18 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I post about this mostly to warn others that lack of residency security feels very different the first year than decades later.

But yet I see a bunch of 70 and 80 year olds.

There must be 100 000 or more retirees in Thailand all hanging in there and surviving somehow.

4 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

But yet I see a bunch of 70 and 80 year olds.

There must be 100 000 or more retirees in Thailand all hanging in there and surviving somehow.

There's a lot you don’t see.

What does that silly video have to do with anything? She only has 12,000 subscribers, and look at her other content. Not relevant at all. In all seriousness what is this "thing" you have about retirees being happy in Thailand? A heck of a lot of us are more than happy with our choice to retire here. Not working out well for you? Go, or accept that you simply dont enjoy the environment here. Easy enough.

1 minute ago, marin said:

What does that silly video have to do with anything? She only has 12,000 subscribers, and look at her other content. Not relevant at all. In all seriousness what is this "thing" you have about retirees being happy in Thailand? A heck of a lot of us are more than happy with our choice to retire here. Not working out well for you? Go, or accept that you simply dont enjoy the environment here. Easy enough.

Straw man garbage

27 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

But yet I see a bunch of 70 and 80 year olds.

There must be 100 000 or more retirees in Thailand all hanging in there and surviving somehow.

Way too much info now on internet, with every warning you can think of. Wasn't like that in 2000, and I didn't even know about forums.

I arrived 'dumb as a rock', obviously, married & divorce within first year. But I didn't leave my financial common sense at Imm when entering. Prior experience (2 divorces & 2 live in) of relationship failures taught me, 'protect your $$$$ more than your heart' 😂

Only spent what I could walk away from ($20k at the time), and even added a POA to paperwork, so I sold the house without the ex-wife's involvement, luckily.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by KhunLA

Long-Term Foreign Residents ("Free Angkor Pass")

If you hold a long-term residency visa (such as an extension of an Ordinary/Business Visa, Retirement Visa, etc.) and have legally lived in Cambodia for at least 2 consecutive years, you qualify for a free annual Angkor Pass.

What a great deal

On 7/29/2026 at 6:04 PM, Jingthing said:

I think the obvious answer is yes they are.

Do you agree, or not?

The video details many specific points making that case.

I don't see very much at all to disagree with in it.

There is one thing.

I did know very well from the get go coming for retirement that Thailand wasn't inviting me. Rather I was inviting myself so that's a different less warm and fuzzy dynamic.

I also knew that being on retirement extensions offered no path to permanent residence.

On buying a condo, I knew that owning a condo didn't give the right to live in it.

But I didn't know how it would feel 20 years later to have invested so much in Thailand and offered nothing in return as far as any increased status.

What rules have Thais made that are long term foreignor based.

Immigration - they tried making it wasier for 60-90, but it made no difference

Ed visas: it was the foreigners that screwed that up by bending and breaking the rules.

Paying taxes: sorry, that was for the Thai people that were screwing the system, and we just got caught up, but except for having to file, it really has not affected most of us.

Retirement and family visa money - again, that was a mixture of Farangs that lied through their teeth and got fraudulent letters and embassies that decided they had had enough and pulled the plug.

Cost of living: sorry, but have you looked around the rest of the world? Prices everywhere are going up.

Owning homes. We never could, so what is the issue? Condos priced out of our range again. Look around the world; Thailand is no different than any other country

The one thing that I can say is that I have lived here through a Coup, massive Flooding, COVID, Earthquakes, and various other things, and the one thing that I noticed is that it really had no effect on me other than that stores were closed or I could not get off at different BTS stops. The flood made me move for a few months.

Someone tell me that life in their home country is so much better: that there is easy access to medical care, that the streets are safer, that the cost of living has gone down.

46 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

There's a lot you don’t see.

This sounds like AI.

Although some valid points, just a hidden agenda to paint a negative picture of Thailand.

36 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

Someone tell me that life in their home country is so much better: that there is easy access to medical care, that the streets are safer, that the cost of living has gone down.

Straw man garbage.

36 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

This sounds like AI.

Although some valid points, just a hidden agenda to paint a negative picture of Thailand.

Everything is a conspiracy theory to xou Very maga.

This isn't about comparisons to home countries

There are many home countries and there are also many countries that people move to.

It's only about Thailand

21 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Have a Plan B.

Don't buy real estate if you haven't already.

Two of the golden rules.

You can buy a property in Thailand, but in the future, you may not qualify for the visa that allows you to live in it. Just another one of the many pitfalls to buying property in Thailand.

As said before, rent is not dead money in Thailand. Actually, not buying a property in Thailand is your exit insurance policy. 🙂

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Everything is a conspiracy theory to xou Very maga.

That video didn't sound like AI to you?

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

That video didn't sound like AI to you?

You accused her of having a negative agenda because you don't like the content.

That's dumb.

Which of the points made are inaccurate or not logical?

Edited August 1Aug 1 by Jingthing

5 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

That is why I will never buy a place in Thailand; too many uncertainties coming down the road re visas, taxes, economy...

I agree.

Many expats seem to think that Thailand's retirement visa / extension is practically permanent residency. It's far from it. It's basically nothing more than a 1 year tourist visa.

10 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

5 hours ago, Woke to Sounds said:

That is why I will never buy a place in Thailand; too many uncertainties coming down the road re visas, taxes, economy...

I agree.

Many expats seem to think that Thailand's retirement visa / extension is practically permanent residency. It's far from it. It's basically nothing more than a 1 year tourist visa.

I didn't buy a house. The wife's family (not the wife) bought the house and I rent it from them.

I had purchase approval depending upon the swimming pool.

@Jingthing

Saw you quoted, curious what 'increased status' were you expecting. And define status for me, you version. As if same as AI (below), not sure how being here long term, and investing anything, owning, increases anyone's 'status'.

Your interactions with people is all that matters ... IMHO

I'm still old school, and taught everyone deserves the same respect, until they show, they don't. I seem to receive the same respect, value and treatment that I show to others. I receive what I project, and all good. Acknowledge, some people may be having a bad day.

"I'm OK, You're OK" - Harris, is almost mandatory reading for anyone in business or customer service. Along with all interactions with people in general. Premise in a nutshell:

Understanding Life Positions

• I'm OK, You're OK: A healthy stance based on trust and respect.

• I'm OK, You're not OK: A stance of blame or arrogance.

• I'm not OK, You're OK: A stance of low self-worth.

• I'm not OK, You're not OK: A hopeless stance

I notice many foreigners, receive exactly what they project, deservedly, I might add. And not a good look.

Power is for the mentally ill that thinK they are better for some unreasonable reason. Usually involves money & control. NO THANKS

Definition from AI ...

Social status is a person's rank or position in a group or society. It shows how much respect, power, and value other people give them. It shapes how people treat you and what choices you have in life.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by KhunLA

20 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

It was widely expected that when the 2019 changes were brought in (applying to mandatory insurance on Non O-A etc) that grandfathering would apply, but in the end there was none. It seems like this courtesy has been done away with in the modern era.

Good point.

20 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Although Big Joke appears to be well out of the picture now, he did spell out how he saw retirement extensions would evolve during his time as immigration chief, and his comments may well be reflective of the long term plans. He considered the Non O as anachronistic and open to abuse, with financial limits as being much too low, and saw the future of things more along the lines of the LTR visa with much greater oversight and higher financial limits.

Yes, it's possible that in the future one will have to prove their value to Thailand by submitting documents to show income / savings etc, well over the 800k / 65k.

As I said, when the change is made, and the change will eventually be made, it could be insignificant, or be part of a broad policy to clear out Thailand of those living on meager pensions / savings, and there will be no grandfathering.

24 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

It's far from it. It's basically nothing more than a 1 year tourist visa.

But people get it renewed for decades

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

But people get it renewed for decades

1 year extensions are rarely turned down, without good reason. Personally don't know anyone, that has been turned down, that simply met the minimun requirements. Even though in my mind, they should have been deported, as cussing a fuss too many times, been arrested, convicted.

Extension renewals are pretty darn lenient, and you have to be quite the ass to be denied. I like and trust that the IO has the discretion to boot you out of country if feels necessary. If they don't think you should be here, they are probably spot on.

6 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

and there will be no grandfathering.

You've now mentioned that multiple times with varying degrees of certainty.

The difference between the 2.22 retirement extension category and the O-A insurance thing is that the language mechanism for grandfathering is already in the ministerial police order at (6).

2 minutes ago, JerryM said:

You've now mentioned that multiple times with varying degrees of certainty.

The difference between the 2.22 retirement extension category and the O-A insurance thing is that the language mechanism for grandfathering is already in the ministerial police order at (6).

Let's not forget why health ins was added to 0-A visa (Oct 2021). Covid, and many sent to hosp 'infected' prior, didn't seem to have the funds for the bill. Adding made sense to me.

Nobody forces anyone to get an 0-A visa, or remain on it, after using.

13 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

But people get it renewed for decades

Sure, but it's been debated before on this forum and the conclusion was, the 1 year retirement visa / extension gives you no more rights here than someone on a 30 visa exemption stamp. The only thing someone on a retirement visa can do, that someone on a 30 day stamp can not do, is hold a 5 year driving / riding license, as opposed to a 2 year license.

So, for putting 800k in a Thai bank, you get to have a longer driving license. 😂 😂

9 minutes ago, JerryM said:

You've now mentioned that multiple times with varying degrees of certainty.

The difference between the 2.22 retirement extension category and the O-A insurance thing is that the language mechanism for grandfathering is already in the ministerial police order at (6).

You've mentioned grandfathering with a high degree of certainty. 😂

The one thing you can be certain of in Thailand is uncertainty. 😂

There's no guarantee of grandfathering in any future changes. It can not be relied up.

A member has given an example of some more recent changes that did not have any grandfathering.

As I have stated, the Thai government may decide on a broad policy with the agenda of raising the financial capacity of retirees here. Many may be tipped out of Thailand. Probably given 12 months to comply, or to sell up and leave.

I have also stated there may be changes to the age requirement. Example, retirement visa from 50 to 75 years of age, after that, no more long stay visa.

They can do what they want, as foreigners have no rights here.

19 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

1 year extensions are rarely turned down, without good reason. Personally don't know anyone, that has been turned down, that simply met the minimun requirements. Even though in my mind, they should have been deported, as cussing a fuss too many times, been arrested, convicted.

Extension renewals are pretty darn lenient, and you have to be quite the ass to be denied. I like and trust that the IO has the discretion to boot you out of country if feels necessary. If they don't think you should be here, they are probably spot on.

The retirement visa / extension is being abused here, and I admit I am one of the abusers. It's too easy to get.

With the higher cost of living in many western countries these day, many retirees will be looking to move abroad for a better lifestyle in their retirement. Many will be on a meager aged pension. Thailand will be at the top of the list for many.

Does Thailand really want to be a dumping ground for western retirees living on meager aged pensions?

2 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

You've mentioned grandfathering with a high degree of certainty.

Yes. That's because it is already there. You are suggesting they can just change the numbers on 2.22 (2) - (5) but won't so on (6). You are suggesting they will remove (6) or maybe just leave it no one under the age of 97 will qualify.

And maybe they will.

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Does Thailand really want to be a dumping ground for western retirees living on meager aged pensions?

"Meager" is not mathematical. It's subjective.

That's why the 800K requirement is in place.

Meeting the requirement + being able to sustain yourself in the country

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

@Jingthing

Saw you quoted, curious what 'increased status' were you expecting. And define status for me, you version. As if same as AI (below), not sure how being here long term, and investing anything, owning, increases anyone's 'status'.

Your interactions with people is all that matters ... IMHO

I'm still old school, and taught everyone deserves the same respect, until they show, they don't. I seem to receive the same respect, value and treatment that I show to others. I receive what I project, and all good. Acknowledge, some people may be having a bad day.

"I'm OK, You're OK" - Harris, is almost mandatory reading for anyone in business or customer service. Along with all interactions with people in general. Premise in a nutshell:

Understanding Life Positions

• I'm OK, You're OK: A healthy stance based on trust and respect.

• I'm OK, You're not OK: A stance of blame or arrogance.

• I'm not OK, You're OK: A stance of low self-worth.

• I'm not OK, You're not OK: A hopeless stance

I notice many foreigners, receive exactly what they project, deservedly, I might add. And not a good look.

Power is for the mentally ill that thinK they are better for some unreasonable reason. Usually involves money & control. NO THANKS

Definition from AI ...

Social status is a person's rank or position in a group or society. It shows how much respect, power, and value other people give them. It shapes how people treat you and what choices you have in life.

Straw man garbage.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

"Meager" is not mathematical. It's subjective.

That's why the 800K requirement is in place.

Meeting the requirement + being able to sustain yourself in the country

Yep ... those skirting the 800k / 65k monthly by using agents is the main problem. IMHO

When a med or scooter oops does happen, and they are skint, makes us all look bad. If having 65k a month income, good chance you have a CC at least, to cover an oops.

Why people leave their home country safety net, on less, is kind of stupid. But stupid does seem to rule. Also surprised, so many at retirement age, have so little, liquid or assets. 40-45 years of employment (20-40/45) and little to show for it. That's sad.

Many can, self included, live (exist) on much less, but to be comfy, 65k is a good number. Many need much more, hopefully have.

Strange marriage is only 400k, but if an oops, most assume there will be family support. Sometimes, not so much, or simply not enough. Another topic for another day.

4 hours ago, mikebell said:

From ChatGPT yesterday.

A fair summary would be:

• Tourism is vital to Thailand.

• It probably accounts for around one-fifth of economic activity once indirect effects are included.

• It supports millions of jobs and is a major earner of foreign currency.

• However, Thailand has a broader and more diversified economy than many people realise, with manufacturing and exports remaining even larger contributors to national output.

If you're asking because you spend time in Pattaya, the dependence there is much greater than for Thailand as a whole. Pattaya's economy is overwhelmingly driven by tourism and the businesses that support visitors.

Tourists and expat retirees are very different beasts.