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 TTL, and one common question that comes up is related to income tax. Specifically, how much tax does a foreigner have to pay on his/her earnings, and whether others such as digital nomads, who are not currently paying tax in their country of origin, have to…Read More
Inheritance Law in Thailand: Tax, Heirs, Wills & Probate – Who Gets Their Paws on Your Cash?
Thailand recently finalised its new inheritance tax law, and if you’re lucky enough to have amassed a fortune of over 100 million Baht (approx $3M), in the Kingdom, then your estate will be unlucky enough to be caught in Thailand’s inheritance tax threshold. But what if your wife goes first? Do you benefit from her estate? And what…Read More
Thailand Military Coup 2014 – What You Need To Know – The BBC Alternative
I’ve very rarely used my blog as a news portal, and I’m not a political observer/reporter of any kind. But seeing as I’ve received lots of messages over email and Facebook from people asking about the current military coup in Thailand, I thought I’d create a post to offer a real-life, on the ground overview of…Read More
Thai Immigration Warns Foreigners That Protesting is Illegal
No doubt you have seen foreign (farang) faces among the crowds on TV during these latest protests. To be blunt it is a very stupid thing to do, not just because it’s illegal but also because it’s dangerous. Let us not forget the Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi who was tragically gunned down in the 2010 uprising…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 an even darker side, and authorities all over the world are becoming…Read More
Narcotic & Psychotropic Drug Laws: Know the Facts Before You Travel
Thailand’s drug laws are very strict. Period. There’s no slap on the wrist for getting caught with a small amount of marijuana, though Thailand’s interim parliament has voted to allow the use of medical cannabis. But still unlike some European countries, the police do not exercise discretion on small amounts of class B drugs. And class A…Read More