@Winston ***********

same here, allthough I might retire within 5 years...

Anonieme deelnemer 988 spending money is indeed also paying tax, but with only 7 percent it does not make you a substantial tax payer, so I agree with you spending only a little amount of 50k or 60k a month is no excuse for not paying tax.

@Steve *******

for the 0 a month you also get back much more than the average Thai, buying things is primary a benefit for yourself, not an excuse to not pay tax.

Besides 0 a month is not that much, the VAT tax on it is only 7000 baht, so you are not a big tax payer in Thailand.

But of course nobody likes to pay tax.

@Steve *******

DTA then decides, some income might go to one country and other income to the other country, also income taxed at both countries is possible, but nomally not above the country with the highest tax. It can be very complicated.

@Peter *******

I disagree with that filling in gaps is evolution, but when you want to call it that, just do.

And indeed Thai embassies have a lot of freedom to decide, but it might be obvious that for learning the language the ED visa is already existing a very long time.

I not say embassies that accept are wrong, I only say for learning language there is another visa, so embassies mighjt reject DTV because there is a more suitable visa.

Now some language schools might also want to profit from the DTV hype, and then they try to combine language learning with some cultural elements

@Steve *******

you can be tax resident in more than one country.

Anonieme deelnemer You are the one saying "that does not sound right"

Thai language training is not mentioned as soft power on any official document, so Thai do not see this as an evolution.

Only very few embassies are known to accept language training for DTV.

DTV is just filling in a missing part in the Thai visa schemes, not an evolution.

It is not meant to replace other visa.

@Jim *******

I don't think requirements for non-o retired are very high, but I agree with you the yearly necessary extension makes it uncomfortable, because Thai are very bureaucratic.

And for me the fixed time each year to stay in Thailand to do extension makes it for me a no-go.

Wayne Billman What also might help is get a remark in the new passport by the issuing instance, that tells it is a replacement of the old passport with number.

The DTV visa as evisa is issued with passport number.

But to be sure best is to trave;l with both passports