How to have free healthcare for life: The alternative to the DTV, the Taiwan Gold Card

This is really outside the box but I think some people should at least consider it.

Taiwan has free healthcare and a lot simpler ‘immediate’ residency with the ‘gold card’ for only $350USD. As long as you stay 183 days per year in Taiwan for three years you then have permanent residency.

As thailand now taxes foreign income. A good strategy would be living in both for three years and keeping Thailand under 180 days so you are not taxed, then migrating permanently to thailand if you enjoy it more after your healthcare in Taiwan is solidified and you have residency.

The ‘ideal’ which I am still considering is simply living in Taiwan for 3 years and for 6 months of the year when you’re bored hitting up Pattaya or Cebu or Bali or where ever else and after 3 years, more permanently move to Thailand, with your residency + free healthcare secured.

Of course most people aren’t going to be willing to do this, me either at this stage. But if you could, would then be free healthcare for life. Plus a permanent residency, I think 2-4 years paid maternity leave and actual government benefits, which even if you go after and get residency in Thailand, to me, all I see is a second un-avoidable tax bill, so why bother?

After speaking to the head maxiofacial surgeon in Khaosiung hospital, he told me a lot of Americans (and HKers) are taking up this strategy and simply flying to Taiwan when elective issues come up.

Otherwise, for now, based on my research I think travel insurance is the way to go for healthcare. I think blue cross blue shield does it in America, safetywing people mention sometimes and I use fastcover (for Australia) with no excess around $1500AUD for the year.

For now, I’m still just considering it. But! For me the DTV was definitely not a celebration it was an admission, to myself, that 100% I will not be living in Thailand forever, it is purely temporary and the DTV solidified that as I have since completely stopped looking into investing in or making a company here to get the work permits + other requirements necessary for residency. So yes, the DTV is cool, but as a long term plan, I mean it’s not one unless you are 50 and by 55 you can get the retirement visa.

For some context, I'm an American citizen with alien permanent residency status in Taiwan, and I'm interested in enrolling in Chiang Mai University's Education Visa program. I'd like to do this via the Thailand Trade and Economic Office in Taipei. However, I just went to the Thai eVisa website, and it stated that I was not eligible to apply through the eVisa system. Any guidance on what I should do?

So I have been living and working in Japan for around 15 years or so, but have never really needed to get my PR, so haven't gone down that route. I have a spouse visa though. Does anyone know if this is going to be good enough to apply for the DTV in Tokyo or is it strictly PR? Can anyone with experience please share their insights? I've read mixed reports, but mostly stating PR is a must. TIA!

Can a Farang get a Thsi citizenship/passport?

I'm planning to work remotely in Thailand in the next few years, and from there I'm planning to live in Thailand for the rest of my life.

What visa is a way to progress for receiving a Permanent Resident in Thailand?

I have just noticed my visa type is not non-B as I expected but something called non-RE, something I have never heard of before. I work in BOI company and have a WP. I am aiming to get the permanent residency next year. Am in in trouble?

Does a DTV visa qualify you for permanent residency in Thailand if staying for at least 3 years?

I need some advise. I have purchased a one bedroom apartment in Bangkok for Thai bhats 1,500,000/- (aprox US$ 50,000/-)

If I want a permenant visa what do I have to do. ? Everytime I visit Bangkok on my US passport they give me 30 days only.

Please advise how to apply for a permanent visa where I can stay as long as I like and not worry about restrictions of days of stay in Thailand. Thanks in advance for all your help.

I contact ato - they said as a citizen you never lose tax residency. He asked 2 other ppl he works with who also confirmed this. He said only way to lose it would be picking up citizenship in another country.

Hello,

I have a few questions regarding the bank statement to prove the 500k THB, although I scrolled the group posts by searching, I couldn't find something similar to my situation (apologized if my questions were actually already answered):

1. I'm a French citizen, with Permanent Residency in Taiwan. I have worked in Taiwan for 6 years, so I can show my salary slip until June 2024.

2. I recently started a new job. It's a consultant contract, with a Singaporean company, starting from July 2024 to December 2024. Same here I can show my contract and my invoices for July+August payment.

3. The thing is, I made few big operations with my Taiwanese bank account so currently my Taiwanese account doesn't have 500k THB.

4. However, in France we have a family shared account, (I have the power of attorney for this account but it's not under my name, my parents'), where we do have more than 500k THB.

Questions:

1. Would you advise to transfer money from the family account to my own personal account? Or a statement proving that I have the power of attorney would be enough?

2. If I do need to transfer on an account under my name: Is transferring to my French bank account would do, or is it better to transfer directly to my Taiwanese account, which I used daily for the past 6 years (I received all my salary on this account)?

3. I understand that each embassy/office have different rules regarding the period we have those 500k THB in the account.

Let's say I do the necessary transfers next week, would you recommend Taipei or Vientiane? I have family in both cities so its convenient for me to stay there few days, hence those two options..

Thank you in advance for your answers!