Which countries have visas dedicated to retired expats?

[BE88]

 

If now you find that Thailand is becoming prohibitive and if you are bored of Thailand, here is a small guide for expats for your new destination.....

 

 

https://expatriateconsultancy.com/countries-with-retirement-visas/

[BritManToo]

7 minutes ago, BE88 said:

 

If now you find that Thailand is becoming prohibitive and if you are bored of Thailand, here is a small guide for expats for your new destination.....

 

 

https://expatriateconsultancy.com/countries-with-retirement-visas/

Not all that useful as you can retire in many Asian countries without a special retirement VISA.

Take for example the expensive Philippines SRRV, why bother when you can just fly in at any age and stay for 3 years.

Thailand, they only talk about the restrictive O-A VISA, and I've never encountered anyone that uses that.

 

I would suggest expatriateconsultants only discuss VISAs where they can make money from selling/assisting you and are not to be trusted for real advice.

[KhunLA]

I hear the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

Go Bag at the ready ... nah

 

Rin rin rin ... run run run

 

"People moving out, people moving in, why  because of their expat status, run run run, but you still can't hide" - The Temptations ... remastered ????

[BE88]

11 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Not all that useful as you can retire in many Asian countries without a special retirement VISA.

Take for example the expensive Philippines SRRV, why bother when you can just fly in at any age and stay for 3 years.

Thailand, they only talk about the restrictive O-A VISA, and I've never encountered anyone that uses that.

 

I would suggest expatriateconsultants only discuss VISAs where they can make money from selling/assisting you and are not to be trusted for real advice.

Yes it is not exact but from a general idea where you can go to many places in the world then it's up to you to choose to have to inquire in other more official channels, Thailand, contrary to what those in government think, has no exclusively for expats.

 

[Neeranam]

Surprised that Malaysia ask for $9000 a month. 

 

 

[Neeranam]

Can get Greek citizenship after 7 years. That's unusual for a retiree. 

[bignok]

36 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Can get Greek citizenship after 7 years. That's unusual for a retiree. 

What are the requirements? Hope not Greek style

[JimTripper]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Not all that useful as you can retire in many Asian countries without a special retirement VISA.

Take for example the expensive Philippines SRRV, why bother when you can just fly in at any age and stay for 3 years.

Thailand, they only talk about the restrictive O-A VISA, and I've never encountered anyone that uses that.

 

I would suggest expatriateconsultants only discuss VISAs where they can make money from selling/assisting you and are not to be trusted for real advice.

I use the O-A and like it. I have reasons for keeping the money in my home country and I need insurance anyway so no problem buying that.

 

Of course, things could change if the insurance premiums went way up, but that could happen anywhere.

 

I found the list useful. I’m not interested in “retiring anywhere”. I want a legal visa that works.

[JimTripper]

45 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Surprised that Malaysia ask for $9000 a month. 

 

 

Most people there now are grand fathered into the old system where it was much lower.

[biervoormij]

I find the page interesting but it only list income requirements without the lump sum option. I have not yet started taking my pension but easily meet the 800K requirement for Thailand. I would be interested in knowing other countries with similar options.

[biervoormij]

2 hours ago, JimTripper said:

I use the O-A and like it. I have reasons for keeping the money in my home country and I need insurance anyway so no problem buying that.

 

Of course, things could change if the insurance premiums went way up, but that could happen anywhere.

 

I found the list useful. I’m not interested in “retiring anywhere”. I want a legal visa that works.

My understanding of the O-A is that you can not extend it from within Thailand without bringing the money into Thailand. Do you return to your home country every 2 years and apply for a new O-A or does your home country provide proof of income statements?

 

 

[BE88]

8 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

I find the page interesting but it only list income requirements without the lump sum option. I have not yet started taking my pension but easily meet the 800K requirement for Thailand. I would be interested in knowing other countries with similar options.

It depends on which country you have the passport, what is indicated is for Americans. If you are European or English everything changes according to the country of your origin.

 

[JimTripper]

25 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

My understanding of the O-A is that you can not extend it from within Thailand without bringing the money into Thailand. Do you return to your home country every 2 years and apply for a new O-A or does your home country provide proof of income statements?

 

My plan is to return to the USA every 2 years and re-apply. I would go back that often probably anyhow. It’s worth the flight for me to keep the money working, rather then sitting in a dead savings account. I also have an empty property there I can stay in so it’s not much trouble.

 

I also like to get stuff from the USA once in awhile. I wear a size 16 (50) shoe and don’t like flip flops. I get my glasses and progressive lenses in the USA also. Maybe a new laptop and cell phone. Just more comfortable getting stuff I really need there and bringing it over.

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

My understanding of the O-A is that you can not extend it from within Thailand without bringing the money into Thailand. Do you return to your home country every 2 years and apply for a new O-A or does your home country provide proof of income statements?

 

 

The guy you are quoting would be returning to own country every year or two if exit just prior to visa expiry and obtain a 12 month stamp. 

 

Does not suit many.

 

If you do not return to home country you can obtain 12 month extension at immigration that has financial requirements along with insurance.

 

[Scouse123]

Usually a great start for expats is to decide if they can assimilate into a country that they choose and not expect that country to change for them.

[Scouse123]

19 hours ago, JimTripper said:

Most people there now are grand fathered into the old system where it was much lower.

I wouldn't want to be there for any length of time more than two weeks in Malaysia, I feel I would get a bit bored.

 

I have been a number of times but not recently.

 

 

 

 

 

[Scouse123]

I agree with another poster whereby a lot of these lists are compiled by firms that have something to gain by people pursuing these options through these firms.

 

I think you would find ways and means in most of these countries to stay once you were actually in that particular country you were interested in relocating to.

 

You would then learn the pitfalls and advantages first hand that you won't get from an online free sheet or flyer.

[DrJack54]

16 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

I think you would find ways and means in most of these countries to stay once you were actually in that particular country you were interested in relocating to.

Agree. 

Thinking the OP is asking about countries were you can live ongoing.

One example is Vietnam.

AFAIK Vietnam does not have a "retirement visa" aka in Thailand non O retirement with annual extensions.

 

Long time ago I stayed in Vietnam with back to back 3 month multiple.

So meant 4 visas per year with exit and reentry every 3 months.

 

Thailand does not have easy options for those under 50 or married to Thai. 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

16 hours ago, biervoormij said:

My understanding of the O-A is that you can not extend it from within Thailand without bringing the money into Thailand. Do you return to your home country every 2 years and apply for a new O-A or does your home country provide proof of income statements?

 

 

The great benefit of the OA visa, prior to 2019, was you could squeeze 2 years from it with a border run at the 1 year mark and it didn’t require financial requirements in a Thai bank. Meaning you could keep your money in other financial institutions to gain interest.

Returning to your home country every 2 years to obtain a new OA worked for some .

 The introduction of mandatory health insurance ( Oct 2019 ) dampened the advantage of the OA although the premiums were low ( around 6k baht yearly for a 60 year old) but it still made economic sense to avoid putting money into a Thai bank.

When the mandatory health insurance premiums were increased significantly recently ( 6k to 27k in my case ) it was the final straw for many, myself included, and changing the OA to an O visa became common. Of course the travel restrictions enforced during the “ Covid years “ had already meant the OA financial loophole, as called by some, was in danger of becoming extinct.

Nowadays, the OA is not widely recommended but a few do use it with the attached health insurance.

[glegolo18]

20 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I hear the grass isn't always greener elsewhere.

Go Bag at the ready ... nah

 

Rin rin rin ... run run run

 

"People moving out, people moving in, why  because of their expat status, run run run, but you still can't hide" - The Temptations ... remastered ????

Exactly right on the nail-head...... Happiness comes from our own within..... rest is just bull-<deleted>..

[AlQaholic]

If you are from a country in the EU, you can stay in any other EU country without a visa.

[Burma Bill]

23 hours ago, BE88 said:

here is a small guide for expats for your new destination.....

Thanks, but with respect I see no mention of Cambodia which also issues dedicated Retirement (ER) visas for those 55 years or older.  Simple and hassle free to apply for one at any appointed travel agent. No dealings with Immigration itself. Start with an Ordinary (E) Visa at border entry (not to be confused with the Tourist online e-Visa). This is valid for 30 days and costs 30$. Then you can apply for a Retirement Visa for 6 or 12 months. I have a 12 month ER visa which cost me 290$. Multiple Entries for its duration are also included. No financial requirements/evidence required. No Cambodian bank account required. Registration on the FPCS (Foreigners Present in Cambodia System), valid passport and 2 recent pp photos required. Holders of ER visas are not allowed to work.

Please note: Tourist (T) and online e- Visas (mainly for tourists to avoid queues at border crossings) CANNOT be extended as Retirement Visas.

[BE88]

55 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Thanks, but with respect I see no mention of Cambodia which also issues dedicated Retirement (ER) visas for those 55 years or older.  Simple and hassle free to apply for one at any appointed travel agent. No dealings with Immigration itself. Start with an Ordinary (E) Visa at border entry (not to be confused with the Tourist online e-Visa). This is valid for 30 days and costs 30$. Then you can apply for a Retirement Visa for 6 or 12 months. I have a 12 month ER visa which cost me 290$. Multiple Entries for its duration are also included. No financial requirements/evidence required. No Cambodian bank account required. Registration on the FPCS (Foreigners Present in Cambodia System), valid passport and 2 recent pp photos required. Holders of ER visas are not allowed to work.

Please note: Tourist (T) and online e- Visas (mainly for tourists to avoid queues at border crossings) CANNOT be extended as Retirement Visas.

Thank you Bill for your information to add another very interesting piece of information.

 

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Thanks, but with respect I see no mention of Cambodia which also issues dedicated Retirement (ER) visas for those 55 years or older.  Simple and hassle free to apply for one at any appointed travel agent. No dealings with Immigration itself. Start with an Ordinary (E) Visa at border entry (not to be confused with the Tourist online e-Visa). This is valid for 30 days and costs 30$. Then you can apply for a Retirement Visa for 6 or 12 months. I have a 12 month ER visa which cost me 290$. Multiple Entries for its duration are also included. No financial requirements/evidence required. No Cambodian bank account required. Registration on the FPCS (Foreigners Present in Cambodia System), valid passport and 2 recent pp photos required. Holders of ER visas are not allowed to work.

Please note: Tourist (T) and online e- Visas (mainly for tourists to avoid queues at border crossings) CANNOT be extended as Retirement Visas.

Nice info there, something i would do if Thailand increased limits to stupid levels

[Paris333]

The link with countries with visa dedicated to retire expat is wrong. I read Italy have low (xa-xa-xa) crime rates etc.What word do you live?You are not serious.

Furthermore Greek gives visa for retires after ....7 years but in other hand illegal immigrants take Greek nationality after ....one year.......

[TheAppletons]

14 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

<SNIP>

Please note: Tourist (T) and online e- Visas (mainly for tourists to avoid queues at border crossings) CANNOT be extended as Retirement Visas.

Regarding the extendable E visa (not to be confused with e-Visa), when I go to the official Cambodian government website, I can apply for Visa T $36 (tourist only) or Visa E $42.  

 

Is your post meant to imply that the Visa E above cannot be extended as a "retirement visa" because you apply for it online?

 

https://www.evisa.gov.kh/application_new

[Mike Teavee]

On 8/6/2023 at 12:20 PM, BritManToo said:

Not all that useful as you can retire in many Asian countries without a special retirement VISA.

Take for example the expensive Philippines SRRV, why bother when you can just fly in at any age and stay for 3 years.

Thailand, they only talk about the restrictive O-A VISA, and I've never encountered anyone that uses that.

 

I would suggest expatriateconsultants only discuss VISAs where they can make money from selling/assisting you and are not to be trusted for real advice.

I was dating a Filipina (in SG) for 8 years (Went 1/2s on a house a couple of hours north of Davao City) so when it came to retirement obviously considered moving there & around about that time (just prior to Covid) there was talk that they were going to put an end to the seamless 3 years on Visa Exempt entry & make people leave after 6 months (Philippines isn't the easiest country to do a Border Hop from). 

 

No idea if this will come back on the table but the SRRV has to be amongst the cheapest Retirement Visas out there & if you go down the Marriage route, you get an automatic 1 year on arrival & just have to show "Proof of Finances" (I can't find specific amounts) if you go down the 13A route. 

 

Food sucks so I chose Thailand though the women are much hotter (especially in the Visayas) so it's clear where my priorities lay! 

 

 

 

[BritManToo]

6 minutes ago, Mike Teavee said:

Food sucks so I chose Thailand though the women are much hotter (especially in the Visayas) so it's clear where my priorities lay! 

I rarely eat local food outside the UK.

Plenty of German/Brit/Aussie/Mexican restaurants in PI.

In Thailand I regularly eat at German and Indian restaurants.

[Adumbration]

As @BritManToo has properly stated, adopting a formalized retirement visa in any country should be the very last option considered.

 

There are often better and much more flexible solutions available.

 

 

[Mike Teavee]

40 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I rarely eat local food outside the UK.

Plenty of German/Brit/Aussie/Mexican restaurants in PI.

In Thailand I regularly eat at German and Indian restaurants.

I mainly eat at home & so was referring to the quality of the food that was available in the supermarkets there.  Even in Davao City at the SMs/ Robinson it was pretty poor.

 

I love Korean & Japanese food and have had some of the best I’ve ever tried in Cebu.