The Thai immigration service has launched the new THIM app in Bangkok. This allows international travelers to digitally enter their arrival details before departure. Thailand aims to reduce waiting times at the border to less than three minutes without weakening security checks.
Dutch nationals in Thailand receiving an AOW pension must report changes in their living, partner, or personal situation to the Social Insurance Bank (SVB) within six weeks. Such a change may affect the amount of the AOW pension. You can report this via Mijn SVB. If that is not possible, you can also do so by post.
I only recently found this out. I wanted to pay my monthly True fiber optic internet bill with my Revolut card. Every time, I get an error message: “a possible fraudulent transaction”. It doesn't accept the Wise or N26 bank card either. It gives the same error message with both a physical and a digital card. Through Gemini AI, I discovered this website: binlist.net. Here you can check what type of card you have: Debit, Credit, or Prepaid. The rejected cards are of the type …
The EU aviation agreement with the ASEAN countries is facing strong criticism in the House of Representatives. MPs fear that the agreement will drive additional air traffic towards Schiphol, while the Netherlands is actually working towards reducing nuisance and lower emissions. For travelers to Thailand, the agreement could simultaneously lead to more routes and competition.
William discusses the benefits of living in Phayao for foreigners. Phayao is a quiet city with low costs for rent and living.
Thailand Immigration has launched a new app. Its name is Thailand Immigration Management System, or THIM for short. It is currently still in a pilot phase, and the official launch is scheduled for October 1.
Cees asks if his wife can accompany him to Thailand for six months as a 'Dependent'.
Ronny states that she must have a Non-O status, and Cees must check this with the Thai embassy in Germany.
Today an unusual dish with a somewhat strange name. Pla Chon Lui Suan is special because of the fish that looks rather ugly. Thais call it a snake head fish. Don't be put off by that because the fish tastes divine. The dish Pla Chon Lui Suan consists of steamed fish in combination with various vegetables and herbs, covered with a spicy fresh garlic-like sauce that gives the taste a big boost. The combination of fish and vegetables is highly recommended.
The Mon bridge over the lake at Songhlaburi is a special attraction. At 850 meters long, it is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and the second longest pedestrian bridge in the world.
Dear readers, I need to get my Thai driver's license. Last year, I had a Non-O retirement visa from 25/05/2025 to 24/05/2026. I went to the Immigration Office in Hua Hin, where I reside, for two weeks to apply for a one-year extension until 23/05/2027. I received this extension within two hours. Where they were difficult was regarding the pension benefit indexation. They didn't understand why it never went down, yet I kept receiving more pension...
When I first visited Mae Hong Son, the capital of the least populated province in Thailand, more than thirty years ago, I was immediately sold. Back then it was one of the country's most pristine and remote towns, tucked away between towering mountains and difficult to reach from Chiang Mai via a road that seemed to wind forever in sharp hairpin bends between the steep, densely forested slopes.
Jos is once again asking for financial support for the Chaleo-Pavana Memorial school. The school for children with disabilities currently has approximately 100 boarding children.
Far away from the hustle and bustle of Hua Hin lies Khao Kalok Beach, a vast and almost deserted sandy beach in the south of Pranburi. No beach clubs or jet skis here, but peace, nature and a view that will leave you breathless. An ideal place to do nothing, except enjoy the sun, the sea and the silence.
Dick, 60 years old, has been in Thailand for three years and cannot leave the country. His wife stole all his money and bail, his visa expired over a year and a half ago, and he needs medical treatment.
Every day, I yearn for the literary gems of Farang Kee Nok on Thailandblog. Unfortunately, the endlessly sour comments from chronically resentful elderly people prove that humor is an extinct art form. Even the most obvious self-mockery is mercilessly dissected by this gray brigade into a deadly serious drama. A smile costs nothing, yet for many, it proves to be an impossible physical effort.
Building a house in Thailand can start at 12.000 baht per square meter, but easily rises to over 45.000. The difference lies in the finish, the foundation, the location and, importantly, the fairness of the quote. Before 2026, prices are rising primarily due to higher wages and more expensive materials, not a price explosion.
Anyone wanting to travel to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, or the south of Thailand will soon turn to Skyscanner, Kayak, or Momondo. Three flight search engines that look similar, but differ significantly under the hood. These differences determine whether you score a good deal or end up stuck with an unknown travel agency that charges a higher final price.
In Thailand, the police are officially paid from the state treasury, with a budget of over 115 billion baht per year. Yet many officers earn so little that they cannot make ends meet. That gap is filled informally, and that is where a system of tea money, protection, and traded positions begins that perpetuates itself.
In bars in Pattaya and Patpong, you have been hearing it for years: “This all started with the American soldiers.” That is partly true. Between 1962 and 1976, some 700.000 American troops passed through Thailand for rest and relaxation. The war did not invent the sex industry, but it made it bigger, relocated it, and targeted it at foreign men.
Anyone living in Thailand or spending the winter there will quickly notice it on the receipt. Local rice, vegetables, and chicken cost next to nothing, but a block of cheese, a jar of peanut butter, or a bottle of wine will empty your wallet. That difference is no coincidence, and since January 1, 2026, something important is changing for those who order online.
Thailand once again has more than three hundred thousand prisoners for the first time since 2021. According to the 2026 annual report by human rights organization FIDH, many detainees live in cells where they have less than half a square meter of personal space. The Thai system structurally fails to meet international minimum standards, and the figures have been heading in the wrong direction for years.
A volunteer driver on Koh Samui was assaulted and shot dead on May 24 following a conflict with suspected illegal taxi drivers. Thai police are seeking eight suspects. One man has since turned himself in, while the victim's family has applied for witness protection.
