What are the key considerations for expats regarding the Thai tax system and related visas?

@Todd ********

small world - I am in Cowichan Bay! While Van Isle is absolutely beautiful - it’s suffocating me after 26 years being here.

The LTR won’t work for me unfortunately as I don’t qualify for the “work-from-Thailand-professional” category and the others won’t allow me to work legally (which is very important to me).

My husband can tag along on my non-b visa.

Do you have to be in Mexico every year to be considered a tax resident there? I’ve been looking a (teeny tiny!!) bit into the options of having tax residency in a low tax country but with all that’s going on right now as we prepare to move in November - I just don’t have the capacity and bandwidth 🤷🏽‍♀️

@Sabine ****************

Van island is lovely, but not in my top 300 islands for beauty so far. I really love islands. It was a great place to grow up and i came back for retirement (briefly) but a year round there was enough to force a fast re-assessment. Weather, tax, cost of living, lack of medical access, declining care, frigid ocean etc chased me away quickly as soon as I retired. Mexico is quite easy for permanent residency, and no requirement to be there at all if you choose. Also, it's a once and done application. Never need to renew or pay for annual renewals. The income requirements have gone up dramatically and the peso has been strong vs CAD so it's become more challenging. But if you qualify with the income, it's very easy. Where did u buy here?

@Todd ********

I agree with all your points lol... The island has been good to us tho and it was lovely to raise our children here - but it's time to move on. The island is too small and Canada is too big. I am originally from Germany and met my Canadian husband in 1996 in Railey Bay, Krabi and moved with him to Canada in 1998. The time has finally come and we can move back to Thailand and not just visit 5 weeks/year. We bought a 2 bed 2 bath pool villa in Ao Nang, Krabi during covid and it's literally a dream come true. Where abouts are you in Thailand? Now with all that being said lol - thank you about the info about Mexico!! I will definitely check it out - it peaked my interest now lol. My earnings are quite good at the moment, so I'd be interested to see what's required :)

@Sabine ****************

Mexico is a great option and doesn't lock you in at all to being there for any length of time. The vancouver consulate is super helpful if you email or call them. We were there for a month this year, but that was first time since covid. We also bought during covid on Koh Samui. It was really such an incredible time to be here. Got in the day before the country closed it's borders and the whole paradise without tourists was just absolutely fantastic. Gave us a great chance to look around some amazing properties and mkae some decisions. We go to Railay and Ao Nang at least once a year, always lovely and easy enough to access from here. Even direct flights from Samui to Krabi now. All in all, it's just brilliant. Best of luck!

@Todd ********

love this for you!!! Just fantastic! We bought unseen lol as we were not in Thailand at the time - so that was crazy, but absolutely no regrets and it all worked out perfectly. Next time you come to Ao Nang, maybe we can have a drink together 🙂

@Sabine ****************

we sure can. 🥂 My Aussie and Belgian neighbours here both did as you did and bought sight unseen during Covid. Both thrilled with it now. It was gutsy, but I bet it pays off. Let me know when you are in country, drinks on me

@Todd ********

I've done a few gutsy moves in my life and all of them have paid off and made life better - and I am here for it 🙂 Arriving in Ao Nang on Nov 13 🥳🥳👊Looking forward to meeting you! Cheers 🥂