Thailand’s major revamp of visas and entry rules has stirred up powerful reactions– generally joy and excitement, but even confusion and even some resentment.
In his capacity as assistant director-general of the Department of Consular Affairs at Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Naruchai Ninnad, one of the main builders of the new card scheme, was asked to clarify the new regulations by the Bangkok Post’s Deeper Dive vodcast. You can watch the whole interview below, see straight on Spotify or seek for” Deeper Dive Thailand” wherever you get your podcasts.  ,
‘ Destination Thailand ‘ card
The change that’s grabbed the headlines is the new five-year” Destination Thailand” visa (DTV ) that allows stays of up to 180 days, extendable for up to one year. But the card is not for everyone: card recipients may fit into one of three categories.
The first is the one that pays checks to people who work remotely from inside Thailand, often referred to as online nomads or contractors, despite the fact that remote jobs may be permanent.
” You can have any type of work and you’re working remotely here in Thailand”, Mr Naruchai said.
” Most interestingly, the company is not in Thailand. And you must earn money outside of Thailand.
This must be supported by evidence,” a form of documents, like a payslip, or a notice from your company worldwide.
” The next classification of DTV-holders is a little more complicated. It covers people who move to Thailand for a particular set of approved actions, including Muay Thai or other sports training, cooking lessons, health care, and attending seminars and music events.
Data must be provided, such as an visit, a program receipt or an occasion solution, but there is flexibility as to duration. ” It depends on the program”, Mr Naruchai said.
” Does be two days, one month, it’s up to the respondent”. And therefore if you wish to expand the 189 days at immigration, you need to give another document or acceptance email or other verification.
He pressed on the issue, stating that such records is typically required when entering Thailand and when extending the visa there, but that it is also true that “like in every other country, the immigration officer’s decision is final.”
The second category, which includes those who have families or children in Thailand, requires proof of relationship, and in this case, the card could be used as an alternative to the group” O” spousal card, but it requires an extension every six months and a trip to the country at least once per month.
There is now no need for health coverage on the card, but for all groups, the DTV requires confirmation of the equivalent of at least 500, 000 ringgit in property. Interestingly, these can be anywhere in the planet– a foreign bank accounts or brokerage statement may be good, Mr Naruchai said.
He argued, however, that demonstrating income or assets does not make a person eligible for the above-mentioned status; instead, they must be either a distant worker, an approved activity, or a spouse or dependent child.
He remarked,” You should only apply for that particular card, meaning that you should enter with the appropriate immigration.”
In specific, the DTV cannot be used as a substitute for the one-year pension card, unless the person fits another group.
Mr. Naruchai was against one reader’s criticism that the DTV was a much less expensive option to the Elite card they had purchased. He claimed that there are “different benefits and privileges” between the two visas. You would have to choose between what will most advantageous you, so it would be up to you.
Visa-free access
In another big change, the number of places available for visa-free passage has risen from 57 to 93, including China and India. The passage mark has doubled from 30 to 60 days, and that period can be renewed at an immigration business for another 30 days.
Interestingly, while each admission usually depends on the immigration official, there is no fixed limit on the number of entries per year.
” The immigration office, they do not have a specified number as to how many times you can enter”, Mr Naruchai told the vodcast. You can enter as many times as you like within a year.
Each entrant must be able to present a return or onward ticket, which is optional. At least 20, 000 baht must be displayed on each entry.
” In general, the immigration office, they will not ask for these documents]but ] you may be randomly checked if the immigration officer detects anything suspicious, or even not suspicious. They have the right to make a request for a return ticket or lodging.
Therefore, I suggest holding it in hand. ” Unlike the DTV, the visa exemption does allow short-term” urgent “work for up to 15 days, extendable for another 15, but permission must be granted at an immigration or labour office.
Visa on arrival
Although the visa-on-arrivan program costs 2, 000 baht and lasts only 15 days, it is significantly less attractive than the exemption, which has increased from 19 to 31. Somewhat confusingly, China and a number of other countries are on both the visa exemption and visa-on-arrival lists.
Mr Naruchai explained that this is a legacy of bilateral agreements, and” when you arrive, the immigration officer will always give you the highest benefit “– in the case of a Chinese citizen, the 60-day visa exemption.
Non-ED Plus
The final new visa introduced on July 15 was the Non-ED Plus visa (” Non “refers to” non-immigrant”, not a lack of education ), which entitles the 40, 000 foreign students at Thai colleges and universities pursuing Bachelor’s degrees or higher to stay for one year after graduation.
They are now able to accept positions in their fields. If you previously had an ED visa and meet the requirements for the ED Plus, you will automatically be upgraded to the ED Plus, eliminating the requirement for a re-entry permit.
What has n’t changed
The other visas– along with the subject of much expat ire, the 90-day report– remain in place.
The one-year version of the visa is still valid despite requests for an extension to the five-year retirement visa, but the minimum requirements for both the spousal visa and the minimum health insurance are reduced from 3 million to 400, 000 baht.
Finally, what of the danger of foreign criminals flooding into Thailand?
Mr Naruchai said that” previously, when people applied for a visa, we looked at the blacklist system … Now, we may not have that pre-screening for the 97 countries, but when they arrive in Thailand, they have to undergo security screening– using the same database.
Thus, Thailand’s screening and check-out procedure is essentially unchanged.
Without any amount of laws and screenings, or arduous paperwork and reporting requirements for law-abiding expats, the bad guys will be out, as some recently highly-publicized cases of foreign criminals in Thailand are worth pointing out.