Foreigners in Thailand are subject to the same laws and legal procedures as Thai citizens. However, the process of arrest, trial, and conviction for foreigners may differ slightly from that of Thai citizens. One thing that certainly differs is incarceration itself. Thai jails are very… Read More
Thailand’s Military Service – How the Draft Works
Under Thailand’s 1954 Military Service Act, all Thai men, in the year they turn 21-years-old, must register for the military service draft. The conscription is held in April each year and takes the form of a lottery, unless you volunteer. Military service is still valued… Read More
Divorce in Thailand – A Spouse’s Guide
Marriages do go sour. In fact, Thailand’s divorce rate is high, at 39%. Compare that to the UK and Australia, both of which sit at 33%. Thailand isn’t as bad as the US, though, where the rate is a whopping 45% (1). Now you know… Read More
Cannabis Law in Thailand: A Guide to Growing & Smoking Marijuana
Thailand’s Marijuana laws have evolved dramatically in recent times. What was once considered an illegal drug, unsafe for society, is now legal, mostly. Thailand approved the decriminalization of cannabis, agreeing that the Health Ministry drop cannabis from its list of controlled drugs. Health Minister Anutin… Read More
Same Sex Marriage in Thailand: The Law & Your Options
Due to its warm climate and numerous beautiful beach locations, Thailand remains one of the most popular marriage destinations. Despite this, Thai law currently doesn’t recognize same-sex marriages, civil unions, or domestic partnerships. This may come as a surprise to some, considering that Thailand is… Read More
Thailand’s Sim Card Tracking Scheme – A 12-Point Guide for Tourists
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s (NBTC) plans to boost national security by approving in principle a plan to issue special sim cards to foreign tourists so they can be tracked via their mobile phones. As well as visa overstayers, the NBTC said it could… Read More
Income Tax in Thailand: Who Needs to Pay & How Much?
I have a few “working in Thailand” related posts on the blog, and I often get questions related to income tax. Specifically: How much tax does a foreigner have to pay on his/her earnings, and do others such as digital nomads, who are not currently… Read More
Inheritance Law in Thailand: Tax, Heirs, Wills & Probate – Who Gets Your Cash?
If you’ve been lucky enough to amass over 100 million Baht (approximately $3M), then your estate will be unlucky enough to be caught in Thailand’s inheritance tax threshold. Few of us have managed to squeeze that much out of our stay in Thailand, but there’s… Read More