Eggsplat

Hi guys,

Hope someone can help? My partner and I are looking into a permanent move to Bangkok.

I work in the UK and will continue to do so as my job is very flexible and will be able to travel back to the UK each month for about 10 - 14 days. (My job is conducted in the UK only) So initially I wont be looking for a job in Thailand.

My partner is Singaporean and will hopefully be able to find some work when we are there.

As i am back and to all the time, maybe I can get away with just a tourist visa? Will I still be able to open a bank account and rent a property on a tourist visa?

Would I be eligible to apply for permanent resident after a period of time?

Theres obviously much more to think about but if any of you could help me with these questions at first I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

Eggsplat

nonthaburi

As a Brit you will get 30 days on arrival in BKK with no visa . This will be okay for you as you will be gone two weeks later . As you are flying in and not coming in overland then you shouldn't have any problems with immigration but it's not really an ideal way to live . If you're going to be in Thailand for a long time then you will need to find a better way to stay than that eventually . Because you'll only be there for a couple of weeks each time there's not really a lot of point getting a visa .
You will still be able to open a bank account like this but probably not with every bank and it may vary from branch to branch exactly what they want to see . I would suggest Kasinkorn as a soft touch and KrungThai as one to stay away from .
Can't see any problems renting a place so long as you have money for a deposit etc . That is all that will matter at the end of the day .
Regarding you wife , although she is from Singapore and Singapore is in ASEAN , until the proposed economic integration and freedom of movement comes into place in 2015 she may find employment opportunities limited as a Non-Thai . She won't need a visa though although how long she gets I don't know . As an example Thais only get 15 days visa free in Cambodia .
As for permanent residency , forget about that . You've got no chance living the way you are . See this link here http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/...-residency.php

Hope that answers some of your questions .

Eggsplat

Thanks very much, great help. Off to see the score at the London Embassy and I'll let you know where We get to.

nonthaburi

make sure you get to the embassy early as it gets quite busy . It's only open in the morning too for visa applications .

bakedbean

Just love that name

wolf5370

For starters why are you going to the Thai Embassy? Check out Hull Consulate web site for a host of PDFs on pretty much anything and they are much less restrictive than the Embassy.

Forget residency - for that you would need 3 years of Thai taxes; back to back extensions to stay in Thailand (non immigrant visa extensions unbroken for at least 3 years); Work Permit (would need that for the taxes anyway); 200k baht - and each time you leave it would cost you about 5k in leaving permits - and all to save you 90 day reports and yearly visas and easier WPS (yes you still need them with residency) - and still takes another 10 years for citizenship.

Maybe you wife can get a job with a Singaporean company in Bangkok? Otherwise, she's pretty much in the same boat as you would be - needing WPs etc - might change in 2015, but who knows.

...and 30 day wavers will be given every time you and in BKK, so no need for visas.