1 hour ago, Peter Crow said:

LTR/WP IS a retirement visa.

Now if you reckon the the only retirement visa is yours we are in a totally new dimension...

While your heading was: "Is retirement in Thailand a ticking time bomb?".

Being a rich beyach has really gone to your head. Gloat somewhere else.

Your poop still.stinks.

What you're on is not an upgrade from retirement extensions based on years on the extensions.

That doesn't exist..

That's what the topic is about.

Also the LTR is not permanent residence.

Perhaps start your own topic for the millionaires abroad club.

Enjoy.

After having lived and worked in Bangkok for 12 years, I know that I have no interest in retiring in Thailand. I might like to visit for 3-4 months over the northern hemisphere winter but that is about it. If Thai visa regulations get too difficult, I can always visit other SEA nations.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Being a rich beyach has really gone to your head. Gloat somewhere else.

Your poop still.stinks.

What you're on is not an upgrade from retirement extensions based on years on the extensions.

That doesn't exist..

That's what the topic is about.

Also the LTR is not permanent residence.

Perhaps start your own topic for the millionaires abroad club.

Enjoy.

Pathetic, but what could I expect?

16 hours ago, Jingthing said:

You could ask for a path for permanent residence based on a certain amount of years on annual retirement extensions.

It would be even better, but it is up to the Thai authorities.

1 minute ago, JJ-Thailand said:

It would be even better, but it is up to the Thai authorities.

Obviously and they won't do.it.

But there are consequences for those in the system for that ungenerous policy

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Obviously and they won't do.it.

But there are consequences for those in the system for that ungenerous policy

I agree, they will not do it unless they benefit greatly. Why should they?

16 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Pathetic, but what could I expect?

I'll accept that pathetic insult as a last word hoping you'll be satisfied and stop trying to hijack this topic.

So back to your money now if you please.

1 minute ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I agree, they will not do it unless they benefit greatly. Why should they?

Why do Latin American countries do it?

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Why do Latin American countries do it?

I have been working in some Latin American countries, and they all have different regulations, some better than Thailand and some worse. Some didn't care about working permit but on the other hand they could demand proof of paid taxes in order to issue an exit visa to leave.

5 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I have been working in some Latin American countries, and they all have different regulations, some better than Thailand and some worse. Some didn't care about working permit but on the other hand they could demand proof of paid taxes in order to issue an exit visa to leave.

Obviously each country varies but generally all of the Latin American nations with a retirement visa program and there are many offer either a reasonable time path to or instant permanent residence based on retirement visa status.

The best program is arguably Panama.

Why so different?

Maybe its Christain culture,?

The only Asean nation offering this is Catholic dominated Phillipines.

A nation offering this to aging humans even just lesser foreigners has evidenced a morality beyond transactions showing compassion for the human condition and the way of all flesh.

Another more cynical reason this is generally offered all over Latin America is COMPETITION.

People looking at Uruguay for example are probably looking at some or many other Latin American nations for retirement.

If you don't offer the residence path, your desirability goes down a lot.

These countries usually very much want to attract retired expats.

If a nation there changed their policy to be like Thailand with no such path to permanent residence they would be signaling that they want to see fewer retired expats.

I recall Costa Rica went through changes where they felt they had become too popular so they made their program less attractive. But even in such a case, they STILL have a path to permanent residence based on time in their retirement program.

Panama is an interesting case as they have a very long history of promoting themselves in a soft power way as very attractive to expats as a key part of their international BRANDING. They may or may not have the best retirement program, that depends on some subjective factors, but if they decided to degrade their retirement program they would be be attacking their own long built up positive branding.

You know. similar to how Trump has done that to USA soft power branding.

Not rational. Self destructive. Not likely to happen.

If you choose Panama, you know it is a national policy to really really welcome you. That's a nice warm and fuzzy feeling you'll never get from Thai immigration,

Which reminds me of my first encounter with a Thai immigration officer in Thailand when seeking my very first retirement extension,

His first words to me were to accuse me of giving him a stolen passport. True story. I think the reason was that I did look younger than 50 at the time but still, some welcome to Thailand that was!

That kind of set the tone for the relationship.

Them -- cops.

Me -- suspect.

50 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Thailand with no such path to permanent residence

Did I miss something?

I know many expat with PR. From memory 3 years residence with a job and paying taxes plus a little Thai to survive the interview.

Not so difficult. Well OK it doesn't hurt to offer a donation to a police charity but...

I even know guys who took the next step to Thai citizenship.

BTW. Canada 3 years residence with a job/taxes et. and Citizenship court in English or French.

Uruguay? In a heartbeat if I wasn't already here.

2 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Did I miss something?

I know many expat with PR. From memory 3 years residence with a job and paying taxes plus a little Thai to survive the interview.

Not so difficult. Well OK it doesn't hurt to offer a donation to a police charity but...

I even know guys who took the next step to Thai citizenship.

Uruguay? In a heartbeat if I wasn't already here.

Yeah you missed a lot.

Your quote of me a snipped misleading out of context edit.

The topic is about the path towards residency based on RETIREMENT EXTENSIONS.

Duh.

Again, no such path exists.

About Uruguay, yes it's a very desirable though higher cost country to live in.

However, there is an important detail that I am very confused about for their retirement visa offer.

Many sources say that you need BOTH a passive income of 1500 USD a month (normal and reasonable) but ALSO an investment in Uruguay of at least 100K USD such as but not limited to real estate.

I have seen other sources saying the income is all you need but the majority of sources say both.

That screens out a lot of people including those that have the 100K but just don't want to commit that much.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

If a nation there changed their policy to be like Thailand with no such path to permanent residence they would be signaling that they want to see fewer retired expats.

Is this better ? I only quoted what you wrote. No mention of path for Retired Expats. Is there?

Why would retirement extensions mean anything. Having a job and paying taxes means the individual has made a contribution to society and may continue to do so.

1 minute ago, VocalNeal said:

Is this better ? I only quoted what you wrote. No mention of path for Retired Expats. Is there?

Why would retirement extensions mean anything. Having a job and paying taxes means the individual has made a contribution to society and may continue to do so.

Again -- OUT OF CONTEXT!

Intentionally misleading.
Why do you insist on being such a pest?

The post (and overall topic)was clearly and obviously about RETIREMENT EXTENSIONS.

Nothing at all to do with people who have worked in Thailand.

Here is the entire post that in this case you SHOULD have posted but if you had, what you posted in reply would have been revealed as moronic --

Another more cynical reason this is generally offered all over Latin America is COMPETITION.

People looking at Uruguay for example are probably looking at some or many other Latin American nations for retirement.

If you don't offer the residence path, your desirability goes down a lot.

These countries usually very much want to attract retired expats.

If a nation there changed their policy to be like Thailand with no such path to permanent residence they would be signaling that they want to see fewer retired expats.

I recall Costa Rica went through changes where they felt they had become too popular so they made their program less attractive. But even in such a case, they STILL have a path to permanent residence based on time in their retirement program.

Panama is an interesting case as they have a very long history of promoting themselves in a soft power way as very attractive to expats as a key part of their international BRANDING. They may or may not have the best retirement program, that depends on some subjective factors, but if they decided to degrade their retirement program they would be be attacking their own long built up positive branding.

You know. similar to how Trump has done that to USA soft power branding.

Not rational. Self destructive. Not likely to happen.

If you choose Panama, you know it is a national policy to really really welcome you. That's a nice warm and fuzzy feeling you'll never get from Thai immigration,

Which reminds me of my first encounter with a Thai immigration officer in Thailand when seeking my very first retirement extension,

His first words to me were to accuse me of giving him a stolen passport. True story. I think the reason was that I did look younger than 50 at the time but still, some welcome to Thailand that was!

That kind of set the tone for the relationship.

Them -- cops.

Me -- suspect.

On 4/19/2026 at 6:37 AM, Jingthing said:

This isn't about the personal details of the youtuber.

It's about the message in the content.

An idiot giving everything to his drug addicted wife who age wise could be his daughter. Really hope this is not representative of the retirees here.

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

An idiot giving everything to his drug addicted wife who age wise could be his daughter. Really hope this is not representative of the retirees here.

Kind of silly to focus on the youtuber. That is not the point of this topic,.

Just now, Jingthing said:

Kind of silly to focus on the youtuber. That is not the point of this topic,.

I focused on the guy he was talking about, that IS the point of this topic..

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

I focused on the guy he was talking about, that IS the point of this topic..

It's a much wider more universal point actually applying to al of us on retirement extensions which you would know already if you had bothered to read the topic.

Off topic, but if anyone who has actually applied for the Uruguay retirement visa recently can tell us whether you need BOTH the income and investment or not, I would appreciate hearing from you.

BTW -- my AI search says you do need BOTH (1500 USD monthly income PLUS 100K investment) but that isn't really proof.

If they change their requirements for extension of retirement visa, they used a "Grandfather" rule back in the days. I think I heard or read one from the forum who did mention this earlier, and this is what I found :

The "Grandfather Rule" in Thailand specifically refers to a provision for foreigners who have held uninterrupted retirement extensions since before October 21, 1998.

Source

G.A.M. Legal Alliance

1. Retirement Extensions (Pre-1998 Only)

If you obtained your first retirement extension before October 21, 1998, and have never let it lapse, you qualify for lower financial thresholds:

Source Integrity Legal

Age 60+: Must show a bank balance of at least 200,000 THB (held for 3 months) OR a monthly income of at least 20,000 THB.

Age 55–59: Must show a bank balance of at least 500,000 THB (held for 3 months) OR a monthly income of at least 50,000 THB

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

It's a much wider more universal point actually applying to al of us on retirement extensions which you would know already if you had bothered to read the topic.

I react on the OP, you should add all relevant info in there to start with.

Yes grandfathering has been a thing and may be a thing in future but there has NEVER been a policy of offering a path to permanent residence based on retirement extensions so NOTHING to grandfather about that.

A case which wasn't grandfathered.

When they added health insurance requirement to new AND existing OA visas (and those extending who started with OA), that was NOT grandfathered for those already in the system.

In response to that rude shock of not grandfathering, many people started over again with an O, not OA visa, as the O visa still does not require health insurance.

1 minute ago, FritsSikkink said:

I react on the OP, you should add all relevant info in there to start with.

Noted.

Bye for now.

6 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Why do Latin American countries do it?

Why are hookers cheaper in Brownsville than Manhattan?

Here we go