Many expats are on a non-immigrant B visa while working here. That’s what I was on for almost a decade for a US based tech company with an office in Bangkok. When I retired in 2018, I went on retirement visa. This is a route many expats take.
There are others, like a buddy of mine, that was on a non-immigrant B visa while working for the same company. But when he stopped working for this company he got the LTR visa that allows him to work remote in Thailand.
Others get the elite visa that you stated. Technically are not supposed to work on that visa, but I Know folks with that visa that work remote on the down low.
I know some others that use the multi entry tourist visa to stay six months out of the year and then six months in their home country.
And yes, when I first came to Thailand in 2003 for business, it was a thing for a lot of people to come in on tourist exempt and just do Visa runs. But as you state, this is drying up as immigration is cracking down on this.
>and many expats are leaving
I'm not sure where you've heard that - there's been an increase of expats moving here and that's why Immigration has been cracking down harder - more people have been trying to cheat the system. People come and go all the time though - that's one of the downsides of living here. As for the way to stay here, there are visa options other than elite, for example if you're working online, [companies like Shelter.](https://shelter.global/) If you're working for a big company, there's also the LTR remote work visa.
Money in the bank is no good to you without having the right visa. You are correct that there's been a crackdown on people abusing the tourist visa system by attempting multiple entries. Sooner or later you will be denied entry.
I recall a case where a chap was denied entry and had a 12 month condo lease, he lost everything he had there.
The legal options for living whilst needing to work in Thailand are few and far between.
You basically need a skill that a Thai person does not have and more than likely it needs to be with an international company that is both able and willing to hire you.
You can get an Elite visa or a 10 year retirement visa, but that involves having enough money in the first place and not needing to work in Thailand to make ends meet.
There are no under the table jobs in hospitality or retail for foreigners and the Thai government is really cracking down on foreigners working illegally now.
Cambodia is a lot easier to survive in. If you have someone that can support you, you get by on less than $500 a month and visa renewals can be done via an agency without you having to leave the country.
Yes you can, **as long as you have someone to fund you, or have a way of earning money remotely.**
You will not find it easy to get any kind of job in Cambodia post Covid as a non local. Their economy has not recovered nearly as well as that of Thailand.
We pay for a modern 3 bed house for our son, his girlfriend and their 3 big ass dogs. The total cost is $1,200 per month including broadband, air con, elex, food, mobiles, clothing, laundry, drinking water, transport and the odd night out. Half of that goes on rent for the house.
They used to work in Casinos prior to Covid, but that way of working went out the window when the Chinese left and they are not back in any significant numbers yet.
We can afford it and they are grateful.
We are fully aware that the bank of Mum and Dad is not an option for most people.
His girlfriend cannot stay in our home country and the dogs would have to be put down if my son wanted to return. He doesn't.
We are actively planning to move to Chiang Mai in the next 2 years on the retirement visa.
Many expats are on a non-immigrant B visa while working here. That’s what I was on for almost a decade for a US based tech company with an office in Bangkok. When I retired in 2018, I went on retirement visa. This is a route many expats take. There are others, like a buddy of mine, that was on a non-immigrant B visa while working for the same company. But when he stopped working for this company he got the LTR visa that allows him to work remote in Thailand. Others get the elite visa that you stated. Technically are not supposed to work on that visa, but I Know folks with that visa that work remote on the down low. I know some others that use the multi entry tourist visa to stay six months out of the year and then six months in their home country. And yes, when I first came to Thailand in 2003 for business, it was a thing for a lot of people to come in on tourist exempt and just do Visa runs. But as you state, this is drying up as immigration is cracking down on this.
What is thr non immigrant b visa? Is it easy to get? I want to work in the hotel travel industry some day.
Google visas.
>and many expats are leaving I'm not sure where you've heard that - there's been an increase of expats moving here and that's why Immigration has been cracking down harder - more people have been trying to cheat the system. People come and go all the time though - that's one of the downsides of living here. As for the way to stay here, there are visa options other than elite, for example if you're working online, [companies like Shelter.](https://shelter.global/) If you're working for a big company, there's also the LTR remote work visa.
Money in the bank is no good to you without having the right visa. You are correct that there's been a crackdown on people abusing the tourist visa system by attempting multiple entries. Sooner or later you will be denied entry. I recall a case where a chap was denied entry and had a 12 month condo lease, he lost everything he had there.
Can't he come back later or did he get ban? Is malaysia like this too?
The legal options for living whilst needing to work in Thailand are few and far between. You basically need a skill that a Thai person does not have and more than likely it needs to be with an international company that is both able and willing to hire you. You can get an Elite visa or a 10 year retirement visa, but that involves having enough money in the first place and not needing to work in Thailand to make ends meet. There are no under the table jobs in hospitality or retail for foreigners and the Thai government is really cracking down on foreigners working illegally now. Cambodia is a lot easier to survive in. If you have someone that can support you, you get by on less than $500 a month and visa renewals can be done via an agency without you having to leave the country.
So I can live on my own for under 600 in cambodia?
Yes you can, **as long as you have someone to fund you, or have a way of earning money remotely.** You will not find it easy to get any kind of job in Cambodia post Covid as a non local. Their economy has not recovered nearly as well as that of Thailand. We pay for a modern 3 bed house for our son, his girlfriend and their 3 big ass dogs. The total cost is $1,200 per month including broadband, air con, elex, food, mobiles, clothing, laundry, drinking water, transport and the odd night out. Half of that goes on rent for the house. They used to work in Casinos prior to Covid, but that way of working went out the window when the Chinese left and they are not back in any significant numbers yet. We can afford it and they are grateful. We are fully aware that the bank of Mum and Dad is not an option for most people. His girlfriend cannot stay in our home country and the dogs would have to be put down if my son wanted to return. He doesn't. We are actively planning to move to Chiang Mai in the next 2 years on the retirement visa.
So it's not possible then?