What are the costs and implications of applying for the DTV visa in Thailand, especially regarding ongoing proof of soft power activities?

@Toni ******

Indeed it is stupid to play around for 1 day, but that is only because you trick the system, you can not blame them for that.

@Luit ****************

as long as they accept transfers 1day prior to application, its stupid not to accept investment accounts or an account where the money came from (and goes back to), but everyone can have their own opinion. I have mine, you have yours.

@Toni ******

Why should it be stupid to have 500K THB on a bank account? Having some of your assets not invested, but just as cash, is considered to be wise according experts. 500K is not very much, and as long as you can get interest on it on a foreign bank of your choice it should not be a problem.

@Luit ****************

no expert advises to keep euros in a low interest bank account. It’s stupid. Having 5k euro savings in easy access savings and the rest in investment that can be liquidated in a week is what experts would advise.

@Daniel ********

a lot of experts advice 5-20 percent in easy access savings, not a fixed amount of 5k euro.

@Luit ****************

my dear friend what is 5% of 100k?

Do you know why they say that amount? It’s for an emergency. Now if you’re monthly spend is less than 5k then having an emergency fund in easy access fundings of 5k would be sufficient to cover most problems till you access your other semi liquid savings outside of pension accounts.

@Daniel ********

I only tell what experts advice, it is free to have another opinion, and it might also differ depending on the total amount, I did not talk about 100k.

Also there is not that much difference in interest in a freely accessible savings account and other low risk investment options.

And cash is not only for emergencies, but also for the possibility to invest when chances occur, the so-called strategic reserves.

@Luit ****************

You started by dictating to people, didn't even mention any percentages. Now you have changed to percentages and only giving advice, when challenged.

In a lot of countries there's a big difference, for example in the UK a low savings account is not tax efficient so people will have to pay tax on the interest. Yet I can put it in a low risk tax efficient account and get 5% tax free growth a year and liquidise in an emergency within a week. But I can't keep moving it in and out.

So I can keep the majority of my non pension savings in investments relative to my risk profile and earn much more money, whilst able to liquidate it within a few weeks and then 5K-8k in a 5% growth account.

In Summary keeping 13.5K euros in a bank account is stupid, especially if your monthly costs are covered by your income already. Remember this isn't the retired in Thailand visa. It's appealing to digital nomad of working age with a higher investment risk profile supported with a regular income.

@Daniel ********

The moment you said it is stupid to keep EUR as cash, I replied with percentages that are adviced by experts. One of the main reasons is that you should also have room to change your investment portfolio immediately for the best results.

In the UK there might be something as tax free investment possibilities, but I do not live in the UK and I know a lot of other countries not having these tax free possibilities.

So your remark about in a bank account being stupid is just for your personal situation, having a tax free limit and not feel the need to frequently change your portfolio, so just have a static portfolio, which in my opinion is stupid.

You see the cash as money for an emergency, I see the cash as room to trade, so I can buy when I think it is a good moment without first having to wait till another sell order is effectuated.

So we have different styles of investing.

@Luit ****************

Well again what is 5% of 100k?

Many countries have tax free investment options, some countries don't event charge thing like capital gains tax. If you don't know all this why are you on here telling someone it's not a lot of money and that they shouldn't care?

It's not for just my personal situation, any expert would say the exact same thing, people are living in Thailand with a low cost of living. In fact someone else in this thread is saying the exact same thing as me. Here is how stupid it is to keep 13.5K sitting in a bank account doing nothing when you have a regular income:

13.5k after 5 years growth at 2%: 14,916.71

You never need to spend that money, after 5 years when the DTV ends you put it into a higher growth account for 10 years: 24,567.96

OR

15 years in ok growth at 5% 28,535.00

Do you want to give me that 4k, I mean it's nothing right?

As for my investment style, I am not investing with this, we have already said that.. so I have zero idea why you mention that. I invest with a lot more, that 5k or 13.5K would just be my semi liquid emergency funding.

As for "as room to trade when a good moment" no expert would advise that, every expert advises no hobby investor beats the market. Even Warren Buffet says the same.

@Luit ****************

experts advices base on monthly expenses not fixed sum and vary from 2 to 6. Its true 500k thb not much in some countries, but here, i dont keep count but a year with ease

@Da ***

nobody knows what will happen with extensions yet, and if you can't budget accordingly what are you doing living overseas? Expect to spend 200-300k in 6 months.

@Wannikea ********

what are you talking about? you were saying that „they want you to spend the money“. and i said no they wont because you will need the money in the account for your extension or whatever check may happen in the future.

@Da ***

What is hilarious about it? The 500K is just meant as savings you should have. You are expected to have income outside Thailand to spend.

@Luit ****************

read again. i replied to a post that said „they want you to spend the money (500k)“… its hilarious to think that. because you will always need to have the 500k

@Christopher ********

Definitely nothing needed to re-enter on a DTV, which I've already done.

On that trip, I was more meticulous about ensuring I have all the required documents to cross each border by car, including having Cambodian insurance, my international drivers permits, Thai license, international transport permit, print outs of the Cambodian customs form and even a paper copy of my Cambodian e-visas (2 copies are needed) than worrying about my re-entry to Thailand using the DTV.

I knew if questions were asked, I'd simply answer them and be on my way.

The car was more of an issue and I spent a good 15 minutes talking to customs requesting they stamp my booklet, which they don't ordinarily do at that border, because it's needed to cross the Lao-Cambodian border, which of course no crosses by car except me. Lol.

@Christopher ********

It is all speculation at the moment for both extension and re-entry. Currently there are no checks for re-entry as some people been in and out a few times.

@Greg *******

yeah I have been in and out so even if you have to leave the country Every 6 months its a amazing visa.

@Christopher ********

There is a lot of speculation and overthinking at the moment. The same with the tax situation. If (and it is a very big if) DTV holders do get caught up in tax system the first return is not due till March 2026.

@Christopher ********

there isn’t, but been mentioned in interviews etc. And as that is common practice with other visas, its highly likely to be the same with DTV, although not yet confirmed or denied.

We will know soon though, as we are very close to DTV being 6 months since launch

@Greg *******

people are asking immigration about the requirements for the extension. its very province specific probably. but if you only believe in officialy written and signed information from officials then you will be out of luck as there wont be anything. not now and not in 3 months…

@Da ***

really? So you are now the official spokesperson for the DTV?

You know as much as the rest of us and you are merely speculating

@Ray ****

He has asked in one office and now is talking as though it is a general rule. :-) :-) PS: he does not identify the office either.

@Ray ****

not a speculation for me as i got told the details by immigration. there is no official spokesperson for an extension. every province / office will have their own rules as its always the case.

@Da ***

So anecdotal and nothing official as I said. The fact is nobody knows yet including immigration officers.

@Greg *******

why do immigration officers then tell you the details when you ask them? just do your own research and find out. its hilarious how everyone is guessing and guessing and creating post after post when you are one email or a short visit to immigration away from the information you want? its crazy. immigration isn’t responsible for handing out the DTV. but they are the one doing the extension and letting you into the country.

@Da ***

You are relying on one low level immigration officer telling you. Anecdotes do not make data. You even then say it will probably change from office to office.

@Greg *******

the low level officer that would handle my extension and give me the stamp. and the question was actualy relayed higher up and then answered.

@Da ***

No need to prove that, we use TR visa or something need bankstatement and reasons too but not asked to show again on extension, DTVwill be high % not asking u again

@Da ***

Still the opinion of one small regional Office though is it not? Are you trying to make a general rule from a single piece of data? Anecdotes are not data.

@Greg *******

no but any official word, even from a local office, is more data than the speculation that people are putting out. right? i am not generalizing it at all. just telling you my experiences. why dont you go and ask 10 offices in the country if you are so interested in the topic?

@Da ***

I am not speculating on a general rule from one interaction with a provincial immigration office as yiu are. Then the next sentence it could be different office to office. Make your mind up and choose a lane.