Emigrating to LOS

[U-Need]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

Foreigners can buy condo, but cannot buy land.
To buy condo, you must show that the purchase money comes from overseas. You open a bank account in a Thai bank and wire the money in, the bank will give you a document to proof the money comes from abroad. You need this document to show the land department when you register the title transfer. If you become PR, this won't be necessary. Also, Thai banks won't give you a housing loan unless you are PR. I tried a few banks already


A few years ago there was some regulation that the ratio must be 60% thai, 40% foreigner for the company to buy land, otherwise the land department will trace the ownership to see whether the company is a foreigner speculation vehicle. I'm not sure whether that regulation is still in effect.

The 60% and 40% regulation still exists, it is meant for Condo ownership. As in, the same building must not have more that 40% of foreign ownership in its unit

For Land Ownership:
Option # 1 (for single gentlemen)
Meet and marry a Thai woman you love and trust, buy house and land in her name, and live happily together ever after! This beautifully simple solution is, for reasons we will not discuss here, the least popular option. It is, however, not uncommon, and thank goodness for that!

Option # 2 - Limited Company - recommended.
Foreigners, aliens, or farangs, can form a Limited Company and register the land as owned by the company. The foreigner can personally own maximum 49% of the company shares, and the remaining 51% must be in the names of Thai nationals (39% - 61% at the time of registration of the property; can be changed after). The foreigner is named sole executive director in the company's Articles of Association, and the Thai shareholder nominees all sign undated Share Transfer Contracts at the time the company is being registered. This effectively puts 100% control of the company and its assets in the hands of the foreign director. The Thai shareholders have absolutely no executive power within the company, nor need they be consulted over any issues at any time. They can also be replaced anytime at the director's wishes. (A Thai Limited Company must have minimum 7 shareholders - for example, one foreigner and six Thais). Setting up such a company takes about half an hour and your signature about 30 times.

A popular misconception which causes foreigners unneccessary concern is that such companies are owned by foreigners and could be exposed to imagined special (future) legislation by an imagined (future) extreme nationalist government with the intention of robbing foreigners of their real estate investments in Thailand. The fact is, however, that Limited Companies are owned by the shareholders, not their directors, the foreigners. As such, Limited Companies are Thai juristic entities subject to Thai commercial law, and any changes to legislation must apply to all Limited Companies, not only those whose directors happen to be foreigners. Thai law, both commercial and personal, is not so very different from legislation in most other countries, and it applies to all juristic entities in Thailand, foreign or Thai.

TH-property's associated legal firm charges 22,000 baht for the establishment of a company with the minimum requirements for ownership of land. Such companies need not do more than own property, and the required yearly audit - 0.00 baht result - costs 10,500 baht.

Option # 3 - Lease - limited recommendation.
Foreigners can lease land on a 30 year contract which contains a clause giving the lessee first option on a further 30 years. The same contract, registered at the Land Office (Department of Lands), can be renewed every 30 years for a maximum of 990 years. The lessor's heirs are bound by law to honour the agreement, and the lessee can bequeath the lease to his/her heirs in a Last Will and Testement. A potential weakness with this solution is, for example, that the lessor can conceivably claim that the lessee is mismanaging the land to the detriment of its value, and can sue to dissolve the agreement. Of course, this point must be proven in court, but could be a serious headache for the lessee. Also, although leases may be offered by reputable and trustworthy land owners, conditions can change through the passage of years.

Option # 4 - Contract of Credit - limited recommendation.
Instead of purchase or lease, the payment for land can be registered as a loan to the seller, documented in a Contract of Credit, registered at the Land Office. The value of the loan is set at the registered value of the land plus the actual building cost of any structures on the land. The buyer's name appears on the Title Deed as creditor, which effectively prevents the registered owner (debtor) from selling the land before repaying the loan. The weakness with this solution is that as property values rise, the value of the property will in the future be greater than the value of the loan, and the debtor could conveivably buy the land back at bargain price simply by repaying the loan.

[suteerak1099]

Originally Posted by singrakthai

hmmm.. reasonsable means what? Cannot take suan? Then don't post misleading info lah... ur friend advised? Ur friend got advised u give him money, then he help u buy or not? *LOL*

So i guess only me and bangkoktonight are the only person here misleaded by u lor? *LOL*

funny, suan is 1 thing... but notice what you mentioned... 4-6k for 2nd hand jazz/colt???? bro.. your england not powderful, but surely also not to such atrocity lah. i was man enough to admit the mistake of the currency reference, i think thats fair enough.

reasonable, (pardon me, if my defination differs from yours) simply is just a car that can still manage distances that supercedes the mileage vs time on the back of a buffalo. however, subject to condition & luck, if it can make inter-province/state expeditions.

hope this post has enlightened you and your fellow buddy who needs to buck up on comprehension. by the way, its misled not misleaded... get your grammar checked too.

str1099

Originally Posted by suteerak1099

reasonable, (pardon me, if my defination differs from yours) simply is just a car that can still manage distances that supercedes the mileage vs time on the back of a buffalo. however, subject to condition & luck, if it can make inter-province/state expeditions.

str1099

by the way it's definition, not defination.

you might like to get your grammar checked too

[bkkguy]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

My own question, bro bkkguy sure can answer.

If your wife give birth in LOS, can you register the child for both S'pore and Thai citizenship? If can, how to do this? I'm becoming a father very soon, kekeke.

Congratulation !!

First ask yourself this question:
Do you intend to bring your whole family go back to sg to stay?
You must decide this matter yourself.

Every child that is born overseas is automatic granted sg citizenship, that is provided you and your thai wife marriage is legally registered.(sg or Thailand)

All you have to do is to report to sg embassy (within 2 yrs after baby birth), with your marriage certificate, baby birth cert (thai) and hospital paper (if any) to them. Sg embassy will then issue your child an sg passport and sg birth certificate to fly back to sg.


Disadvantages for not reporting:

1)) If it a baby boy, he needs to serve national service when he reaches age 16.

2) Will be force by sg law to give up his Thai citizenship at age 21, if he/she decide to choose to be sg citizen. (Boy/girl the same)

3) Must place a S$75,000 CASH deposits with SIRS for male citizen if you intend to take him overseas after age 11(renewal sg passport)

4) Become like yourself: In future when come back to Thailand,he needs to apply for tourist visa and cannot buy any landed property like thai ppl.

6) Go back to sg to work as FT with higher pay.

7) Can withdraw all his cpf money if one day he decided to go back to Thailand to retire.


Advantage for reporting:

1) Travel can around the world using sg passport. (for a child is useless)

2) Can contribute to cpf when he starts working.

3) Can get future ERS shares from govt.

4) Can get subsides HDB flat from govt.

5) Can work in Ma Donald to clear tables during old age.

[suteerak1099]

Originally Posted by bangkoktonight

by the way it's definition, not defination.

you might like to get your grammar checked too

thanks for pointing that typo error. pity there's no spell check here. and by the way, that is mispelt... not grammatical.

want to point out other's mistake but further displayed your incompetence of the language. sigh... but good try...try harder next time.

[suteerak1099]

Originally Posted by bkkguy

....Disadvantages for not reporting:

1)) If it a baby boy, he needs to serve national service when he reaches age 16.

2) Will be force by sg law to give up his Thai citizenship at age 21, if he/she decide to choose to be sg citizen. (Boy/girl the same)

3) Must place a S$75,000 CASH deposits with SIRS for male citizen if you intend to take him overseas after age 11(renewal sg passport)

4) Become like yourself: In future when come back to Thailand,he needs to apply for tourist visa and cannot buy any landed property like thai ppl.

6) Go back to sg to work as FT with higher pay.

7) Can withdraw all his cpf money if one day he decided to go back to Thailand to retire.


Advantage for reporting:

1) Travel can around the world using sg passport. (for a child is useless)

2) Can contribute to cpf when he starts working.

3) Can get future ERS shares from govt.

4) Can get subsides HDB flat from govt.

5) Can work in Ma Donald to clear tables during old age.

let's not forget the increasing retirment age at 60+++, wont be surprised if it raises to 80++ or beyond. slog to get by, slog to pass time... who knows, maybe 1 day.. there's no such thing as retirement.. work till drop dead.

[Cat Man]

Originally Posted by U-Need

GHB is relatively a bank that pro Thais, Kbank is rather reserve if that project is not under their scope, UOB aka BOA and Bangkok Bank forget it. You can try Siam Commercial Bank and KTB. They are more willing to lend.

ok, bro, thanks for the lobang. I go try SCB and KTB. will keep everyone updated.

will also go check out these bank-managed property shows.

as for car loan, dunno leh, I couldn't get any credible guarantor becoz my wife's relatives all very poor people, so Toyota Mahanakorn asked for about 35% downpayment

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by bkkguy

Can take loan of course!!
But ONLY for those holding work permit/PR leh.
Downpayment can be 15-25%, all up to you.
Some brands car like 'ford and B&W', even give 0% interests loans to buyer.
(can only happen in Thailand)


I PURPOSELY bought my 2 brand new cars (total 2 millions bahts) under my name and then put my thai wife as a guarantor for me. (Pls see my rules no:1 & 2 on investment in Thailand).

Sh............

Okay, just want to find out on the interest schemes in thailand regarding buying of cars.
In singapore these days, you can also get 0% downpayment scheme, or no payment for 1st 15mths, different schemes. But in thailand u don't need to pay COE of course. kekeke

okay. sshhhhh....

SC

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by suteerak1099

let's not forget the increasing retirment age at 60+++, wont be surprised if it raises to 80++ or beyond. slog to get by, slog to pass time... who knows, maybe 1 day.. there's no such thing as retirement.. work till drop dead.

Government increase retirement age limit, never force you to go work till that age. Whether enough or not enough money depends on how much you spend. There r people who retire at the age of 40+ too.

If you have so much disenchantments, I would suggest you move out of sg straight away. Don't just talk and talk

SC

[Cat Man]

Originally Posted by bkkguy

Congratulation !!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by bkkguy

1)) If it a baby boy, he needs to serve national service when he reaches age 16.

2) Will be force by sg law to give up his Thai citizenship at age 21, if he/she decide to choose to be sg citizen. (Boy/girl the same)

3) Must place a S$75,000 CASH deposits with SIRS for male citizen if you intend to take him overseas after age 11(renewal sg passport)

4) Become like yourself: In future when come back to Thailand,he needs to apply for tourist visa and cannot buy any landed property like thai ppl.

6) Go back to sg to work as FT with higher pay.

7) Can withdraw all his cpf money if one day he decided to go back to Thailand to retire.

#1-4 are what I'm worried about. my baby will be a boy, so must do NS if I register him as S'pore citizen. But my wife said do NS in S'pore better than strike the Thai NS lottery and kena do NS in LOS.

#3 is damn jialat. that means I must put him in school in S'pore until he finish NS if I don't want to pay the bond! #4 means he cannot inherit any land I buy under my wife's name. #6 kekeke, go back SG and become what FT, GL OKT or agent to import TG into S'pore?? #7 is assuming he works in S'pore and got CPF money.

Originally Posted by bkkguy

Advantage for reporting:

1) Travel can around the world using sg passport. (for a child is useless)

2) Can contribute to cpf when he starts working.

3) Can get future ERS shares from govt.

4) Can get subsides HDB flat from govt.

5) Can work in Ma Donald to clear tables during old age.

#2-5 hahaha. I'm only thinking that #1 is the main advantage. But 1 more to add: 6) Can earn more money in LOS as FT in LOS!

[sg69]

brudders advice, info & experiences are very much appreciated. giving up sg is my life-long ambition. i simply dun like it here at all. i am contemplating btwn australia and los and i think los seems cheaper and easier to go through life at a budget. my reasons for giving up sg is not becoz of cpf. i m just sick of here since young. i find that there is no meaning in life here.

i m nt rich at all and my idea is to settle in bkk n just become landlord n collect rent to pass through life that way....so i m working hard to get an apt every year for the next 5 yrs. of course cheap apts....mostly studios...not the 10 over mil baht kind lah.....very much lesser. just an idea. dun intend to do any business there....just wan to live a peaceful life there...dun even wan to stay in the city. kinda sick of hustle and bustle of city life. sound like i m in my 70s but i m just half dat...sigh.....

anyway thanks for all the info and this thread surely will enlighten some1 as fresh as me on bkk. by the way, must pay in full for condo...how sad...not even half? i think i can only afford 50 - 60% and loan the rest. if not my plans can only succeed when i m in my 50s...i set my target at 45 the most. if really cant do it...i likely become an illegal immigrant in some foreign land...hahaha...wat a joke...bt i think i will do dat.

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by sg69

brudders advice, info & experiences are very much appreciated. giving up sg is my life-long ambition. i simply dun like it here at all. i am contemplating btwn australia and los and i think los seems cheaper and easier to go through life at a budget. my reasons for giving up sg is not becoz of cpf. i m just sick of here since young. i find that there is no meaning in life here.

i m nt rich at all and my idea is to settle in bkk n just become landlord n collect rent to pass through life that way....so i m working hard to get an apt every year for the next 5 yrs. of course cheap apts....mostly studios...not the 10 over mil baht kind lah.....very much lesser. just an idea. dun intend to do any business there....just wan to live a peaceful life there...dun even wan to stay in the city. kinda sick of hustle and bustle of city life. sound like i m in my 70s but i m just half dat...sigh.....

anyway thanks for all the info and this thread surely will enlighten some1 as fresh as me on bkk. by the way, must pay in full for condo...how sad...not even half? i think i can only afford 50 - 60% and loan the rest. if not my plans can only succeed when i m in my 50s...i set my target at 45 the most. if really cant do it...i likely become an illegal immigrant in some foreign land...hahaha...wat a joke...bt i think i will do dat.

Giving up sg is not only your life-long ambition, but also many sgpreans life-long ambition.

The other side of the fence always looks better. Try staying in thailand first for a couple of months straight then you decide.
I myself stayed in thailand for a while, all I can say is that Thailand is not that perfect too. The so-called lower standard of living is not really so low.

Every country has its pros and cons. Imagine one thing that I cannot stand is work-hours in thailand that is wasted on traffic jams and jams and more jams. Productivity loss.

So bottomline is there is no perfect country or govt in this world, either you live with what you have or you try to fight your way out.

For me, I will never contemplate of giving up my sg citizenship. At most if I have a thai spouse in future, the most I will go for is thai PR.

Want migrate, also choose a better country than LOS. In life, we must go for the best and not something worst.

SC

[Cat Man]

For a S'porean, or American or European or generally ppl from so-called 1st world countries, working in LOS can be frustrating.

Things don't work efficiently because ppl in LOS don't take work so seriously. They are more concerned with work being social and sanuk. If you think S'poreans cannot think, wait till you come to LOS. There is a serious lack of critical thinking and planning ability in even the most educated and high-ranking people. I often want to pull my hair out or vomit blood. I think it's their education system. My colleagues tell me that in the uni (I'm talking about the best unis in BKK), the professors just spoon feed and you are not allowed to challenge their views. How sad. That's why I worry that I may have no choice but to spend the money and send my son to international schools and overseas uni for education. Or send him back to S'pore - which at least produces ppl with intelligence such as many of the brudders here. Come to LOS and stay for a while, and you will feel proud to be S'porean and be grateful for what Old Man Lee has done for all of us.

As for the standard of living, if you go and live outside bangkok, it can be cheap. But if you live in bangkok and want first world standard of living, then the cost of living is not so low at all. Food, whether from hawker or restaurant, is generally about 50% of S'pore price. Good condo also about half the price of equivalent standard condo in S'pore. Car got no COE, and if buy made in Thailand like Toyota, will be cheaper. Pick-up trucks are cheaper than saloon car because import tax is lower.

But aside from this, if you want to buy consumer goods like PDA, flat screen TV, notebook computer, English books, non-pirated DVD/VCD/CD, handphone, stereo system, branded make-up stuffs for your wife/gf, branded clothes & accessories etc. the cost will be same if not higher than Singapore.

If you are salaried employee, income tax will work out to be higher than S'pore because your expat salary is considered damn high in LOS and you will kena the higher tax brackets. Also, in Singapore we can save on taxes because a big percent of our salary goes into tax-free CPF. In LOS, your company may have some pension fund scheme, but the employee contribution is only a few percent, maybe 5-6% of your pay, so you don't save so much in taxes from this.

It may look like a good idea to retire to the countryside in LOS, but the countryside people are peasants - after farming they mainly spend their time drinking or gambling, and their wavelength is so different from your educated way of thinking that you will not be able to clique with them. You will feel very lonely and end up on-line all the time just to have some intellectual company.

If you retire in BKK, then you better have some money to fuel your retirement. But I will never think of retiring in BKK because of the air pollution, traffic chaos, noise, concrete jungle, etc. Whenever I come back to S'pore, I feel so happy to see all the big trees along the road and smell the clean air.

Just some perspective from an SG expat in BKK.

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

If you think S'poreans cannot think, wait till you come to LOS. There is a serious lack of critical thinking and planning ability in even the most educated and high-ranking people.
Just some perspective from an SG expat in BKK.

Nice! Very well said...
Once a while I also vomit blood by the Thai's lack of common senses... alot of people who come for short visits are "smoked" by the false appearance of Thailand. They thought everything so wonderful here.. everyone so friendly and nice..
When u stay here long enough, u'll start to see the ugly sides of Thailand... even ur neighbours want to cheat u just because they know u're foreigner and they think u make tons of money.
We don't talk about jokers who stay here but still continuing hanging out at tourist areas lah... we talk about really trying to merge into the Thai community. What Catman said about Thai's wavelength being different with ours is true... Can u communicate with them? Most of them here don't speak good english. Topics mostly different too. Men still ok, u can talk soccer and women to them.. Women? Mostly just skin care products, fashion and Thai TV stars... hehe
But pros and cons everywhere also has lah... up to u lor... u can start by learning the Thai language now. hehe

[bollocksman]

Originally Posted by singrakthai

Nice! Very well said...
Once a while I also vomit blood by the Thai's lack of common senses... alot of people who come for short visits are "smoked" by the false appearance of Thailand. They thought everything so wonderful here.. everyone so friendly and nice..
When u stay here long enough, u'll start to see the ugly sides of Thailand... even ur neighbours want to cheat u just because they know u're foreigner and they think u make tons of money.
We don't talk about jokers who stay here but still continuing hanging out at tourist areas lah... we talk about really trying to merge into the Thai community. What Catman said about Thai's wavelength being different with ours is true... Can u communicate with them? Most of them here don't speak good english. Topics mostly different too. Men still ok, u can talk soccer and women to them.. Women? Mostly just skin care products, fashion and Thai TV stars... hehe
But pros and cons everywhere also has lah... up to u lor... u can start by learning the Thai language now. hehe

The grass is greener on the other side , Innit??

But seriously, I have lived in various countries before ( LOS not included) , Yes its not a bed of roses overseas, But some how Living away from Singapore, i do appreciate the nice superficial things of singapore..But I resent how our Nanny state has become, and many other things..which We do have a power to change it..but we are too subservient and meek to take any action.

My suggestion to those who plan on making a move out of sg, Get a overseas job, Try to get PR/in AUST/UK/EU/CAN/US.. buy a place there and once u get that pr ,for children, They can get dual nationality or junk the SG passpoer no problem ( i.e. they can still come singapore) after 21 yrs they can come back sg to work as FT and able to obtain PR.

if wanna stay LOS, simple. try to get work in LOS as Expat or come back to LOS twice a year..or more as thier Leave packages in overseas is Very generous (average is 4 to 5 weeks per year holiday). well thats my aim...I just want to leave SG, but not give it up for LOS passport...I rather have Brown or Blue Passport ..hahah I considered FT anywhere I go...hahah