What are the potential changes to the DTV visa in Thailand after its initial 5-year period?

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

Not everyone on retirement extension is on pension already or have the 65k. Also not every embassy issues this letter for the pension anymore. Well... you may say 800k "is not that much", but for many people it's not "pocketmoney". And don't forget that 400k are permanent blocked... that's a big "fee" for the extension, no?

@Stephan **********

If the embassy does not cooperate with the approval letter you can arrange the same by monthly transfers of at least THB,

then you only might need the 800K in the first year, so no permanent blocking.

And with less than a month, it might be indeed a better idea to stay home.

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

Okay... agree to disagree... this discussion doesn't make any sense.

@Stephan **********

What you disagree with? The fact that 800K is not blocked the rest of your life? Or that you can arrange the 65K a month option without visa approval letter.

The 800K is considered as the amount of money you need for one year.

That is also the reason that 65K is seen as amount for 1 month.

When you compare with the 500K for DTV you can see they expect you to have income, because 500K is only enough for about 7 months.

That might also be the reason why it is mentioned embassy can ask for pay slips.

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

I disagree with your opinion that people under 65k per month or people who care about 800k should not consider to live here. You would be surprised how many people can stay with less than that money. And no... they are not starving and also they don't live in a hut in the jungle.

Anyhow... you asked for reasons for change from retirement to DTV... I just told you that many people think about it because they want to get their money back. You are right...the 800k are not blocked for life, but 400k actually are. Lost money... until you can get it out somehow...

The DTV don't ask for any "safety" for living expenses... you show the money once and nobody will ask you ever again if you still have it or not, same with "income" as a freelancer. So... you can't compare this with retirement or marriage extension. Btw... since you are saying that one needs at least 65k per month to survive here... why are 40k enough when one is married to a citizen? Because the inlaws will feed him/her? I highly doubt that...

@Stephan **********

Everywhere in the world a couple is considered to need less money than two singles, that is not different in Thailand.

I remain saying 400K is not blocked as long as you have the monthly income of 65K transferred.

DTV is asking for safety, in fact they check if you have an income from outside, and I think they will change the formal requirements, because now it is very heavily misused.

The current requirements are meant to show you have enough income and money outside Thailand.

But from the questions I see and what you also suggest a lot of people only arrange the money on paper for this visa and find a reason to apply.

Every wellthinking being can understand that is not the way it is meant.

Visa requirements are made by a country to select the type of people they want to welcome in the country.

I do not say that somebody retired with less than 65K foreign income cannot survival, but they are not welcomed by the country.

Anonymer Teilnehmer Don't you worry too much about my wallet or my nutrition... better take care your obvious lack of social etiquette... 😁

@Rena ********

Both DTV and 60 days visa free were announced as temporary measures so it ending was baked in from the start. As far as extensions go, I think everyone understands that isn't the way to go with this visa. Just leave and come back and avoid immigration office.

@Scott ******

I don't recall the DTV being announced as temporary, though who knows? The 60 day visa exemption is of course temporary, that's pretty obvious when you consider that neighboring Asean countries, which operate on the principle of reciprocity, have not extended a 60 day visa exemption with the possibility of a 30 day extension to Thai nationals. It's a one way flow - Cambodians get it when coming to Thailand, but Thais still get only 14 days when visiting Cambodia.

They'll go back to the old status quo sometime next year.

As for the DTV, hard to say, but like the LTR, I think it's here to stay but is likely to be reformed.