If you are living in Thailand for an extended period of time, you will want to open a Thai bank account as a foreigner. Most banks require your sales and purchase agreement, your passport and a deposit of 5,000 THB or more to open an account. Rules may vary from bank to bank.

A one-year visa can be issued to foreigners who wish to obtain a long stay in Thailand. The issuance of visa mainly depends on the purpose of the application and Thailand has many categories to choose from such as retirement, business, investment, student, or family visa.

There is a general perception that Thai property law is complicated. Actually, the opposite is true. The laws relating to foreign property ownership in Thailand are quite clear. Foreigners can buy and own condominiums. Foreigners can buy and own buildings and structures, such as villas (distinct from the land). Foreigners can buy condominiums, villas and land as leasehold. Foreigners cannot own land directly.

Currently Thailand has no annual property taxes. When buying or selling a property you will have a transfer fee of 2% and a stamp duty of 0.5% on freehold property. For leasehold property, a registration fee of 1% and a stamp duty of 0.1%. Tax is payable at the time of transfer or registration at the land office.

We are aware of three banks that offer loans to non-residents who plan on purchasing a property in Thailand. However, we do not feel these banks offer competitive rates or terms to be considered attractive.