Thai Visa Policies for Different Countries

Every nation has a different visa policy for different countries. It is customised based on several factors. So, nationals of different countries get different response to their online visa application as their nationality is one of the factors. Thailand has made different kinds of agreements that have been agreed upon and implemented as part of Thai visa policy. Diplomatic or official visa policy is very different from the visa policy for a regular passport holder of individual country. So, let’s consider the Thai visa policy for regular passport holders in detail.

First and, most well known factor of Thailand’s visa policy is the tourist visa exemption. To promote Thailand tourism, Thailand has permitted nationals of 48 countries to enter Thailand for tourism purposes. However, nationals who enter Thailand under tourist visa exemption cannot stay in the country for more than 90 days. They would need a valid passport and proof of financial ability to support their stay in Thailand i.e. 10,000 Baht per individual and 20.000 Baht per family. So, here is the list of 48 countries:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Bahrain
• Brunei
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Japan
• Korea
• Kuwait
• Luxembourg
• Liechtenstein

• Malaysia
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Oman
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Singapore
• Slovak Republic
• Slovenia
• Spain
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States of America
• Vietnam

There are nationals of select countries that can receive Thailand tourist visa on arrival at the airport. This visa allows them to stay in country for next 15 days without any pre-planning. However, it is not available at every entry point in country. So, the nationals of these countries must enter where this facility is available. The nations are:

• Andorra
• Bhutan
• Bulgaria
• China
• Cyprus
• Ethiopia
• India
• Kazakhstan
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Romania
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Ukraine
• Uzbekistan

For any other type of visa, nationality is a factor. But business visa, employment visa or education visa to Thailand have their purpose-specific eligibility criteria. Meeting those criteria is far more important to get the visa than applying for visa. So, it might be best to consult visa processing services to understand the requirements for these visas well.

Credence Independent Advisors: A look in to the pension changes

September 3, 2014 – These pension changes are generally all positive and the biggest for more than 100 years. Some of the changes are discussed here.

In order to ensure that all defined contribution schemes are able to offer greater flexibility to their members a permissive statutory override shall be introduced. The benefit of permissive statutory override is that it allows schemes to ignore their scheme rules and follow the tax rules instead; in order to make payments flexibly or to provide a drawdown facility.

According to the government mandating these schemes provide flexible payments, which would be disproportionate. Even though some schemes would like to offer flexibility to their members but due to the legal and administrative costs involved, they would prefer not to amend their schemes. The government under these situations would prefer that the schemes were in a position to provide flexibility without amending their rules.

On the other hand, if the schemes do not offer flexible access, the individuals would be able to transfer between defined contributions schemes up to the point of retirement.

It is also expected that the government would make various changes to the tax laws, in order to allow more freedom to providers to create new and innovative products, which meet the needs of the consumers more closely. These include; allowing lump sums to be taken from lifetime annuities, allowing payments from guaranteed annuities to beneficiaries as a lump sum, where they are under £30,000, removing the 10-year guarantee period for guaranteed annuities and decreasing lifetime annuities.

The real intention behind the new tax rules is to provide people with a greater access to their retirement savings. However, they also ensure that individuals do not use these new flexibilities to avoid tax on their current earnings by diverting their salary into their pension with tax relief and then immediately withdrawing 25 percent tax-free.

Those who choose to draw down more than their tax-free lump sum from a defined contribution pension will be able to benefit from further tax-relieved pension saving, and make further tax-free contributions to a defined contribution pension of up to £10,000 a year.

Under the current rules, those who are currently in ‘flexible drawdown’ are not able to make further pension contributions, having an annual allowance of £0. However, from April 2015 they will be subject to a new annual allowance limit of £10,000. This would allow individuals accessing a defined contribution pension worth more than £10,000 to contribute up to £10,000 a year with tax relief to a defined contribution pension, after their first flexible withdrawal.

Without being subject to a £10,000 annual allowance on subsequent contribution, individuals can make withdrawals from three small pension pots and unlimited small occupational pots worth less than £10,000.

Other proposed changes under the new tax rules include the increasing of minimum age at which people can access their private pension from 55 to 57 in 2028 for all pension schemes. However, this change will not be applicable to those in the public sector; which includes police, armed services and firefighters.

According to the government, when the new system is established in 2015; the 55 percent tax charge on pension savings in a drawdown account at death will be too high. As a result, in this year’s autumn statement; the government has intentions to announce the changes.

The government will introduce two new safeguards to protect individuals and pension schemes, but will continue allowing transfers from private sector defined benefit to defined contribution schemes, apart from pensions that are already in payment.

Prior to accepting a transfer; an individual would be required to take advice from a professional advisor, authorized by FCA and independent from the defined benefit scheme.

Currently, if the interests of the members of the pension fund trustee or the scheme are prejudiced by making the payments within the usual period, than they can ask the regulators for a longer time to make transfer payments. However, now there will be new rules for delaying the transfer payments for trustees and the scheme funding levels when deciding on transfer levels will also be taken in to consideration.

For those defined members who wish to access their savings flexible, the government has intentions to consult on removing the requirement to transfer first to defined contribution schemes.

Since, there is no money involved in transfers from unfunded public service defined benefit schemes; therefore, the government intends to consult on removing it. However, transfers from funded defined benefit to defined contribution schemes will be allowed, and safeguards similar to those in the private sector will be introduced where appropriate.

Under the trivial communication and small-pot rules, individuals are allowed to take up to £30,000 of total pension savings as a lump sum, or a £10,000 small pot as a lump sum regardless of total pension wealth. The age at which an individual can make use of these rules will also be lowered from 60 to 55.

Discover Europe through Tailor Made Holidays

Europe is vast and majestic continent of the show that has much to offer. The footprint of historic wars are as the exquisite as the art and culture and cuisine of Europe. The festivals and Salzburg, skiing in Alps, fashion shopping in Milan, opera performance in Prague and romantic dinner in Paris are just as exquisite and mesmerizing their own unique way. No wonder it is very difficult to fit Europe in one single travel package. It makes much more sense to explore Europe through tailor made holiday packages that allow you to see best Europe has to offer in several travel themes such as history, adventure, winter sports, fashion, cuisines, culture, art, beaches and more.

History
One drive across Europe and you would know that history seething under the modern surface of this continent is extravagant magnificent and enthralling. The paintings, literature, architecture and sculptures of are the genius masterminds from renaissance era, Roman period, Greek mythology, Ottoman Kingdom and Byzantine period has been restored to former glory as their legacy to future generations. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Last supper of Leonardo Da Vinci, Roman colosseum in Rome, Buckingham palace, Vienna State Opera, Topkapi palace in Istanbul and Prague castle of Bohemia share the bravery and beauty of the past.

Adventure
Whether you ride on Tour de France route or go skiing from Zermatt could get your adrenaline pumping. Yet white river rafting ion Slovenia or soaking in Blue Lagoon of Iceland could be just as fascinating surprise. You wouldn’t know the beauty of hiking across the glacier till you visit Switzerland and hike between Belalp and Riederalp. You would not stumble on the best ski slopes in Europe in a standard travel package. You want to chase that thrill, you need to get out there and visit Les Deux Alpes in France, Verbier in Switzerland or St. Anton in Austria to even have a change to witness true thrill of Skiing, Snowboarding or Snow shoe trekking. You would need to go all the way to Canary Islands in Spain, Scotland in UK or Keflavík in Iceland to catch glimpse of whales in Europe.

This is the beauty of tailor made holiday packages. Every kind of customization would come with its own reward that could make it a much more gratifying experience. You can chase the similar unique experience by exploring the beaches in Far East, historical landmarks in China, wild life in Africa, rainforest in Africa, volcanoes in Japan and casinos in USA.