Thailand Travel Answers on Visas Retirement and Bangkok Life
is it possible to fly into Thailand with a one way flight or will you encounter issues either at check in with the airline or with immigration? This is definitely one of those tricky situations as the visa free entry to Thailand allows for 60 days and technically you should have a flight out within that time frame
but you also have the option to extend your stay at an immigration office for an additional 30 days inside the country. So you can stay for up to 90 days but technically the return or onward flight should be within the 60 day period. And you may encounter issues with a one way ticket during check in as airlines are technically responsible for passengers who were denied entry with a one way ticket.
So over the years I’ve only ever encountered an issue once when flying into Thailand with a one way flight using a visa exemption. That’s the visa free entry. I explained my plan to travel overland into Laos.
The attendant had to get a supervisor and ultimately after a little bit of back and forth they did issue my boarding pass. And since that time I take one proactive step when I’m flying into any country using a one way ticket.
I always find a low cost onward ticket to a neighboring country and I just keep it handy on my phone. I don’t book it but just in case I absolutely need to I can pull it out and book it on the spot. And that’s just a good backup plan so you don’t stress too much.
Suvarnabhumi Fast Track and Insurance
And of course if you book a refundable ticket you can cancel it shortly afterwards. Our second question do you know of a fast track service for Suvarnabhumi airport or any that I’d recommend? And on this one I’d recommend using a website called Klook.
It allows you to book services online in advance. And it also has fast track services and you can always check the reviews. Every service has thousands of them.
So I’d highly recommend checking that out. Next question. Is the Thai government planning to make travel insurance mandatory for foreign entries into the country?
And would this include expats or anybody on a long term visa as well? So a couple of weeks ago the Thai government made an announcement that they were considering requiring foreign visitors to hold travel insurance in order to enter the country. But the key word is considering.
There were no specific details. There wasn’t a timeline. And this particular announcement came amid a flurry of other visa and entry rule announcements after the new government took office.
Not much has happened since then. And this isn’t an unusual situation. It is how the government tends to operate here.
Cambodia Entry and Border Scrutiny
They announce things quite quickly and then they go through the review process and often it gets quietly dropped. So don’t stress or think about it and if anything does occur I’ll give you an update here. Next we have a set of questions about entry into Thailand from Cambodia.
And this is both related to Cambodian nationals or foreign residents living in the country. My understanding is that there isn’t a formal policy denying entry to Cambodian nationals or residents of the country but entries are facing increased scrutiny due to the broader crackdown on regional scam networks and rejection rates are relatively high.
As a result it’s important to have clear travel plans and supporting documents ready including onward or return flights proof of accommodation and sufficient funds. In some cases officers may also request proof of income such as bank statements or pay slips. And keep in mind that land border crossings with Cambodia remain closed with no clear timeline for reopening.
Immigration Visits and Retirement Visas
Next up am I familiar with immigration conducting house visits to Nakon Sawan? So I’m not familiar with the specific rules for Nakon Sawan but different regional immigration offices often do have very different rules here. It’s a very decentralized system.
And when it comes to smaller regional offices it may be part of their standard operating protocols to make house visits especially if you’re on a long term resident visa.
and immigration may be taking a photo simply to prove that they’ve done their job as this is a common practice in Thailand. Moving on to those long term visas. Is Thailand a good place to retire?
This is a very broad question. I’ve chosen to live here for the last 11 years so I’m going to go out on a limb and say yes. Yes it is.
Next we’re moving on to the retirement visa process and this typically involves applying for a non o 90 day entry visa. Most consulates or embassies will require you to provide proof of flights as part of the visa application but it’s very unlikely that you’ll have any issues as it’s a very standardized process.
Next up we have some questions about working and living in Thailand.
Apartments WiFi and Real Estate Agents
And the first one other than condos can you rent apartments? And yes you can. I have a full guide describing the difference between condos and apartments but to sum it up here apartment buildings have a single owner and they’re called service apartments.
And typically they’ll do shorter term rentals 1 week 2 weeks 1 month 6 months whereas condos generally require a 6 month to one year lease.
Now the big downside for apartments is that you’ll often pay higher electric and water rates and you can check these ahead of time. They can be anywhere from 50 to 100% more expensive than the city rates that you’ll pay at a standard condo.
But if you want that shorter lease length the tradeoff is often worth it as you get better value than alternatives like Airbnb. And you can normally find these types of apartments on RentHub.
And to get set up for Wi Fi and phone service you can stop in at any service provider shop which is typically AIS or True and they’ll have stores in every mall. So just look up the location nearest you. Just make sure to bring your passport with you as they’ll need it for setup.
And when it comes to using a real estate agent versus just contacting condos directly when you’re first moving to Thailand I’d highly recommend using a reputable real estate agent as they’ll help walk you through the whole lease process and make sure you get set up with key documents like the TM30. And I’ll leave a few links for some of the bigger
Where to Stay as an Expat
Next you have a question about what area to stay in and whether the best eight areas to stay in the city is suitable for prospective expats. So that guide was generally targeting a tourist population and they’ll have different wants and needs than a prospective resident.
How much would it cost to lease 70 square meters of land on a canal near Watt Pacnam? I think you’re going to need to contact a real estate agent as they’ll be able to give you a far more accurate answer than I can. Next we’re moving on to jobs as I drag myself through the heat in the park here.
Jobs Work Permits and Foreigners
What about jobs for foreigners especially non tech savvy foreigners who may be too old to teach English? And here’s where you have very very limited options.
Most jobs in Thailand are classified as restricted occupations that are only available to Thai nationals. This is essentially how they protect their job market and ensure a high level of employment for the native population. And this means there are very few jobs available to foreigners.
Most do work in teaching here. And there’s some that work in senior management positions especially in the hotel and hospitality industries. Currently the best opportunities are online.
And if you can look at things like call center or support work and obtain a remote position this is probably your best option.
And in order to work legally in Thailand you need a proper nonB visa with a work permit. If you’re living here under a retirement visa you’re not allowed to work but you could apply for a position at a kindergarten or school and if they hire you they’d sponsor you for the nonB visa with a work permit and you just change it.
Health Care and Medical Treatment
And this also applies to marriage visas which are essentially very similar to retirement visas. You’re not eligible to work and it’s not a pathway to direct citizenship. We have a question here about health care in Thailand.
What happens if you have a rare condition? The example given here diabetes type 1. Do you have to go abroad or bring special equipment in for treatment?
The answer here is generally no.
Thailand has a worldclass health care system. It’s actually a prime medical tourism destination and you’ll be able to receive treatment for the vast majority of conditions here including diabetes type 1. But if you’re concerned about a specific illness I’d recommend contacting one of the major hospitals like Bangkok Hospital B&H Bunmrad and they’ll be able to tell you if they have the treatment available or if any other hospital here in the city or country can provide it.
Shopping in Bangkok
But overall access to good health care is actually one of the benefits of living in Thailand. Next we have four different questions. So we’ll go through them one by one here.
What are the best vendors or shops to purchase low or high end Thai branded clothing? I’d recommend going to Siam Square. This is right near Paragon.
It’s the beautiful Korean inspired walking street with nice indoor outdoor spaces. And for an even bigger range of clothes I’d recommend going to Chattachuk Market as you’ll find lots of Thai brands for sale there. In terms of items from the United States that Thai people might enjoy that you could bring with you.
It’s a good question. I can’t think of any to be totally honest.
Temples Monks and Shipping
Thai people like their own food condiments and you have access to almost everything else here. That’s globalization in action I suppose. And to see the monks chanting it’s typically best to go in the late afternoon to early evening.
You can stop in at temples like Wateroon Watt Poe. And it’s definitely a great experience. I highly recommend it.
If you’re looking to shop and ship products back to your home country generally the Thai Postal Service is going to be your cheapest option.
Rainy Season Travel in Thailand
Or you can use FedEx or DHL if you want faster service but it’s more expensive. Now But you’re generally just going to be stopping in at the post office with a box a package and paying for it. We got some travel related questions.
First up we’re going to Chiang Mai in July for 10 days then down to Phuket for 8. That’s a great time of the year to visit.
It’s the early rainy season. You’ll get a downpour in the early to late afternoon. Cools things off.
It clears the air. Crowds are a little bit thinner the prices are lower. Overall this is my favorite time of the year in Thailand.
And the main advice I’d have here is because it is still the rainy season download Rain Viewer and just keep tabs on the weather.
Best Islands to Visit
What are my top five island recommendations? First up I’m going to pick a couple of quiet ones. I like Koh Samet a lot.
It’s right near Bangkok. It’s more local and less touristy. Second Ko chang.
similar situation a little bit further from Bangkok bigger and the east side of the island has a lot more wilderness and exploration to it. Number three Phuket. It’s technically an island.
It’s huge.
Phuket Samui and Koh Tao
And if you go to the north or south it’s really nice. It’s got great vibes. Just don’t stay near Patong.
That’s where most of the negativity around Phuket comes from. For general livability Ko samui definitely a winner. It’s big.
It’s got everything on it. Very comfortable but it is a little bit more expensive and there are a lot of tourists. And finally we’re going to go with Kot tao.
Bangkok Walking and Cycling Paths
It’s beautiful. Got great diving. Next question.
What’s going on with the infrastructure in and around Bangkok particularly related to walking and cycling. Now right here I’m at Benjakiti Park and you can exit and go up to the green mile. It’s no longer very green.
It’s kind of red but the pathway connects Benjakiti Forest Park over to Lumpini Park and it’s nearing completion.
It’s supposed to reopen in early May. I just walked along it 2 days ago. It’s very close to finished and the city’s building out a huge network of cycling paths.
I’m really excited for this as well because I don’t like the congestion here.
Bangkok Queer Safety
be great if they could build out the public transportation more cycling paths more walkways and start to reduce the traffic a little bit. So Next up I’d be interested to learn more about the queer scene in Bangkok and safety for queer or gender diverse transgender folk. So Bangkok is a very inclusive city.
There’s a large LGBTQ plus community here.
It’s largely situated around Silom Soi 4. Lots of activities lots of events. Gay pride is massive here.
Huge parade. Overall it’s a very safe environment. It’s probably one of the least judgmental that you’re going to encounter in the world.
Thailand and Vietnam Compared
And our last question what are your thoughts on Vietnam?
A lot of people are saying it’s better. So I’ve traveled to Vietnam about 10 times and I first visited back in 2015 when I first moved to Thailand and I’m currently working on a series on Vietnam.
