Bureau has given approval.
The Consular official must request original financial documents showing that the applicant has already complied with the financial obligations stated in I, before granting the visa.
The Office of the Immigration Bureau (Address : Section 1 , Sub-Division 1 , Immigration 1 , Immigration Bureau , Soi Suan Plu , off South Sathorn Road , Sathorn District , Bangkok 10120 . Telephone 287-4948 (direct line) or 287-3101-10 ext. 2236)
The following applicants may apply for this type of visa in Thailand:
Applicants undergoing Health Rehabilitation Programs in hospitals or Health
Centers. These organizations will apply on behalf of the individual applicant.
Applicants who are spouses / parents / children of applicants above.
Applicants through agencies or organizations approved by the Office of the Immigration Bureau that have applied for a visa on their behalf. The above mentioned applicants must have qualifications stated in I.
V. DURATION OF STAY AND EXTENSION
Permission to stay in the Kingdom will be granted for one year upon arrival in the Kingdom. Upon the expiry date of such period , extension for one year at a time will be granted to this group of people, as long as they meet the requirements as earlier stated and at the discretion of the Immigration
officer.
*** The said amount must eventually be transferred to any bank in Thailand.
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”1″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”2″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”3″]
[cm_ad_changer campaign_id=”4″]
[siblings]