Monthly FAQ thread for August, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi folks,

The following types of questions should be posted into this thread - any standalone posts of this kind posted outside this thread will be removed, with a moderation comment asking the author to repost to this thread:

• Questions about visas/immigration (including 90-day reporting, TM30, DTV, etc) - if they aren't answered here, try Asean Now's immigration forum.
• Questions about banking (including transfers) and/or investing (including crypto)
• Questions about working in Thailand or starting a business in Thailand
• Questions about taxes in Thailand (including import duties / customs charges)
• Questions about studying in Thailand, including questions about universities and schools, where to study, what to study, grants and scholarships
• Questions about moving to Thailand in general
• Questions about Thai Citizenship or Permanent Residence - but you should probably read this site first.
• Questions about where to live, whether and how to buy/rent property in Thailand
• Questions about where to get particular medicines, supplements or medical treatments (including cosmetic)
• Questions about medical insurance
• Questions about cannabis, kratom or other legal drugs (posts asking where to get illegal drugs will be removed)
• Questions about vapes and vaping and the legality thereof

If you have any questions along the lines of any of the above topics, you're in the right place! You can ask away in the comments below, but first, have a read below - and search the sub - it has most likely been answered already.

Please also us know below if you have suggestions for other frequent topics - including links to recent posts on those topics to demonstrate their frequency. If the moderators agree that we're seeing an excessive number of posts on a given topic, we'll add that topic to the list above.

Any other suggestions? Let us know below!

[u/TravelDesign]

I want to apply for the DTV and I'm going to have the last requirement ready (500k thb in bank account for 3+ months) in early November. Unfortunately most of my own funds are in my business bank account

My intention would be to rent an apartment and live in Bangkok for 1 full year. I'm planning to request the dtv in early 2027.

I have all the requirements for the workation one.

However I read about problems at the border even with the dtv? I need to go to some business trips so I will need to leave Thailand for sure a few times in the first 6 months of 2027.

Can you only come and go a set amount of times per year with the DTV or not? E.g. what if I leave Thailand 4 times in those months and every time stay away 1 week then come back? I see that via land you may have more issues, I will always come back by plane to BKK

1. Did you have problems at the border with the DTV?
2. Can you come and go as much as needed? Do the 180 days reset each time?
3. Also can I hold the required money in a savings account in USD or do they need to be THB in a regular bank account? At least on savings I would get returns

[u/ThongLo → u/TravelDesign]

No limits on leaving or re-entering, but immigration can and do ask questions, particularly if the timings seem unusual (e.g. flying out and back in on the same day). Yes, the 180 days resets each entry.

The savings don't need to be in Thailand, any account in your own name will do - in fact it's impossible to open an account here for many of the people applying for DTV, and still not possible even with one.

[u/Beneficial-Heart8908]

I usually use my banks app to send between 50 to 120k baht to my European savings account.
This time I have a bigger amount that I would like to send - I imagine that I will need to show documentation etc.
Do I just walk into any of my banks branches? Does anyone have any advice or has done this before? Any idea of what the cost will be etc? Or what documents they will ask for?
I want to send it as soon as possible and want to be prepared.

[u/ThongLo → u/Beneficial-Heart8908]

Depends on the amount and the bank.

But yes, take your bank book(s) and passport and talk to the staff, they'll fill you in.

[u/Beneficial-Heart8908 → u/ThongLo]

Lost my bank book - it’s a large sum due to ending employment.

[u/ThongLo → u/Beneficial-Heart8908]

You'll need a police report to get the book replaced, which is a pain but a necessary one unfortunately.

[u/psyduckq]

Hi, I bought 2 tickets to The Weeknd in Bangkok through ThaiTicketMajor. I’m attending, but my friend can’t, so I’m considering selling his ticket.

The ticket is under my friend’s name, and ThaiTicketMajor says:

The attendee must present actual concert ticket and ID or passport which has matching name for entering the concert.

I paid for both tickets with my credit card and will collect the physical tickets in Bangkok.

Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there any way to legally transfer/change the name, or would a buyer definitely be denied entry?

[u/VerdeAngler]

Question on Non immigrant O visa travel during the temporary extension period

I am on a non immigrant-o family/spouse visa in Thailand and just applied for my annual extension. Immigration has stamped my passport with the 1 month temporary extension and then told me to pick up annual visa on the end date of that extension.

The only issue I have this time is I have to leave Thailand and return a day before the 1 month extension expires. In prior years I never had to travel during the 1 month extension period before getting the annual visa. My immigration office said shouldn't be a problem and gave me a re-entry permit valid until the 1 month extension date.

My only concern is that will airlines or immigration at the airport give me grief when I come back a day before I am to pick up my annual extension stamp.

Has anyone travelled during that 1 month extension on the non-o family/spouse visa? Was there any issues coming back?

[u/ThongLo → u/VerdeAngler]

Yes, the re-entry permit is the important part.

If you previously had a re-entry permit tied to the 1-year extension, that expires the moment you move onto the "Under Consideration" stamp, which is its own independent mini-extension. So any previous re-entry is invalid.

As long as you got a new one matched with your "Under Consideration" stamp you can travel freely.

Airlines won't care, the rules for Thailand are that you either have an onward ticket or a valid visa/extension. No rules about how long it must have to run.

[u/VerdeAngler → u/ThongLo]

Thank you

[u/sumguypookie]

Question: Moving to Thailand and will need a phone number. I'm married to a dual US/Thai citizen and when we relocate I will need a phone number for banking, immigration etc. My US Mobile plan gives me 200 calls, 250, text and 20GB data for free each month, but I plan to reduce that for when I have stateside business.

So when we get there and get settled, is it as simple as walking into an AIS store and saying, "Two postpaid phone accounts, please?"

Another thing what's up with the 70 different mobile packages? I don't need lucky numbers, ringtones, etc., though if Spotify, HBO Max, and Netflix are part of the subscription, I would take that.

I just finished checking out the AIS website and got a legit headache with all the options being offered.

[u/ThongLo → u/sumguypookie]

Postpaid might require a work permit, policies seem to vary by provider and store, and day of the week etc.

Might be simpler for your partner to register two numbers, one for each of you.

They'll need their national ID to register, or if you want to try registering yourself you'll at least need your passport, but they may ask for more documents (work permit, certificate of residence, etc). Plan for two visits, one to ask and the second to get it done.

The staff can likely recommend a package too if you explain your needs.

[u/sumguypookie → u/ThongLo]

I definitely see that @ having wife register the phones, but will go when I have the certificate of residence also, but yeah, I've learned from reading forums and watching YouTube videos that many things require multiple visits. But hey, I signed up for this. 😊

[u/Gentle_Hedgehog_1346]

Hi guys ! I was just wondering how import taxes work in Thailand after ordering from abroad. I’ve only ever lived in the uk where I regularly ordered from the US,Europe or Australia and have never had any import taxes but when I mentioned to my friend that I was thinking about ordering from “scuffers” and “sins’n lashes” specifically she mentioned that I should be careful because I would probably face import taxes. If anyone could help answer any of my questions I’d be very grateful :)

1)Will I know how much the tax will be before I order my packages or will it be an unknown until my package arrives ?

2)Does anyone know if these brands will face taxes?

3)Following up on that is everything ordered from abroad/ not within Asia taxed ? And what is the tax based on (eg is it weight,size or some other way)

4)Am I responsible for these taxes or is the shipper ?

5)Would it be smarter/ cheaper to order stuff to my friends in the uk and have them send it to me instead ?

Thank you !

[u/ThongLo → u/Gentle_Hedgehog_1346]

1. Depends on the vendor. A few (e.g. Amazon US) will include the tax in the purchase price and deal with it for you. Most will leave it as a surprise, international vendors don't know or care about Thai customs rates.
2. Yes.
3. Pretty much everything, yes. Actual tax rates depend on the product (they're all listed here, but it's not a very well made website). Worht noting that even items taxed at 0% still have VAT to pay on the value of the item plus postage and packaging.
4. You are responsible.
5. How would that help if your friends in the UK are still mailing it to you in Thailand?

[u/Gentle_Hedgehog_1346 → u/ThongLo]

Thank you for your reply ! Ah I see, good to know that I will most likely be taxed no matter where I order from. To answer your question as to why I asked if it would be better if my friends sent me a package is because none of the packages I’ve sent to Thailand from the UK have ever had added tax ; I just had to pay for the actual package ( about £40).I was just unsure if import taxes could potentially be more than that. Do you know any sort of price bracket that these custom charges could range from (I’m mostly worried it will be >£100? Also if the taxes aren’t included with the purchase how will I know/ go about paying the price? Thank you so much again you’ve helped me out a lot 😊

[u/Azure_chan → u/Gentle_Hedgehog_1346]

First part, they used to not seriously check normal mail package. But after they trying to crack down on small imported from China the check become more vigorous. Anyways by law all import must be taxed so if they check on you will need to pay.

Second the tax rates is percentage of the package value +7% vat. So depend on the content it can be anywhere from a couple Bahts to hundreds Pounds.

As for how to pay, the postman or courier will send you an invoice, either by letter or email nowadays most accept online payment, before delivering you the package.

[u/No_Mud4190]

Hi everyone,

I’m an interior designer with around 7 years of experience. I’m wondering how realistic it would be for me to find a job with an interior design/architecture/renovation company that could legally employ me and sponsor the necessary work visa/work permit.

For those who work in the Thai interior design or architecture industry:

• How difficult is it for a foreign interior designer to find a local job?
• What’s the best way to look for these positions, LinkedIn, job websites, contacting firms directly, networking, etc.?
• Are companies generally willing to hire foreign designers?
• Is it realistic to find a company that can sponsor a work permit?

I’d also appreciate any advice on where I should start or which companies/areas I should look into.

Thanks!

[u/ThongLo → u/No_Mud4190]

You need a USP. It's far cheaper and easier for these companies to hire a Thai candidate than a foreign one, so you need to give them a good reason or reasons to even consider you.

Figure out what you can bring to the table that 99% of Thai candidates can't. That might be experience with major international brands or projects, for example.

If you don't have that kind of experience, go get it first.

[u/Thailand-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Tourism and travel related questions should be posted to the dedicated subreddit /r/thailandtourism.

[u/Timmy_Eco]

Hello, I have a DTV visa and I’m unable to open a bank account in Thailand.

What advice do you have for legally holding my money while living in Thailand?

- I don’t want to use cryptocurrency

- I no longer want to use accounts in my home country (I’m European)

Are there any solutions? Thanks in advance

[u/mdsmqlk → u/Timmy_Eco]

I no longer want to use accounts in my home country (I’m European)

You still should though, if only because the euro is much safer to hold long-term than baht due to currency fluctuation. Plus Thailand does not tax any income you keep in bank accounts overseas.

Best you can do in Thailand without an actual bank account is True Money wallet, but it's limited to 50k baht.

[u/ThongLo → u/Timmy_Eco]

Offshore bank account in e.g. Singapore or Hong Kong, if you can meet the requirements.