Thailand Weekly Vol. 61
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Good evening everyone. Another solid weekend here in Bangkok that included a bit of work, a bit of fun, and a bit of celebration. The latter came last night with the opening of one of my buddyās new burger joints at Seenspace in Thong Lor. Shout out Joe! I wrote about it a few weeks back, but itās called Burger Box and is a GREAT addition to the city. If youāre in town and craving a REALLY good burger, check it out. With all that said, hope you have a great week ahead and enjoy this weekās edition!
Thais Can Now Enjoy Easier Travel To Canada
Canada has implemented a significant change to its visa policy, opening its doors to Thai tourists without the need for a visa, provided they meet certain criteria. The Canadian government announced the expansion of its eTA program to include 13 additional countries, including Thailand. Under the revised policy, Thai travellers who have previously held a Canadian visa (within the past ten years) or possess a valid temporary US visa can now enter Canada without a visa. This move is part of the government's efforts to enhance efficiency and equality in their relocation and services program, promoting easier access for visitors from around the world. To take advantage of this new opportunity, eligible travellers must apply for an eTA through the official website and pay a registration fee of 7 Canadian dollars (approximately 180 baht).
Our Take
You know, I always felt a little guilty that us Westerners are able to travel to Thailand visa free for up to 30-days, but my Thai friends have to jump through CRAZY hoops to get into Canada. Itās not like I think about it on a regular basis or anything like that, but it always left me with a weird feeling whenever it came up.
To illustrate, a few weeks ago while in Vietnam, my Canadian pals told my Thai buddy that he should visit them in Toronto at some point. The first thing he said was that āI donāt think itās possible manā¦ too difficult to get a visaā. That left a bit of a crappy taste in my mouth you know? Here I am enjoying everything that Thailand has to offer with relative ease, yet itās a massive pain in the ass for one of my best friends to visit my own country?
Long story longer, Iām definitely happy that weāre making things easier for Thai people that want to travel to Canada. Itāll also make life WAY easier if/when my girlfriend and I start to make semi-regular visits back home as sheāll only need to go through the difficult visa process that first time and can then lean into the eTA program after that.
TAT Keen On Ramping Up āSecondary Marketā Tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Central Pattana have joined forces to launch the "Go Local, Love Local" campaign. This initiative initially focuses on four provinces: Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ayutthaya, Ubon Ratchathani, and Chanthaburi.
The primary objective of the campaign is to boost tourist visits to secondary cities here in Thailand. Currently, secondary cities account for only 10% of tourist visits, while major cities (ie. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, etc.) make up the remaining 90%. The aim is to shift this ratio to 20% for secondary cities and 80% for major cities by the end of 2023. To achieve this, the TAT, Central Pattana, local tourism operators, and travel startups will collaborate to develop new routes and experiences.
Our Take
Actually, one of the big things I want to do this year and next as far as travel goes is exactly thisā¦ exploring some of the more local parts of the country which I guess TAT refers too as āsecondary marketsā. I moved over here a few years ago now and had the privilege of experiencing places like Bangkok, Phuket, and Samui when they were super local (because of that strange moment in time with COVID). However, with many of those primary markets back hustling and bustling, my weekend getaway āhit listā has morphed to include places like Petchabun, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trat, Nan, etc. I wonāt be visiting them all any time soon (thereās a LOT to explore), but the point still standsā¦ Iām definitely looking beyond the major markets in hopes of āGoing Local and Loving Localā (as TAT would say haha).
Thailand Travel Tip - Long Term Visa Breakdown
This weekās Thailand Travel Tip section is quite long, but hopefully very useful for those of you that are wondering what type of long-term visa would be suitable for you. Iāve gone ahead and outlined many of the options below with more information on each hyperlinked in the official name of the Visaā¦
1)Ā Non-Immigrant Visa (Category O-A):Ā This visa is intended for retirees aged 50 and above. It allows for a stay of one year and can be renewed annually.Ā Applicants need to meet certain financial requirements and provide proof of funds. If you are over 50 and meet the very basic financial requirements (ie.Ā Thai bank account showing 800K THB or monthly income of at least 65K THB or a combination of monthly income + funds in Thai bank account equallingĀ 800K THB), then this is one of the easiest visas to obtain.
2)Ā Non-Immigrant Visa (Category O): This visa is for individuals who have a Thai spouse or family member. You will need to do an online report everyĀ 90-days, and it can be extended for one year at a time. Requirements include providing proof of relationship and meeting financial criteria.
3)Ā Non-Immigrant Visa (Category B): This visa is for individuals who are employed or have been offered employment in Thailand. It is typicallyĀ sponsored by a Thai company. The visa allows you to stay in Thailand for 12-months at a time with online reporting done every 90-days. This is ideal forĀ foreigners looking to set up a company here in Thailand.Ā
4)Ā Non-Immigrant Visa (Category ED): This visa is for students who wish to study in Thailand. It is typically issued for the duration of the educationalĀ program usually 9 months). It is an easy way for those to live in Thailand who are looking tolerant Thai or enrol in an accredited Muay Thai school.Ā
5)Ā Non-Immigrant Visa (Category O-X): This visa is designed for individuals aged 50 and above who wish to stay in Thailand long-term. It permits a stayĀ of up to 10 years and requires meeting specific financial criteria. You must be a national of one of the 14 countries that the visa is open to and is anotherĀ solid route for those to stay in Thailand long-term.Ā
6)Ā Thai Elite Visa: The Thai Elite Visa is a special program that offers a range of long-term visa options, including five, ten, and twenty-year visas. ItĀ provides privileges such as multiple entries, visa extensions, and expedited immigration processes. However, it comes with a significant membership feeĀ which ranges from 800K THB to 2.14M THB depending on the level of Elite visa youāre looking to get.Ā
7)Ā SMART Visa: The SMART Visa is designed to attract highly skilled professionals, investors, executives, and startups to work and invest in targeted industries in Thailand. It is divided into four categories
SMART T: For highly skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields
SMART I: For investors, executives, and entrepreneurs looking to establish businesses or invest in targeted industries
SMART E: For executives and highly skilled professionals employed by companies in targeted industries
SMART S: For startups and entrepreneurs who want to establish a business or invest in the targeted industries
The SMART Visa offers extended stays of up to four years, streamlined processes, and additional benefits such as the ability to work without a work permit, bring family members to Thailand, and more.
8)Ā Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa: The LTR Visa Ā is a new visa scheme introduced in Thailand. It aims to attract wealthy individuals, investors, and retirees to live long-term in the country. The LTR Visa offers a stay of up to 10 years and comes with certain financial requirements, such as a minimum investment or deposit amount, and offers privileges such as long-term stay, multiple entries, tax benefits, and access to various services. It is designed to provide an attractive option for individuals looking to reside in Thailand on a long-term basis
I know that this is a lot of information to take in as thereās so many options and the Thai Visa system is notoriously confusing, but to be honest, the Government here is actually quite generous when it comes to the sheer amount of options that foreigners have at their disposal.Ā
Iād highly recommend working with a Visa Agent or Agency no matter what long-term visa you think you might want to apply for. A consultation where you explain your situation + desired outcome would go a LONG way in determining the best fit for you.
Thai Government LOVES āLisaā Of Blackpink
Caretaker PM Prayut Chan-o-cha recently commended Lalisa āLisaā Manoban, a member of world-famous K-Pop group Blackpink, for constantly promoting Thailand and boosting the economy. Lisa's pride in her Thai heritage, expressed through traditional clothing and discussions about āThainessā, has earned admiration in the Kingdom. Her recent photos in Ayutthaya wearing a traditional blouse and indigo-dyed sarong have sparked a trend, encouraging her fans to explore Thai culture globally. Lisa's visits back home boost local economies and increases Thailand's soft power internationally. The caretaker PM noted that she serves as a role model for the younger generation while TAT has invited all tourists to explore the temples she visited in Ayutthaya.
Our Take
Although Iām not a huge fan of K-Pop, Iām a BIG fan of Lisa and everything she has done to promote her country at the highest level. It also begs the question of ācan Thailand become a cultural powerhouseā in the same way that S. Korea has over the past 10-years through food, fashion, and entertainment? Itās hard to say, but I do believe that the makings are there and the Kingdom is well-positioned when it comes to the whole concept of āsoft powerā. Pretty cool if you ask me. Thereād be nothing Iād like more than my sisters being more interested in Thailand because of an amazing Thai Netflix series they just watched or a new Thai band they discovered. Letās see...
Only In Thailand š¹š
Well, one Thai couple had a WILD surprise this past weekā¦ in the Bangkok suburban province of Nonthaburi, a husband and wife duo stumbled upon a sight of nightmares in their own bathroomā¦ a colossal 3-meter python taking a leisurely nap INSIDE their toilet bowl. I know, I knowā¦ that is one of the freakiest things weāve ALL thought about before. After a courageous 20-minute struggle, the slippery intruder was safely captured and released back into the wilderness. Only in Thailand š¹š