Farangs, having lived in Thailand for a long time utter concerns, concerning their future in Thailand. Stricter visa rules and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer. No matter how long a Farang has lived in the kingdom. This seems to be the main concern of Farangs residing in Thailand.

I believe those concerns are unfounded, concerning "old Farang hands" in Thailand.

Because: The very day, the Thai-Government should find it advisable to tell long-term Farangs "go back home" would cause a Tornado all accross the tabloid-paper universe.

Like: "Europeans that helped to build modern Thailand dispossed". OR: Marriages lasting for decades officially declared "irrelevant". Making it on the 6 o'clock news worldwide. Making Thailand a racist Pariah country, far away from any international standarts.

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand. Enjoy the sunset and everything else that Thailand has to offer.

= Amazing Thailand.

So, do you mean "old hands" or "old hams"?

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, Dream, Discover,” is widely attributed to Mark Twain.

What are the statistics of long term farang expats leaving thailyto go back to their own country?

Oh please spare us the details

40 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

What are the statistics of long term farang expats leaving thailyto go back to their own country?

Oh please spare us the details

Georgenta, do not dismiss this one so quickly. You have just let a massive opportunity walk straight past you.

That was a golden one.

You could have gone all in on it.

Full scale project.

Long term farang exit rates

Country of origin breakdown

Age profiles

Mopping for life versus retirement ratios

Condo correlation, especially Flybird vs Nirun

Return to wife probability index

Even a field component.

Station yourself outside bars and interview departing blokes about where it all went wrong with their ladyboy lover and why they are heading back.

This is prime material.

Opportunity of a lifetime.

Hard to believe you are letting this one slip.

I would reconsider.

The statistical potential alone is enormous.

Money to be made.

Corporations will pay big for this data!

Edited May 6May 6 by BilllyGOAT

1 hour ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Georgenta, do not dismiss this one so quickly. You have just let a massive opportunity walk straight past you.

That was a golden one.

You could have gone all in on it.

Full scale project.

Long term farang exit rates

Country of origin breakdown

Age profiles

Mopping for life versus retirement ratios

Condo correlation, especially Flybird vs Nirun

Return to wife probability index

Even a field component.

Station yourself outside bars and interview departing blokes about where it all went wrong with their ladyboy lover and why they are heading back.

This is prime material.

Opportunity of a lifetime.

Hard to believe you are letting this one slip.

I would reconsider.

The statistical potential alone is enormous.

Money to be made.

Corporations will pay big for this data!

Ill even buy him a new clipboard and hi viz vest.

After living in Thailand for the past 25 years I've learn't to ignore all the brain f**t immigration changes unless they affect me personally. It's obvious that the rich Thais don't want us here but the poor people in Thailand which is 70% of the population simply don't care. So just relax and enjoy your retirement. Just think of an alternative like returning to your country and living through miserable winters again.

I recall reading something in the Bangkok post a few years back that stated most Thai have about 500 baht in the bank. I read an article just yesterday about how elderly farmers will never repay their debts.

Thai Banks are pretty solid with the exception that there must be massive amounts of bad loans from condos on their books. I'm certainly not saying that foreign money keeps the country afloat but when you think of fractional reserve it can't hurt. Pushing foreigners out, their accounts and their business go as well doesn't seem like a wise move.

I think IO in Bangkok have become more picky. It might also be that they've grown into their job and become more knowledgeable about what they're looking for. But some of the stuff is really really too nitpicky.

Having said all that nothing's essentially changed in Bangkok. I will also say that a lot of drama has been created because of the Chinese and perhaps Indians. I wish that they would look at us westerners a little bit differently.

There's absolutely no hope for this, but I really wish that they would allow foreigners to own to rai of land/ house. Permanent residency for those married over 15 years seems very reasonable.

There have been changes though for instance the fashionable scam now is the condo visa. Like most of the untraditional visas offered in the past 5 years it's basically worthless.

I sense a tightening in the banking system which isn't a good thing, but understandable. It's happening in the United States as well.

In summary, other than minor changes in immigration when I go to make my extension it's the same. I no longer do runners so I can't comment on that lifestyle although that looks like it's far more difficult.

I think most of the complainers or just general complainers about Thailand. I know a guy that just doesn't like being here but is forced to because of family and funds. He constantly complains about everything under the sun. He should have left a long time ago.

I think many up and leave when they're health really starts to go. The ones it's day on probably are married, perhaps don't have the funds to return?

I'd would die far faster living back in the States these days. It's totally depressing. Having just returned I will do whatever I can to absolutely limit my visit forward

Edited May 7May 7 by StarOfLight

If you maintain long stay visa, and have what it takes financially you will be fine.

Thailand showed mercy with those who already had legal stay back in 1998.

"The grandfather rule meant that retirees already living legally in Thailand before 21 October 1998 could keep using the older, lower financial requirements instead of the newer 800,000 baht / 65,000 baht rules.

It protected people who were already settled in Thailand when the new rules came."

The question now, when will new requirements come?

My biggest concern is expensive health insurance

8 hours ago, swissie said:

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand. Enjoy the sunset and everything else that Thailand has to offer.

= Amazing Thailand.

8 hours ago, swissie said:

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand

Reminds me of that old chestnut..."Bangkok will be underwater by 2030".

45 minutes ago, StarOfLight said:

Permanent residency for those married over 15 years seems very reasonable.

To the same woman?

8 minutes ago, GenX said:

To the same woman?

I will be 69 by then ;-) good timing

9 hours ago, swissie said:

Stricter visa rules and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer. No matter how long a Farang has lived in the kingdom.

Offer??? It kind of depends on what you mean. They have to option on Immigration website, and hopefully legal.

10 hours ago, swissie said:

Farangs, having lived in Thailand for a long time utter concerns, concerning their future in Thailand. Stricter visa rules and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer. No matter how long a Farang has lived in the kingdom. This seems to be the main concern of Farangs residing in Thailand.

I believe those concerns are unfounded, concerning "old Farang hands" in Thailand.

Because: The very day, the Thai-Government should find it advisable to tell long-term Farangs "go back home" would cause a Tornado all accross the tabloid-paper universe.

Like: "Europeans that helped to build modern Thailand dispossed". OR: Marriages lasting for decades officially declared "irrelevant". Making it on the 6 o'clock news worldwide. Making Thailand a racist Pariah country, far away from any international standarts.

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand. Enjoy the sunset and everything else that Thailand has to offer.

= Amazing Thailand.

Of course "PR" is legally available.

I have friends who have taken that route.

4 hours ago, BilllyGOAT said:

Georgenta, do not dismiss this one so quickly. You have just let a massive opportunity walk straight past you.

That was a golden one.

You could have gone all in on it.

Full scale project.

Long term farang exit rates

Country of origin breakdown

Age profiles

Mopping for life versus retirement ratios

Condo correlation, especially Flybird vs Nirun

Return to wife probability index

Even a field component.

Station yourself outside bars and interview departing blokes about where it all went wrong with their ladyboy lover and why they are heading back.

This is prime material.

Opportunity of a lifetime.

Hard to believe you are letting this one slip.

I would reconsider.

The statistical potential alone is enormous.

Money to be made.

Corporations will pay big for this data!

A lot of expats are leaving Thailand for good reasons. However many of us continue to stay, and in my particular case I enjoy Thailand, I love the Thai people, I find the cost of living to be quite reasonable and the quality of life to be quite high.

If I were wealthy enough I would divide my time between Thailand, Southern Italy, and spend about 4 months of the year traveling including one month in the US to visit friends and family.

The big turn off for me here are the horrific air quality, the heat, the total disregard for traffic safety on these very dangerous highways, and the general lack of progress on so many different fronts.

My opinion only is Thailand is concerned first about attracting Big Companies or have them build and invest large amounts in Thailand.

Next they are concerned with staying off the global monetary naughty list.

Then attracting Big Money individuals to stay, buy a home/condo, pop into town every once in a while and drop big money and leave.

Totally agree the "locked" money in the bank and cracking down on meeting financial requirements is a result of advice from Bangkok to help stabilize the banking sector.

People think government doesn't understand how much foreigners support their Thai partners, partners family, spend in Thailand is foolish.

They understand that foreigners help reduce the financial burdens that are common. This reduces the need for Government financial aid/support, reduces the amount of debt that has to be serviced and presents a good image to the "Voters".

Thai people are some truly amazing people, often misunderstood, sometimes underestimated but will surprise you also, have good hearts, would rather laugh than fight, are some of the most adaptable people to whatever you throw at them I have ever seen.

Every so often, another Thai scare topic comes along. IIRC the last one was being required to prove to Thai Immigration one had a Thai tax ID, and evidence tax returns were being submitted. Apparently the latest one is WISE requiring documentation to be submitted to Thai banks. Then there's the occasional xenophobic comment by a Thai politician.

Foreigners in Thailand are below the notice of the rich. OTOH, the poor are acutely aware how rewarding a relationship with one can be.

These events have been getting the limelight for a month or two ever since I came here 15 years ago. They blow over.

My economic situation is quite simple. In Thailand, I live as well as I want to, and spend less than I have for income. In Australia, I would be living very frugally, while watching my capital erode.

What worries me is the quality of tourists they are letting into Thailand,

not all of them obviously , but the minority are causing problems , Fighting,

dine and dash , those that think it's OK to have sex in public,shoplifting,the

list goes on ,

This makes it difficult for long time expats who just want to live here with

their families in peace ,Expats know if they do anything wrong it's going

to be life changing for them if deported,.some tourists don't give a f#ck

and it could blow back on us.

regards regards

Who cares what Thailand does? I have my US passport and a wallet of credit card, plenty of money, multiple properties all paid for in the US.

Suck a lemon Thailand

Every few years there's another rumble or rumor of impending doom for expats here in Thailand.
I ignore them. When an Immigration rule changes, if the new rule doesn't affect me, I ignore it. If it does, I change with it. Go with the flow. I'm not going to change Thailand, and I certainly won't let it change me. If it comes down to having to leave, I'll leave. It's just not a real worry.
It's not the strongest who survive. It's those most adaptable to change.

1 hour ago, J Branche said:

My opinion only is Thailand is concerned first about attracting Big Companies or have them build and invest large amounts in Thailand.

Next they are concerned with staying off the global monetary naughty list.

Then attracting Big Money individuals to stay, buy a home/condo, pop into town every once in a while and drop big money and leave.

Totally agree the "locked" money in the bank and cracking down on meeting financial requirements is a result of advice from Bangkok to help stabilize the banking sector.

People think government doesn't understand how much foreigners support their Thai partners, partners family, spend in Thailand is foolish.

They understand that foreigners help reduce the financial burdens that are common. This reduces the need for Government financial aid/support, reduces the amount of debt that has to be serviced and presents a good image to the "Voters".

Thai people are some truly amazing people, often misunderstood, sometimes underestimated but will surprise you also, have good hearts, would rather laugh than fight, are some of the most adaptable people to whatever you throw at them I have ever seen.

How many expats do you think there are on OA visas? Still believe the tourists are the once who burn more money on week basis than most of us on OA based visas, even we invest in vehicles and land, house and appartmients, either through our spouse or in our own names.

I asked AI

Yes, Western long-term stayers make a difference, but not at the national scale that tourism, exports, factories, migrant labor, or foreign investment do.

They matter most locally: Pattaya, Phuket, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Koh Samui, Udon, Khon Kaen, parts of Isaan, etc.

A realistic way to see it:

If Thailand has maybe 175,000–240,000 foreigners on retirement or marriage-type long-stay visas, and perhaps 100,000–180,000 of them are Westerners, then their spending can be meaningful.

Example:

100,000 Western long-term stayers spending 50,000 baht/month = 60 billion baht/year
150,000 spending 65,000 baht/month = 117 billion baht/year
180,000 spending 80,000 baht/month = 173 billion baht/year

So a rough estimate is that Western long-term residents may put something like 60–170 billion baht per year into Thailand, depending on how many you count and how much they spend.

Compared with the whole economy, this is small. Thailand’s GDP was about US$526.5 billion in 2024, roughly 18–19 trillion baht depending on exchange rate.

Compared with foreign tourism, it is also smaller. Thailand had over 35 million foreign visitors in 2024 and around 1.67 trillion baht in international tourism revenue.

But here is the important point: long-term expats spend steadily every month. Tourists come and go. Retirees and married foreigners pay rent, buy food, pay electricity, buy cars and motorbikes, use hospitals, dentists, restaurants, builders, lawyers, visas, insurance, and support Thai families. That money goes directly into local communities.

The Bank of Thailand says tourism spending is spread across accommodation, food and beverage, shopping, transport, entertainment, medical care and other services. For long-term stayers, the same categories apply, but more steadily and locally. In 2023, foreign tourist spending was 36% accommodation, 23% food and beverage, 18% shopping, with the rest across transport, entertainment, medical care and services.

So my honest answer:

Nationally: no, Western long-term expats are not a pillar of the Thai economy.

Locally: yes, they can be very important.

In places like Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, and many Isaan towns, foreign retirees and married expats support restaurants, rentals, construction, private hospitals, dental clinics, immigration agents, bars, markets, car dealers and whole extended Thai families.

The difference is not just GDP. It is local cash flow. A retired foreigner with 65,000 baht a month may not look rich in Bangkok, but in a village or small town he can support a wife, family, local shops, builders, mechanics, restaurants and services. That has real effect.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

lot of expats are leaving Thailand for good reason

Precisely what are those reasons because you and we stay on

Again I really don't think anything has changed simply nothing dramatic.

My suspicion is that these individuals have either had enough of the heat, never could adjust to the food, suffer from loneliness, perhaps a bad marriage / relationship, Thailand was never their bag to begin with, bad investments within Thailand, bad investments outside of Thailand. So broke that they can't meet visa requirements.

Probably the only legitimate reason I would think assuming that you want to be here is that you need to get your kids into proper schooling and or university

19 hours ago, swissie said:

Like: "Europeans that helped to build modern Thailand dispossed"

Whoever helped to build "modern Thailand" failed.

And what does "dispossed" mean? Could if clarify my former statement?

10 hours ago, Hummin said:

"The grandfather rule meant that retirees already living legally in Thailand before 21 October 1998 could keep using the older, lower financial requirements instead of the newer 800,000 baht / 65,000 baht rules.

It protected people who were already settled in Thailand when the new rules came."

That was 28 years ago, the country didn't despises white skin then..

17 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

That was 28 years ago, the country didn't despises white skin then..

so you suggest we keep 2 million in the bank just in case ?

Retired to Thailand in1993 having worked here in the 1980s, and having visited often since the early 1960s. Still happily married to my Thai wife since 1990. She is 72, I am 85.

While Thai governments have always treated foreigners with a degree of suspicion, the Thai people have mostly remained friendly and helpful.

A long time ago I took the decision that I would live and die in Thailand. Nothing since has led me to reconsider that decision.

8 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Retired to Thailand in1993 having worked here in the 1980s, and having visited often since the early 1960s. Still happily married to my Thai wife since 1990. She is 72, I am 85.

While Thai governments have always treated foreigners with a degree of suspicion, the Thai people have mostly remained friendly and helpful.

A long time ago I took the decision that I would live and die in Thailand. Nothing since has led me to reconsider that decision.

Curious, are you on the Grandad rule?

On 5/7/2026 at 9:47 AM, blaze master said:

Ill even buy him a new clipboard and hi viz vest.

I think he is in Australia now...but it's no good asking him because he wouldn't know where he is.

On 5/6/2026 at 11:11 PM, swissie said:

Farangs, having lived in Thailand for a long time utter concerns, concerning their future in Thailand. Stricter visa rules and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer. No matter how long a Farang has lived in the kingdom. This seems to be the main concern of Farangs residing in Thailand.

I believe those concerns are unfounded, concerning "old Farang hands" in Thailand.

Because: The very day, the Thai-Government should find it advisable to tell long-term Farangs "go back home" would cause a Tornado all accross the tabloid-paper universe.

Like: "Europeans that helped to build modern Thailand dispossed". OR: Marriages lasting for decades officially declared "irrelevant". Making it on the 6 o'clock news worldwide. Making Thailand a racist Pariah country, far away from any international standarts.

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand. Enjoy the sunset and everything else that Thailand has to offer.

= Amazing Thailand.

On 5/6/2026 at 11:11 PM, swissie said:

Farangs, having lived in Thailand for a long time utter concerns, concerning their future in Thailand. Stricter visa rules and the fact that "permanent residency" is something that legally Thailand does not offer. No matter how long a Farang has lived in the kingdom. This seems to be the main concern of Farangs residing in Thailand.

I believe those concerns are unfounded, concerning "old Farang hands" in Thailand.

Because: The very day, the Thai-Government should find it advisable to tell long-term Farangs "go back home" would cause a Tornado all accross the tabloid-paper universe.

Like: "Europeans that helped to build modern Thailand dispossed". OR: Marriages lasting for decades officially declared "irrelevant". Making it on the 6 o'clock news worldwide. Making Thailand a racist Pariah country, far away from any international standarts.

Just relax. It's not going to happen. Not in your lifetime.

So, not to worry you Farang "old hands" in Thailand. Enjoy the sunset and everything else that Thailand has to offer.

= Amazing Thailand.

Frangs are a mighty economic power. The govt knows that.

Therefore they wouldn’t saw off the branch they are sitting on.❗

A baiting flame has been removed