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 by many in Thailand and is said to maintain respect…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 why divorce lawyers make so much money! But, despite the…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 Charnvirakul signed an announcement removing the drug from Category 5…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 famed for its transgender community and warm acceptance of same-sex…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 also be used to find those on the run from…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 paying tax in their country of origin, have to pay…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 a lot more to think about than that. What if…Read More
The Pattaya Pedophile Problem
Pattaya has been dubbed one of the largest sex tourism destinations in the world, and for good reason. Thousands of prostitutes ply their trade on the coastal town, and the 24/7 hedonistic lifestyle attracts men from all over the world. But Pattaya has a darker side, and authorities all over the world are becoming increasingly…Read More