Can I, as a foreigner own property in Thailand.

Yes, you can own a freehold condominium which is either an existing
unit already held in a foreign name, or a new or under construction
unit which is within the 1st 49% of units sold.

For the purchase of houses the choice in the past has been the setting
up of a Thai company, but with recent changes in Thai Company Law the
popular choice now is leasehold. Under current Thai law a foreigner can
hold a lease in their own name for 30 years, this scan then be extended
for two additional periods of 30 years. This is a very simple and safe
way of having a long term interest in a house and land, giving you full
rights over both the land and any buildings on it.

If you would like a more detailed explanation please contact a member
our sales team, or legal department. (

What fees, taxes and costs are applicable to the purchase of a property.

1. Government Transfer Fee: This is currently 2% of the appraised value
of the property, this may not be the amount you paid,

2. Leasehold registration Fee: The fee for registering a lease is 1.1%
of the total lease value.

3. Specific Business Tax: This shall be collected from the sale of real
estate for trade or profit purposes at a rate of 3.3% of the appraised
value or the actual sale price whichever is the higher. However this is
not applicable in all cases, generally if you sell a property within the
1st five years of ownership the tax is payable but if it is your principal
for one year then the tax does not have to paid. If you owned the
property for more than five years the tax, also, does not apply.

4. Withholding Tax: A tax payable by the seller to the land Office at
the time of sale.

For more complete details please contact our legal team.

What types of Visa are available and what are the restrictions.

1. Tourist Visa - A Tourist Visa will be issued to applicants wishing to enter the Kingdom for the purposes of tourism. You are not allowed to work or conduct business with A tourist Visa. A Tourist Visa is valid for 60 days and be extended at a local Immigration Office for 30 days at a fee of 1,900 Baht as per 26th August 2003. Most residents of western countries do not need a Tourist Visa.
2. Visa on Arrival - Most tourists from western countries use this type of Visa, provided you have a return ticket you will receive a 30 day Visa at the port of entry into Thailand, generally this type of Visa cannot be extended except in exceptional circumstances such as illness or injury which prevents you from traveling, in this instance apply to the local Immigration Office for advice.
3. Non-Immigrant Visa - There are several types of Non-Immigrant Visa depending on your circumstances, they can single or multiple entry and may apply to extended visits to family, for tourism, for work or for marriage, it is best to consult the Thai Embassy in you own country to see which is the most suitable for you.
4. Retirement Visa - These are generally applied for once resident in the Kingdom, the main criteria are that the applicant is over 50 and has proof of a minimum of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank or an income of not less than 65,000 Baht per month or a combination of both such as 400,000 Baht in the bank and 32,500 Baht income per month. For full information consult the local Immigration office.

There are many other types of Visa which cover specific purposes, most Thai Embassies have web sites and are easy to find via Google, it is wise to consult with the Embassy to find the right Visa for your needs.

Some friendly advice on visiting Immigration, please dress smartly and please be polite at all times, you find that Immigration Officers are will welcome your enquiry and deal with you in timely and correct manner.

What are the standards of hospital and medical care?

There are four main hospitals in Pattaya, generally the best regarded is The Bangkok Pattaya Hospital on Sukhumvit Road. Treatment here is a little more expensive than the other hospitals but is still much cheaper than in the west and most travel insurance policies will cover in-patient care directly. The Pattaya International Hospital also offer good standards of care and accommodation and is located between Pattaya 2nd Road and Pattaya Beach Road in Soi 4, The Pattaya Memorial Hospital whilst not enjoying as high a reputation as the Bangkok Pattaya or International hospitals it is very centrally located is generally efficient. The Banglamung Hospital in Naklua is perhaps the least foreign orientated of the four but has the lowest prices.

Dentistry is well catered for in Pattaya and there are many pharmacies including well known foreign names such as Boots and Watson's.

Can I purchase a vehicle?

Yes, foreigner can own and register a car or motorbike in his/her own name, you must hold a non-immigrant visa and either a work permit or proof of address document from Immigration. So if you do not work in Thailand just get a proof of address from Immigration for a fee of around 500 Baht.

Can I have a Thai Driving licence?

Yes, if you do not have an International Driving Licence you can apply for a local Thai Driving Licence at the Land Transportation Office. You will require a valid Passport with a non-immigrant visa (individuals with a tourist visa cannot apply), proof of address, a medical certificate, 2 photographs and of course a licence from your home country.

Can I work in Thailand?

Yes but all the following conditions have to met.

1. You must carry the work permit with him/her or keep it in the office during working hours to show to government officers any time.

2. The foreigner must only perform the work according to the work permit. If he/ she wants to do different work or change locality of working place, this change must be approved.

3. The foreigner who wishes to continue working must apply for an extension before the expiration date.

4. If his/her work permit is materially damaged or lost, the foreigner must apply for substitute within 15 days from the date he/she knows about the damage or disappearance of the work permit.

5. In the case of the foreigners change of his/her first name, last name, nationality , address, or name of the working place, he/she must notify the Employment Service office to update the information as soon as possible.

6. If the foreigner resigns from work, the foreigner must return the work permit within 7 days from the date of the resignation

The rules do change from time to time, is it a good idea to check with Immigration for the latest advice.

What are standards of Schooling?

Pattaya has many very good International Schools, all are fee paying and it is best to research these schools prior to you move to Thailand.