Should I choose a DTV visa or a retirement visa in Thailand at 50 years old?

@Richard *******

Online work is fine same as the conditions for a DTV. Absolutely no difference.

@Neil ****

This is correct.

@Paul ******

wrong, if on retirement visa you can’t work period.

@Neil ****

WRONG. It doesn't matter what visa you're on. Again, BOTH visas state "employment prohibited" but in practice online work is allowed, regardless of which one you're on.

You're either wilfully ignorant or you misunderstood the concept behind the DTV. Even the ministry of foreign affairs, immigration and the labor department are not on the same page about this visa.

@Jon *********

then figure something else out. This was a comment I made for the Americans that are there.

@Anna ********

I’m sure there is a British equivalent, or wherever you’re from. I know my British friends use something, but I don’t know what they use.

@Bill ********

not British but whatever

@Bi**

the refunding Thai-side ATM fees has few equivalents outside the US. The larger component though is the home bank fee, on an average card that is far larger than the 220B charged Thai-side. If you can avoid that with a zero-fee card, good enough, and many countries including the UK and Australia do have good options there.

Regular HSBC debit card will charge 2.75%+£5 which is ~766B on a 20,000B withdrawal. Credit card is even worse, 5.98% which is 1,198B. Regular US cards if you don't shop around often charge $5+3%. So most important thing is to get one that eliminates or at least reduces the home-side fee, this is much more important than the Thai-side refund.

Starling Bank is an example of a zero-fee UK card. Some fintech cards like Wise or Revolut have zero fees on spend but do charge on ATM use, although it can be less than a regular bank charges. Best to shop around and get zero if you can, although this isn't possible in every country.

@Ivan ***********

why are you telling me this? I have the Charles Schwab card they give you the fees back at the end of every month.

@Bi**

I'm aware. It's for the non-Americans: "I know my British friends use something, but I don’t know what they use."

@Greg *******

nowadays doesn’t matter there is tons of other apps out there like Moreta and there’s another one called Thai pay. And many others. That you can take your home account and link them.

@Bill ********

You specified Charles Schwab to avoid ATM feess

@Greg *******

yes I did that gives you an American point of view, but their other ways from other countries that you can do this as well. Every few months, there’s something new a new app or a new way to do things you have to keep up with the times.

@Bill ********

A lot of people will complain about the fees charged when using these apps or when using cash. I agree that this argument doesn't make much sense when withdrawing the maximum amount possible and paying THB 250, but some will still complain. Only Schwab will refund these fees.

Anonym deltagare 571 Many banks or card providers have a limit on how much you can withdraw each time. It can be as low as €200, and the home country bank also has a fee and if you’re staying an extended period of time, for example 5 years, you will pay a lot in fees just to access your own money. Then if you’re going to use all these other apps as work around to be able to scan you will pay even more in fees.

@Jon *********

I agree. That's why I would think having a retirement visa and Thai bank would be better in that case.