In all those years I have had only one serious problem, and that one was entirely my own fault. Many years ago I left Thailand for an overseas trip and forgot to obtain a re-entry permit. When I came back, I discovered that I had effectively killed my existing immigration status and had to rebuild the visa and work-permit process. It was painful, time-consuming and expensive.
I have never forgotten the re-entry permit again.
Thailand is already moving in the right direction
The good news is that Thailand today offers far more long-stay options than it did when I first arrived. The Destination Thailand Visa, or DTV, gives qualifying remote workers, freelancers and people taking part in certain activities a five-year multiple-entry visa, with stays of up to 180 days per entry. The Long-Term Resident Visa, or LTR, offers qualifying wealthy individuals, pensioners and professionals a much longer route, with up to ten years of visa validity.
Thailand Privilege has also been around in different forms for many years. I remember my close friend Nigel Cornick once creating a promotion for Southpoint Condominium on Pratumnak where discounted Thailand Privilege packages were offered together with property purchases. It was very successful. Buyers were not only buying a condominium; they were also buying convenience and peace of mind about living in Thailand.
And yes, there really is a THB 3 million property route
There is now another option that I find particularly interesting for the property market: the Longstay Investment Visa under the Non-B Investment category. Thailand Longstay Management describes it as a joint initiative with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Immigration Bureau.
For a foreign buyer, a registered condominium purchase of at least THB 3 million can qualify. The programme also recognises certain qualifying long leases and Sap-Ing-Sitthi arrangements, subject of course to the programme conditions and Immigration approval.
That makes sense to me. If somebody is prepared to invest several million baht into a proper home in Thailand, giving that person a practical legal route to stay here is not a crazy idea. It is exactly the sort of connection between property and long-term living that I believe Thailand should explore further.
Why make normal people jump through unnecessary hoops?
I am not suggesting that Thailand should simply open the door to everybody. Of course there should be proper controls. People with criminal intentions, illegal businesses or no means to support themselves are a different discussion.
But there are also thousands of perfectly normal foreigners who want to retire here, work legally here, invest here or simply spend a large part of their life here. They rent or buy homes, use hospitals, eat in restaurants, employ people and spend money in the local economy. Making their legal stay easier seems to me to be common sense.
The same thought has always crossed my mind when I see people making border trips simply to obtain another period of stay. In many situations an extension can already be handled at Immigration, but wherever an additional stay can legally be allowed, why not make the process as simple as possible inside Thailand? Even if the government charged a higher transparent fee for certain extensions, I would rather see that money stay in Thailand than watch people spend it on vans, border trips and overnight stays simply to collect another stamp.
Make living in Thailand part of the product
Thailand has spent decades becoming one of the world's favourite holiday destinations. I think the next ambition should be just as clear: make Thailand the undisputed number one place in Asia to live.
We already have the lifestyle, climate, food, healthcare, international schools, beaches and infrastructure. On the Eastern Seaboard we also have major investment, industry, international business and improving connectivity. The attraction is already here.
Visa policy should support that rather than make good people feel that their ability to stay is an annual obstacle course.
Thailand has clearly started moving in that direction with the DTV, LTR, Thailand Privilege and the newer Longstay Investment Visa. I welcome that. My only suggestion is: keep going, make the choices easier to understand and make the process as simple as possible for the people Thailand actually wants to attract.
After nearly 30 years here, my own system remains wonderfully uncomplicated. I let a professional handle the paperwork, and before I leave the country I check my re-entry permit.
Twice.