Thailand is one of the easiest countries to visit until you accidentally break a law you didn't know existed. This episode runs through 10 things that catch tourists off guard every year, from the lèse-majesté law that applies to social media posts and Thai coins, to why your travel insurance might not cover you if you're in a motorbike accident, to the passport deposit trap at rental shops that turns a minor scratch into an expensive standoff. Worth watching before you land.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand's proposed 300 baht tourism fee has been in discussion since 2020 and still isn't settled. The latest obstacle is a practical one: aviation groups say collecting it through airlines won't work because booking systems don't capture the passenger details needed to separate Thai nationals from foreign visitors. This episode covers why the TDAC is now being put forward as the more workable collection point, what the fee is actually intended to fund, and what travelers should know for now, which is that this remains a proposal, not a confirmed cost.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐓𝐃𝐀𝐂 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand and 10 other countries just launched a shared database specifically designed to track online scam networks and human trafficking operations across borders. This episode covers how the SHIELD platform works, why speed was the main driver behind building it, and what it means for expats and tourists who may not realize that a message appearing to come from nearby could be part of a network operating from an entirely different country. The broader takeaway is that these schemes are more connected and harder to spot than most people expect.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

🔗https://www.siam-legal.com/legal_services/thailand-visa-services.php

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Thailand just expanded its visa-free list again. Six new nationalities including India, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives were added on July 14th, completing full EU coverage under the 30-day tier. This episode covers what triggered the update, why India's inclusion matters given the nearly 20 percent drop in arrivals during the uncertainty, and one timing detail travelers need to know before booking: the new rules only take effect 15 days after Royal Gazette publication. Siam Legal also recaps how the current tiered system came to replace the 60-day exemption introduced in 2024, and how the TDAC is now being used to monitor compliance.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐓𝐃𝐀𝐂 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

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Thailand has approved joining the OECD's international tax data-sharing framework, and for foreign businesses operating here, the implications go beyond a headline. This episode covers what the global 15% minimum corporate tax rate actually means in practice, how Thailand's new top-up tax works, and what it means that the Revenue Department will begin sharing financial data on multinationals with other countries from 2027. If your business operates across multiple jurisdictions or relies on structures built around older tax incentives, this is worth paying attention to now rather than later.

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Hundreds of arrests in a single Phuket operation. Tens of thousands of businesses placed on an inspection list. A Thai Cabinet designation making illegal foreign business operations a national priority. This episode lays out exactly what has changed in Thailand's enforcement landscape since 2024, why nominee structures that were once treated as a manageable risk now carry criminal exposure, and what authorities are actually doing to find them. It also covers the business reasons foreign-owned companies fail even when they're set up correctly, from oversaturated markets to seasonality that wipes out cash reserves before the next high season. The legitimate pathways exist. This episode is about understanding what's actually required to use them.

𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

𝐁𝐮𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫

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Thailand's airports have shifted to a "zero trust" screening model, which means airline crew and airport staff now go through the same checks as passengers. This episode breaks down what triggered the change, what it looks like in practice, and what frequent travelers and expats should expect, including secondary screenings at the gate after already clearing main security, longer processing times on certain routes, and less discretion across the board. The practical advice is simple: arrive earlier than you think you need to.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

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Thailand's regulators are actively cross-checking business registrations against tax records, land ownership data, and other agencies to identify nominee arrangements, and the number of flagged companies has already dropped sharply. Chiara from Siam Legal breaks down what's changed, which sectors are seeing the most scrutiny, and why structures with foreign shareholdings just under the legal threshold are now drawing attention. If you have any foreign involvement in a Thai company, this is the moment to review how it's set up.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Bangkok has hundreds of thousands of resale condos sitting on the market, with the average unit taking over two years to sell. This episode unpacks what that actually means for expat buyers, including why a long listing time doesn't automatically signal a bargain, why online prices often don't reflect what properties are actually selling for, and the legal checks that matter before signing anything. A useful reality check for anyone browsing Bangkok property listings for the first time.

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A tuk tuk fare dispute that turned physical ended with an assault charge and an immediate visa revocation. This episode breaks down why that outcome is more common than tourists expect, how Thai immigration authorities can cancel your right to stay independently of any criminal case, and why incidents caught on camera tend to accelerate the entire process. The bigger takeaway is that no disagreement over a small amount of money is worth what can follow.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘐𝘴 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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