Cal

🇹🇭🚨 Travel Alert

E-gates are now open to travelers from 33 nationalities arriving at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

To use the E-gates, passengers must:
• Hold a biometric passport
• Have a previous Thai immigration stamp in their current passport
• Submit a TDAC before arrival
• Be entering Thailand under the visa-exemption scheme

For a complete breakdown of the entry requirements, watch my full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2CWC...

5 days ago | [YT] | 146

Cal

Thailand’s visa-free entry rules changed on September 15.

Visa-free stays have been cut from 60 days to 30 days, while the number of eligible countries has dropped from 93 to 60.

If you’re travelling to Thailand in 2026, make sure to watch my full breakdown of the latest entry rules, visa options and what you need to prepare before arrival:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2CWC...

And let us know, did the new rules affect your travel plans?

1 week ago | [YT] | 91

Cal

✈️ New Travel Update Now Live on Cal Unpacked

If you're planning a trip to Thailand or Southeast Asia in the coming weeks, I've just uploaded a new travel update over on my new channel, Cal Unpacked.

In this update, I cover:

• Airport delays and what travelers should expect
• The latest visa and entry rules
• The situation at the Thai–Cambodia border
• The onset of the heavy rainy season and how it could affect your trip
• Increased police enforcement and fines in popular tourist areas

👉 Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deJiM...

If you're interested in travel news, current events, and in-depth analysis from Thailand and across Southeast Asia, make sure to subscribe to Cal Unpacked.

See you over there!

2 months ago | [YT] | 102

Cal

Big Announcement: I've created a new channel dedicated to my news and analysis videos.


When I started this channel, the focus was simple: practical information about Thailand — travel guides, living abroad, cost of living, and advice for people exploring life in Southeast Asia.

That remains the core of what I do here.

But over time, another side of the channel has grown as well: videos looking at immigration changes, politics, economics, and the bigger stories shaping Thailand and the region.

The goal has always been the same: to provide an honest perspective for travelers, expats, and anyone interested in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

However, the content itself serves two very different purposes. One is highly practical and focused on helping you make decisions; the other is more analytical and focused on understanding the bigger picture.

So I've created a new channel dedicated to that second side:

🌏 Cal Unpacked

If you've enjoyed my news and analysis videos, I'd love for you to join me over on Cal Unpacked.

Subscribe here: ‪@calunpacked‬

The first video will be up tomorrow!

2 months ago | [YT] | 250

Cal

It's time for our monthly Q&A!

If you've got a question you'd like me to answer, leave it in the comments below.

This is the best place to ask. I receive dozens of emails and messages every week, so unfortunately I can't reply to everyone individually.

Instead, I created this monthly Q&A to answer your questions with as much detail and context as possible, so everyone in the community can benefit.

If I didn't get to your question in the last Q&A, don't worry—I'll be carrying those over into this one as well.

Thanks for all the support, and I hope you're having a great week. Looking forward to your questions!

📷 Photo: Filling up the scooter in Phuket (2017)

3 months ago | [YT] | 111

Cal

📢 New Q&A is live!

Thailand is changing fast—but not always in the ways people expect.

In this video, I answer your questions about cannabis, rising costs, gentrification, hidden scams, moving to Thailand, working here, and what life is really like in 2026.

One question for you:

What's the biggest change you've noticed in Thailand over the past few years?

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYTt...

3 months ago | [YT] | 148

Cal

This week we hit 100,000 subscribers on the channel.

Whether you've been here since the beginning or just recently discovered the channel, thank you for watching, commenting, sharing videos, and helping build this community.

As we move forward, your feedback is incredibly valuable. I'd love to hear what types of content you've enjoyed most and what you'd like to see more of in the future.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Here's to the next chapter.

3 months ago | [YT] | 585

Cal

Thailand recently announced the launch of the new Thailand Immigration Management System, or THIM app.

The app is designed to make the Thailand Digital Arrival Card process simpler, with an improved interface, the ability to save profiles, and the option to plan trips well in advance.

Future updates are also expected to include 90-day reporting and additional immigration services for residents.

The app is currently in beta testing and is available through some app stores, while the official launch is scheduled for October 1 and will include availability across all major platforms.

📺 Watch the full walkthrough here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmJ7n...

3 months ago | [YT] | 152

Cal

Thailand recently announced changes to its visa-free entry policy, reducing the permitted stay from 60 days back down to 30 days, while also cutting the number of visa-exempt countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now released the updated breakdown, including:
• 54 countries eligible for 30-day visa exemption
• 3 countries eligible for 15-day exemption
• 4 countries eligible for visa on arrival
• 9 bilateral 30-day agreements
• 5 bilateral 90-day agreements
• 2 bilateral 14-day agreements

For a full breakdown of the policy changes — including all the current visa options available for visitors — check out my video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YQgu...

And let us know — what do you think about the new visa changes in Thailand?

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4 months ago | [YT] | 115

Cal

Thailand has seen a lot of policy changes and discussion recently — especially around visas, banking, and taxes.

In this interview with Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal, we break down Thailand’s latest visa changes, banking issues, tax concerns, and some of the biggest misunderstandings foreigners have about Thailand.

You can watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dSiY...

4 months ago | [YT] | 88