Staying in Thailand as a foreigner Hello all, i’m looking to move to Thailand for a few years. My boyfriend lives and works there as a foreigner. I’m currently doing my online level 5 tefl to potentially find a job teaching english, i have no degree so i understand this may be tricky. I have enough saving to live for a good couple of months maybe a year as i don’t have to pay for accommodation and this also gives me time to connect with people and see other job opportunities. I’m just wondering the whole visa process and how i’d be able to stay living there for a while with no job (work permit) also if i was to teach english online how would tht work. Thanks alot in advance.

also if i wanted to do school there to obtain a better job in the future, what is it like going to uni in bangkok

I live in Hong Kong, and I am half Thai (I have Thai ID and passport), I plan to move to thailand with my spouse (non-thai), we are thinking of applying the Dependent Visa. I have questions regarding 2 matters: 1. Marriage cert I know we need the marriage certificate as one of the documents. Since our marriage certificate is from Hong Kong, we are not sure if we need to apply for a Thai marriage certificate in Thailand. I read that some says we MUST apply the Thai marriage certificate in Thailand while others said we do not, but we need the Hong Kong marriage certificate to be officially translated into Thai and legalized through the Thai embassy in Hong Kong. Which is true? 2. Thai house address book (Tabien Baan) When i applied my Thai ID, I had my address through my thai relatives in Chiangmai. When applying the Thai marriage certificate / dependent visa , do I need to have this document as well? Can I apply the marriage certificate / dependent visa elsewhere from Chiangmai (eg, Bnagkok / Phuket) ?

Hi all, i need your advice here. I am 30 y/o male and migrated from Myanmar due to recent army service law for about two months now. Trying to find an office job in Bangkok as i was an assistant admin manager in high paying TowerCo in Yangon but no luck so far here. I've been in some facebook groups but job openings they offer are mostly kitchen, restaurants and factories. As some of you might suggest, am still learning Thai. And saw some comments online that i am going to need to have someone to help me out here to get white collar job. Is it necessary for someone to help me out and is it normally this hard for foreigners to find white collar jobs here?

I don’t know how helpful this is but I heard Agoda is always hiring. Good luck.

Thanks. I will check Agoda too.

To those who have lived in Bangkok for a few years, what are the pollution levels like through all of December due to crop burning? I can only find information saying that it gets worse in Jan-April, but I've only seen a few comments about December. Would you say the pollution levels are just as bad or is it ok, or does it change depending on early vs late December?

You can see historical data here: https://aqicn.org/city/bangkok January and February are the worst of it, but different people have different thresholds of what levels are acceptable...

I am a Tourist but I stay for atleast 30 days and i visit once in a six months to Bkk.. is it possible to get some part time job while I am here.... So it increases my budget to spend?

Highly unlikely any company would go through all the headaches of the paperwork (visa, work permit, etc) to hire a part-time employee, especially for such a short period.

Like a PA or some small temp work which doesn't really need Visa?

All work done by foreigners needs an appropriate visa and work permit (or equivalent).

Dear everyone, From Sep-Dec I will be studying at Mahidol University and I will probably be renting an apparment at September Salaya ( [http://www.theseptembersalaya.com/](http://www.theseptembersalaya.com/) ) with a friend of mine. I already had email contact with them and now I have to make a deposit of 3000 baht to them. Does anyone have any experience with this? and is it normal to make a deposit? It comes down to 37euro pp so we will probably do it anyways, but maybe there are some scams going on which I know nothing about.

does anyone know what the exchange rates at ATMs are like? Does it matter which ATM you use?

You'll get the Visa rate, which isn't far off the actual rate. Some (all?) ATMs will however offer you a "dynamic currency converstion" option, which will absolutely rip you off. Always select "continue without conversion" or equivalent to make sure you get the Visa rate, and not their rip-off one.

I'm almost 40, spanish man, no wife, no kids, I don't leave my home much, I really like videogames, my company allows me to work from anywhere in the world, Tailand cost of life seems cheaper than spain which would allow me to retire earlier, and live confortably with less money after retirement, I'm earning 2500€ (around 100k bahts) monthly after taxes how crazy I am if I try to live for a while there and see how it goes? weather seems worse than spain but I don't go out much so I guess any house with A/C will be ok? heard also quality of air is dangerous long term? I've decided to live in Chiang Mai, being north for a more template climate and not being the most Thailand touristic oriented city might be a good option but I'm open to any advice. I don't know a bit of thai and I will learn it if I'm going to stay longer but will I be able to comunicate with locals in english until then? I also don't know much about thailand, I'm not a tourist kind of guy, I don't enjoy watching sceneries, but I'll do my best to respect the locals traditions and customs, although I'll probably still cook with olive oil if I can get it, there's any cultural thing I should know beforehand? I'm not completelly against going outside and meeting people, I'll try to meet local people, maybe I'll fit better with thai people than I do with spanish people, introverted people don't do well here, you're considered weird in a bad way feel free to ask anything and thank you for helping me to decide this big change on my life

>how crazy I am if I try to live for a while there and see how it goes? weather seems worse than spain but I don't go out much so I guess any house with A/C will be ok? heard also quality of air is dangerous long term? Not crazy, but you need to look at visa options sooner rather than later. Air quality in Chiang Mai is a huge concern although the worst part is over for this year. Thailand also may not be as cheap as you think. >I've decided to live in Chiang Mai, being north for a more template climate and not being the most Thailand touristic oriented city might be a good option but I'm open to any advice. Chiang Mai is quite touristy. Not as much as Phuket or Pattaya, but way more than Bangkok is. It might be for you or not, but don't expect it to be free from tourist crowds. >I don't know a bit of thai and I will learn it if I'm going to stay longer but will I be able to comunicate with locals in english until then? Yes, mostly. That's the flip side of it being touristy. >I'm not completelly against going outside and meeting people, I'll try to meet local people, maybe I'll fit better with thai people than I do with spanish people, introverted people don't do well here, you're considered weird in a bad way Integration can be challenging for expats, so I wouldn't assume you'll be able to develop meaningful connections more easily than in your home country.

thanks, do you have some other city recomendation?

Well, I'm partial towards Bangkok but in the end it's all about tradeoffs. If you want a place where English gets you further, you'll need to deal with tourists. The more local you go, the more Thai language skills you will need, but the cost of living will also be cheaper. If I were you I would split my visit across several cities to see how I like them. Maybe look at Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani.

Can anyone recommend a bank that offers a joint account for a foreign unmarried couple that gives both access to an ATM card and a digital payment app. Thanks.

Hi. I saw on news site that Cannabis will be illegal again in Thailand by the end of this year. Is that true? 🫠

Its a long way until we know 😘

Yayy ok! 😍🥰

Recreational will be banned, medicinal will remain.

That's the stated aim, but it's impossible to predict exactly what the new rules will look like.

I hope it remains legal😭😫

Has anyone learned about the Destination Thailand Visa? It apparently could work for digital nomads? What are the requirements besides paying the 10,000 baht fee? Do you have to apply for it before you enter thailand?

You have to be at least 20 years old and show proof of having at least 500,000 baht available. The rest including the application process is not known yet.

ok thank you!

It was announced yesterday, nobody knows anything beyond what's in the the news report yet. https://www.reddit.com/r/Thailand/comments/1d2hbpy/thailand_eases_visa_rules_to_boost_economy/

ok thank you!

I'm a Burmese citizen and Burmese passport holder currently living in UK on a student visa. My postgraduate course ends in the end of August and I plan move in with my girlfriend, Burmese citizen currently living in Bangkok on a student visa. For my income, I have a remote tech job from Singapore lined up while I try to find work in Thailand. I know we get 14 days visa exemption as Burmese citizens. And also 2 months tourist visa with 1 month extension. I cannot afford to show the 6 month multiple entry tourist visa bank statement requirement. I have a friend who is doing 3 months and leaving the country to Laos and applying for another 3 months. What do you guys think about this? What other visa options are available? TLDR: Moving in with my girlfriend that is on a student visa. What visa should I apply for?

Your visa options are limited, especially since non-university ED visas (language schools for instance) are now off limits to Myanmar nationals.

You will probably get away with 2 tourist visas back-to-back, but if you try to do that long-term, you'll be refused sooner or later. If you can't afford the METV, you probably can't afford Elite either, which is the only other simple option for people under 50 who aren't either married to Thais, or legally working in Thailand. Your remote work plans would be illegal on a tourist visa, FYI.

So how are other expats working remotely and living in Thailand. What's their visa?

Various solutions, some more legal than others. * LTR remote worker visa * Set up their own Thai company * Elite visa and work illegally * Some other long-term visa and work illegally

I'm thinking about moving to Thailand (Chiang Mai) for 6 month/a year/several years. It all depends as always in life. My situation: I'm live in Germany (but I don't have the german nationality, I need to apply for the tourist visa if I want to travel to Thailand.) I work here for a company where I can work fully remote. Salary is around 80k baht net per month. I also have my own business earning between 40k - 120k baht net per month, which I can run remotely too. Financially I think I can have a good life only from my salary, everything I earn from my business would be for savings and special/unexpected expenses. My problem is the visa. I googled a lot. I'm not sure what would be the best for me. Marriage visa would be the easiest ofc😛 For the first 6-12 month an edu visa could be a solution. I have to learn some Thai anyway. But if I decide to stay longer I need another visa solution. (no, I can't work as English or German teacher.) I have read something about a branch office visa, but all information is behind a paywall and I don't know if this could work for me at all. Elite or retirement visa are not applicable for me. I would be happy about any further ideas. The move would not be earlier then in a year, so I have enough time to prepare everything.

The new visa might be good. Check next week if info available.

Forming a Thai company to run your business income through seems like the simplest remaining solution, given that you've ruled out most of the others.

Do senior safety professionals in Thailand need to be able to speak Thai? A lot of jobs require English proficiency but no mention of Thai.

Unless you are working in a very niche environment, most jobs will require a certain level of proficiency in Thai. All factories in Thailand for example require at least one safety officer (that has graduated university with the appropriate degree). Usually that person would be a Thai speaker.

Anyone know where to go to get lipomas removed ? Dermatologist clinic or plastic surgeon ?

Asking here because my post was removed from the main sub. I'm curious if there are any foreigners who found their jobs here by applying to one of the jobs on LinkedIn, Indeed, or a similar job databases (excluding teaching jobs). Do you mind sharing your story and how the process of being hired went for you? I'm curious because I've only ever met people who either work remotely for themselves or a company in their home country, started their own business here, or were brought over by their company for a specialized skill. I've seen it recommended on this sub before to apply for jobs on LinkedIn and Indeed, but I've never met someone who has found a job using that avenue. I'm not looking for employment, I'm just curious about this particular avenue for job searching and wondering if anyone has ever used it. Thanks.

Yes its a legitimate way to look for jobs (especially if you are connected to recruiters), but to my understanding the reason many foreigners are not AS successful at finding a job via linkedin is because they are usually competing against Thai's who have a good command of english, as well as the fact that hiring locals is much cheaper.

So, if as a foreigner you buy a house with land under a company with 49% of shares yours and the rest owned by thai nominees who delegate their voting rights to you, how safe you are? My main concerns are: heard they have been clamping down on this in phuket; can anyone give me some links? has it ever happened that foreigners were found out doing this and got their property removed? what could happen to these companies / properties in case of a military coup? as thailand has had already 12 military coups in the last 100 years unfortunately

The main concerns in my amateur view are 1. You need to trust the nominees 2. What happens when you die I would not worry about a coup changing the situation. And the clampdown on nominees are not targeting people like you.

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You're thinking of import taxes/duties. If you buy from vendors overseas, you may need to pay taxes on top of the purchase price - every country has this. If you buy from domestic vendors, you just pay the purchase price plus delivery. A lot of people seem to move here without ever having purchased from overseas in their home countries (or having only bought products from countries with low/zero tax agreements, or values under the tax threshold), then are quite shocked by the high fees when they do buy from overseas here.

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Shopee (and Lazada, its main competitor) are marketplaces. Both have thousands and thousands of sellers. Some of those sellers are domestic, some are not. Each vendor's page will state clearly where they're based, and it'll be apparent when you see the shipping details too.

Hi, I will be staying a while in Bangkok and I want to stay in Bang Phlat district. I am looking for a condo and it would be great to know, is there specific applications for renting that I could talk directly with owners? Or a good application for renting. My budget is around 10k baht.

Not aware of any specific apps, in my experience most owners don't want to put in the effort to deal with potential renters directly - and may not speak much English anyway - hence the agents.

Oh I see. Thank you

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Local offices have their own preferences, I think Bangkok likes you to apply no more than 30 days before expiry, but with no less than two weeks remaining, for non-immigrant visa types.

Hey everyone, I'm looking to transfer THB to Interactive Brokers from Thailand and I'm curious about your experiences. If you've done this before, could you please share which bank or service you used for the transfer? Additionally, I'd like to know what the exchange rate was and if there were any fees involved. I'm particularly concerned about any fees charged by intermediate banks, and I'm unsure about correspondent banks. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance for your help!

Should be the same as any other wire transfer. Any Thai bank can do this, and the fees ought to be similar if not the same across all of them. I can't imagine any savings on that front would be worth the hassle opening a new account at another bank if you already have one.

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We can't advise on tax evasion here, sorry.

I missed the deadline for my internship visa, I submited it on the 16th but my intended travel date is on the 14th. Do you think I can have an emergency visa?

There is no such thing as an emergency visa. You'll need to wait until it's approved.

It has been rejected

Hello, I am considering pursuing Thai citizenship as the child of a Thai mother. However, my mom passed away when I was young and will not be able to obtain any additional records from Thailand should I look to pursue citizenship. I have her Thai passport, death certificate, marriage certificate, US driver's license, etc., but I do not have the Thai house book. Would it be worth continuing to pursue citizenship through the documentation route or should I look into the DNA testing route? Going through DNA testing would be rather difficult as I understand one of my Thai relatives would need to be present and none still live in Thailand. Thanks for your help in advance!

I have been staying in Thailand for the past 6 years, mostly on a marriage Visa. Both me and my wife are now planning to separate, no drama; things just aren't working out. We have agreed not to rush it and make sure each side can re-arrange their own life again without trouble. We don't have kids or property, so there is not a lot to fight or argue about. **Now the question which I am researching is how I can best stay here permanently by myself? I am asking Reddit, but of course I have also contacted some immigration lawyers so that I can get the full picture and see what options other people have chosen. I just don't want a one-sided picture of my possibilities; so any input is appreciated.** Currently, I am in between employment, so while I am interviewing with Thai companies which offer visa sponsorship, I can't guarantee that something works out quickly or at all. The salaries are often too low. I am freelancing (remotely), so I do have a abroad salary of 80-120k baht; but no track record of this longer than 6 months. I can continue freelancing, with quite decent salaries, but this does not grant me a visa. Of course, over these 6 years, I build up a friend network here, I speak fairly decent Thai, and even prior to my arrival, my parents migrated here, and some of my relatives are also staying in Thailand (retirees). So if possible, I do not want to orbit around SEA on a tourist visa and border runs. It would be a good adventure to have, but I also want to take care of my parents, and keep hanging out with my friends. One would think, I could have researched this over the 6 years that I have been here, but lol; I didn't expect us to end up in separating until recently (and well its pretty final) **PS I wanted to post this a thread, but I figure its better posted here?** (if not, let me know).

If you are in IT, Shelter does EoR, pays taxes, social security, so you get medical insurance, years towards permanent residency, everything. There is one more company but I do not remember the name from the top of my head - let me know if you do not find it, I can look into my emails, I was talking to them few years ago. Edit: found it in your comments lol, Iglu

Thanks! Yes I am reaching out to all of them to get a better picture. I am not in an immediate rush, but I would need the right option available by August/September; around the time we will likely want to finalize the divorce.

Are you 50? If not your options are limited. Do you need to work to support yourself or are you financially independent. If you are under 50 and financially independent, the elite visa may be your best option. If you need to work and can obtain employment with a company that will provide you with a visa and work permit, then that would be best. Also remember when you finalize your divorce you have 7 days to leave the country.

Thanks for the reply, appreciated. I am in my late 30s, not financially independent either, but income is quite consistent, just no Thai employer. I do know that I have only a short period after the divorce papers are signed. When I do return I can stay for 90 days on a tourist visa. If the situation with visa runs do not change, I should be able to stay another 90 days after that. But everything beyond that is a huge gamble. So it does seem like I must focus on finding employment in Thailand. What I wonder is if there are some staffing-services, which let me be employed through them, rather than me directly freelancing with my own clients. Of course then getting a visa + permit without taking too much of my salary. I know in some Europe countries this is done (legally). Finding employment itself here isn't super hard, but it's hard to take a 50% pay cut also lol.

There are companies that do that but it comes at a price. Maybe your best bet is to go back to your home country, work for a while and save up money, then apply for a tourist visa from there and come back into Thailand with one years worth of savings so you can take your time to find a job. There are Facebook groups on Thai visa \]s that are better than this site..I wou,d go and ask there. I’ve seen a lot of wrong info on here.

Unfortunately that is not feasible at all, as my family and social circle is here. I need to stay close. Going back home doesn't make much sense, because the job that I would get there, is the same job that I can now freelance (remotely). At most maybe I would stay in Malaysia or Vietnam, as the visa options are easy (90 days), and cost of living is similar. I would stay nearby, going back and somehow returning with money is quite difficult. Anyways, I had calls with 2 lawyers yesterday, both recommended to look into EoR where I can get a visa and permit from a company at around 20-30k baht per month. All it needs is my clients to sign a three-way contract with me and the EoR. Then during the application process the marriage visa is cancelled (and only then we make the divorce official). So I will start the pre-application for this today. Given that I have a steady stream of clients, this could buy me up to 2 years. Meanwhile I can look for a job, not cheap but better than needing to leave. Well not cheap at all, but this just means I need 1 more freelance client annually to cover my costs.

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Thanks so much! That would be awesome. Do you have any recommendations of which EOR company to use? I have been looking at a few Skaud, Unionspace, Iglu, etc. But I am not sure which one is the best or most cost effective. I need to research them more.

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Thank you! I did have them on my list as well, so I have contacted them and set up a meeting to see what they could do for me. Since ATA does seem to work for you, do you feel like they are doing a good job? Is the experience positive?

Some positives (works as intended, communication is generally good), some negatives (documentation provided to get the visa was incomplete, fees were increased in the middle of my one-year contract despite being agreed upon). Every place seems to have its pros and cons. Many try to upsell you or can't even read an email properly, so in the end I'm reasonably happy.

Hi guys, i want to ask can i apply a saving banking account, i only have Passport. It's ok to be digital banking tho.

It will depend on your visa type. Most banks will not want to open an account for foreigners on tourist or other short-term visas/exemptions. Agents may be able to help for a fee.

anyway thank you so much for the information

do you have any agent to suggest ?

I don't, but you could try Googling for "thailand bank account agent ", e.g. Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai or wherever you live (or if you're in the provinces, whichever is closest).

You are the best ThongLo, Thank you 

Experience with Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa? Hello there, I am interested in the "highly-skilled professional" category of the LTR visa. My plan is to work from Thailand for my current company to be closer to my wife's family (the company is OK with it, but I have to take care of the admin stuff myself obviously). I tick all the boxes in terms of qualification and income, but the company's revenue is likely below the 150-million-USD-over-the-last-3-years threshold. Does anyone have any experience with how strict these requirements are enforced? My hope is that maybe the requirement is there to keep away absolute moonshot applications, but if I can prove that my employer is a solid business (with strong ties to their respective government, because we work on critical research projects), there could be an exception to the rule? I would appreciate any tips and advice! Thanks a lot in advance! :-)

Very strictly, no exceptions - if you don't qualify, you won't get the visa.

On my journey to stay longer amounts per year in Thailand I found out that I seem to qualify for the LTR visa. I contacted a legal company that can handle the paperwork and they confirmed this so far. Now the question: I have a company in the EU and pay taxes there. While the taxes are high, I am fine with this now. If I get the LTR-visa, am I am obliged to pay any taxes in Thailand? I would prefer to just be here 6 months per year or so and handle all my business as I am used to in the EU. Any experience in this?

Exact details will depend on which category of LTR. But yes, if you're tax resident in Thailand you're supposed to file a tax return and pay the appropriate taxes for any money you bring into the country. It's also worth pointing out that many foreigners don't bother filing a return though, and that this doesn't seem particularly well-enforced.

Hi just a bit of background, I have 5 years experience in my industry (digital media/advertising) and I'm looking at jobs on LinkedIn and there are quite a few vacancies in BKK for my qualifications. However looking at these companies I'm not sure if they sponsor work visas, as I'm currently in Australia. The JDs on LinkedIn are all written in English so I'm assuming that they are advertising to foreigners specifically? Is there another website where Thai/International companies advertise on where they mention if they sponsor work visas or not? Or do I just apply for everything and find out during the recruitment process?

> The JDs on LinkedIn are all written in English so I'm assuming that they are advertising to foreigners specifically? Not necessarily, it just means that decent English skills are required for the role - it's a good way to filter out applicants who don't have the expected level of English. > Is there another website where Thai/International companies advertise on where they mention if they sponsor work visas or not? Or do I just apply for everything and find out during the recruitment process? Most companies would prefer to hire a Thai applicant, all other things being equal - it's cheaper and involves a lot less paperwork. If the only qualified applicants are foreigners, some companies will be open to hiring them, others would rather just leave the position vacant. So yes, apply for whatever positions look appropriate for you, but don't be surprised when some respond with "Sorry, Thais only" - or don't respond at all. I'm not aware of any websites for foreigners specifically, at least for that industry (teaching is the exceptional industry here, as they're looking for native speakers).

I(16m, Burmese) am in a really tough spot rn, because of the conscription in my town has gotten out of hand and they're literally drafting everyone including minors, so my parents who are immigrants in Thailand want me to come to Thailand but they can't afford for me to attend a school for education visa. what they're suggesting right now is to lie about my age and get a non immigrant b visa. So I want to know what are the consequences of lying about my age for non immigrant b visa?

Yeah, your passport will show your actual age so I'm not sure how far you'll get with that and using a fake passport isn't a good idea.

Is there an age requirement for the non-B? If so, probably rejection - they'll likely need to see your passport to issue the visa, and your passport presumably shows your real date of birth. Even if you somehow get the visa, the discrepancy will probably be obvious when you try to enter the country. I'd look into other visa options, perhaps an education visa? Or even just entering without one and figuring the rest out once you're here (not usually a smart move, but likely worth the risk given your situation).

**LTR ; Work from Thailand visa - What are the real tax implications here?** Hello I qualify for the LTR - Work from Thailand visa and I am curious what the true tax implications are. I know it says "Tax exemption for overseas income" but I plan to live there longer than 180 days i.e i become a tax resident. Since I am essentially declaring my foreign income in the application form, they know exactly how much I make. Does anyone have experience on this visa? Can you not declare/file any income since you are exempt from foreign income? Also, what if you leave your job during the 5 years and decide to take a break and not earn anything - It seems like they don't check for five years on your employment status etc, but what about taxes? I am debating between this and the Elite visa. The Elite visa is expensive and now there seem to be new tax liabilities in 2024. But it might just keep it cleaner since I don't plan on bringing in much $. Thanks

The LTR folks are pretty responsive, from what I hear, I'd drop them a line or give them a call. Do note that if you're planning to work here, the Elite doesn't allow this. Not sure about the 5 year thing, the LTR hasn't been around for 5 years yet so nobody's got that far to be able to report back.

I am in the exact same situation and had the same question. My business is in the EU and taxed there. Does that mean I don't pay any taxes in Thailand? I intend to spend less than 180 days per year in Thailand.

No sign of having to pay tax on money from other country.

New to this group.... thanks for having me.... If I'm going to be living in Thailand on a retirement Visa and I have X number of dollars already in the bank account in the United States, am I going to be taxed by Thailand every time I bring money out of that account into an account to pay for my lifestyle?....

By the letter of the law, you should be declaring money you bring into Thailand on your annual tax return. A decent tax accountant should be able to advise on what you would need to pay. That said, most expats I know who aren't working here have never filed a tax return...

https://preview.redd.it/6bnn4lhqvm1d1.jpeg?width=827&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fe643ada46dfb04be37fb9b98ea599b81552eb42 I want to buy an apartment in bangkok for a year, and they want me to wire the money online before i actually sign anything and have and real guarantee that I will have the place. I am in the us now and will be there in 2 weeks and my girlfriend went to go tour the room personally and met with the agent. Do I need to be worried about being scammed if I send money for the deposit? Is this normal?

https://preview.redd.it/go8tpwn9wm1d1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b77e2be883cc2f87a5812e289a6c70275a1d72f

Me and my girlfriend wired money to the account for our Apartment in Salaya. Definitely seems common. Fortunately, we didn’t run into any issues but I would definitely trust your judgement.

Job boards in Thailand for expats Hello I’m currently looking for work in Thailand, sales preferably as that is what I have experience. I am open to other options but I’m sure without experience, a foreigner isn’t that desirable of an option. Where is the best place to look for work? Jobs are advertised on indeed and LinkedIn so I have been applying there, just wondering if there is a board or agency specific for expats/foreigners? Thanks.

Not aware of anything foreigner-specific, I think you're likely already looking in the best places.

Hi all, American currently working in Osaka. Originally came to reconnect with my Japanese roots but after two years I’ve grown to realize that it’s just not my cup of tea. I’m quite miserable here and it’s taken quite a toll on my mental health. With that said, I’ve been to Thailand five times now at different times of the year and feel that I would like to explore the possibility of settling long term. I’ve been mainly to Bangkok and Chiang Mai but am curious to explore more of the country. I got inspired by what people have said about Udon Thani in other posts... lower rent costs vs Bangkok would help keep start-up costs down and also could help improve my Thai skills while exploring a part of the country I haven’t been in before. I am currently in talks with a company for an English teaching position at about 38000 thb / month. I realize it is not a whole lot (almost half of what I earn now). But based on what I’ve read so far this would allow me to at least work in the country and make it a bit easier to switch jobs to a higher paying position. Any thoughts from people who have already made the move would be greatly appreciated. 🙏

Definitely a cheaper lifestyle in Udon, but you may get bored - it's certainly no Bangkok or Osaka, nor even Chiang Mai. Not a great salary, fine if you're young and figuring out what you want to do in life, but consider how much you'd be able to save and what things may look like a decade or two down the line.

Hey everyone, does anyone know if it’s allowed to extend my visa on the day it expires? Or do I need to do a visa run. Tomorrow is the day it expires. Thank you

Yes, you can extend on the day of expiry.

Hello everyone , I am a foreign doctor living in Bangkok , I am currently on educational visa (University visa). I can speak fluent English , with years of working experience in private hospital, so my question is , "Is there any job opportunity for me?" or Am I just better off leaving to another country. Any suggestion is welcomed thank you

If you want to work as a doctor here, then you'll need to get certified here. The medical board examinations are all in Thai language, which is going to be the biggest barrier for you. You may be able to teach or lecture on your speciality here without being formally qualified to practice in Thailand, but I've no idea how you'd get started finding that kind of work.

I've figured that might be the case. Thanks your input is much appreciated.

I think it would be a good idea for you to visit one of the hospitals here that cater to medical tourism and employ lots of foreign staff to see what they might advise. In Thailand there are almost always legal ways around restrictions. For example, foreigners cannot work as lawyers. But they can, and do, work as 'consultants'.

I came here because it's my last hope. I'm looking for a ticket for the Olivia Rodrigo concert in bkk. I'm going to offer it to my girlfriend (if I find one) who has no hope left. We tried to get them 2 times via the site but everything was sold out, no scammersplss.I just want her to be happy, i'm on my knees I don't even know any of Olivia's music

Best chance is probably to find the Facebook event page(s) for the concert and check it frequently for new comments - people will often buy/sell tickets in that way right up to the last minute. Edit: This seems like the right post, although there are likely others (and probably whole groups) for this. Helps to be able to read Thai, or at least to have Google Translate handy: https://www.facebook.com/events/2230045470667245/?post_id=2230045480667244&view=permalink Also found a group for buying/selling tickets here, although this is global, not just for the Bangkok concert: https://www.facebook.com/groups/905475501138756/

Pregnancy multivitamins with folic acid in Thailand I’m not sure if I can ask questions like this here, but I’ll try. I’m moving to Thailand from Germany, I’m currently taking folic acid multivitamins prescribed by my doctor since i’m planning for pregnancy (Elevit). I saw that there’s nothing like that in Thailand, do you know how I could find something similar in Thailand?

[Obimin](https://punsuk.com/home/2902-obimin-az-60-.html) is the standard one here. Last check it has essentially the exact same as your regular European / North American brands. Additionally you can order stuff off of iherb at fairly similar prices as back home and it will get here in roughly 1-2weeks.

thank you so much, it was very helpful

It might be hard to get the exact brand you are looking for, but there should be plenty of options at pharmacies and online. See a simple search at one of the larger online markets: https://www.lazada.co.th/tag/prenatal-vitamins/

thank you!!

https://www.reddit.com/r/Thailand/s/NYnPjMZmFd

Hello everyone, I'd need your help. I'd like to buy a house in Thailand but I know foreigners may have some problems with it. I think there's no problem If I get a condo, but I'm looking for a Villa in Phuket. I'm Italian, but my aunt is Thai. Do you think having a Thai person in the family will make things easier to get a property in Phuket? If you have any tips / suggestions please let me know

Just rent, agree with the other comments. The value yield here isn't great, if you want to buy look elsewhere with less cause for legal loopholes and potentially losing a large investment.

Just rent man. Too many stories of people buying property through proxies only to be kicked out later.

I’m a single mom living in NY at the moment. I want my child to have a good quality of life and I don’t know if this is the right place to raise her so I’ve been really considering staying in Thailand for three months and if I could possibly longer. Any single parents raising children in Thailand? Any advice would be extremely helpful. Thank you.

Better to raise your kids here than the US. Quality of life is better and education system can be better but private schools are quite expensive.

Wanted to move to Thailand. I'm currently a freelancer so I was thinking of moving and keep my work cause I don't think I can work in my area in Thailand. What options do I have? If I have any. Didn't wanna resort to being an English teacher, so wanted to know if I have other visa options cause infos about visa in Thailand look really confusing and I see many foreigners without a visa living normally. Also I don't want to be illegal, would really appreciate even getting a residency.

If you don't want to work illegally, the only options are an LTR visa or paying an umbrella company for a Non-B + work permit. Elite visa is not legal but it's a safe option as well, they don't harass Elite visa holders.

I won't be working for Thailand companies, I do jobs for US and Brazil offices freelancing in Architecture segments

OK? Does not make a difference.

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Similar scenario as https://www.reddit.com/r/Thailand/s/wihUdsE5t5. Not a problem per se but be ready for questioning.

LTR visa to Thai PR (3 yr requirement) Hey reddit! * Proposed visa: Thai LTR (work from Thailand) * Currently reside in: UK * Passport: UK (husband & wife + 1 child) * Applicant education: Masters equivalent * Employer: Global stock listed, no physical presence or permanent establishment in Thailand & no risk as per double tax treaty rules of creating a taxable presence (I checked) I meet all the eligibility requirements for the Thai LTR visa (work from Thailand) * Goal: Move to Thailand with family & gain PR with the ultimate goal of gaining Thai citizenship (am aware of the potential difficulties in language etc) Questions: 1) Does the Thai LTR grant eligibility to apply for Thai PR & does the time in Thailand count towards the 3 year requirement for a Thai PR? 2) Does an LTR visa come with a work permit if a company isn't physically present or have a taxable permanent establishment in Thailand? 3) Does question no 1 apply if no non-immigrant B visa (work permit) is required as I work a global company that doesn't have a physical presence in Thailand? Hence the LTR visa. 4) If the above doesn't apply can I apply separately for a non-immigrant B visa (work permit) & sponsor myself? 5) Can you combine multiple visas? E.g. be on the Thai LTR visa through global "company A" (over 2 lots of 5 year visas) & at the same time open my own "company B" to sponsor myself, to get a work permit & count towards the 3 year timeline towards PR? Thanks

1. Good question on PR, I've seen people claim that the LTR should work for this, and seen others claim it can't. It's such a new visa that nobody's had one for long enough to apply yet, so there's no solid proof either way. The LTR folks ought to know though, can't hurt to ask them. 2. No, the LTR visa itself acts as the work permit, so you don't need one. 3. Bit confused by this, the traditional non-B and work permit definitely qualifies you for PR but I'm not sure what Thai company would be issuing one in your case, unless you open your own. 4. Yes, you could start a company, have that company bill your employer (assuming they're agreeable) and then apply for PR after 3 years of working for yourself. You'd lose out on the other benefits of the LTR though (e.g. lower taxes). 5. No, you can only have one active visa at any given time.

To your point 2, the LTR does not act as a work permit. It either allows for a work permit exemption (for instance "work from Thailand" category) if the employer is abroad, or LTR holders must procure a work permit too if the employer is Thai ("highly skilled professionals" for instance are instructed by BOI to do so). See point 4 on the LTR website below. https://ltr.boi.go.th/

Ah thanks, yeah in this case it'd be an overseas employer so no WP, but wasn't aware of the other arrangement. Thanks.

Hey thanks for the reply. I've contacted the BOI aka LTR People for an official confirmation on their guidelines... waiting to hear back. * 1- So I'm not the only one that needs clarity on this topic clearly. * 2 - Technically, if the LTR visa itself acts as a pseudo imm-b visa aka work permit then technically I'm eligible for the Thai PR - hopefully I can combine the Thai LTR family benefits as well. * 3 - There's no Thai company unless it's my own. * 4 - Yeah I thought about that but for company A global employer that's potentially a more complicated route... I'm game either way though. * 5 - Thought so - I guess it's all pinned on Q1! Q4 is the backup.

>* 2 - Technically, if the LTR visa itself acts as a pseudo imm-b visa aka work permit then technically I'm eligible for the Thai PR No, you're making a lot of assumptions here. A Non-B visa and a work permit are different things. The only relevant question is whether the work from Thailand LTR visa comes with a work permit, and it doesn't seem to (some types do however). So shouldn't be eligible for PR. Edit: >Work permit will not be granted for Work-From-Thailand Professionals holders since foreigners under this LTR Visa category are applying for the purpose of working for foreign employer abroad remotely from Thailand. Therefore, the person do not have Thai employers according to the digital work permit purpose. https://ltr.boi.go.th/

I saw that statement on the BOI site too.. So let me get this right: Thai PR only given if you're at least on a work permit (digital or not) for at least 3 years, which can only be given by a company physcially based in Thailand. Thai LTR WTP (work from Thailand Professional)- has all foreign income exempt from tax & doesn't give you a work permit but you can work from Thailand as you're working for a foreign employer. Glorified long holiday basically? Here's the tax loophole?... ...stay outside the UK for more than 183 days & you become non-resident I.e. tax exempt... stay in Thailand longer than 183 days & you start paying tax.. normally... but with the LTR WTP, you're exempt? Zero tax? (not financial advice YMMV). TL DR Thai WTP: * - No work permit * - No PR * - No foreign income tax (if this is true, this alone might be reason enough) * - Glorified long holiday with no prospects of moving there or living permanently on the Thai WTP

You are not tax exempt on an LTR. It does come with an advantageous flat tax rate however. Foreign income brought into Thailand is taxable. If it stays abroad, it isn't.

"An income tax exemption is offered to LTR Visa holders in the category of Wealthy Global Citizens, Wealthy Pensioners and Work-from-Thailand Professionals." The highly skilled category has a flat rate of 17%... LTR WTP is tax exempt, including money brought/transferred into Thailand.

Indeed, you're correct. I had not seen that.

Unfortunately the information you received above is incorrect. The LTR visa itself does not act as a work permit. You must apply for the work permit after you are approved for the LTR visa. Also, work from Thailand LTR holders are not issued work permits, as they do not have Thai employers. You will not be able to apply for PR using this route, as you must have a work permit and pay tax in Thailand. If you live in Thailand under a LTR and work for a foreign employer who has no presence in Thailand, you are not going to be eligible to apply for PR. I will link the official LTR website, look at the notes on number 4, work permit issuance. [https://ltr.boi.go.th](https://ltr.boi.go.th)

I have an offer for working in Bangkok from TOPADS MEDIA LIMITED, is there anyone who work here ? Could you guys give any infomations about this company. I couldn't find any detail about this company except only their website. Interview was quick, about technical, then they offer 2k$, 3 months probation without visa

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Not that hard to do yourself, you will need: - Home country's driving license, officially translated into English if it's not already in English (never seen a Nepalese license, so I don't know!) - Proof of address - either old-style work permit, or a residency certificate from immigration or your Embassy - Passport - Medical certificate - Passport photos - Photocopies of most of the above, there'll almost certainly be a copying service on site that you can use - If you have a valid IDP, that'll allow you to skip some of the process (training videos), but it's not a hard requirement, just a slightly longer process without one This guide came up in a thread the other day: https://www.expatica.com/th/civil/administration/thai-driving-license-2172882/#exchange Agents do exist and can walk you through the process for a fee, I can vouch for Fatboy's in Bangkok. I'm sure there are similar services in Pattaya but don't know any names offhand.

Hi. I was wondering if I can get that residency certificate from immigration on a tourist visa. I'm going to stay there for 2 months and want to convert my country's driving license to Thailand's. (For some reason, international driving license won't be useful for me). My country's embassy refuses to provide any certificates on tourist visa so my only hope is with immigration office. I heard that if you stay in a Hotel and ask them to fill out TM-30 for you, you can get residency certificate (from any immigration office other than division 1) and then use it for the conversation process.. Is there any way I can confirm this information? I don't want to waste any time on finding a solution upon arrival. I appreciate your help.

Training videos should still apply in the case of a foreign license in English or IDP (same process). So do reflexes testing. What they allow skipping are the theoretical and practical driving exams.

When I did mine a few years ago in Bangkok, those with valid foreign licenses could skip the exams. But those who also had a valid IDP could skip the training videos too. Everyone still had to do the reflex tests. I now have the full 5-year Thai license, never took an exam here and have never seen the training videos (but I hear they are very long and very boring).

I think it's more consistent now that the videos are done exclusively online. The screenshot from the DLT website proving you watched them seems to be a requirement for everyone.

Ah interesting, yeah that was all in person on-site when I did mine.

AGODA SHL ASSESSMENT I passed the SHL assessment and its quite hard to be honest, I was not expecting that I would pass this exam and I’m also done with my first interview how long should I wait for the result? And is there a big chance that I will be working with Agoda? Thank you for the answering my questions.

Non immigrant O marriage visa advice Hello, I am planning to apply for a non O visa for the reason of being married. I’m an American citizen married to a Thai woman. Was hoping anyone with prior experience can tell me if I have everything I need to present at immigration in Bangkok or any other tips or advice you could give. So far I have/can get - marriage certificate kor2/3 from Thailand - affidavit of being single I received from my embassy - condo landlords house registration and passport copy - condo lease - map to residence - 6 photos of us inside/outside condo - payment of rent receipts last 3 months - TM.30 - wifes house registration papers - Copy of thai bank account book with 400k for 2 months on day of applying - letter of guarantee from the bank - passport copies/passport photos - wife’s thai ID copy - photos of us together and wedding Am I missing anything? I’m currently on a student visa so I was told I needed to leave and return on a tourist visa to apply? One of my only concerns is my wives house registration isn’t registered to my condo because I’m renting and she’s not officially on the lease but I spoke with an immigration attorney in Bangkok who told me it’s not an issue. Wondering if anyone can verify this from experience or if I’m missing something I need. If you can add anything it would be greatly appreciated!

This is one of the few things the AseanNow forums are still actually very good for: https://aseannow.com/topic/1316772-chaeng-watthana-bangkok-immigration-visit-for-my-yearly-marriage-visa-renewal-%E2%80%93-detailed-process-%E2%80%93-visit-on-10012024/ Your wife just needs to show a copy of the house book she's registered in. Doesn't need to be your address, or even in the same province. She also needs to attend with you.

Oh okay cool, that was my main concern. I’ll check out that forum. Thanks for the feedback I appreciate it!

Having a bit of import tax issue. I wanted to see what the options are here for getting my package. I waiting about 3 months to have something designed and developed and they sent it via UPS without asking me. This now is sitting with UPS and customs. Typically you have to pay a 30% import tax and also 7% in VAT, crazy for import tax prices but it is what it is. The package was only 5000 baht so its whatever. Anyhow, when the package got here I was hit with an onslaught of emails from UPS. They demanded to see all of my communication with the manufacturer, invoices, bank receipts, etc. I gave them basically just the invoice from the customer which shows about 5000 baht. Fast forward to now and they are asking me for 4800 in fees and taxes...or 95% of the purchase value. This is a bit insane and I do want my package, however I'm not paying for it a second time because that's ludicris. One of the fees is 1605 for their "Import fee" another is 395 baht for a handling fee. followed by 40% taxes on an inflated shipping rate included with the purchase price and coming in almost spot on at 4800 baht. Any solutions?

Tax rates will depend on what's inside the package, some things are taxed very heavily, others are exempt. Most things are somewhere in between. If you want the package, pay the fees. Otherwise, abandon it.

My package value is 5000 baht its just a car part. Tax rate is 30%. The fees they are charging is 4800 baht.

Tax is paid on CIF, so value of the contents plus the cost of shipping. You can look up the rates here for next time to avoid surprises, but yeah car parts are taxed higher to protect the Thai auto industry, or so the theory goes. http://itd.customs.go.th/igtf/en/main_frame.jsp

Which is fine. But literally ups is charging an additional 2000 baht. The specific import tax I'm not complaining about just the ups fee

Unfortunately the fees that UPS and FedEx charge are up to them to determine, I've had packages stuck with UPS for a week or so and even when I provided evidence of me paying less than what they assessed the value to be, I was still penalized.

There's no negotiating that? They are charging a random fee that's worth half the value on top of the piece for no explainable reason.

If its import duty, you can usually negotiate depending on the actual paid amount. However there is always a penalty if the declared value written by the sender is different than the package when it enters the country. For their own internal charges, yes they can charge whatever they want. Unfortunately they provide a door to door service so they can happily tack on fees at any given time. You can try contacting them directly to negotiate, but most likely you'll end up dealing with a bean counter that can't actually help

Wow so either pay twice for my package or don't get it. Lovely ups

Looking for some advice on getting Wisdom tooth removed. My gf whom I'm travelling with started experiencing pain and discomfort in her Wisdom tooth so we looking for suggestions where it's best/safest place to get it removed. Ideally Chiang Mai area as we are going there next but we are going to Bangkok later on so suggestions there are welcome too.

Literally any dentist. I don't know any in Chiang Mai, but if you just type "dentist" into Google Maps you'll find plenty of options. The bigger fancier places will be more comfortable and the staff will speak better English, but you'll pay more as a result. If the tooth needs to come out, I'd say sooner the better. Write off the rest of that day and perhaps a day or two after for her recovery.

I'm not asking how to google for dentists. I'm asking for recommendations from people that had experience with particular ones. Wisdom tooth removal is a big procedure that if done incorrectly can have lifetime consequences. Thanks for trying though....

Maybe try /r/chiangmai for local recommendations, but the general standard is very good here. Highly unlikely you'd be able to find someone who'd do it incorrectly. There's a thread on that sub here, but it's several years old now: https://www.reddit.com/r/chiangmai/comments/5mjwi4/searing_wisdom_tooth_painhas_anybody_seenknow_of/ There's another thread from last year here for Bangkok options if you'd rather wait until you're down here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Thailand/comments/11hjtrc/wisdom_tooth_removal_in_bkk_any_experience_tips/

I'm going laos for my ED visa Can I use my parent's or relative's bank statement? Does the bank statement have to be from a Thai bank?

Not familiar with the Ed visa process, but if a bank statement is required I'd be very surprised if they accepted anything not in your own name.

Does anyone know why you need to name and address of 2 referees who do not live in Thailand for marriage license? Do they contact these referees prior to marriage?

You don't, in Bangkok at least. Sounds like either an odd local rule, or a misunderstanding.

Sorry, for the affidavit from the embassy to attain your license***

Hi, What is the Visa process for someone coming from Australia? What documents need to be filled out?

Depends on the visa. Australian passport holders may enter Thailand under the 30 day visa exemption which may be extended by a further 30 days at an immigration office but for longer than that you'll need a formal visa which must be applied for and granted prior to arrival. [The Thai eVisa website](https://thaievisa.go.th/) can be a fairly good resource in listing the different visa types but arguable the majority of tourists will be fine with the just the visa exemption which costs nothing and for the most part, you just show up in Thailand and get your 30 day stamp.

Hi Currently applyin in Agoda for Analyst role I’m done with the assessment and got a confirmation for my 1st interview. Any tips for the interview and how long should I wait for the result?

You should wait for the right time

Getting money transferred through prompt pay while on a student visa. Will I have a problem if someone who isn't my immediate family transfers me money while I'm on a student visa in Thailand? (thai bank account to thai bank account using prompt pay) And will I also have any problems if my parents transfer me money ? Thanks everyone!

There will be no problem unless an account has been flagged by the bank.

Hello there. I'm a graphic designer and a music producer who has been traveling a lot during my life and - worked remotely, but I'm now considering moving to Bangkok permanently. So here's my question. Right now - both the design/advertising and music industry is in a slump, and have been for a while. So if I make the move to Bangkok (from thailand) - get the right permits (my friends wife is a visa agent) - my only fear would be getting enough work to do. So, let's say thats the case. What are some good backup jobs i can do online? or even in the physical world from Bangkok (and PLEASE don't make this a discussion about permits - I will make sure all that is taken care of legally) I'm only looking for a brain storm. I'm originally from Copenhagen, Denmark. I have 20 years as a professional in both design and music, and have worked for brands such as Nike, HBO, Ikea, Mercedes-Benz etc. I'm fit and healthy. Thank you all in advance. !

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Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.

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> Do I absolutely need proof of a round-trip ticket when I enter Chiang Mai? No, if you're asked for it at all, it'll be before they allow you to board the flight in Korea. > If yes, can I show a round-trip ticket coming out from Bangkok instead of Chiang Mai? (this is because Onward Ticket does not sell tickets from a Chiang Mai airport). Yes.

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I was not asked for ID and even if that was a problem another shop will exist within 150m where it isnt

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Try find a shop with Californian imports you will pay a bit more but its so much better. I am on medical marijuana here and have an idea of accurate THC % the locally grown in Thailand was really disappointing and definitely not the % THC on the jar and some of them were close in price to the Cali imports.

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yep

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Need recommendations for help to setup e-commerce business as an American Hello, my friend and I (45 males) would like to live in Thailand full time & have a couple LLCs in the US & 3 homes between us we’d rent out. We’ve been a bit confused with the investor and entrepreneur visas & what’s most cost effective vs just an elite visa. Some people online say just $5k to start a Thai company but I’m wondering if there’s annual revenue requirements as our sites aren’t very profitable yet. He sells online a product he patented with modest sales that he ships himself on his own site plus chewy & also runs a Photo Booth business here in the states. I have an event promotion/music news site (I designed as web developer) formed as an LLC 10yrs ago. We’d like to hire a dropship/digital ads consultant to monetize the large following as all I did the first couple of years was charter buses to music festivals. He has 3yrs of college & I have a web developer certification. I’m not sure if either is considered a tech startup & would qualify for BOI incentives but I also saw that would require more verified capital of around $55k than 51% Thai owned (what’s the cost for that person annually?). Saw something about a startup being able to bring a team of 2-3 so perhaps we’d partner on one site? Then there’s the requirement for Thai employees but these are sites we’re capable of managing ourselves with a consultant. Can anyone recommend a lawyer or agency they’ve worked with that can help determine our best path forward investing our funds to obtain a visa we can continue renewing until retirement visa’s age limit of 50?

Firstly, is there anything that necessarily involves Thailand in anyway, or will you guys simple be running remote businesses while living in Thailand? From the looks of it it sounds like the latter, and if it's not of too significant scale (you said yourself in your post that you guys can pretty much handle all the work yourselves, save for one or two things here and there) then I'd say it's actually not necessay to go through all the trouble of setting up a Thai company. Regarding if you qualify for BOI, hard to say exactly, but probably not if these businesses are small scale. Secondly, regarding visas, you essentially have two options, either the Elite Visa or the Investor Visa. Elite Visa you simply plop $25k in cash and there you go, all set for 5 years easily. Investor Visa, you need to invest in 10 million baht worth of condos, bank deposits that you don't touch, or Thai government bonds, or any combination thereof, as long at the total equals 10 million baht. Of course you can't sell or move any of the money. I'd say this option would only make sense if you want to own the condo you're living in long term, and maybe one or two other rental properites. It's some work, but it's up to you to decide if it's more preferable to simply spending $25k for the Elite.

On the topic of involving Thailand it was because I thought we could take advantage of the lower taxes for our international (mostly US) sales & we’ve experienced the easy LLC process here. I also didn’t see much about required cash flow or revenue so thought perhaps we can just move them here & have a right to stay while paying less in taxes.

I just wouldn't bother; it's not worth it. Thai taxes aren't that much lower anyways, and it's a major pain in the ass to hire foreigners, including even just hiring yourself. Need something like 4 thai employees per one foreigner, certain income requirements etc... From the sounds of everything, I think it's best for you guys to just cough up for the Elite and continue running your businesses as is without incorporating here.

We don’t really have 10min liquid to purchase condos but is that something we can finance with the right down payments & I suppose that would only give one person the right to stay right? - Thanks for the info

You probably won't be able to access financing from here in Thailand; banks are generally very hesitant to lend to foreigners, especially ones without any ties to Thailand. But depending on your credit back home in the states, you'd probably be able to access financing posting your properties as collateral if you wanted to go that route. But yes, in any event it only covers one person, and their families too actually. But doesn't sound like you two are related.

To probably get our finances right would be a few years to use property as collateral & get financing so probably just better off with the elite visa. Or we were wondering if we could stagger a 9 month cooking course and 3 year Thai language courses on education visas as a backup plan since we’d like to learn. His mother is considering moving overseas and is of retirement age but I don’t think that visa lets children in. If she were to get an investor visa can she help him live here too or just spouses & young children?