Siam Legal’s Podcast

Thailand's 60-day visa-free scheme is officially over. From September 15, 2026, nationals of 60 countries and territories get 30 days instead, with a one-time 30-day extension available at immigration if needed. This episode breaks down the full list of affected nationalities, the new land border restriction that limits most travelers to two entries per calendar year, what happened to the Visa on Arrival list, and why travelers from countries not on the new exemption list should check whether a bilateral agreement still covers them before assuming they need a visa.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand just changed two things about the DTV application process, and one of them closes a workaround that a lot of applicants were relying on. From August 31, 2026, proof of physical presence in a country is no longer enough to apply there. You now need to be a citizen or hold legal residence in the country where you submit, which means the strategy of traveling to a neighboring country with faster processing times no longer works. The second change is a mandatory police clearance certificate, which takes time to obtain and needs to meet specific requirements depending on which Thai mission is handling the application.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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You don't need to be 50 to retire in Thailand, but you do need the right visa. This episode is for anyone who has reached financial independence early and wants to know what long-term residency actually looks like outside the standard retirement visa pathways that require an age minimum most early retirees haven't hit yet. Siam Legal walks through why the Thailand Privilege Visa fits this situation better than almost anything else available, what the five membership tiers cost and include, and how the application process works from start to finish.

Learn more about Thailand Privilege Visa: https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/thailand-privilege-visa.html

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Rex sits down with visa expert Alex to answer one of the most common questions from Thailand Privilege members: can you bring your family along? Alex explains which membership tiers allow dependents, what the application process looks like for each family member, and the documents needed to prove the relationship. There's also a rundown of the current promotion running until September 30, 2026, which offers significant savings for each additional family member added under Platinum, Diamond, or Reserve memberships.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Two deadlines are converging on September 30, 2026, and this episode covers both. The Next Member Promotion, which lets eligible family members join at 750,000 THB instead of the standard 1 to 2 million, has been extended but only until that date. And the Bronze Membership at 650,000 THB, the most affordable entry point into the Thailand Privilege program, hits its final deadline the same day with no further extension announced. Siam Legal walks through who qualifies, what documents families need to prepare, and how the application process works with no upfront cost until approval.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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In Thailand, a single fraud allegation can be enough to freeze your bank accounts, trigger a police investigation, and put your visa at risk before a case has even been formally filed. This episode breaks down what actually counts as fraud under Thai law, from general deception and impersonation to computer-related fraud under the Computer Crime Act, and why the fine printed in the law is rarely the real concern. Siam Legal also walks through the steps that protect you from the moment police get involved, starting with the most common mistake people make: talking without a lawyer present.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Most tourists who run into trouble in Thailand weren't being reckless. They just didn't know the rules before they arrived. This episode covers 10 things worth knowing before you land, including the free TDAC website and the convincing fakes charging up to $90 for the same form, why your travel insurance might not cover you on a motorbike or jet ski, the fake police vape shakedown that catches visitors off guard because vaping actually is illegal, and what to do if your passport goes missing in the middle of a trip. Worth a listen before your flight.

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand Privilege members overstay their visa not because they ignored the rules, but because they confused their membership validity with their actual permission to stay. Rex and visa expert Belle break down why the ink stamp in your passport is the date that legally matters, what happens if an immigration officer accidentally gives you a 30-day tourist stamp instead of your full one-year stay, and the simple habit that keeps members from making a costly mistake at the border.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Foreign buyers lose money on Thai property not because they weren't careful, but because they didn't know what to look for. This episode covers the 10 legal and financial traps that catch foreign buyers off guard, including title deeds that look legitimate but offer far less protection than a Chanote, environmental violations that can result in a demolition order after you've already moved in, and leasehold agreements that disappear the moment a landowner sells. Whether you're buying a Bangkok condo or a beachfront villa in Phuket, these are the checks that need to happen before any money changes hands.

𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

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𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand has ordered a formal investigation into universities suspected of admitting foreign students through irregular practices, and it's the latest move in a crackdown that's been building for over a year. This episode covers what the review will look at, the stricter rules already introduced for short-course programs that require at least 60% onsite instruction and cap enrollment at 180 days, and what the broader pattern of enforcement signals for anyone currently on or considering a student visa in Thailand.

𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐲𝐞𝐫 - 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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