khunPer

Doing it online is easy and fast.

Cambodia or Portugal.

I don't carry a bag, so I personally don't care...

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I personally don't care much about Xmas – only did it for my daughter, of course, but she has grown up now – however Santa, when coming to relax in one of the famous Samui-parties after his exhausting sledge-ride, wished to have a selfie with me; a kind man whom I always look forward to meet...

Sounds more like a large bathtup or jacuzzi. You can buy them already made for a reasonable price and just need water inlet – cold + warm preferably – and drain, to let water out; and of course electric supply, if it's a jacuzzi. I have one – the jacuzzi-type – no big deal to get installed. However, I never use it, so think twice, if you really need it. But as my clever girlfriend say: »Just leave it, we make face having it...👍«...

"What is the position if you don't start working/paying tax until after the Thai retirement age?" You are not going to pay SS – when 60 years or older, I presume – or get it back... If you began paying SS at early enough age, you can continue a voluntary payment around 500 baht per month and keep the healthcare benefit...

You can file TM30 by mail, which needs to be done within 24 hours after arrival to the address, so state an arrival date accordingly. On line is easier, also in case you leave and re-enters, and need to report a new TM30. Even that you according to the police order, should be able to re-enter with a "re-entry permit" on same TM30, it might not be accepted by the immigration and a new TM30 is required.

You should be able to register online as "house master", when you own a condo. It's a new system opened only about a month ago. For registration you need to upload a scan or copy of your blue house book, and ditto of your passport's name page. Link HERE. When you are accepted as "house master" you can log-in and register yourself online...

Sad, sad story; and again a case where there is no insurance. It's extremely important when you travel, to have an insurance with repatriation. Samui is infamous of moped and motorbike accidents. I've seen a number of foreigners skidding on the motorbike right in front of my car; they are lucky that I pay attention and never drives too fast. However, there can easily be cases, where you can do nothing to avoid an accident, if a motorbike skids in front of you.

A uni-student would in my mind be first choice; a number of them are looking for a sugar-daddy, some even works professionally to finance their studies. Age difference might not be that important, as university level often has more to talk about than a village farmer girl you meet in a bar. Age-difference is normal in Thailand, many a Thai man might have a young "mia noi" (small wife) or a little "gik" (mistress), if he can afford it. A sugar-relationship might include more than meeting a few hours in a room, it can also be good company for dining and entertainment like cinema or whatever of mutual interest. Online dating sites are common today, but you might get in touch with professional working ladies there. They also use the dating-feature for extra income, but might not appear as professionals, even they are. It's better to meet someone in person. Many students look for company in coffee shops; there are some preferred places for that purpose i Bangkok. Weather you like it or not, company and sex for money in some or other level, equals prostitution. Many Thai ladies even have the view that if a man cannot provide, what does she then need him for. I once dated a good looking Thai uni-girl for a while – early 20s law-student, I was more than double her age – she wished to live a kind of lavish life-style and would be ready to work professionally to obtain that, if she didn't have a regular provider(s). It worked out fine with dinners, entertainment and great sex – she even had rented a nice house in a good neighbourhood – but of course it's a paid for service, which one have to accept. However, it can be for the good of both parties, so a real win-win situation. Perhaps it even could have led to more...

It's a good idea to rent something – as others have also mentioned – and test if you like Thailand for longer periods than a short holiday, before you decide to invest in property and move to here. Also, test different parts of the country, there can be huge differences. I did the same when I was in my 50s before I decided to settle. My initial choice of place to live showed to be not as good as imagened; I happily found some place much better. The easiest way to settle in Thailand is as retired – i.e. non-immigrant O-visa and annual extensions of stay bas4ed on retirement – when you are 50 years or older. It requires a bank deposit of 800,000 baht (around £18,2k) – for example in a fixed 12-month account for best interest – if you wish to sleep well and not think of topping up a deposit at right time or speculate about currency exchange rates for foreign income. As retired you are not allowed to work in Thailand, but unofficially a number does some online work for companies or clients abroad; just keep a low profile. Be aware of the upcoming new taxation rules, where all foreign income not covered by a double taxation agreement – even that it's savings – ara taxable in Thailand. Your circa 100,000 baht a month will equal an annual income of 1.2 million baht and might be taxed 115,000 baht of the first million over 210,000 baht – which is 60,000 baht personal deduction and 150,000 baht non taxable base income – any income above one million baht is income-taxed with 25 percent. The 65,000 baht requirement as official monthly income for a retired fits quite well for a relative good life in Thailand – of course depending of personal life-style and choices – so your circa 1.08 million baht after tax equals around 90,000 baht per month, which should be able to grant you a comfortable life.

I have a long-time past in the music business, and as Zappa perfectly explained it, we that originates from that kind of business business... –even it initially might have begun with a idealistic passion... However, underway it was also great cool fun...???????? My other jobs was primary from interest; i.e. airline, theatre and radio station. The first two also provided enough for living a modest life, the last costed me a lot of money, as I unfortunately ended up as owner... –however, I don't regret the radio station-period, as I both learned a lot and also got lots of good friends from that period...

About a week; i.e. i.e., around 7 days.

He can as already informer, get that from for example Thai International Hospital or Bandon Hospital...

Perhaps there were peanuts in the cannabis cake...

Real estate agents sometimes guarantee – no idea how they do, I wouldn't dare to believe in it... – a 6% payback on your investment for a condo to rent out. So your 600,000 baht suggestion – if you can find a condo in that price level for renting out – gives you 36,000 baht a year minus rental tax. It will take you 19 year to recover the investment after tax and without interest loss, if the 6% guarantee works. Including interest loss the investment outcome might be between zero and a loss; only if you can resell the condo for a higher price than you paid for it, it will be a win situation. Professional real estate investors in property for rent, calculates with rental income between 8% and 12% per year; i.e., in average 10% per year.

I'm happy that I'm not rich, so I don't have that kind of spending-problems to deal with...

I have good experiences, especially in Thailand...

The question is for Samui, not Bangkok.

It doesn't help telling what been done, if you are not a Samui resident and doing extensions of stay here. Samui Immigration rules matters, and you won't get extension of stay without following their rules, no matter what you and others think about the rules. There are little different regulations in different provinces' immigration departments.

Then it's a requirement, as you won't get your extension of stay based on retirement without it...

Price has increased to 300 baht (at least last Monday)...????

You can have the medical certificate issued at Thai International Hospital for 300 baht; if I remember correct, it has to be from a hospital. Remember to tell it's for "retirement extension". No blood test required. You just walk in without an appointment and it's all done in about 15 minutes. You can read more about this and other required documents in the pinned thread about Samui Immigration...

Apparently not a Dane. In the Thai Rath-article the man is Swedish, and his name is also typical Swedish...

I do mine every year before end of March, and I'm a retiree...