Thailand suffers sharp fall in rankings of best countries for retirement

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

Thailand is not the place it once was.

 

anyone who thinks otherwise needs to ditch the rose glasses for a pair of reality lenses. 

No country is the place it once was. 

[mrmicbkktxl]

Just now, KannikaP said:

Renewals ARE a breeze. 800k in the bank or 65k a month. Done.

No,they are not a breeze.I went about 22 times to extend my visa and 22 times immigration needed some more of this or that.Permanent changing the rules.On top of that most immigrations making up their own rules.I feel all the time like a criminal I'm sure my neighbors think I'm a criminal thanks to the unpleasant yearly visits of immigration guys.Last November immigration guy even complained to me he had to drive so far and pay for diesel by himself.No,it is not a breeze or a staightforward process like some other guy said.

[connda]

Well, no surprise there.  During my recent renewal (based on marriage but I am retired) the IO stared at my bank book for close to 4 minutes looking intensely at the 20 entries from March 2020 to March 2021 which I'd clearly marked and highlighted.

"How can I find a way to kick you out farang.  How?" 

Hey.  Any retirees looking for a place to live.  Check out the graphic which I'll archive myself.

Hey!  Thailand!!!  8th from the bottom of the list!!! Congratulations.  Keep the hate of all things foreigner up and perhaps you can drop to the bottom, then invert the chart, and claim you're Number 1.  Like Number 1 in Road Deaths, and Number 1 in Air Quality.   Number 1 in place retirees avoid like the plague.

Should have married an Latian Mexican.

[ukrules]

Property ownership is the number one hurdle as far as I'm concerned.

 

Why should I buy a million dollar house to live in as my sole Thai residence when all I can get is a 30 year lease?

 

The answer is quite simply : I won't.

 

[Pilotman]

7 minutes ago, ukrules said:

Property ownership is the number one hurdle as far as I'm concerned.

 

Why should I buy a million dollar house to live in as my sole Thai residence when all I can get is a 30 year lease?

 

The answer is quite simply : I won't.

 

and they don't care that you won't. 

[AlfHuy]

Before moving here, a few years ago, top of the list for us was Costa Rica and Panama.

Having lived 4 years in Portugal, nothing special.

[KarenBravo]

58 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

You are, no doubt benefiting from being 'grandfathered' as far the financial requirements are concerned. That must make life a breeze as far as renewals go.

 

The previous age for retirement here was 55 years old. To be grandfathered, he would have to have been retired since 1996 (I think). That would make him 80 years old at a minimum.

 

Immigration used to want to see the 800k per annum drawn down to show that the money was being used for living expenses.

This all changed a few years back to the current situation of 800k in the bank for five months and 400k for seven months. I think that this happened because of the furor caused by foreigners, including retirees skipping out, or being unable to pay their hospital bills.

[KarenBravo]

1 hour ago, WineOh said:

Thailand is not the place it once was.

 

anyone who thinks otherwise needs to ditch the rose glasses for a pair of reality lenses. 

 

Is any country "what it once was"? I know that my country (UK) isn't.

[SiamAndy]

23 minutes ago, connda said:

Well, no surprise there.  During my recent renewal (based on marriage but I am retired) the IO stared at my bank book for close to 4 minutes looking intensely at the 20 entries from March 2020 to March 2021 which I'd clearly marked and highlighted.

"How can I find a way to kick you out farang.  How?" 

Hey.  Any retirees looking for a place to live.  Check out the graphic which I'll archive myself.

Hey!  Thailand!!!  8th from the bottom of the list!!! Congratulations.  Keep the hate of all things foreigner up and perhaps you can drop to the bottom, then invert the chart, and claim you're Number 1.  Like Number 1 in Road Deaths, and Number 1 in Air Quality.   Number 1 in place retirees avoid like the plague.

Should have married an Latian Mexican.

 

Thailand is lucky to be 18th on this list, they should have been 23rd. I'm sure Prayuth and his Cronies will find a way to alienate retirees more in time for next year's survey, then we can watch Thailand fall to 25th place!

[KarenBravo]

1 hour ago, mike787 said:

2 Things that make Thailand suck: 1.  Immigration policy is draconian and stronger than any wall on earth. 2. you WILL DIE near any road - eventually, but likely sooner than later.  English is not common, and Baht is strong, however, for me those are not as a big deal as the first 2.

 

Totally untrue on points 1 & 2.

[olfu]

Costa Rica number 1?

Well, I visited Costa Rica numerous times and was not impressed.

You need specific mentality to handle homeless people swarms in capital, line to free hospital at least a mile, girls rip you off happily and general impression of third world country. And prices for housing is on pair with US.

Sure some people find small places outside capital cheaper.

[Old Croc]

Am I the only one who hasn't previously heard of Roatan? I now know it's a/an Honduras Island, but I'm still confused as to why it's listed as a separate country.  

 

Has it really been a year since their last survey was featured on these pages to garner similar responses? 

 

[Mavideol]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Thailand suffers sharp fall in rankings of best countries for retirement

government&TAT.....nobody else to blame but themselves

[EricTh]

These rankings are useless when there are still tons of people who want to retire in Thailand.

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

The previous age for retirement here was 55 years old. To be grandfathered, he would have to have been retired since 1996 (I think). That would make him 80 years old at a minimum.

Well he hasn't queried my reply and he has been living here for 35 years, so I think 'grandfathering' is quite likely.

[Moonlover]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

Immigration used to want to see the 800k per annum drawn down to show that the money was being used for living expenses.

This all changed a few years back to the current situation of 800k in the bank for five months and 400k for seven months. I think that this happened because of the furor caused by foreigners, including retirees skipping out, or being unable to pay their hospital bills.

There is little logic in denying one access to ones funds when one has a hospital bill to pay!

 

This change was introduced by 'Big Joke' during his brief reign and was widely seen as a very clumsy attempt  to curb the corrupt activities of certain agents who were lending foreigners the 800k they needed to obtain their retirement extension.

 

What affect it had, if any, I've no idea.

[mike787]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

 

Totally untrue on points 1 & 2.

agree to disagree.  Somethings in life are like death,  they are absolute, however, I'm sure we could beat that topic to death as well....it's ALL a matter of perspective.  Good luck to you mate!

[mr mr]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

and they don't care that you won't. 

this is a huge part of the problem facing this nation. but hey keep on keeping on thailand. 

[kingdong]

4 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

why do you think it's great?

Certainly not the air quality.

[BangkokReady]

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

Well I am sure that they are not at all disappointed with this.  I think that we are definitely seen as an unwanted 'burden' on Thailand rather than any kind of advantage.  I have thought for a long time that there is a half hidden policy to phase we retired people out over the next few years.  As more of us here die off, they will make it increasingly difficult for up coming retirees to settle here.  Their loss in the end. 

 

I don't really understand it.  Retirees seem almost like a passive income.  Just X amount of money coming in each month being spent in Thailand, Thai women taken care of, Thai children raised.

 

Is it simply racism?  Or the not wanting to be seen as having to rely on the West for anything?

[kingdong]

2 hours ago, ThaidDown said:

The whine on TVF is free..... and persistent.

 

And a very good vintage.

[Denim]

16 hours ago, KarenBravo said:

This all changed a few years back to the current situation of 800k in the bank for five months and 400k for seven months.

 

Hang on a minute. Last November I got my first 1 year extension based on marriage with 400,000 baht in the bank. That amount had to be seasoned for 2 months before I could apply.

 

Are you saying that before I can renew this visa for another year this coming November,  I have to top up this sum to 400,000 7 months before the application date ?? In other words , before the end of March ??

[Emdog]

"..Thailand scored highly in Healthcare (80) and Fitting in/Entertainment (81)."

 Need to have high score in healthcare, what with life threatening air pollution, bad wiring and total absence of law on the roads.

"Fitting in/Entertainment": just what does that mean? If bars and hookers, okay. General populace not so much

[holy cow cm]

And don’t forget the banks are dropping the guarantee coverage to 1 million baht as well and the land where married if you are a foreign man to a Thai woman then you are dumped on, but if a foreign woman marries a Thai man then her citizenship is easily granted. 

[DLock]

2 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

No country is the place it once was. 

 

Very true.

 

And according to this report, 9 of them have actually gotten better than Thailand in the last year.

 

Thailand will never be the place it once was...sadly.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Well I am sure that they are not at all disappointed with this.  I think that we are definitely seen as an unwanted 'burden' on Thailand rather than any kind of advantage.  I have thought for a long time that there is a half hidden policy to phase we retired people out over the next few years.  As more of us here die off, they will make it increasingly difficult for up coming retirees to settle here.  Their loss in the end. 

 

I try not to get involved in Thai bashing, or Thai apologising, both cases are a zero sum game, particularly on this forum. . . but my personal irritation is with the notion I have a choice to be here. I do and I don't. There was a time, a long time ago, I might have left for somewhere else, taking my own skillset and the talent my family contribute to Thai society and stuck my finger up as I left, but I committed. I no more have a choice than my Thai wife and kids have a choice to be here, Thailand is as much my home as it is theirs. My entire family are dual Thai/British, so in that regard they have 'choices'. . . yet Thai society elects to make me FEEL like an outsider no matter how long I stay here, no matter how much I pay in tax, no matter how many people I employ, by imposing draconian and absurd immigration rules on me, such as having to report every few months to state that absolutely nothing has changed, or making me pay 10 times more than locals as a government policy. I decided to initiate my own Thai citizenship process just to be free of it because frankly it makes my p!$$ boil and I'd rather peel my own skin off than visit immigration again to show them pictures of me and my wife and kids standing in front of our house, the same house we lived in last year, and the year before that, and that, and that. . . I can say with absolute confidence, and without a hint of arrogance, that I am irreplaceable to the company I work for. They would never, ever, find someone with my broad range of skills locally, and certainly not at the salary they pay me. . .

 

Having said that, I feel there are many facets of Thai society that I am compatible with, the generally VERY high levels of respect in Thai youth for example, Thai civics are generally very agreeable to me. These league tables like the one in the OP are just commercial expat websites attempting to raise their profile, and their figures are probably made up anyway. It's all horses#!t.

[Moonlover]

34 minutes ago, Denim said:

 

Hang on a minute. Last November I got my first 1 year extension based on marriage with 400,000 baht in the bank. That amount had to be seasoned for 2 months before I could apply.

 

Are you saying that before I can renew this visa for another year this coming November,  I have to top up this sum to 400,000 7 months before the application date ?? In other words , before the end of March ??

No, you're getting married and retirement extensions confused. For marriage it is still 400k for 2 months prior to application.

[AlfHuy]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

Am I the only one who hasn't previously heard of Roatan? I now know it's a/an Honduras Island, but I'm still confused as to why it's listed as a separate country.  

 

Has it really been a year since their last survey was featured on these pages to garner similar responses? 

 

I thought it was part of Wales.

[Meat Pie 47]

4 hours ago, Ventenio said:

roads are safe for the family

air is clean

products never break

houses built well

water drinkable

farangs nice

girls really love you

easy to settle down

embraced by the locals

money isn't everything

steak is really good

no double pricing

girls are treated well

no drugs

nobody drinks too much

dogs on leashes

 

etc...

Are you talking about where I live?

[Pilotman]

40 minutes ago, NilSS said:

 

I try not to get involved in Thai bashing, or Thai apologising, both cases are a zero sum game, particularly on this forum. . . but my personal irritation is with the notion I have a choice to be here. I do and I don't. There was a time, a long time ago, I might have left for somewhere else, taking my own skillset and the talent my family contribute to Thai society and stuck my finger up as I left, but I committed. I no more have a choice than my Thai wife and kids have a choice to be here, Thailand is as much my home as it is theirs. My entire family are dual Thai/British, so in that regard they have 'choices'. . . yet Thai society elects to make me FEEL like an outsider no matter how long I stay here, no matter how much I pay in tax, no matter how many people I employ, by imposing draconian and absurd immigration rules on me, such as having to report every few months to state that absolutely nothing has changed, or making me pay 10 times more than locals as a government policy. I decided to initiate my own Thai citizenship process just to be free of it because frankly it makes my p!$$ boil and I'd rather peel my own skin off than visit immigration again to show them pictures of me and my wife and kids standing in front of our house, the same house we lived in last year, and the year before that, and that, and that. . . I can say with absolute confidence, and without a hint of arrogance, that I am irreplaceable to the company I work for. They would never, ever, find someone with my broad range of skills locally, and certainly not at the salary they pay me. . .

 

Having said that, I feel there are many facets of Thai society that I am compatible with, the generally VERY high levels of respect in Thai youth for example, Thai civics are generally very agreeable to me. These league tables like the one in the OP are just commercial expat websites attempting to raise their profile, and their figures are probably made up anyway. It's all horses#!t.

Thank you for your post, with which, to a great degree, mirrors my own feelings, bar the wish to take Thai Citizenship, which I would never do, even if I gained the required facility in the language. I like Thailand, I am as happy here as I would be anywhere.  Yes it has its frustrations, but so does every society that I have ever lived in, including in my home country of the UK.   Had I never met my Thai wife, I would not be living here, that is very plain to me. Rather I would have stayed in my home country, as a base to travel the world, as I had done for many years with my job.  I do not feel valued here, or particularly wanted, amused toleration seems about the best it gets from the locals. But I do feel the ambivalence to we expats, friendly enough on the outside, but not that bothered about our difficulties with government,  welfare, friendship, or  involvement in their culture, rather I find a lack of understanding as to why we are here in the first place.  Interestingly, and maybe because of my influence, my Brit/Thai daughter, living in the UK, feels pretty much the same about Thailand as I do. Maybe its a universal feeling for expats and immigrants to any country, as I'm not at all sure that my own feelings towards those that settle in the UK is that much different to what I see here in regard to western expats, ambivalence,  and perhaps that's where the debate naturally takes us.    Ed:  perhaps to add, would I recommend Thailand to anyone for retirement; never in a month of Sundays.