Of course residence security (or not) is one of multiple important factors to consider.

For those nations that have a path to citizenship they usually also have a path to permanent residence in which case you'll never have an issue with citizenship rules.

List of Countries That Do Not Allow Dual Citizenship (Full List + Legal Guide) | Premium Citizen

www.premium-citizen.com/list-of-countries-that-do-not-allow-dual-citizenship/

Some typical concerns other than residence security --

Visa situation -- do you even qualify?

Is there a specific place there that you would like?

Weather

Health care, access, quality, cost

Some countries offer entry into good (or bad) national health care systems to retired expats

Private insurance, required or not? All EU nations require it at least initially if you're not from a EU nation

Can you get it? Can you afford it if required.

Crime and safety

Cost of living with housing usually being the most looked at part

Social considerations. Lots of expats or few? Up to you. Ease of integration vs. difficult. Looking for a local sig other or not?

Language. English speaking, lots of English speakers, or not?

Is the native language easy or hard and useful or not elsewhere?

A funny thing about language. If you move to a Spanish speaking nation, locals will EXPECT you to learn to at least a basic level. Also in doing business/banking etc. you may even need to hire translators. They know that's relatively easy. However, as you know if you move to an expat bubble area of Thailand, you really don't need to learn Thai.

This trips up a lot of people who move to Spanish speaking nations thinking I really will learn it, and then so many never do, and that alone can lead to failing as an expat.

Banking and taxation.

Can be a real deal breaker.

Your tax situation will often vary based on your residence status.

What most retired expats want is for their outside income or global wealth NOT to be taxed. Unfortunately Thailand is now one of annoying nations with that issue.

Personal interests stuff.

Etc.

2 hours ago, NONG CHOK said:

I've already told my wife don't take me to a hospital if I get seriously ill. Just get a doctor to prescribe me pain killers and let me die in peace in our home.

That's no use, you need to plan it better than that

17 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

I think the availability of a gym would be very low on the list of someone considering retiring......anywhere.

If they're workout people, like myself, they would have that as one priority, as we don't give that up so easily, although it might be curtailed a little in favor of retirement entertainment. I certainly miss a decent gym close by, as i only had to go 8 miles for 32 years living in Texas.

37 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

I think the availability of a gym would be very low on the list of someone considering retiring......anywhere.

Depending on your previous lifestyle, I have also met surprisingly many who came here for the party scene and easy going women, ended up finding a younger wife, and changed their lifestyle completely.

Paradise and partying become dead boring after a while, and new love can work miracles.

The gym is also a great place to meet new people, make friends, and socialize.

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Depending on your previous lifestyle, I have also met surprisingly many who came here for the party scene and easy going women, ended up finding a younger wife, and changed their lifestyle completely.

Paradise and partying become dead boring after a while, and new love can work miracles.

If seeking love in a gym is your thing....go for it, I'm not one to judge.

9 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

If seeking love in a gym is your thing....go for it, I'm not one to judge.

I am not sure whether you misunderstood me on purpose or whether my post was unclear. I am talking about men who came to Thailand for the same reasons many others do, chasing the fun side of life, and then at some point found love. Later, many of them realized that too much of that lifestyle could lead to an early exit from everything they truly hold dear. So they began to exercise, and it became a life-saving habit. Maybe it was the wife, maybe the doctor, or maybe both who convinced them. Or perhaps a healthier side of their old lifestyle simply came back to life.

Stay long enough at the same gym and you start seeing the same people all the time. That alone creates a kind of bond, and for some it becomes friendship, social life, and for sure, sometimes even love.

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

I think the availability of a gym would be very low on the list of someone considering retiring......anywhere.

Not for people who like gyms. Many farangs are alcoholics due to no real hobbies. Lots on here are Trump hating nutters with no hobbies.

It would be in my top 7 list.

8 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I am not sure whether you misunderstood me on purpose or whether my post was unclear. I am talking about men who came to Thailand for the same reasons many others do, chasing the fun side of life, and then at some point found love. Later, many of them realized that too much of that lifestyle could lead to an early exit from everything they truly hold dear. So they began to exercise, and it became a life-saving habit. Maybe it was the wife, maybe the doctor, or maybe both who convinced them. Or perhaps a healthier side of their old lifestyle simply came back to life.

Stay long enough at the same gym and you start seeing the same people all the time. That alone creates a kind of bond, and for some it becomes friendship, social life, and for sure, sometimes even love.

Yes most gym folks are friendly. Both weights and muay. Good way to meet people. Plus its fun and cheap if you pick the right gym. There is a hot chick in Pranburi gym behind the counter.

3 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

I disagree. Music created since 2015 has nothing that interests me. All my favourite songs are older. Bands tend to have 1 to 4 good albums in them. Then they lose the ability to create.

I do not agree.

Latest GWAR EP (The Return of Gor Gor) is one of their best, release last year.

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

I do not agree.

Latest GWAR EP (The Return of Gor Gor) is one of their best, release last year.

Is that a video game?

1 minute ago, Rockyroad said:

Is that a video game?

turn your volume up, Tyrant King is next level brilliant.

ICP - The Naught is also a great album released last year, Mike E.Clark is brilliant on Everbody Dies.

6 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

turn your volume up, Tyrant King is next level brilliant.

Headache material. Awful stuff.

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

My experience with Muslims in the south has been very positive. I found people polite, friendly, and respectful, and I never had a bad experience while living in Krabi and Trang or travelling through southern Thailand. From what I have seen, crime against both Western tourists and expats also appeared to be very low, if present at all.

So what is it that makes you dislike Muslims in Thailand?

Six thousand dead Thais they have killed in their so called insurgency in ht past 25 years is a good reason, actually an on off jihad waged against the army, police, teachers and monks etc. Of course not all muslims, it's the ideology. But they all follow a book which condones slavery, rape, child marriage and jihad. They all idolise the jew hating liar who was responsible for it. Welcomed into Medina by the Jews after being kicked out of Mecca, within 5 years he had either killed them all or driven them out. It's not the muslims which is the problem, it's Islam.

14 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

turn your volume up, Tyrant King is next level brilliant.

ICP - The Naught is also a great album released last year, Mike E.Clark is brilliant on Everbody Dies.

Tyrant King sounds good. Could be straight from the eighties thrash metal though. Reminded me of Powermad for example - Slaughterhouse is a good example. Song from Wild at Heart.

9 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I've linked a couple of this guy's videos before.

He might be an AI .... the videos might be AI generated.

He bashes Thailand constantly.

There's a new series of Beef. At the start they are at a charity event.. for Save the Frogs.

But I thought the guy had some ok points. Seen worse.

1 hour ago, Rockyroad said:

Headache material. Awful stuff.

we have diffferent tastes in music.

Amazing Thailand!

9 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

we have diffferent tastes in music.

Amazing Thailand!

Too heavy. Metalica is good. More heavy I cant handle. Just yelling.

On 4/19/2026 at 6:32 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Nonsense.

Majority in German written with K (Markus).

Marcus Rashford

Marcus King

Marcus Mumford

Marcus Thuram

tbc

All German 🤣

Marcus Stoinis, Australian cricket player

Marcus Aurelius

On 4/19/2026 at 6:20 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Very true

So if I retire say spend my retirement funds and buy a million dollar AUD apartment overlooking Jomtien beach then buy a Mercedes Benz and then motorbikes etc ...they can still kick me out anytime

The retirements visa is one year right

So dont buy all that stuff or rent it just in case. The rules and examples are clear.

On 4/19/2026 at 6:20 AM, Celsius said:

Marcus is German name.

Another fake australian

All Australians are "fake" except for Aboriginals.

On 4/19/2026 at 7:07 AM, Jingthing said:

Ignoring the trolls, the lack of residency security here for retired expats is the main reason that I keep up on potentially viable PLAN B not home country options outside of Thailand.

But that isn't at all foolproof.

By the time you need to make such a move, it could easily be too late and you would become another good example for the video maker.

We may like to think we are in complete control of our lives and external events but that's a delusion.

On 4/19/2026 at 7:07 AM, Jingthing said:

Ignoring the trolls, the lack of residency security here for retired expats is the main reason that I keep up on potentially viable PLAN B not home country options outside of Thailand.

But that isn't at all foolproof.

By the time you need to make such a move, it could easily be too late and you would become another good example for the video maker.

We may like to think we are in complete control of our lives and external events but that's a delusion.

Too many COULDs and WOULDs.

Yet another scaremongering post looking for likes.

Yawn 🥱 💤

On 4/19/2026 at 7:01 AM, Rockyroad said:

I've seen his videos before. The guy is a clown. His balls have still not dropped and he is so dumb he can't pronounce baht. It is just clickbait crap to boost his income like most Youtubers. You can learn more from AI in 2 minutes than watching any of his crappy videos. Sadly none of the farang Youtubers based in Thailand are any good. The best ones are all Thai.

Perception is a funny thing. One guy can watch the video and say the producer is an idiot and a clown, and I watch the video and concur with every word he said. It all boils down to some people being in serious total denial of the TRUTH! Just hang in there fellas. If you haven't tasted the wrath of the Thai culture and government systems, it's only a matter of time.

Aged 85, retired to Thailand since 1993 on a retirement visa. 800k baht in the bank, annual extensions. I have always hoped the Thai authorities would change their thinking and, at least, offer us 3 or 5 year extensions, hopefully even more for those of us who have been around for a long time, and who have always obeyed all the rules. It would relieve Immigration of a significant workload while maintaining departmental cash flow. However, sadly, nothing changes. One wonders if agents' relationships with many visa issuing immigration officers have something to do with this resistance to change.

On 4/19/2026 at 6:18 AM, Jingthing said:

This video suggests that it is.

I agree with the thesis though I don't necessarily agree there is bad intent in the policies.

I have been saying for decades that the problem with the Thailand retirement visa program is a complete lack of residency security.

Someone here 30 years has no more status than a new guy fresh off the plane.

To me, that doesn't seem morally right.

Yet, aware of all that, I stay, and so do countiess others who may or may not be as aware of this ticking time bomb.

Try living in the UK today, the rents in major towns are unaffordable, a doctors appointment can take weeks, referral to a hospital can take months, sometimes years even as a cancer patient, lose your job and you are in real trouble despite the so called social security, homelessness in London doubled in the last 12 months. The laws and regulations are piling up exponentially with horrific fines for the most silly mistakes which a few years ago wouldn't have caused a raised eyebrow, the social tension in the UK is palpable, people feel crushed. Don't post your true feelings on social media as you could end up with the police on your doorstep. After 20 years of living in Thailand I feel safe and secure, my 18 year old son wanted me to get him a UK passport, he wanted to study at a UK university, I declined, he is now enrolled in a University in Buriram, forget the West I told him, you are better off in Asia and as a well educated Thai in Thailand who speaks perfect English you have a brighter future here.

After 40 years retiirement in Thailand the only rule that irks me is the futile 90 da report although on line is easy.

I wish my former country the UK would keep a closer check on people entering. and clain

ming benifits. Thailand no money no honey or piss off works fine.

On 4/19/2026 at 7:18 AM, Jingthing said:

This video suggests that it is.

I agree with the thesis though I don't necessarily agree there is bad intent in the policies.

I have been saying for decades that the problem with the Thailand retirement visa program is a complete lack of residency security.

Someone here 30 years has no more status than a new guy fresh off the plane.

To me, that doesn't seem morally right.

Yet, aware of all that, I stay, and so do countiess others who may or may not be as aware of this ticking time bomb.

I like it that the new guys 'fresh off the plane' are saying the same things that we joked about over forty years ago. Of course back then, we didn't have YouTube accounts to monetize things that most of the world didn't care about, and probably still doesn't.

As for 'residency security', legal pathways to Thai permanent residence or citizenship have always been there. Having said that, if the western concept of morality is important, the opening two lines of the Thai national anthem says it all.

On 4/19/2026 at 6:18 AM, Jingthing said:

This video suggests that it is.

I agree with the thesis though I don't necessarily agree there is bad intent in the policies.

I have been saying for decades that the problem with the Thailand retirement visa program is a complete lack of residency security.

Someone here 30 years has no more status than a new guy fresh off the plane.

To me, that doesn't seem morally right.

Yet, aware of all that, I stay, and so do countiess others who may or may not be as aware of this ticking time bomb.

Does anyone know of a well-behaved retiree who has been refused an extension of stay?

On 4/19/2026 at 6:18 AM, Jingthing said:

This video suggests that it is.

I agree with the thesis though I don't necessarily agree there is bad intent in the policies.

I have been saying for decades that the problem with the Thailand retirement visa program is a complete lack of residency security.

Someone here 30 years has no more status than a new guy fresh off the plane.

To me, that doesn't seem morally right.

Yet, aware of all that, I stay, and so do countiess others who may or may not be as aware of this ticking time bomb.

I watched the first minute and then realised it was yet another dim farang story and so I could not be bothered to watch the rest as I have seen it all before countless times, the usual story which so many stupid farangs get themselves into.

It is simple, keep your money, you wealth in your own country, make sure you have a good pension and additional income coming in, spend what you need and then escape back to your own country when your long term VISIT is over (we are only visitors) , use the free health system back in your own country.

Basically, stop being stupid, we know the score, we know the rules from day one.

But just to be clear, Thailand is great, it is not a paradise as there is no such thing but it has lots of advantages, the rules here are no different to anywhere else, if a very young woman says she loves you as an old man then it can not be true, she is after your money.

2 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I watched the first minute and then realised it was yet another dim farang story and so I could not be bothered to watch the rest as I have seen it all before countless times, the usual story which so many stupid farangs get themselves into.

It is simple, keep your money, you wealth in your own country, make sure you have a good pension and additional income coming in, spend what you need and then escape back to your own country when your long term VISIT is over (we are only visitors) , use the free health system back in your own country.

Basically, stop being stupid, we know the score, we know the rules from day one.

But just to be clear, Thailand is great, it is not a paradise as there is no such thing but it has lots of advantages, the rules here are no different to anywhere else, if a very young woman says she loves you as an old man then it can not be true, she is after your money.

"use the free health system back in your own country"

Many countries do not have such a free health care system.