Hi and welcome to ExpatForum....Good evening,I'm looking to make the move next year with my family to Thailand. What would the procedure be for us? How do we obtain long term stay?
As far as I can see, you don't fall into any obvious category here. You are not working in Thailand, have no family links in Thailand, not studying, not investing massively. I presume you're not of retirement age (50, for the purposes of a retirement visa in Thailand). You haven't mentioned the possibility of enrolling for a full-time study course, or possessing the qualifications that would put you in line for a visa as an English teacher (TEFL, degree).Non-Immigrant Visa: for foreigner looking for prolonged stay, or coming to work or invest in Thailand, There are several categories of Non-Immigrant visas which include, among others, business visa category (B); dependent visa category (O); investment subject to the provisions of the laws on investment promotion category (BOI IB); diplomatic and consular visa category (D); performance of duties with the mass media category (M); performance of skilled or expert work category (EX); investment (with concurrence of ministries and departments concerned) and capital investment category (IM); and study or observation category (ED).
REECE,Hello, my husband would be working in Australia & we are looking for Thailand to be our base. We are financially secure so we have the money to set ourselves up in Thailand. What is the best way for us? Thank you
Malaysia is slowly going to change into a muslim state.Be aware.
I have just been out to Thailand myself & would absolutely move out there .. but i done some research & it is very difficult .. like some comments have already said .. they are cutting back on the visit visa's .. multiple entries & not easy to get residence visa
You can apply for what they call .. a 1 year non resident visa through an agent but in most cases they only grant 90 days !!! then back on visa runs & no guarentee u will get back in to Thailand
Just google Thai Consulate its all on there
Also anyone else looking for info on Thailand ..
there is Sunbelt Asia & Siam Legal websites
Anyone find a legal way to stay there .. let me know !!
desres,
You could get thrown in the slammer but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of your moving to Thailand wouldn't it!![]()
Hiya ..... I did say Legal way in .. wouldnt want to mess with the Thai's :boxing:
I think its a beautiful place .. people so nice & so cheap there .. i couldnt believe it
desres,desres,
You could get thrown in the slammer but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of your moving to Thailand wouldn't it!![]()
Hiya ..... I did say Legal way in .. wouldnt want to mess with the Thai's :boxing:
I think its a beautiful place .. people so nice & so cheap there .. i couldnt believe it
I guess the other way you can legally get in is to get old - but I don't advise it. One's 'Golden Years' isn't all that it's cracked up to be. As ALGORE once opined, "What is up should be down and what is down should be up".
Hi
I think you will find that Thailand re-introduced the 'Investment Visa' last November. This means that if you invest THB10M in property, you can be granted a Long Stay Visa. IF you are willing to purchase property (of course condo only),this avenue is open to you. As with normal Thai Law, if this is cacnelled in the futre, you retain your rights under general Grandfathering practices, if you maintain a continuous, unbroken Visa record.
With regard to Malaysia, yes, it is a Muslim State, and generally very tolerant and liberal, but some of the Malaysian States are very much NOT that way, KL is of course, very cosmopolitan.
In contradiction to S2 post, Indonesia, to my understanding is NOT a Muslim state (my wife is both Indonesian, and a Muslim). There are 5 offical religions, to which all citizens must subscribe (don't think that's the right word!) to. Bali could be a good alternative.
Hi S2
Sometimes is fun to disagree.
Below is a small part of the english translation of Undang Undang Dara Republik Indonesia (the Indoneisan Constitution).
The nation is based on belief in God, but the state guarantees religious freedom for all.
There is a huge difference between a Mulim State, and and Nation of predominatantly Muslim citizens.
Malaysia IS a Muslim State, all Bumi Putra are Muslim by law, and are not free to change religions.
Note the distinct difference in the Malaysian Consitution, which states that the Federal relegion is Islam, that all are free to practice any faith, and then excludes Muslims from that freedom.
Article 11
Though Islam is the religion of the Federation, Article 11 provides that every person has the right to profess and practice his own religion. Every person has the right to propagate his religion, but state law and, in respect of the Federal Territory, federal law may control or restrict the propagation of any religion, doctrine or belief among persons professing the Muslim religion. There is, however, freedom to carry on missionary work among non-Muslims.
Sharia Law is practiced to quite an extreme level in Malaysia, with floggings and whippings being the punishment for drinkning a beer, for example. Malaysia has for the last 2 years, even begun the process of fully adopting Sharia Law as its main Legal process.
Hope we can agree that Indonesia is a country of religious freedom, which has the largest Muslim population (88%). 29,000,000 are not Muslim, which is a larger population than the whole of Malaysia, where only 11,000,000 are not Muslim.
Finally, could I just add, that Hindi is a language spoken in Northen India. Bali is predominantly Hindu in religious belief.
Many parts of both Indonesia and Malaysia are very very beautiful, regardless of their religious leaning.
I lived and worked for 6 years in Indonesia an was there when the riots were in 1998.(1997/2004)Cer,
Malaysia IS a Muslim country but that should not be a hindrance. They, like Turkey, are very moderate and although most of the population is Muslim [about 60%?] you will experience no difficulty. I've been to both countries and the people have been very nice and it's hard to know you're in an Islamic country except for the call to prayer. I hardly noticed in in either Istanbul or Kuala Lumpur but when I did I rather liked hearing the muezzins call to prayer.
If that still bothers you then forget Bali - even though Bali is Hindi it is still in a Muslim country. I think too much propaganda about the horrors of Islam are embedded in our western culture - we need to take the time to see who's behind that nonsense. You're also missing a great experience but each to his/her own.
That still leaves the Philippines [although Mindanao does have Muslim extremists they are kept far, far away from Davao City] I would also suggest Cagayan de Oro but you will see Muslims there as a matter of course. They've always been nice and I've never, ever felt uncomfortable. Finally there is Singapore which once was a part of Malaysia but is it's own independant city/state/country. Nice place to live and mostly ethnic Chinese.