The infamous blacklist
There are a lot of lists most of us dreamt to be on (fortune list, most influent people, most eligible bachelor and so on….) but there is one you definitively don’t want to be on, Thailand immigration blacklist.
Note: I would be unfair to Thailand if I did not state that Thailand is not the only country with an immigration blacklist. All countries have one.
Another big problem in Thailand for the professional who like us provide visa services is that foreign visas applicants are often confusing the names of the visas they are having and the benefits attached to say visas. This is why we will dedicate this post and the next post to give definitions of visas terms.
This post is a continuation of our series Thailand Visas: Setting the Record Straight. I wrote this series with a “back-to-basics” kind of approach because I don’t believe that it is possible to understand Thai immigration regulations without having first an understanding of basic terms such as visa, visa class, visa exemption, passport stamp, entry visa, departure visa, multi or single entry and so on…
What is the Visa Exemption?
Pursuant to Thai Immigration Law; any foreign citizen who wishes to enter the Kingdom of Thailand is in principle required to obtain a Visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or a Royal Thai Consulate-General prior to entering Thailand.
Is it difficult to enter and stay in Thailand?
How many times did I hear foreign clients complaining about Thai Immigration policies and how difficult it is to live or stay in Thailand? Believe me we are the lucky one because Thailand gives us VIP treatment in comparison to what Thai citizens have to go through to visit our countries.
May 24 2010
Categories: Condominium Ownership, Thailand Property
While I already dealt with this issue two days ago, I just read this morning a comparative study from the Global Property Guide. The Global Property Guide surveyed and compared the prices of 120 SQM good condition second hand high end apartments in 112 cities over the world. Among the cities surveyed was Bangkok which ranked fairly well in the study.
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Originally posted 2009-08-28 10:40:06.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Visas, Thailand Visas & Work Permit
On the 11 September 2009, Thai news reported a new crackdown on back-to-back Tourist visa applications under the form of an extended screening of visa applicants. Unfortunately I must say that this latest measure does not surprise me and is only one side of a new policy started by the immigration department around two years ago as part of a “spring house cleaning”.
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Originally posted 2009-09-12 06:32:32.
May 24 2010
Categories: Doing Business In Thailand, Thailand Business
Is Thailand open to foreign investment?
Absolutely, many foreigners are exempted from visas requirements and as you will see foreigners are welcome to invest in nearly all sectors of activities in Thailand without needing any prior authorization providing that they do a minority investment (less that 49% of a business shares in a few cases less than 25%).
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Originally posted 2009-07-24 07:41:19.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Taxes
Price Waterhouse recently published its 2010 “Paying Taxes 2010 the Global Picture” which consist of a comparative survey of how easy/difficult is it for an average company to pay tax in 183 countries. So how did Thailand do in this comparative survey?
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Originally posted 2009-12-14 07:15:20.
May 24 2010
Categories: Condominium Ownership, Property General Issues, Thailand Property
It is always difficult for a new buyer freshly arrived on a market to make an informed decision on what and where to buy? I have been around for 12 years, believe that I have a good understanding of the market but still I learn new things every day. Should you trust your agent to recommend you the best product available. You may, of course but you could also try to find out for yourself what the situation is.
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Originally posted 2009-08-26 03:47:05.
May 24 2010
Categories: Exchange Control, Thailand Banking
May a foreign Non Resident borrow in Thai Baht from a Thai Bank?
The question whether foreign Non-Resident may borrow in THB from Thai banks is another issue that generates a lot of confusion.
According to the Bank of Thailand, Thai Banks may not lend Thai Baht to foreign Non Residents but for a few exceptions as follows:
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Originally posted 2009-08-02 07:16:25.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Business, Understanding Thailand
Why it is necessary to understand the system?
The first thing you will hear when coming to Thailand is foreigners complaining about the workings of the Thai Administration. I used to work with a foreign lawyer who had what I call the “colonial state of mind”. This lawyer was so full of his own superiority and so sure that his country’s administrative system was superior to Thailand’s that he never understood the system here, which is a mistake.
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Originally posted 2009-07-23 05:40:23.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand FAQ
This is the end of the road for Thailand Elite Scheme in Thailand. The Government has approved on Tuesday the principle of the auction and has assigned the Finance Ministry the drafting of the conditions of the Auction which should be completed within one month.
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Originally posted 2009-12-16 11:10:44.
May 24 2010
Categories: Doing Business In Thailand, Thailand Business
Is Thailand a competitive place to do business?
Never underestimates the locals, Thai businessmen are competitive and good especially at running service businesses. Read more…
Originally posted 2009-07-24 05:05:40.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand BOI, Thailand Business
What are the light industries activities eligible for promotion under section 3 of the BOI list?
Reminder: As you already know the Board of Investment is the agency in charge of promoting certain sectors of Thai economy. As such the BOI role is among other to determine:
What are the activities which are eligible for promotion
What are the conditions attached to said promotion
What are the privileges attached to said business activity
Read more…
Originally posted 2009-08-03 07:10:22.
May 24 2010
Categories: Property General Issues, Thailand Property
Is Real Estate truly the most secure investment?
When the time come to invest most people tend to consider real estate as the most secure long term investment.
This is true for many reasons, one of which being that while companies may go out of business real estate properties will exist forever. In addition, but for period of bump like the current crisis, the average price of properties will appreciate over the long term steadily.
Read more…
Originally posted 2009-07-27 05:57:28.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Taxes
So, how much personal income tax will you pay this year? To help you to determine your tax liability for the year 2009 we have prepared a simulation table and pre-calculated the amount of tax due for the year 2009.
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Originally posted 2009-12-18 05:07:27.
May 24 2010
Categories: Doing Business In Thailand, Thailand Business, Thailand Foreign Business Act
This morning in the Bangkok Post was an interesting article about the tightening of insurance shareholding rules by Sorachon Boonsong a Thai lawyer. In substance, Khun Sorachon comment on a ruling from the Council of State dated of 14 September 2009 in relation to the new shareholding requirements of the amended Life and Non Life Assurance Act.
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Originally posted 2009-09-23 04:15:46.
May 24 2010
Categories: Understanding Thailand
Two weeks ago I was wondering why we were not hearing a word from General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh one of the pillars of old Thai politics. It seems I was too quick to worry because he is back as a member of Pheu Thai party and possibly as the new anointed leader of the Pheu Thai.
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Originally posted 2009-10-04 05:22:44.
May 24 2010
Categories: Understanding Thailand
Two former prime ministers General Chavalit and Khun Somchai are drawing a lot of heat from the Democrats and their allied for recently seeking an audience with his Majesty the King in order to find a solution for this problem.
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Originally posted 2010-04-21 03:55:27.
May 24 2010
Categories: Understanding Thailand
I have been living in Thailand for 13 years and today something is happening that I would never have believed could happen in the so called land of smiles. Bangkok and several provinces of Bangkok are under curfew, and they are according to the news we can get 27 buildings burning in Bangkok including Bangkok Central world
Not need to comment the video speaks for itself. How did it come to this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuCLcjRIbJc
Originally posted 2010-05-19 15:16:34.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Visas, Thailand Visas & Work Permit, Thailand Work Permit
Extending a Non Immigrant Visa B for one year
A foreign investor conducting a business in Thailand or working for a Thai company may if all conditions and documentary requirements are fulfilled file an application and obtain a one year visa.
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Originally posted 2009-07-29 09:31:15.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Taxes
What is the Withholding Tax?
Withholding Tax is a tax collected by a deduction made on a payment when said payment is made. The payer who will remit it to the Revenue Department on behalf of the payee collects the tax. The tax the payer collect and remit to the Revenue Department on behalf of the payee will become a credit that will apply against the income tax (personal or corporate) due by the payee.
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Originally posted 2009-07-25 15:44:49.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Business, Thailand Company Registration
The second option available to a foreign investor who wants to start a business in Thailand is to register a trading commercial legal vehicle (for example a subsidiary under the form of a Limited Company or a branch of a foreign company). [this post is an updated draft that replace one of my first posts]
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Originally posted 2009-10-16 02:09:26.
May 24 2010
Categories: Condominium Ownership, Thailand Property
This article was first published in the Property Report Magazine of May 2009 under the heading Beyond the Law
The 49% foreign ownership quota for condominium
One of the legal headaches limiting access of foreign buyers to the Thai real estate market is that Thai laws currently limit foreign buyer freehold purchases of condominium units to percent of the total area (reserved for private ownership) of a condominium building at any one time.
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Originally posted 2009-07-27 10:27:19.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Taxes
This post is the continuation of yesterday post (Managing Tax Audits Part 1). But for the first visit, when tax officials will audit a company they will generally request it to send the documents at their office. Depending of the team auditing your company you will either be requested to send the documents first or to come for an interview first and then later to send the documents. Do not attend the interview yourself but send the accountant who is handling your company account or a tax lawyer if the issues are complexe. But the accountant should be your first choice.
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Originally posted 2009-10-09 04:41:43.
May 24 2010
Categories: Condominium Ownership, Thailand Property
The most easier and secure way for a foreign investor to purchase real estate property in Thailand is to purchase a condominium unit freehold because the legal requirements are as we will see below minimal.
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Originally posted 2009-08-18 11:35:39.
May 24 2010
Categories: Doing Business In Thailand, Thailand Business
To enhance investment confidence and apparently to facilitate their life the government has established a One Start One Stop Investment Center (OSOS). The primary objective of the center is to help investor to start their business by regrouping up to 18 different administrations under a single roof. Will it help Thailand to regain foreign investors confidence.
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Originally posted 2009-12-02 01:50:44.
May 24 2010
Categories: Property General Issues, Thailand Property
The Land tenure and access to land ownership issues
While surfing the internet I found a post on a Thai forum. I found the questions asked by this person under the username of “Samuisoul” interesting because they address two of the first issues that a careful investor should consider prior to purchase real estate into a foreign country.
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Originally posted 2009-07-26 00:44:12.
May 24 2010
Categories: Condominium Ownership, Property General Issues, Thailand Property
I was not satisfied with the content of Friday’s post and I redrafted it
To help you to better understand the difference between a condominium and an apartment building I need first to clarify the definition of the term of “condominium”. For example, most people in Thailand commonly associate the term “condominium” with the concept of an “individual unit” into a “multiple unit building” generally a high rise that may only be sold freehold but condominium ownership is actually far more than this.
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Originally posted 2009-09-27 07:36:30.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Visas, Thailand Work Permit
Introduction to the Visa B
What is a Non Immigrant Visa B
Foreign investors who wish to come into Thailand to conduct a business or to work must first obtain a Non Immigrant Visa B with a Royal Thai Embassy.
The Non Immigrant Visa B will allow you to stay in Thailand for a period of not more than 90 days at a time. This visa may be granted for a single entry or multi entries.
Read more…
Originally posted 2009-07-29 08:45:28.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Business
Are employees in Thailand well protected by the law and is it easy to terminate an employee with or without cause?
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Originally posted 2009-11-21 07:04:25.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand Business, Thailand Company Registration
The Private Limited Company is the most common legal vehicle used by foreign investors in Thailand, it is therefore useful to review its main characteristics. Note that this post do not deal in an exhaustive manner with the matter of the characteristic of a Private Limited Company. There is a lot more to say. In this post we limited ourselves to the characteristics which are a matter of concern for foreign investors.
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Originally posted 2009-10-19 02:22:16.
May 24 2010
Categories: Thailand BOI, Thailand Business
What are the activities eligible for promotion under section 6 of the BOI list?
Reminder: As you already know the Board of Investment is the agency in charge of promoting certain sectors of Thai economy. As such the BOI role is among other to determine:
What are the activities which are eligible for promotion
What are the conditions attached to said promotion
What are the privileges attached to said business activity
Read more…
Originally posted 2009-08-05 15:11:55.
May 24 2010
Categories: Doing Business In Thailand
This morning was published Thailand economic forecasts for 2010. According the Fiscal Policy Office, Thai Economy will rebound next year with a growth of 3.5% next year. Not as good as the growth forecasts for other Asian countries but not so bad country that has been trough 3 years of political crisis and a world economic crisis.
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Originally posted 2009-12-29 06:58:51.
