Are expats being tempted by Thailand?

[Will B Good]

1 minute ago, Virt said:

I still hope some day that gf and I can move to Thailand, but nothing is decided yet. We're not rich by western standards , and if we sold everything we could raise approx 25 mill baht. We're 50 + and 60 +so we could probably live rest of life for that money in Thailand, since some retirement money also would arrive in a few years. 

 

The huge question is. 

Does Thailand bring more joy living there fulltime, or would it be better to stay home near friends and family and then take 3 months vacations to Thailand every year. 

 

Any takes on that since it's a thread about expats in Thailand? 

Personally I would do the three month routine for a couple of years and then review the situation....

 

No 1 Rule in life, always keep your options open.

[Rookiescot]

55 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

Quite sure the SRRV is suspended right now: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1351888/retirement-visas-on-hold-over-security-concerns

 

 

The board of the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA) on Friday suspended the granting of retirement visas to foreigners after several senators raised security concerns over the presence in the country of nearly 28,000 Chinese “retirees,” some of whom were only in their 30s.

 

Destroyed by chinese abuse. Normal foreigners seem to suffer for this.

 

Currently Thailand seems the only easy to get long term visa in South East Asia...

 

 

 

 

Yeah they do, do u think all those phuket beach front villas, bangkok penthouses etc are owned by poor people.... lol.

 

 

Which other option is availble where u can just buy a 20 year visa for 30 grand and be left alone with basically no paperwork? Yeh nothing...
 

You think all those expensive houses are owned by farangs? Lol.

That 20 year visa for 30 grand which can be cancelled at any time get you out of 90 day reporting does it?

[ThomasThBKK]

28 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You think all those expensive houses are owned by farangs? Lol.

That 20 year visa for 30 grand which can be cancelled at any time get you out of 90 day reporting does it?

Yeah. I know many immigrants here with nice houses. Obviously some are thai owned, which is of no surprise in a country called Thailand.

 

 

PE visas never get cancelled except for criminal behaviour, like every other visa in thailand and every other country, they exist since nearly 20 years... what a load of <deleted>. 

 

 

Cope harder...

[Smithson]

How about improving the place for Thais, rather than trying to attract the ultra rich?

[ivor bigun]

46 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

You think all those expensive houses are owned by farangs? Lol.

That 20 year visa for 30 grand which can be cancelled at any time get you out of 90 day reporting does it?

Yes our house is owned by our son ,who spent his early years  in farangland ,now runs a company in Thailand ,we all live in our nice big detached house ,am i worried he will put us out on the street ,? no i am not , i loved the UK and i love Thailand ,i reckon i will die here .

[Rookiescot]

18 minutes ago, ThomasThBKK said:

Yeah. I know many immigrants here with nice houses. Obviously some are thai owned, which is of no surprise in a country called Thailand.

 

 

PE visas never get cancelled except for criminal behaviour, like every other visa in thailand and every other country, they exist since nearly 20 years... what a load of <deleted>. 

 

 

Cope harder...

Coping very well thanks as I have two houses.

However you did not answer the question as to whether Elite visa's get you out of having to do 90 day reports.

Edited September 10, 2021 by Rookiescot

[Mavideol]

Are expats being tempted by Thailand?

 

not the ones that I know, the majority wants to stay as far as they can from Thailand...... Prayut accounts for most  if not all of the negativity

[vandeventer]

6 hours ago, Orinoco said:

No

Just remember if you go to Pattaya right now learn to swim first!!!

[rupert the bear]

after investing in thailand and staying off and on for some yrs now whilst working elsewhere in asia im tempted to leave.its hassle and youve no respect.theres plenty of other offers out there latam,camb,phils, vietnam,southern europe etc and i will be taking that option.thats all there is to say

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, DLock said:

If that's all you aspire to and can attract based on your success in life...I understand your predicament.

 

Carry on.

Jeez... at my age I am no oil painting, but can punch above my weight.... vey easily in Thailand.

UK.... my choices are non-existent. 

[Jimbo2014]

Im married to a Thai, I love Thai people and culture, but we often tire of the endless antics of the Junta and past governments.  The pollution season is a huge 'No' and is a massive factor in where we decide to live.  Thailand is no longer cheap - its very expensive if you educate children here.  Other things are mostly background noise. 

[spidermike007]

5 hours ago, ChipButty said:

They have got that much money they dont care about luxury tax, when you see the amount of BMW's Merc's around where I live, Last week a German guy rented one of my apartments he turned up a brand new Merc 250 coupe, it had Bangkok plates on it and I asked him did he drive here he said no he paid someone to drive it here for him. That Merc would be at least double the price of what it would be back in Berlin,

Not true. There are a pinhead of very wealthy people here, with low self esteem, little sense of self, and they are spectacularly desperate to impress others. And they are the ones who pay stupid prices for these vehicles, watches, motorbikes and toys. They care about the luxury tax, but if your level of inadequacy is such, that you need to impress, you have little choice here. 

 

Sales would be five times what they are, if they halved the luxury taxes. More jobs, a higher GDP, more actual taxes collected due to volume, and everyone wins. Same applies to fine wine. 

 

But, it requires actual adults in the room to make decisions, that have inherent wisdom and vision. That is lacking here. 

[Tanomazu]

Will older men want to come and settle in Thailand? Hmmm, tough one, you mean the Thailand that comes with a sex-guarantee for older men? Hmmm, it's a tricky one, let me think, sunshine, cheap accommodation, easiest retirement visa in the world, vibrant culture, top 5 cuisines in the world, beaches, exciting cities, and oh yes, easy, slim, stupid women who give a sex-guarantee for older men. Really hard question.

 

Of course older men will come to settle in Thailand. Obviously not super rich, but those with a bit of cash who want live in the sun, have adventures, have sex, eat good food,will come. They've been coming for 40 years plus.

 

The thing is look at the alternatives:

 

1. France - ice cold in winter, women even colder, expensive.

 

2. Spain - like all of Europe dying cities, overrun by Africans, Romanians, extremely high crime in the cities, clammy winters

 

3. Italy - see Spain

 

4. USA - Too many crazies who will kill you, crumbling infrastructure, homeless everywhere, insane immigration requirements

 

5. Caribbean - Too far away, too expensive.

 

6. China - Too many Chinese

 

7. Phillippines - Terrible internet, crime, homeless everywhere

 

8. Vietnam - Too Chinese, too Communist, no visa options

 

9. Malaysia - Visa option too expensive, too many Arabs and Africans, too Muslim

 

10.  Indonesia - Terrible internet, crime, visa difficult

 

11. All of south America = insane crime rates.

 

Yes, all the complaints, tough residency requirements, expensive luxury tax, idiot driving, lack of ownership rights, that's all true, but these are small annoyances one can put up with.

 

Thailand is the only sensible choice really. Even Uruguay has a killer crime issue now, Panama is in the middle of nowhere.

 

Thailand is hands down, one of the most, if not the most, attractive options for expats.

[HappyExpat57]

2 hours ago, Mike Teavee said:

I'm on a Non-Imm O (Retirement) & am not rich but I choose to pay an Agent to do all my immigration needs for me so with the exception of having to turn up on the day to do my extension I have nothing to do with them. 

 

Costs have been:-

1. 2,000 THB to do my very 1st TM30 (This was at the time when Immigration was being very hot about people completing them), have recently moved but the real estate agent did my TM30 for me
2. Extension - 8,900 THB (Includes the 1,900 THB fee, they do all of the running around & I spend about 30 minutes at CW on the day)
3. Initial 90 Day Report - 1,500 THB this was the report after the amnesty so needed to be done in person or you could pay a "Service Fee" to have an agent do it for you
4. Subsequent 90 Day reporting - All done online, if I wanted my agent to do it for me it's 380 THB a time    

Maybe a waste of money to some but I value my time more than it costs so it's of value to me... 

 

If it wasn't for Covid I'd be travelling all of the time so would probably go for an Elite Visa (If for no other reason than fast track / lounges at the airport) & not have to do anything save update the Visa once every 5 years (Simply wouldn't bother with TM30 & no need to do 90 day reports as I wouldn't spend 90 days in-country) 

 

 

 

Works for you, so kudos!

[Antonymous]

4 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

ugh..pass on all of the above--rather drink sangsom with hot ladyboys who arent trying to get my $$$

They may be trying to get your a$$ though.

[Iforbach]

Luv one track mind many here hv thai wife children n hv settled ..yes there's lots of frustrating stuff how ever ..winter coming uk ..not 4 me but hey each to their own ..as usually lots of nasty quotes on here ..example chk out Las Vegas compared to bangkok ..for other stuff ..be surprised..% wise anyway rant on ...the ranters 

[Jiggo]

I think yes, The attraction of retiring in Europe inc Spain was access to the Health Service and easy visa issues.....now that has been stopped.

[vinci]

if you're rich and can live anywhere in the world, Thailand is not one of them, Thailand is for an average guy and girl that just want to get away.

[GrandPapillon]

5 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

Dunno, because all the girls look like sisters...?

 

actually did 2 of them, and yes there were actually 3 sisters in that group ???? 

Edited September 10, 2021 by GrandPapillon

[Pedrogaz]

Corruption and murder in the police force, corruption and lies in Parliament; a pointless immigration bureaucracy which constantly changes without ever improving.....whop wouldn't be tempted?

[thaibeachlovers]

6 hours ago, ezzra said:

If only the people in charge on bringing "rich" or any foreigners to retire in Thailand knew what they were doing this country would be full of them, but Thai people are inherently proud of their country and sovereignty and are fiercely opposing the move to allow foreigners to populate Thailand in big numbers hence the awkward cumbersome visa and permits regulations a foreigner has to put with to stay in this country... 

Something I support. There were already far too many tourists prior to corona and they were ruining every tourist spot eg Maya Bay.

Anything to restrict the mass tourism is IMO a good thing.

[Ddbanksy]

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

TAT and Thailand want to forget about attracting wealthy ,tourists,  retirees,

it's never going to happen , Thailand has always appealed to the more adventurist

man in the street, would wanted something more exotic than Spain, Greece, Italy,

or Canary Island's .just hope they come back one day, just hope Thailand treats

them better, less scams, double pricing , a lot to ask I know , ????

 

regards Worgeordie

 

 

Agree totally 

[Jumbo1968]

U.K. citizens can now only live in Spain for 3 months now then they need a Visa since the U.K. left the E.U.and they are illegible for the free E.U. Healthcare System so Thailand might be an option again.

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

ugh..pass on all of the above--rather drink sangsom with hot ladyboys who arent trying to get my $$$

Really? Ladyboys are not trying to get your $$$? LOL.

 

I've seen one on Sukhumvit relieving a farang of his wallet while said farang is being distracted by another of the gang. At least bargirls usually wait till the customer has bought a drink, before attempting to get him to part with the $$$.

Edited September 10, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[joecoolfrog]

5 hours ago, HeijoshinCool said:

.

 

Sorry, are you talking about Thailand, or the UK, or France, or Germany, or the USA?

4 of the above are functioning democracies , if the leadership is toxic it can easily be removed in a free and fair election.

As for the 5th......

[mrmicbkktxl]

It's far to late to retire here, 90s and early 2000s was the time to come.The fun is over here it started with Thaksin and now Prayuth is giving the fatal blow to Thailand.2021 if you have money then you are probably in some tax haven in the Caribic for the average John Doe maybe Spain or Portugal in a small village far from tourists is affordable.If you don't mind muslims then Turkey is the place to be.If your pension is enough then Canary Islands.If I would be an American I would probably move to Mexiko

[jacko45k]

11 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Anything to restrict the mass tourism is IMO a good thing.

Bar a pandemic......

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, Scrotobike said:

Over the years, that didn't really pan out, and I found cost of living, for the lifestyle I wanted to live was actually costing more than in the US,

IMO most farangs that like living in LOS didn't move there to live as if they were back home, and it's very cheap to do so without all the ( IMO ) BS that we have to live with in the west.

 

Things like accommodation, food, public transport, dentists, vehicle maintenance are EXTREMELY cheap in LOS compared to western countries.

Edited September 10, 2021 by thaibeachlovers

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO most farangs that like living in LOS didn't move there to live as if they were back home, and it's very cheap to do so without all the ( IMO ) BS that we have to live with in the west.

I moved here because it is nothing much like back home..... hedonistic attractions.....

[Tanomazu]

4 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

It's far to late to retire here, 90s and early 2000s was the time to come.The fun is over here it started with Thaksin and now Prayuth is giving the fatal blow to Thailand.2021 if you have money then you are probably in some tax haven in the Caribic for the average John Doe maybe Spain or Portugal in a small village far from tourists is affordable.If you don't mind muslims then Turkey is the place to be.If your pension is enough then Canary Islands.If I would be an American I would probably move to Mexiko

I know a millionaire with a house in the Cayman Islands. He doesn't live there because he got bored to death. The Caribbean Islands are generally small with nothing going on, limited food choices, no shopping to speak of.

 

Spain and Portugal have dying villages, the cities are overrun with crime, Romanians, Africans. Younger women will not look at you.

 

Turkey, that's just madness. Mexico? If you want to die maybe. Canary Islands again is where people go to be bored to death.