@Greg *******

But no checks are carried out on people entering on visa exempt, and then paying a visa agent for a long-term visa. There's really no difference

@Dave ****

Comparisons to other countries is of little value. The Thai government I'm sure will reassess the DTV in a few years time, and I'm sure if it's felt it's not achieving its desired outcome, it could be adjusted or cancelled. Don't forget Thailand has plenty of visa abuser paying big money to Immigration Officers via Visa Agents. The DTV might just end this unsavoury practice

@Dave ****

I can't see the logic behind that. The reason for the DTV was to get people into the country to help the economy. What's better? 1000 a week coming in, or 100? I'm not quite understanding the negativity from so many people. This is the best visa ever, and especially for retirees

@Greg *******

That's one thing we'll have to adopt a "wait and see" approach to. But the outcomes won't be known for several years, which is why when people say the DTV will be cancelled soon because it's too popular it makes me laugh. It was introduced to get people into the country en-masse, and that's exactly what it's doing. The LTR failed to attract the applicants the government thought it would, so they've gone for a "scaled-down" version, and it's worked. On the subject of tax, if these people are bringing money in which is untaxed, sure they will be assessed. Somehow I can't see the taxing of expats in Thailand yielding a bumper crop for the tax office, but as retirees in pensions are all but out of the equation, the 180 days of the DTV might be catalyst for tax return filing. It might be a condition of extension that finances are revealed. Who knows? Irrespective of how little these DTV holders contribute, it's still a plus. What's better? A retired Cheap Charlie spending 5000 baht a week and renting ONE condo, or ten DTV'ers spending 2500 each and renting TEN condos. Economies of scale come into the equation

@Greg *******

There's probably only a few thousand been issued, but wait another 1-2 years and they will be in the tens of thousands. Those people will all need somewhere to live. I agree it's not going to solve the problem, but every little helps. The more foreigners living in a specific area the more the economy of that area will improve.

@Greg *******

Never said they were the "solution" but having more full-time foreigners in the country will certainly help matters. The condo where I used to live at On Nut was virtually empty during covid and rents were dirt cheap. I still have a buddy there, and he tells me now it's like "Little Europe", predominantly Russians but just about every nationality represented. He reckons it's the only place on the planet where Russians and Ukrainians are actually friends! The more people who get these "almost-permanent" DTVs the more will be looking for stable accommodation. A drinking buddy who was previously a border-runner has always been apprehensive about signing a 12-month lease. Last week he got his DTV, and signed the lease the next day. The landscape is changing

@Nongnuch *******

Actually isn't Big Joke on the sidelines now? Maybe there's a Little Joke ready to assume the mantle 😆

@Greg *******

That kind of flow on wouldn't be noticed for years, and by then the economic advantages of the DTV will also be flowing on. There will be more "settled" expats living full-time in the country and contributing towards the economy. There's a lot of empty condos in Bangkok that need filling, and a lot of them are owned by government members, and more being built. The DTV is a great stimulus

@Dave ****

I doubt it will be cancelled. It's selling like the proverbial hot cakes. I reckon within a year every current non-O holder will be on the DTV. I'll be one of them

@Brandon ***********

God? Or Buddha?