The Immigration Bureau announced on Monday a major upgrade to its online system for 90-day reporting. This development is expected to alleviate the chronic overcrowding at Immigration offices across the country.
Immigration say the new system will help to streamline the process for foreigners residing in Thailand.
Pol Lt Gen Ittipol Ittisaranachai, the chief of Immigration Police, highlighted this expansion plan, emphasizing the Bureau's commitment to facilitating the stay of international residents in Thailand.
Under Thai law, all foreigners residing in the country on various long-term visas, or rather extension of stays, are mandated to report their address to the Immigration Bureau every 90 days. Despite the existence of an online system for several years, its unreliability had forced many to continue visiting the Immigration offices in person, leading to excessive crowding.
Responding to the need for a more efficient and user-friendly system, the Bureau has revamped the online service. This upgrade is anticipated to encourage more foreigners to opt for online reporting, thereby reducing the physical footfall at the offices.
For those needing to make their 90-day report, registration is now more straightforward. Foreigners can sign up at the link here by providing an email address. It is advisable to complete this registration at least 15 days before the due date of the next 90-day reporting. Following registration, the Bureau will issue a password via email, which can then be used for subsequent logins and reports.
Of course, few foreigners in Thailand look forward to having to submit their 90-day report.
Those of us in Hua Hin are somewhat fortunate that the Immigration office in BluPort is useful and it generally doesn't take too long to submit a 90-day report there. (Pro tip, visit after 3pm).
However, expats in Thailand typically find the 90-day report requirement inconvenient and a hassle.
Which leads to the question, why doesn't Immigration just scrap the requirement?
Thailand's 90-day reporting requirement for foreigners is a part of its immigration and national security policies. There are several reasons why this requirement may still be in place:
Firstly, it helps the government keep track of the number of foreign nationals in the country and their whereabouts. This is especially important in managing overstays and ensuring that visitors comply with the terms of their visas.
Secondly, it's part of the national security policy and by keeping updated records of foreign residents, authorities say they can more effectively monitor and prevent illegal activities.
Additionally, changing immigration policies can be a complex process, involving various stakeholders and considerations. The 90-day reporting has been in place for a long time, and any change would require careful planning and coordination.
The 90 day report is also part of the Immigration's administrative and legal framework. Any change would require a significant overhaul of these systems, which can be resource-intensive and time-consuming.
The requirement allows the government to collect data on foreign nationals residing in the country, which can be used for planning and policy-making purposes.
So it looks like you're stuck with 90 day reporting for the foreseeable future.
This morning, I attended a press conference at Chaengwattana regarding the 90 Days Online Notification. Although this has been around for a number of years now, it has been fraught with technical problems. But recently, they have revamped the system to make it more reliable and efficient so you can use a computer, tablet, or smartphone to notify your address every 90 days.
✅ Visit the website: immigration.go.th
The purpose of the press conference today was to encourage more foreigners to use the online system in the future for 90-day reporting, in order to cut down on the number of people visiting immigration offices. They are also pushing other online services such as booking appointments online which is now nationwide, and a way to submit documents for extension of stay, which is still being tested.
There have been a number of issues with 90-day online reporting which I did ask about. However, I think most people want to know first when the whole process will be abolished. I'm afraid there is not going to be a change in the law any time soon. We will just have to live with it for the foreseeable future.
I asked them about the problem when some people went to stay in a hotel and were then unable to submit the 90-day notification online due to a change of address. This is a known issue that will be sorted soon by marking the hotel stay as temporary.
I asked them about the issue for people who went abroad briefly and then some immigration offices wanted them to file a TM30 on return and others didn't. I was told that it should be standardised nationwide soon so you don't need to keep filing a TM30.
Several people told me that when they returned from abroad, they were informed that they cannot do the notification online and had to go to the office in person. Immigration informed me that they can indeed do the online notification 90 days after their return. The only time an in-person 90-day notification is required is for the very first time.
I know it is not a perfect system but it is getting better compared to what we had before. I will post separately on how to do 90-day online notification of address.
Thaksin and digital wallet can converge to form political tsunami
views 86
If Pheu Thai needs one good reason why it should back down from its flagship electoral promise, the party does not have to look beyond the 14th floor of the Police Hospital.
The pending "digital wallet" scheme and the controversial post-exile treatment of Thaksin Shinawatra are becoming a potentially-disastrous mixture that the ruling party will find to be too much to handle.
The countdown is beginning for Thaksin to be qualified for an absolute amnesty, a combustible issue on its own, while the ball has been definitely back in Pheu Thai's court regarding a plan to borrow Bt500 billion to fund digital wallet.
During the newly-ended budget debate, the opposition Move Forward Party gave a hint about how easy the two problems can merge. There is a lot of state money being wasted, the party said, and one great example is how much the "privileges" being given to Thaksin are costing Thai taxpayers.
A previously-unthinkable scenario of "yellow" and "orange" protesters taking to the streets for the same causes is being increasingly talked about. Everyone knows the yellows don't like Thaksin and any "populist" programme associated with him.
The oranges, meanwhile, liked Thaksin when he suited them but that is no longer the case, and with Move Forward in the opposition they can never support digital wallet.
Granted, Move Forward can come across as a hypocrite. (The party did not oppose digital wallet during the election campaign, while Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had admitted to meeting Thaksin after the May election and tearfully bemoaned the missed opportunity of Move Forward and Pheu Thai to work together.
This ironically means that if Pheu Thai emerged from the election as the bigger party, they would form a government with Move Forward and nothing would stop digital wallet anyway.)
But hypocrisy matters little in politics and can encompass all ideological realms. In other words, Pheu Thai cannot pin its hopes on a past relationship as well as the perception of Thaksin in many "liberal" quarters as a victim of political persecution.
It will be a perfect storm. Digital wallet presents legal, constitutional and economic risks, whereas Thaksin is primarily political. This is not to mention the Yingluck Shinawatra factor and Paetongtarn waiting in the wings. Pheu Thai cannot fight a battle with so many rival prongs.
One strange theory has it that Pheu Thai is already giving up on digital wallet, but it has not told the public yet. This theory originated from the fact that the party sought to borrow Bt500 billion through proposing a bill to Parliament instead of issuing a royal decree that would be a log quicker and support claims that the Thai economy is in urgent need for an emergency stimulant.
Proposing a bill gives Pheu Thai more flexibility. The party can also claim that it's "democratic" enough to give Parliament a chance to block something if it anticipates big problems. The party would be able to tell its support that "We have tried, but the others are not with us."
\The borrowing bill flies in the face of the "emergency" claim, though, as well as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's attempts to convince foreign investors that the Thai economy is all right. But just like hypocrisy, discrepancies are not big deals in politics. If Pheu Thai wants to retreat, it can do so.
If it does not, it will be a trek through uncharted territories strewn with booby-traps. In one scenario, senators vote to stall the borrowing bill and hence become Move Forward's ally for this big issue in the process.
The bill will then come back to the House of Representatives that needs to reaffirm it requiring support from parties that balked out digital wallet not a long while ago.
It will have been too late for Prime Minister Srettha to dissolve the House by then. In fact, it can be too late for a lot of other people.
Common sense suggests it has to be either Thaksin or digital wallet, not both. Even just one of them is a big ask. Since Thaksin is already here and his daughter has become the leader of the ruling party, it will be a no-brainer if Pheu Thai has to make a choice.
If it wants to avoid a political tsunami, that is.
Thailand moves to ban recreational cannabis use, 18 months after historic decriminalization
Bangkok, ThailandCNN — none
Thailand's new government is moving ahead to pass new legisalation banning cannabis for recreational use in a major reversal 18 months after the country became the first in Asia to decriminalize the plant.
The relaxed laws saw a lucrative cannabis industry catering to locals and foreigners alike boom across the Southeast Asian nation, but a new conservative coalition government came to power late last year vowing to tighten the rules and only allow medical use.
A draft bill was released on Tuesday by Thailand's health ministry outlining hefty fines or prison sentences of up to one year for offenders – or both.
Cannabis and cannabis-related products will be limited to medical and health purposes only, the bill states, echoing Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's pledge in September that his new government will "rectify" laws on cannabis within the next six months.
Smoking marijuana in public remained illegal even under the relaxed laws, but the proposed new laws will banadvertising and marketing campaigns for cannabis buds and extracts, and other cannabis products.
An earlier draft bill failed to win parliamentary approval in November.
Thavisin has been vocal about banning recreational cannabis and stated in several media interviews that drug abuse is "a big problem for Thailand."
CNN has reached out to Thailand's Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew for further comment about the new proposal.
Thailand became the first country in Asia to fully decriminalize cannabis in June 2022, a move years in the making and a rarity in a region where many countries give long jail terms and even death sentences for people convicted of marijuana possession, consumption or trafficking.
Singapore maintains the death penalty for trafficking drugs, and residents traveling to Thailand are warned they could still be prosecuted on return if they smoke weed overseas.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Thailand since 2018, but decriminalization in 2022 took things a step further, making it no longer a crime to grow and trade marijuana and hemp products, or to use any parts of the plant to treat illnesses.
Since then, thousands of cannabis dispensaries have sprung up across Thailand, as well as other cannabis-themed businesses like weed cafes and hemp spas and beauty treatment. Cities like Chiang Mai and the capital Bangkok have even held weed festivals, and decriminalization has been a major draw for tourists.
But Anutin Charnvirakul, the former health minister who strongly lobbied for cannabis legalization in the country, previously told CNN that the intention was never to allow Thais and tourists to smoke weed recreationally in public.
"Thailand will promote cannabis policies for medical purposes. There has never once been a moment that we would think about advocating people to use cannabis in terms of recreation – or use it in a way that it could irritate others," Anutin said.
"We [have always] emphasized using cannabis extractions and raw materials for medical purposes and for health."
Pro-legislation advocates have argued that the cannabis boom across Thailand has helped many Thais, from farmers to small business owners and workers behind the counter.
Cannabis entrepreneurs previously told CNN that they were strongly against any legalization that would hurt the growing multi-billion dollar industry.
The Future Cannabis Network, an advocacy group in Thailand, expressed disappointment at the government's actions and stressed the importance of "public involvement."
Kitty Chopaka, a Bangkok-based cannabis entrepreneur who has pushed for cannabis legalization for years, called it a knee jerk reaction from the government and said that it was "not unexpected."
"But no matter what happens with the incoming cannabis regulations, it is now too late for cannabis to go back to being classified as narcotics."
Tourism Authority of Thailand sets a tourism target for 2024 with revenue of 3.1 trillion baht
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that 2024 is essential for the tourism industry, as its 2024-27 roadmap has set a target to fully recover from the pandemic. It anticipates that revenue in 2024 will reach 3.1 trillion baht. Thailand aims to create a new tourism ecosystem through high-value experiences and sustainable tourism, as well as accelerating the industry to account for 25% of GDP by 2027. In 2024, TAT will focus on increasing both the number of tourists and average expenses by targeting quality tourists with high purchasing power and good conscience, who will have respect for the culture and society. Thailand's travel industry will also focus on distributing income to local areas and communities, along with promoting responsible and sustainable tourism in order to aim for "Net Zero Tourism" -- tourism with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Most Thai citizens and foreigners do not have a tax ID number issued by the Revenue.
The Thai tax authority has announced, in its fiscal report for last year, the scooping up of a total of 395 billion baht (circa US$11 billion) in personal income taxes. This was in addition to huge sums raised via value-added tax on sales and corporate or company taxes. Thai Revenue, as is well known, is taxing assessable overseas income, no matter when sent to Thailand, starting on January 1 2024. Foreigners and Thais who believe they have tax to declare should include their overseas taxable income during 2024 on their tax form for 2025.
Significantly, the Revenue also reports that the number of people filing personal income tax forms during the last 12 months amounted to 11 million, mostly Thais, and only about a quarter of the adult working population. In other words, the vast majority of Thais and foreigners do not register with the Revenue via a tax identification number. Personal income taxes in Thailand are collected in arrears and require registration and the filling in of a tax form in the following fiscal year. Contrary to numerous inaccurate reports on the internet, international cash transfers to Thailand are not taxed on arrival.
Very many Thai expats are concerned about the tax implications of sending money from abroad now that January 2024 has arrived. Any taxes due won't be payable until the tax year 2025 and will require registration to obtain a tax identification number. In other words, there is time for more detail to emerge before any taxes would be payable. Many tax accountants in Thailand believe that foreign transfers from pre-taxed savings, pensions and gifts will not be taxable again, although the Revenue has not specifically addressed that issue or the implications of double-taxation treaties with 61 countries.
The main aim of the Revenue is to close tax loopholes which formerly allowed Thais and some wealthy foreigners to reap huge profits from overseas investments, currency speculations and cash buildups in offshore accounts often held for years. Separately, the Revenue has published new reporting rules for digital platform operators to allow it to collect information on sellers' total income from their online activities, aiming to nudge more online product and service providers into the tax system.
Many experts believe that the recent words of Lavaron Sangsnit are highly relevant to all recent tax announcements: "The world is getting smaller, more connected and traceable because of digitalization. In the past, it may have been impossible to detect tax evasion, but now it can easily be detected." Now that Thailand has joined the Common Reporting System (CRS) of around participating 120 countries, financial institutions round the world will inform member governments of individuals' transactions to fight tax evasion and protect the integrity of tax systems. In other words, when you send money abroad it is no longer a private affair.
Mark your calendars! The "Bangsaen Koff Fest" is brewing up something special again, this time happening from January 20th to the 21st, 2024, on the idyllic sands of Bangsaen Beach.
From 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, prepare to immerse yourself in a world of all things coffee, tea, cocoa, and delectable baked goods.
Over 80 vendors will be waiting for you at this year's Bangsaen Koff Fest, ready to tantalize your taste buds with an array of brews, beans, and blends. Dive into the latest coffee trends with expert baristas and passionate enthusiasts, who will be sharing their knowledge and brewing secrets in exciting workshops.
But the fun doesn't stop there! Get your competitive spirit brewing with the barista competition, featuring skilled coffee artists battling for the top spot. Relax and recharge with free live music, vibrant art exhibitions, and a charming handmade market, all against the backdrop of Bangsaen Beach's serene atmosphere.
For those seeking an extra dose of excitement, head to Bangsaen Beach near San Jao Pho San Shrine two weekends from now to attend this event. Whether you're a seasoned coffee addict or just a curious newcomer, the Bangsaen Koff Fest promises a weekend of caffeinated fun, discovery, and friendly community.
Visa rules and regulations are always in flux in Thailand.
Pattaya Mail gives at the beginning of every year a summary of the current Thai visa regulations. The emphasis below is on English speaking countries (UK, US, Australia) whose nationals form the bedrock of the overseas readership. We refer to them in this article as visa-exempt arrivals.
What to expect in 2024 The Thai government is committed to tourist expansion and more visa hurdles are likely to fall in the next few months. Already, only in Bangkok and potentially in Phuket, some visa extensions can be applied for online and there are likely to be more similar projects in provincial immigration. The bothersome 90 days reporting and the notification of address after arrival in the country are likely to remain with us, partly as a consequence of visa retraction. Rumors in 2023 that all expats will soon be required to have their own medical insurance appear to have retreated. Fears that your immigration record will be dragged into the still-confusing Thai Revenue taxation of foreign assessable income also appear false. Some countries are already experimenting with replacing visas and even passports by biometric data for use at airports and immigration bureaux and there will be the start of a long debate in Thailand too about the pros and cons.
Visas in retreat Tourists from several countries, notably China, Russia and India, no longer require a prior visa to visit Thailand. This is an attempt by the Thai government to boost arrivals from countries believed to have huge expansion potential. Although there have been rumors that citizens of UK, US, EU and Australia will have their visa-exempt status improved from 30 days to 90 days without visiting local immigration, there has not been any announcement.
Extending a visa Visa-exempt arrivals with a 30 days stamp can obtain a further 30 days on application at immigration with a fee of 1,900 baht. They must fill in an extension form, provide a passport photo and – crucially – provide evidence of their local address on a separate form known as TM30. Evidence would normally be a receipt from the hotel or a property lease, or proof of ownership of a condominium or residence. This proof of address is required as soon as possible after arrival and must be renewed every time the tourist re-enters Thailand. Many hotels and condominiums automatically register their guests online with immigration. If so, they will have an official confirmation from immigration which the tourist will need if requiring a service from immigration such as extending their stay, or as part of the bureaucracy to open a bank account.
Border runs Visa-exempt nationals can obtain a further 30 days by visiting the border, usually with Cambodia, on a border run. This basically involves a minibus day trip by a tour organizer and the cost is typically 4,000-5,000 baht. Thai immigration has a limit of two entries by land in a calendar year. There is no formal limit on the number of entries by air from any country, although there will be problems if an individual tries to "live" in Thailand by too-frequent arrivals at the Thai airport without an authorized, pre-arranged visa.
Visas from embassies Increasingly visa applications are online at Thai embassies which offer longer-stay visas including 60 days tourist visas, which can be extended for 30 days at local Thai immigration, together with various three months' and annual visas for Thai family, marriage or retirement purposes. They can also arrange 10 year retirement visas, 5-20 year Elite visas and the 10 year Long Term Residence visas. Most of these can also be obtained whilst in Thailand at immigration or via the Thai tourist authority for Elite. These visas are expensive, may involve heavy financial investment in Thailand and some require comprehensive medical insurance. The detail is too complex to cover here but embassies, immigration and competent agencies can assist. There is comprehensive discussion on the internet, although not always truthful. Medical insurance Mostly visitors to Thailand do not need medical insurance. A few visas do require it, namely O/A retirement visas initially awarded by embassies, 0/X 10 year retirement visas and Long Term Residence visas. The hospital cover now required is US$100,000 or just over three million baht. It's worth noting that the O retirement visa issued by immigration does not require medical cover although changing from O/A to 0 cannot be done without leaving Thailand. Foreigners with work or labor permits are covered by the Thai national insurance scheme. Currently, the Thai government has a fund to offer compensation where "tourists" (not defined) are injured or killed through no fault of their own. But the fund is discretionary and is used mostly to pay funeral costs and compensation to relatives in sensational cases such as major traffic accidents.
Student visas The former practice of enrolling as a student of Thai and then attending classes rarely or never is now frowned on. There have been a number of scandals reported involving heads of language schools and deviant immigration officers. It is unwise to seek student status on a non-sincere basis. Those interested in becoming a serious student should contact a language school of their choice to ascertain costs and requirements. Many student and volunteer visas issued during the covid pandemic were shown to be fraudulent.
Working in Thailand If a foreigner is offered a job, the host company will be responsible for organizing the required visa (non-immigrant B) and Labor office permit. Alternatively, a foreigner can set up his or her own company with capital, acquire Thai partners, register with the Thai tax and health authorities and deal with Thai immigration and the Department of Employment. An informed lawyer is the key to this bureaucracy. For example, many foreign-run restaurants are established through a company set up correctly.
When things go wrong Working without a permit can lead to deportation and blacklisting. Overstaying a visa for a limited period can be cancelled by fines – 500 baht a day to a maximum of 20,000 baht – but overstays for more than three months will likely lead to deportation and blacklisting. Thailand in recent years has become more strict about drunk driving (especially with accidents) and possession or trafficking of illegal substances. Whilst bail is usually offered by the court, the time scales involved in trying criminal cases can be months or even years if an appeal is involved.
The Thai Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported on Friday (January 5th), a total of 284 deaths, 2,307 injuries, and 2,288 road accidents in seven days (December 29th, 2023 – January 4th, 2024) of the New Year Seven Days Road Safety campaign in Thailand.
The highest total number in seven days (December 29th, 2023 – January 4th, 2024) of road accidents and injuries was in Kanchanaburi (82 times, 89 injuries). The highest fatalities were in Bangkok (19 deaths).
The DDPM reported on the seventh day of the campaign (January 4th) that there were 17 deaths and 205 injuries in 200 road accidents.
Accidents were mostly caused by excessive speeding (48.60%). Most accidents involved motorbikes (88.72%). Forty-two percent of road accidents occurred most on national highways. Most accidents occurred between 7:01 A.M. to 8:00 A.M. (8%).
The highest number of accidents and injuries were in Tak (12 times, 15 injuries). The province with the highest number of fatalities were Roi-Et and Suphan Buri (3 deaths).
Thais accept 'shrinkflation' trends, while global survey finds mixed sentiments
A recent survey by Ipsos (Thailand) shed light on the phenomenon of "shrinkflation" in the Thai market, where businesses subtly reduce product sizes or alter ingredients to maintain the original price.
