SURVEY: Will Thailand continue to be a favorable destination for retirees?

[Scott]

With numerous concerns about the pandemic, the exchange rate, the cost of medical care, quarantine and corruption, do you think that people will consider retiring in Thailand?

 

Please feel free to leave a comment.

[HAPPYNUFF]

Started coming here, annually, in 1988, for three month holidays.   Did the bars, did the temples,  wandered  length and breadth of the country.  It was a real wild west then, but  free and easy. No  troubles, providing you behaved yourself and showed  respect.  Came to live here permanently  12 years ago..   Settled down.   Things   have gradually  gone downhill. The people arent as happy and carefree as before,  visa requirements  have gone  through the roof, blatant corruption everywhere, the cost of living   nearly equals  my home country, apart from housing, taxes etc., Im  talking about  those who  purchase farang food, and not live on rabbit food from the markets... I  do feel sorry for the general Thai populace, the working people who  seem to live a hand to mouth existance, but not the slightest empathy for  the government or any employed within it.

[djayz]

Similar to the comment above by Happynuff, but aside from the corruption, I am more concerned about, and frustrated by, the sheer lack of care for the environment, abysmal educational system, very low hygiene standards (food) and lack of cultural activities. 

Knowing what I do now, I can't help but feel that it was a mistake to set down roots here. I'm not looking for Utopia, but there doesn't seem to be any real progress being made here. 

Edited September 5, 2021 by djayz

[4MyEgo]

Have been here just on 6 years, the only thing that has really changed for me is that I have become awoke as to how uneducated and racist the Thai people are, e.g. Thai's 1st, everyone else 2nd, this was clearly evident with this pandemic.

 

The lack of education, explains the corruption etc to me.

 

All of the above said, one can still live a good life if one has the backing, not talking pensions, and yes the cost of food is up their if you like your imports, i.e. pretty much the same as back home, but labor costs, housing materials, electricity, water, and the like are cheap, so it depends on what you want in life, i.e. to own a shack in a western country and put down at least a million $'s to buy it, but we all know it's way more than that or use those funds to build a place here for 1/10th of that and maintain the same existence as you did when you lived back in your home country.

 

Thailand is not perfect, but where is, when I talk to guys thinking of retiring here, they can't believe what it costs me to live here, albeit it they constantly complain of how expensive it is back home and how they have to keep working to just survive, with my reply being, how much is enough and what do you want out of life, because at the end of the day, it's only time, the rest is nothing, so if you want to work 5/7th of your life to exists to watch your asset grow, but have to work to continue to repay the bank loan, the car loan and the rest, then keep doing what your doing, for me, I have enough here to last me till I'm 101, but I don't just sit and live off of my money, I look for investment opportunities without breaking a sweat so as to minimise my out of pocket expenses, with this year being the worst as it's cost me around 4,500 baht a month to live here after income from investments earned......I know, it's bad, but hey could be worse ????

 

I think if people have money, Thailand is a perfect place to retire and ones home country can be a holiday destination every year or two if one has family there, otherwise the world can be anyone's oyster.

[kokesaat]

My wife and I moved here when we were 46, now we're 71.  Thailand's always been a good place to retire.....if you're financially secure, and better yet, if you have some sort of medical coverage (like Tricare).  If you're constantly worried about fluctuations in exchange rates and not especially financially secure, Thailand wouldn't be a good place to retire.  Thailand is definitely not a place to retire if you aren't financially secure and have no medical insurance.

One of the most satisfying things about living here for 25 years is seeing the progress the country has made......stable electricity, fiber optic to the jungle, better food hygiene in restaurants and most markets, better private hospital care, safer and better roads, improved domestic flying opportunities (pre-covid), cleaner environment (not US standards, but they're improving), stability in immigration policies....especially for retirees, vast improvement in service sector - especially in government services like driver's licenses, passports, banks, on-line banking, - and finally, lazada - not yet Amazon, but it's getting there.

[lapamita]

Quote

 

getting expensive and there is a trend away from long distance flights,more enviroment  and so on

 

but most important ,normal penisoners with normal " pension"  cant afford anymore to pay for a KIK  and wife

 

so no fun... no thailand

[utalkin2me]

Anywhere that is open and free of restrictions will be popular. 
 

Suppression of travel is by way of governments and news, not unwillingness of people due to fear. Nobody is scared. Look around. Does this look like 28 days later to you? Well, your governments are making it out to be just that. 

Edited September 5, 2021 by utalkin2me

[RichardColeman]

With about 3% of retirees dying off each year, the longer covid goes on the amount of retirees is going to drop if they do not open the country. If they do not open next year, then likelihood is that 10% near will have died off during the pandemic ! Certainly it will take time to replace them. These people not being around with no replacements will effect the local economy and businesses.

 

If I was thailand, I would start making Thailand easier to retire in and easier visas demands. A simple one would be if you've been married to a Thai for 5 years you can have permanent residence ! 

 

 

[John Drake]

32 minutes ago, kokesaat said:

My wife and I moved here when we were 46, now we're 71.  Thailand's always been a good place to retire.....if you're financially secure, and better yet, if you have some sort of medical coverage (like Tricare).  If you're constantly worried about fluctuations in exchange rates and not especially financially secure, Thailand wouldn't be a good place to retire.  Thailand is definitely not a place to retire if you aren't financially secure and have no medical insurance.

One of the most satisfying things about living here for 25 years is seeing the progress the country has made......stable electricity, fiber optic to the jungle, better food hygiene in restaurants and most markets, better private hospital care, safer and better roads, improved domestic flying opportunities (pre-covid), cleaner environment (not US standards, but they're improving), stability in immigration policies....especially for retirees, vast improvement in service sector - especially in government services like driver's licenses, passports, banks, on-line banking, - and finally, lazada - not yet Amazon, but it's getting there.

Why would anyone think "US standards" equals "improving?"  I know I didn't move to Thailand so it could gradually turn into a mini-America. That is the last thing I want.

[OJAS]

Rolling back exactly 11 years to the time when I was finalising my move here, Thailand would almost certainly have not looked the attractive proposition it did to me then if a number of subsequent mainly immigration-related negative developments were already in place. And IMHO its future attractiveness as a retirement destination is primarily dependent on how long the existing cumbersome COE-related procedures remain in force in their present form. My gut suspicion is that quite a few of them will be retained on a permanent basis under the COVID-19 "New Normal" when (and if) that eventually comes about here in LOS.

Edited September 5, 2021 by OJAS

[worgeordie]

Tell them to come quickly, I have 2 empty houses looking for tenants,

first time that has happened ,well forever , It's a good job I don't need

the income from them , but have to dip into the savings, the only good

thing is no phone calls day and night ...this or that needs fixing ,tap

leaking, lights not working...etc, etc.. etc most likely another year or

two, or three like this ,<deleted>£king Covid ,but think of those in debt,struggling,

with nowt, 

regards worgeordie 

 

[seajae]

I have no hesitation saying I love it here and would not move back to Australia to live, in the last couple of years we have bought land and built a second home, something not possible back in Australia. I dont find it expensive to live here at all, its cheap to go out for dinner plus other everyday costs are quite good, the only problems I see that really effect us are the corruption and the racist policies for non thais that make it hard to get visa extensions etc. They really need to get rid of the 90 day reporting as well as all the paper work for visa extensions and making them for longer than just 12 months(really think all this is for is financial gains for them), think you would find that more pople would retire here if the govt stopped making us jump through hoops and let us live here care free for a couple of years at a time before having to do an extension/paperwork etc

Edited September 5, 2021 by seajae

[Hornell]

Most of the points have already been made, but here are mine anyway. I came here 24 years ago to work, retired a few years later and stayed here on an 'O' visa retirement working unofficially for the next dozen years. I had no particular ties to or assets in my home country, my children were grown up, I liked the country and the people, my pension went further and I had things to do. So I stayed. If the situation in the country now had prevailed when I decided this, I would not have done so. In the intervening period, the amount of Baht from my pension has roughly halved, while the cost of living has increased (as everywhere). I discovered (as others have done) that the Thai smile hides an undercurrent of violence, they are bureaucratic to a fault and xenophobia abounds. Immigration is indeed the burr under the 'alien's' saddle and and features differing requirements between offices, sudden changes to rules and exasperating endless niggles. It must be one of the few countries in the world to require expats to report their presence to Immigration every 90 days. I should only add that personally I have never had a problem with Immigration or been asked for tea money.
Do I think that foreign retirees will continue to flock here? No, I don't. At least not until Immigration gets its act together, the Covid inspired requirements for coming to this country are eased and there is a government that was actually elected by the Thai people that makes a stab at being democratic! The economic situation needs to improve a great deal and finally foreign residents/retirees are recognised for the financial and practical value of what they bring here.

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If I was thailand, I would start making Thailand easier to retire in and easier visas demands. A simple one would be if you've been married to a Thai for 5 years you can have permanent residence ! 

Thailand has never been conquered by westerners, why would they start now, as far as I am concerned, Thai's are racist, not picking on Thai's, just stating the facts that I have observed from living here, and that is not to say Racism doesn't exist worldwide, it does, suffice to say, why would Thailand want to open up to westerners when they can control the conditions, I mean what is it, they allow up to 200 westerners if I'm correct to become citizens subject to rigorous conditions that most other countries don't put people through.

 

The above said, even if and when they allowed us married to Thai's for over 5 years to become citizens, I wouldn't because I am already a citizen of my birth country as is my wife, (dual citizen) and didn't have to do squat to get it, just be there for 2 years as a permanent resident then apply for citizenship a couple of years later, no need for work or knowing the language, go figure.

 

[bkk6060]

It is still a lot less expensive then many western countries and as long as males throughout the world  have testosterone, Thailand will remain popular.

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, kokesaat said:

My wife and I moved here when we were 46, now we're 71.  Thailand's always been a good place to retire.....if you're financially secure, and better yet, if you have some sort of medical coverage (like Tricare).  If you're constantly worried about fluctuations in exchange rates and not especially financially secure, Thailand wouldn't be a good place to retire.  Thailand is definitely not a place to retire if you aren't financially secure and have no medical insurance.

One of the most satisfying things about living here for 25 years is seeing the progress the country has made......stable electricity, fiber optic to the jungle, better food hygiene in restaurants and most markets, better private hospital care, safer and better roads, improved domestic flying opportunities (pre-covid), cleaner environment (not US standards, but they're improving), stability in immigration policies....especially for retirees, vast improvement in service sector - especially in government services like driver's licenses, passports, banks, on-line banking, - and finally, lazada - not yet Amazon, but it's getting there.

I see no improvement in many of these areas you mention, in fact many have gotten markedly worse, including environment and road safety. 

 

Don't get me wrong this is a great country and I will become a naturalised Thai citizen soon, but I don't think I would be retiring somewhere where I am only ever allowed up to a year temporary stay, and immigration policy changes often, and on a whim. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, seajae said:

I have no hesitation saying I love it here and would not move back to Australia to live, in the last couple of years we have bought land and built a second home, something not possible back in Australia. I dont find it expensive to live here at all, its cheap to go out for dinner plus other everyday costs are quite good, the only problems I see that really effect us are the corruption and the racist policies for non thais that make it hard to get visa extensions etc. They really need to get rid of the 90 day reporting as well as all the paper work for visa extensions and making them for longer than just 12 months(really think all this is for is financial gains for them), think you would find that more pople would retire here if the govt stopped making us jump through hoops and let us live here care free for a couple of years at a time before having to do an extension/paperwork etc

The visa system is the way it is specifically to keep the numbers down, or at least manageable. The financial requirements also. I expect those to increase soon, from what I hear from government friends. 

 

Most Thais don't want more foreigners  here other than on holiday. 

[Kadilo]

35 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

 

Most Thais don't want more foreigners  here other than on holiday. 

You must know a lot of Thais. 

[koratkarlos]

I am retired here for 3 years now.  For me my Thai marriage is much better than the one I had back in America.  There are many good hearted woman here.  And for the money, my life is better here than what I would have back home.  So if I ignore the politics and focus on a relaxed lifestyle, then Thailand is a good place to be.  I really enjoy the warm weather too!

[Adelphi]

 I can sympathise with many of the positives and negatives above.  I have been looking at the retirement options for other SE Asian countries post pandemic. I am coming to the conclusion that Thailand with all it’s faults is still the best option for access to a wide range of services and retirement visas. I would be interested in the views of others.  Particularly which other country is better and why.

[Orinoco]

6 minutes ago, koratkarlos said:

I am retired here for 3 years now.  For me my Thai marriage is much better than the one I had back in America.  There are many good hearted woman here.  And for the money, my life is better here than what I would have back home.  So if I ignore the politics and focus on a relaxed lifestyle, then Thailand is a good place to be.  I really enjoy the warm weather too!

Enjoy the honeymoon period. ( 3 years retired in Thailand )

Please report back in 7 years time. !!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2021 by Orinoco

[pookondee]

Since all the so-called "crack downs" about 5 (or so?)

more years ago it has constantly became harder to retire in Thailand.

 

First there was the saga about income requirements changing,

then mandatory insurance

(this makes things very hard when you are old and insurance companies dump you or decide they want 100+ baht per year)

 

Now, on top of all that, it looks like we will have to deal with a whole lot of Covid nonsense.

 

Also many like to have the freedom to travel back home occasionally to see grandkids and the like.

Thailand is not exactly friendly for that.

 

And how many will be prepared to keep dealing with endless requirements and handing in of duplicate paperwork every year?

 

After all the Covid <deleted> weve had to go endure, I for one have a lot less patience for all of it.

 

I think it will all just become to much for many folks

especially for those who can get free

(or at least, affordable) healthcare in their own countries.

 

 

[RubbaJohnny]

2 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

It is still a lot less expensive then many western countries and as long as males throughout the world  have testosterone, Thailand will remain popular.

HOCHEAP INN TRAIL, You'd need to go to GOTHAM OR Gommorah for such a smorgasbord.

[VocalNeal]

6 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

The lack of education, explains the corruption etc to me.

Most of the people in the West benefiting from "corruption" are highly/expensively educated.

[bkkcanuck8]

There are many people who have the idea of retiring to Thailand when their time comes that they can retire - they will come here from retirement.  Tourism will not likely recover for at least 5 years, probably more... but retirees will start coming when it is not such a hassle to travel.

[jazzdog32095]

9 hours ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

Started coming here, annually, in 1988, for three month holidays.   Did the bars, did the temples,  wandered  length and breadth of the country.  It was a real wild west then, but  free and easy. No  troubles, providing you behaved yourself and showed  respect.  Came to live here permanently  12 years ago..   Settled down.   Things   have gradually  gone downhill. The people arent as happy and carefree as before,  visa requirements  have gone  through the roof, blatant corruption everywhere, the cost of living   nearly equals  my home country, apart from housing, taxes etc., Im  talking about  those who  purchase farang food, and not live on rabbit food from the markets... I  do feel sorry for the general Thai populace, the working people who  seem to live a hand to mouth existance, but not the slightest empathy for  the government or any employed within it.

Retirees are looking at places that are governed consistently. Thailand doesn't X that box.

[Maha Sarakham]

I think Thailand as a destination for new retirees will be significantly reduced in the future.  Thailand is not easy nor cheap anymore.  People who go online and search for 'retirement in Thailand' will be flooded with pages full of negativity, talk about scams, racism, visa issues, and be immediately turned off.  When searching for 'value' for money, Thailand doesn't even make the top retirement destination lists as it used to pre-2014.  With that, I struggle to see a business case for attracting new retirees to Thailand that aren't looking primarily for the girls.  But even that scene I think will be less in your face and instead move online in the future.

 

This entire pandemic has been a stake in the heart for Thailand as far as I'm concerned.  I don't see any possible scenario where they come out of this with anything near what they had before.

[MarkyM3]

First came in 2005 with friends backpacking around Asia and loved it. Ended up staying 3 months and reducing other parts of my itinerary. 

 

I've spent 2-3 months a year there since then, while working the rest of the time in the UK, plus I had a 6 month break there in 2013 and had been planning to do another 6 months until the pandemic struck.

 

The idea of retiring to Thailand became a real aspiration fairly quickly, particularly after getting into a long-term relationship.

 

However, I feel the free and easy atmosphere is going. OK, after spending a lot of time in any country, it's inevitably not going to be fresh as it is when you first experience it. But it doesn't have the same vibe anymore, to me at least. The mass over-development to cater for package tours from China, Russia etc. has not helped either. Samui, whilst still nice, isn't what it was even 15 years ago. When I first pitched up there, Lamai and Chaweng were very much separate areas. Now they are one urban sprawl. 

 

Also, it isn't a particularly cheap place if you are living in places like Bangkok unless you are living like locals do. I spend more in supermarkets, for example, than I do in the UK and my UK wages are a lot higher, obviously. Life away from the capital and tourist areas looks more attractive. 

 

I'm 50 now and have the finances in place to retire there if I want to. But I see things  more like 4 or 5 months a year as a snowbird now, rather than the dream of living out there full-time.

 

I wouldn't buy property there either due to the legal wild west, though that's always been the case. 

Edited September 5, 2021 by MarkyM3

[meechai]

Nice place to visit as we do now for a few months a year...retire?

No we did but when the Junta took over (again)  in 2014 we realized after a few years it was different...Left in 2016

 

Thailand is nice but unstable & as the Pandemic showed can get ever more sketchy when under real pressure.

 

Folks think it is almost over but after 18  Coups & 18 Constitutions what makes them think so?

What is the point of even having a Constitution if the next coup tears it up?

 

Lastly those who think these protests will end in anything other than yet another coup have more faith than we do....

Elections? How? Campaigns? How? Etc etc

 

It will take many many generations of real education for Thai's to lose their subservient to any authority figure programming

Then another few generations till votes cannot be easily bought in the villages for 200 baht

 

Thailand....now a nice place to visit

[daveAustin]

6 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Thailand has never been conquered by westerners,

 

That’s an incidental and could have happened any time if the colonial powers that be had the inclination. 
 

Most are missing the point of the op. It is—loosely, with all the bs that has unfolded of late— ‘will it continue to be attractive’ to retirees not how is your staid life going lol. I think it will still attract escapees from dictatorships (Chinese) and folk from boring western nanny states, but, pandemic aside, Thailand is/will not do enough to win them over from burgeoning Vietnam etc. Glory days are over and way less bang (excuse pun) fit your buck in all areas.