Siam Legal’s Podcast

Retiring in Thailand at 50 looks very different from retiring at 70, and the budget math most people use doesn't account for that. Pear from Siam Legal works through what a genuinely comfortable early retirement in Thailand actually costs across four cities, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya, and Phuket, and why where you choose to live is as much a financial decision as a lifestyle one. She also covers the four visa pathways available to retirees, including why the standard retirement visa isn't always the right default, and the financial surprises that tend to catch people off guard after they've already made the move.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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If you've got a Thailand Privilege membership but you're not using the app, you're leaving perks on the table. This episode is a walkthrough of the Thailand Privilege App from start to finish: setting up your account, navigating the homepage and booking tabs, and the exact steps to redeem a perk using the in-app QR code and OTP system. There's also a look at the lesser-known features, like Privilege Point tracking, reminders for visa renewals and 90-day reports, and how to manage benefits for family members on the same membership.

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

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Canadian immigration officers ask one question before approving any Thai visitor visa application: will this person actually go home? This episode breaks down the Temporary Resident Visa process for Thai citizens, including the documents that prove genuine ties to Thailand, the ETA exception that some applicants overlook, and why Canada's processing time runs longer than other countries. It also covers the most common reasons these applications get refused, and why a complete application can still fail if it doesn't tell a convincing story.

Learn more about Canada Tourist Visa: https://www.siam-legal.com/foreign-visas/canada-tourist-visa.php

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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If you're helping a Thai partner, friend, or family member apply for an Australian visa, this episode covers what actually trips people up. Pear walks through the Visitor Visa Subclass 600, the documents Australian immigration expects to see, and the Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement that decides most outcomes. The episode also breaks down the application timeline and fees, and the most common reasons Thai applicants get refused, from weak financial evidence to ties to Thailand that don't hold up.

Lear more: https://www.siam-legal.com/foreign-visas/australia-visitor-visa.php

SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand is fast-tracking a bill that would more than triple its leasehold cap, from 30 years to 99. Ice from Siam Legal lays out what's actually in the proposal, including which property types qualify and what happens to ownership once the term ends, and why the government sees this as a way to attract serious foreign investment while cutting out illegal nominee structures. The episode also breaks down who stands to benefit most, from developers and high-skilled professionals to everyday Thais, and where the bill currently sits in the legislative process.

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝:  https://www.siam-legal.com/realestate/Leases.php

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Think your visa covers your 90-day report? It doesn't. They're two separate obligations, and missing that distinction is where most expats run into trouble. This episode walks through exactly how to count your 90 days, the filing window that gives you breathing room before the deadline, and the two everyday actions, leaving the country and renewing your visa, that quietly reset your clock without any warning. You'll also hear what documents to bring for your first in-person report and what the fines actually look like if you fall behind.

Learn more: https://www.siam-legal.com/other-services/90-days-report-online.php

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Planning a trip to Europe? In this episode, Augustin from Siam Legal breaks down everything Thai citizens need to know about applying for a Schengen Visa in 2025, including the 90-day-in-180 rule, which 29 countries it covers, and the documents you'll need such as proof of funds, travel insurance, and accommodation bookings. Augustin also covers current visa fees, the extra costs charged by private visa centers in Thailand, and what to prepare if you're traveling with children or for business, study, or family visits.

Learn more about Schengen Visa: https://www.siam-legal.com/foreign-visas/schengen-visa-thailand.php

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand just launched a new digital platform that could change how every foreigner enters and stays in the country. In this episode, Pear from Siam Legal breaks down THIM, the Thailand Immigration Management System, and what it actually does: storing your traveler profile, building the Digital Arrival Card directly into the app, and cutting repeat trips down to a quick flight and date update. Pear also clears up a common misunderstanding (THIM doesn't replace the TDAC requirement) and looks at what's coming next, including 90-day reporting and visa extensions moving into the same platform.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐝 (𝐓𝐃𝐀𝐂 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝)

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Why do tourists pay more than locals at Thai national parks, temples, and museums? In this episode, Pear from Siam Legal explains how dual pricing actually works in Thailand, why it's legal at most official attractions, and how it differs from informal tourist overcharging at places like tuk-tuks and beach rentals. Pear also covers what foreign residents can do if they're paying tourist prices despite living, working, and paying taxes in Thailand, including what identification might get you the local rate and which questions are actually worth asking at the ticket counter.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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Thailand is cracking down on visa abuse, and nearly 10,000 student visa holders have already had their permits revoked. In this episode, Pear from Siam Legal breaks down the crackdown on fake schools and education visa fraud, the corruption investigation involving over 100 immigration officers, and the new monthly reporting system schools must now follow to keep their visa sponsorship. If you're in Thailand on a student visa but not genuinely enrolled, your legal status could be at risk. Pear also covers which long-term visa options, including the LTR, Elite, Retirement, and DTV visas, might actually fit your situation better.

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐬:

LTR Visa Thailand Certified Agency:

Retirement Visa Thailand:

DTV Visa Thailand 2025:

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SIAM LEGAL INTERNATIONAL (Bangkok Office)

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