23 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Are you?    Yes, I live in Thailand.   That is not "a ban on alcohol sales", it is a restriction during very limited hours.

2pm to 5pm sales of alcohol are banned. FACT.

20 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

in 2004 I was 47 and made my first visit to Thailand.  was enamored with the place.  I quickly checked on the retirement visa options. At the time USA citizens could do the income verification affidavit with their embassy.  Great, fantastic.   I knew a few americans here at home that had their retirement visas/extension stamps.  I was 100% sure and planning on getting a retirement stay as soon as I was eligible at age 50.  I would not be retired as I still do contract engineering work but I thought it would be great to have the visa and extension stamp in my back pocket so anytime I wanted to head to Thailand I was good to go.  Planned on buying a condo, etc.  well staying long time got more challenging.  USA embassy no longer doing affidavit letter.  Had to deposit money.  Then a few years ago very strict enforcement and requirement for monthly transfers in option.  I then thought of the Elite Visa which was palatable but a bit expensive.  Then recently they raised that price from 500k to 600k.    I returned 14 more times up until 2019. I was working more than not working so visiting Thailand on visa exempts with occasional extension was ok.

 

Now I got my non imm O 90 day visa in hand and am going to Thailand Dec 2.  Scoping out if I really want to stay long term there as things have changed a lot since 2004. I can easily afford it in many ways.  but even starting the first extension, one Must and I mean must depositn 800k baht for that first year extension.  That is around $25,000 USD.  That is a significant amount of monies one would have to put there that would not now be invested in your home country earning interest, dividends, or gains from trades or whatever.  To get the O visa, I had to show proof of income for the last three months.  That really should be all that's needed to get the first year's extension.  And also when applying for the first extension, show at least two months of transfers in.  That is reasonable proof of financial 65k income available.  Each 90 day report could then check that you still are making income transfers.  If not, then visa is revoked and out you go.   Having to initially deposit 25K USD is a pain

Whatever you do, if you do decide to get a bank account for the 800K deposit, do not use Bangkok Bank.  They have implemented draconian rules (only in Thailand would this happen) and they have locked my 800K up for 4 months after the date I was approved for an extension.  Use another bank - Krungsri is OK and what I am using. Either that or Kasikorn IMO. 

 

But IMO the first thing you need to decide is where do you want to retire to Thailand and where in Thailand - big issues for the retirement extensions - each Immigration Office in a Province is different - as are the banks in each Province. If I was younger and single I would probably not retire to Thailand right now - I would try a few places and other countries first. In Thailand IMO there are only 2 places to live in Thailand and that is in/near Pattaya or Chiang Mai. Bangkok is extremely hard to get around - the BTS is OK but when you then have to walk/taxi it becomes very hot and tiresome.  Phuket is too expensive and full of tourists (10 million a year on a small island) and worst scammers in the country and also extremely hard to get around.  The rest are much less in terms of services and infrastructure for Expats - I would not be here except for my lovely Thai wife - same for 99% of Expats in Isan and other locations. 

 

Try each place for a while - note the smoke in Chiang Mai can get troublesome, but it is also there in Pattaya and everywhere else in the country too - Dec to March.  I would then try Vietnam and Philippines and Malaysia (Penang) and Indonesia (Bali) - 1-2 months at a time would be enough - then decide where.

 

Philippines Malaysia and Indonesia have existing retirement Visa packages - check them out. Thailand's is all over the place and I have a feeling that after the next election things will change again.  Plus Thailand is changing their income tax system for money earned overseas from a remittance-only to a global-basis system - it will take a few years though. Do not commit to Thailand by buying a property for many years - only rent until things become clearer - it could get better and it could get worse.  Until 2015 when the Junta started making changes, Thailand was great - not so much nowadays - and they still impose reporting to Police every 3 months, and none of those other places do that. 

 

I only visited Philippines for a few weeks, but given their consistent and fair dealings with retired Expats for the last 15+ years (compared to Thailand), that is probably where I would try first.  But the new kid on the block is Vietnam and they are making all the right noises - many blokes have moved there from here already - never been there myself as 15 years ago they were 'closed' - they dont have all the Expat services and infrastructure as Thailand or Philippines (yet).  

 

IMO keep visiting places for the next few years before deciding - and for Pete's sake avoid getting hitched up to a local girl for a few years at least.  Do not let them move in with you - they will never leave (willingly) and you will have to walk away - and keep your personal details secret from locals and other Expats alike. 

On 11/13/2025 at 2:32 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

There is no ban on alcohol sales.    

 

Not anyone can captain a boat, they have to be licenced.

They have to be registered to be a Doctor, but a raid on a Patayya clinic ended up with 2 Doctors minutes before the Raid doing a runner.

17 hours ago, bannork said:

The utter stupidity of Brexit in action

 

It didn't happen, at least not in full, so the Brits are stuck with the worst of all possibilities.  Had the plan been fully executed England would have autonomy and probably wouldn't have a flotilla of human flotsam crossing the Channel on pool noodles and air mattresses.  

2 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

On 11/14/2025 at 2:03 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

Are you?    Yes, I live in Thailand.   That is not "a ban on alcohol sales", it is a restriction during very limited hours.

2pm to 5pm sales of alcohol are banned. FACT.

That's what I said, there are restrictions on the hours, 

"Continue ban on alcohol sales..."

Acohol sales  are not banned in Thailand as you falsely claimed.  FACT.

1 hour ago, BarraMarra said:

They have to be registered to be a Doctor, but a raid on a Patayya clinic ended up with 2 Doctors minutes before the Raid doing a runner.

No doctors did runners

2 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Bangkok is extremely hard to get around...

That's got to be the biggest load of nonsense posted here for a long time!

On 11/14/2025 at 3:49 PM, Shocked farang said:

For my nationality it's actually 90 days! 

90 days visa exemption in Thailand? What is your nationality?

2 hours ago, thaibreaker said:

90 days visa exemption in Thailand? What is your nationality?

Brazilian 

I just saw a thai lawyer explained the new visa rules thats already effective,

U can get 60 days on arrival and after get 30 days more at IMM.U can only get maximum 7 days more after the visa period is over so u have time to leave.U will NOT get a new 60 days traveling outside Thailand for a few days and come back.The maximum days a tourist will get is 90. days a year.So the golden time for visa runners who have abused the system is now over!!!!

 

On 11/13/2025 at 9:30 PM, Caldera said:

They shouldn't have extended the visa exempt scheme to 93 nationalities and at the same time to 60 days for all of them. Madness.

 

Their timing for this "crackdown" is pretty silly though: high season is about to start, snowbirds are about to arrive, tourist numbers have been disappointing...

Malaysia offers a 90 day visa exempt entry to many countries, yet they do not have the same issues with rampant crime by immigrants that Thailand has.

11 hours ago, norsurin said:

I just saw a thai lawyer explained the new visa rules thats already effective,

U can get 60 days on arrival and after get 30 days more at IMM.U can only get maximum 7 days more after the visa period is over so u have time to leave.U will NOT get a new 60 days traveling outside Thailand for a few days and come back.The maximum days a tourist will get is 90. days a year.So the golden time for visa runners who have abused the system is now over!!!!

 

 if   this  is true,  i stay here in the summer and in the winter and have residence in other country , i think i  and others not abuse system , but i had last year 7 entry stamps  , one only even 4 days here ,some 2-3 weeks.

 

so now i come  mid october --going for 10 day cambodia meanes i cant come back thailand ???

 

hahah do it ....   non o multi cancelled ...i cancell thailand as hub .. i was and would be never working here just spending money here ,and a lot over the years.  but since 2017 they started already , thats why bought home outside thaialnd , because  thailand is not reliable more

 

....make thailand empty again not great

On 11/14/2025 at 11:02 PM, ultramarine said:

This is similar to my situation and probably fairly common   As snowbirds, we felt getting a retirement visa was unnecessary and too much trouble since we didn't want to stay the whole year.  So how to stay for 4 winter months -- aye, that is the question!   Getting a 60 day SETV and then extending it once gets you 90 days.  Not bad, but you're flying back home in February.  Not an appealing prospect.  

last winter was 4 month in asia   ,...traveled a week to vietnam another time 2 x 10day cambodia, 1x malaysia 5 days

not any visa would fit

before had non o multi but this is cancelled

 

wonderful thailand  .. i could make retirement but i not live here and have residence in other country

 

i  start hate it now,but i know since 20 years its common here..senseless

for thai it would be so easy , to do the right thing.

 

you caan stay by whatever stamp  180 days per 365 days ,and i f you stay longer have to go to imigration

 

how controll ??? BY YOUR COMPUTER ,they have all data,just conigurate  the computer  ,more 180 days you get RED go home ,so easy

 

other countrys they show you on the screen e entry how long you can stay , 180 days and after RED...dont  need even an officer.

 

so why here all this junk going on????

2 hours ago, SmokeandIce said:

Malaysia offers a 90 day visa exempt entry to many countries, yet they do not have the same issues with rampant crime by immigrants that Thailand has.

 

I wonder why that is the case? Maybe they don't have a police farce, but an actual police force that does actual policing.

19 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's what I said, there are restrictions on the hours, 

"Continue ban on alcohol sales..."

Acohol sales  are not banned in Thailand as you falsely claimed.  FACT.

You got issues mate - take a chill pill and relax.

19 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That's got to be the biggest load of nonsense posted here for a long time!

Serious issues - take two chill pills 

2 hours ago, lapamita said:

for thai it would be so easy , to do the right thing.

 

you caan stay by whatever stamp  180 days per 365 days ,and i f you stay longer have to go to imigration

 

how controll ??? BY YOUR COMPUTER ,they have all data,just conigurate  the computer  ,more 180 days you get RED go home ,so easy

 

other countrys they show you on the screen e entry how long you can stay , 180 days and after RED...dont  need even an officer.

 

so why here all this junk going on????

U don't get it.Its maximum 90 days a year now.Ur living in ur own imagination!

14 hours ago, norsurin said:

I just saw a thai lawyer explained the new visa rules thats already effective,

U can get 60 days on arrival and after get 30 days more at IMM.U can only get maximum 7 days more after the visa period is over so u have time to leave.U will NOT get a new 60 days traveling outside Thailand for a few days and come back.The maximum days a tourist will get is 90. days a year.So the golden time for visa runners who have abused the system is now over!!!!

 

 

   Could you post a link to that Thai Lawyers explanation ? 

5 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Could you post a link to that Thai Lawyers explanation ? 

WeI saw it on FB  It was on lawyer for expats thailand..The guy from UK is not a lawyer but they work with thai lawyers and the female lawyer explained it wery easy.

21 hours ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Whatever you do, if you do decide to get a bank account for the 800K deposit, do not use Bangkok Bank.  They have implemented draconian rules (only in Thailand would this happen) and they have locked my 800K up for 4 months after the date I was approved for an extension.  Use another bank - Krungsri is OK and what I am using. Either that or Kasikorn IMO. 

 

But IMO the first thing you need to decide is where do you want to retire to Thailand and where in Thailand - big issues for the retirement extensions - each Immigration Office in a Province is different - as are the banks in each Province. If I was younger and single I would probably not retire to Thailand right now - I would try a few places and other countries first. In Thailand IMO there are only 2 places to live in Thailand and that is in/near Pattaya or Chiang Mai. Bangkok is extremely hard to get around - the BTS is OK but when you then have to walk/taxi it becomes very hot and tiresome.  Phuket is too expensive and full of tourists (10 million a year on a small island) and worst scammers in the country and also extremely hard to get around.  The rest are much less in terms of services and infrastructure for Expats - I would not be here except for my lovely Thai wife - same for 99% of Expats in Isan and other locations. 

 

Try each place for a while - note the smoke in Chiang Mai can get troublesome, but it is also there in Pattaya and everywhere else in the country too - Dec to March.  I would then try Vietnam and Philippines and Malaysia (Penang) and Indonesia (Bali) - 1-2 months at a time would be enough - then decide where.

 

Philippines Malaysia and Indonesia have existing retirement Visa packages - check them out. Thailand's is all over the place and I have a feeling that after the next election things will change again.  Plus Thailand is changing their income tax system for money earned overseas from a remittance-only to a global-basis system - it will take a few years though. Do not commit to Thailand by buying a property for many years - only rent until things become clearer - it could get better and it could get worse.  Until 2015 when the Junta started making changes, Thailand was great - not so much nowadays - and they still impose reporting to Police every 3 months, and none of those other places do that. 

 

I only visited Philippines for a few weeks, but given their consistent and fair dealings with retired Expats for the last 15+ years (compared to Thailand), that is probably where I would try first.  But the new kid on the block is Vietnam and they are making all the right noises - many blokes have moved there from here already - never been there myself as 15 years ago they were 'closed' - they dont have all the Expat services and infrastructure as Thailand or Philippines (yet).  

 

IMO keep visiting places for the next few years before deciding - and for Pete's sake avoid getting hitched up to a local girl for a few years at least.  Do not let them move in with you - they will never leave (willingly) and you will have to walk away - and keep your personal details secret from locals and other Expats alike. 

all good points, thanks.  I been to Thailand 15 times over the years.  I am sure I would pick the Pattaya area.  This trip is just a scope out and getting a bank for the future there in case I do extensions.  Everything else is TBD.  I am well funded capitally, my Social security alone is more than enough.  The only  big catch with Thailand and me at 68 is the health insurance availability and cost.  I am on USA medicare.  Not a single health issue, knock on wood.  

11 minutes ago, norsurin said:

WeI saw it on FB  It was on lawyer for expats thailand..The guy from UK is not a lawyer but they work with thai lawyers and the female lawyer explained it wery easy.

 

   Could you repost it here ?

 

  Its OK, I found it myself

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=lawyer for expats thailand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, norsurin said:

I saw it on FB I think it was on lawyers for expats.The guy from UK is not a lawyer but they work with thai lawyers and the female lawyer explained it wery easy.

 

This guy?  

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D64rqwqtW/

17 hours ago, Shocked farang said:

Brazilian 

 

The 90 days is for diplomatic passports, otherwise it is 60 days with an option to extend by 30 days  giving 90 days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is no need to panic. The  review is targeting the foreigners implicated in cyber and financial crime who enter on the visitor visas and who abuse them. Thai immigration is targeting the people who are on watch lists and who are frequenting the  border areas where the scam call centers are.  The people who are most likely to be stopped are  the nationals of China,  Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam. People like 70 year old Sven from Sweden and 80 year old Olaf from Norway will not be bothered. 

can you below 50 suckers get ED visa these days ?

14 hours ago, norsurin said:

I just saw a thai lawyer explained the new visa rules thats already effective,

U can get 60 days on arrival and after get 30 days more at IMM.U can only get maximum 7 days more after the visa period is over so u have time to leave.U will NOT get a new 60 days traveling outside Thailand for a few days and come back.The maximum days a tourist will get is 90. days a year.So the golden time for visa runners who have abused the system is now over!!!!

 

 

    Take what he sys with  pinch of salt .

He is selling visas for Thailand .

He also seems a bit confused .

 A second extension to visa extension is 7 days .

If you get a new visa , then you can get  new first extension .

60 days + 30 days + 7 days , then 

60 days + 30 days + 7 days

 

 NOT 60 days + 30 days + 7 days then 

60 days + 7 days

 

3 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

There is no need to panic. The  review is targeting the foreigners implicated in cyber and financial crime who enter on the visitor visas and who abuse them. Thai immigration is targeting the people who are on watch lists and who are frequenting the  border areas where the scam call centers are.  The people who are most likely to be stopped are  the nationals of China,  Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea and Vietnam. People like 70 year old Sven from Sweden and 80 year old Olaf from Norway will not be bothered. 

Not what I was told, everyone is being questioned......🤨

13 minutes ago, mordothailand said:

can you below 50 suckers get ED visa these days ?

Did you....?    🤫

8 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

    Take what he sys with  pinch of salt .

He is selling visas for Thailand .

He also seems a bit confused .

 A second extension to visa extension is 7 days .

If you get a new visa , then you can get  new first extension .

60 days + 30 days + 7 days , then 

60 days + 30 days + 7 days

 

 NOT 60 days + 30 days + 7 days then 

60 days + 7 days

 

I only listened to what the female lawyer said.I know this guy selling visas for Thailand.

Anyway if u get a visa on arrival the rules seems clear to me.