2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Not everyone has unremitting good fortune with finances their entire lives.

A divorce back home at 50 will tank a lot of your savings.

And some guys have bad luck here too. Build a house in Isaan and the marriage goes south.

One guy started a thread a few weeks ago and decided the healthcare bills were too much, so he was heading back home. Some people may have more health issues than others throughout their lives.

Understand sh!t happens, and if so, you don't go to a foreign country to retire, unless that is your only choice. Can't see TH being that, and if in dire strates to begin with, how the hell did you ever discover TH. International holidays were only in my budget, since I worked for airlines, and damn near free flights.

I was poor, so escaped 2 divorces before 34 yrs old. No assets really to lose. Besides, wife #2 had way more income than myself.

Plus for me was, NO KIDS, so I could be irresponsible and silly up to, and after retirement. Wee one here, really slowed me down, and I understood only then, hmm, I may have to be responsible & start to act my age. Playing single parent does that.

Hat's off to the ones that did that, balanced a job, kid, and took care of household. Especially if the kid turned out productive. Easy for me, had all the time & money needed.

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

These people have lived fulfilling lives and are not paranoid about being kicked out at any moment.

And obviously they had a right to be in Thailand because they stayed 20 years.

How do you know there lives were good?

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Funny post.

Doesn't matter what they feel if they aren't permanent residents.

Someone did start a thread a few weeks ago and decided to pack it in and move back home because healthcare costs were getting exorbitant. It is a real concern for some.

One guy runs a restaurant, so also depends what people are doing. Some people are earning here with businesses. It's probably in his wife's name. But he didn't marry a bar girl 40 years younger. And he doesn't sit in bars wasting his money on alcohol.

Some people are better survivalists than others and navigate the hurdles and survive quite well.

Sorry, getting tired of this thread now. I;m outta here.

Just now, Rockyroad said:

How do you know there lives were good?

They said so.

They survived. They're still here.

They don't complain.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by save the frogs

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

They said so.

They survived. They're still here.

Most farangs look miserable. Surving and happiness are not the same.

Just now, Rockyroad said:

Most farangs look miserable.

Highly subjective.

Cannot be proven.

Retiring back home can be bad too. Depends.

I had a fun afternoon today.

Doesn't mean I always have a smile on my face.

I'm still carrying scars from a troubled life around.

I won't blame Thailand immigration for that.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by save the frogs

2 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Highly subjective.

Cannot be proven.

Retiring back home can be bad too. Depends.

That's true. Could just be an old man thing. I was happiest in my 30s

21 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

These people have lived fulfilling lives and are not paranoid about being kicked out at any moment.

Good for them, but they have no more rights than someone on 30 days visa exemption stamp. 😂

21 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

And obviously they had a right to be in Thailand because they stayed 20 years.

Not a right to live in Thailand, but granted the privilege to live in Thailand.

2 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Good for them, but they have no more rights than someone on 30 days visa exemption stamp.

So what do you recommend?

Sleep with one eye open?

37 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Which countries do that?

Plenty do, but I think that is irrelevent. I get the impression, the ones complaining TH doesn't offer it easily, are here for the sex, and because, they can't afford the other countries, or meet the requirements for PR in them.

The choices are there, IF you qualify, and funny enough, same for TH.

@Jingthing Plenty of choices, why did you not go to one of them ???

Along with, nothing really stopping you going to one now, just rent out your condo. Or sell.

And these, don't even require you to work ...

Edited August 1Aug 1 by KhunLA

As is clear in the video, choosing your INITIAL retirement destination is not the same things as choosing to leave a place you've already lived for decades.

I concur with the video against recommending retirement in Thailand for new people except if you are very wealthy, and if you're very wealthy, you probably wouldn't choose Thailand anyway.

For people who've already lived in Thailand for decades, I have no suggestions other than to research some Plan Bs if you need to get out of Dodge.

I will add this which might surprise some people.

A good plan B you may have identified years ago may not be a viable Plan B anymore!

Why?

Because things change in other countries as far as visa policies, cost of living, political stability, health care access, permanent residency paths, etc.

So I would add to the advice -- stay current on Plan Bs.

For example, in my case Colombia went from a very promising Plan B to a Plan Forgetaboutit.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by Jingthing

I've only been here full time since December 2019 but have had a Non-IMM O since June 2016 (Got pulled in DMK because I was visiting >20 times a year, working in Singapore it was an every other weekend break for me) and my vote would be that Thailand hasn't made anything harder for me.

NB. I do use an Agent for convenience for all of my dealings with IO, have done for 10 years and the only thing that has changed negatively in that time is it now costs me 200 THB for a 90 day report (only for the 1st one after being outside of Thailand, the rest I do Online - A massive improvement from when I 1st moved here).

I appreciate that there is no sense of "Permanence" but that hasn't changed in the 18 years I've been visiting so you can't really claim that Thailand is making it harder on that score.

 

Yes they are making it harder for people living here on Exempt Stamps (I got pulled for it in 2016 despite spending no more 3 nights on a normal trip + 14 days at Christmas), Back-2-Back Tourist visas, ED Visas and not attending school but for an Non-IMM O visa holder who 10 years ago put 800K into the bank & left it there since, I belive things are neutral if not slightly better because of the Online 90 Day reporting nowadays.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by SamSpade

35 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Plenty do

I know that

But a certain poster with it's own agenda does not seem to see that!

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

You're just here to snipe. BYE.

What are you posting on here for, apart from giving snide responses when people disagree with your pointless responses to posts?

Why do you not post a precis of that OP video, or better still, give a short post wrt what the OP is actually supposed to be about!

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I concur with the video against recommending retirement in Thailand for new people except if you are very wealthy, and if you're very wealthy, you probably wouldn't choose Thailand anyway.

You definitely don't have to be wealthy to retire to TH. Meeting the financials, to retire in TH, isn't even close to being wealthy. 65k a month, and even if that changed to 84k a month, or 1M lump in bank, that wouldn't be what I consider wealthy.

Actually I chose 1M & 84k a month, because that's the yearly salary of flipping burgers at McDs @ $15 an hour. Don't think anyone considers that 'wealthy'.

You don't even need decent income, just 1M in the bank. I'm Anti-Agent, so that's out, as it should be.

Without one's vices, anyone can live here comfy on 30k a month. 10k for rent & util and 10k for food. Leaves 10k for extras & playtime.

Not sure what you consider wealthy, but $50k / 1.5M THB, income a year isn't wealthy. Chose that, as that was my last salary in USA, 25+ yrs ago. Certainly wasn't wealthy then, but would be quite comfy in TH now.

I'm pretty sure, just one of my properties, (in economically challenged area) back then, rented out, now, would finance a very nice living in TH. Considering the rents a 3 bdrm house is getting now. And I liquidated 🙄

Retiring in TH, can't get any easier, and why it's in the top 10 of every retirement news-blip / advert.

Vietnam is on many top lists as well.

No retirement visa.

Visa runs every 90 days.

A tm30 tyoe sysren much wirse Thailand

Don't trust those lists.

Edited August 1Aug 1 by Jingthing

On 7/29/2026 at 6:30 PM, Jingthing said:

Obviously,

But you didn't answer the question that is the topic here.

Do you agree that Thailand is making it harder for foreigners?

No I don't agree.

I got posted here for my work (multinational) nearly 35 years ago.

I was approved for Thai PR 29 years ago.

I retired, got a payout from the Thai Social Security Fund and chose to transfer to the 'self funded' scheme for health Insurance, I've experienced good service, Social Security Health fund no charge annual health check up coming soon.

My Thai son has gained a bachelor degree plus further achievements from a good Thai uni.

I don't see any reason to fault Thailand.

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

No I don't agree.

I got posted here for my work (multinational) nearly 35 years ago.

I was approved for Thai PR 29 years ago.

I retired, got a payout from the Thai Social Security Fund and chose to transfer to the 'self funded' scheme for health Insurance, I've experienced good service, Social Security Health fund no charge annual health check up coming soon.

My Thai son has gained a bachelor degree plus further achievements from a good Thai uni.

I don't see any reason to fault Thailand.

You have permanent residence which you got long ago.

Refer to the video.

Respectfully this topic is not about people like you.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Vietnam is on many top lists as well.

No retirement visa.

Visa runs every 90 days.

A tm30 tyoe sysren much wirse Thailand

Don't trust those lists.

Never understood that. Agree, those list are half crap. I think most on the list shouldn't even be a consideration.

TH is one that should be, and easy to retire here. No need to, so haven't seriously peeked at anywhere since retiring. Stated once or 25 times, for me, back to USA, to think about it, if ever forced to leave.

It would probably be a struggle to leave USA again, as I'd need ...

easy to find like minded women, that's everywhere - USA

easy retire visa - USA 🙄

Be safe - USA

Decent hospitals, pharmacy for self care, like TH (USA ? / medicare ?)

decent air, why I couldn't live above where we are - USA

some surf & hills, you have easy access to - USA

no typhoons / hurricanes / tornados - USA / avoidable

no 4+ earthquakes - USA / avoidable

BEV at reasonable price, or cheap petrol - USA

English and or Spanish speaking - USA 😂

extreme hot & cold weather avoidable - USA

good food, grocieries (that's everywhere) - USA

hmm ... yea, leaving USA would be a struggle

Edited August 1Aug 1 by KhunLA

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

As is clear in the video, choosing your INITIAL retirement destination is not the same things as choosing to leave a place you've already lived for decades.

I concur with the video against recommending retirement in Thailand for new people except if you are very wealthy, and if you're very wealthy, you probably wouldn't choose Thailand anyway.

For people who've already lived in Thailand for decades, I have no suggestions other than to research some Plan Bs if you need to get out of Dodge.

I will add this which might surprise some people.

A good plan B you may have identified years ago may not be a viable Plan B anymore!

Why?

Because things change in other countries as far as visa policies, cost of living, political stability, health care access, permanent residency paths, etc.

So I would add to the advice -- stay current on Plan Bs.

For example, in my case Colombia went from a very promising Plan B to a Plan Forgetaboutit.

What changed regards Colombia?

Btw, in the UK a leading political figure is in trouble for taking a £5 million gift from a British billionaire who resides in Thailand, so obviously some wealthy people disagree with you

8 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

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

Easily circumvented through agents.

Also by just bringing in 65K+ per month and no bribe necessary.

Thailand is no problem at all for foreigners IF you don't break the law. The video shown says the property marker is "dangerous" yes well sure if you act illegally buying property using a nominee company. Do you expect Thailand to condone criminals? Otherwise no issues. I do my 90 day in 10 minutes, i do my annual visa extension in 1 hour, total cost 1900 baht. A doddle compared to other countries.

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

You definitely don't have to be wealthy to retire to TH.

First of all, your 30K per month expenses is very conservative. That's the bare minimum. It assumes you're dating/married to a middle class woman who doesn't drain your finances. That's maybe 10% of the dating pool. Many women here will expect an allowance or need support.

Second of all, even if you have savings for medical emergencies and can afford to pay out of pocket, that's money that could otherwise have stayed in the family and passed on to the wife or child after death. So the Thai partner / family is losing out. The system is unfavorable to the Thai widow who married a foreigner.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by save the frogs

11 hours ago, Rockyroad said:

Most farangs look miserable. Surving and happiness are not the same.

How happy do you expect to be at age 70+?

Back pains, knee pains, can't wee properly, can't lift anything much, skin problems, hearing problems, sight problems.

And everything getting worse.

I'm surprised how generally happy I am, considering all the accumulated incurable health problems.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by BritManToo

16 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

First of all, your 30K per month expenses is very conservative. That's the bare minimum. It assumes you're dating/married to a middle class woman who doesn't drain your finances. That's maybe 10% of the dating pool. Many women here will expect an allowance or need support.

Second of all, even if you have savings for medical emergencies and can afford to pay out of pocket, that's money that could otherwise have stayed in the family and passed on to the wife or child after death. So the Thai partner / family is losing out. The system is unfavorable to the Thai widow who married a foreigner.

I wouldn't tolerate a spend crazy wife in USA, so I'm not going to here. Also didn't work, invest & save to support the wife's family.

If I have to spend my oops fund on me, oh well. She has choices just like me, and didn't have to marry me.

If you have to spend all your money to keep your gal, she's not there for you. I was the one in the past, spending silly money, but also had more than I could spend. Now it's fixed income (no investments aside from land), so we're pretty practical on spending.

She has her hobbies and I have mine, and actually keep way below what our budget allows, and still saving. That's actually a surprise.

15 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Tourists and expat retirees are very different beasts.

Tourists are potential ex-pats. Seeing property of compatriots being repossessed and their businesses shut down is not a good look for anyone thinking of a holiday here. And the knock-on effect on employment will be catastrophic.

13 hours ago, save the frogs said:

So what do you recommend?

Sleep with one eye open?

Well, I basically give Thailand what Thailand gives me, which is nothing.

Sure, I'm a consumer, and my money is going into the Thai economy, but I rent, haven't moved my life saving to a Thai bank, not even the 800k, haven't bought a useless property in Issan, haven't adopted an extended Thai family, haven't bought a car. I also have my Plan B firmly in place, being Vietnam, and to some degree, my Plan C, being Bali.

As I have said, I have nothing I can't leave behind and head straight to the airport, should I want to or need to. My losses would be minimal, and not life changing.

On the basis of the above, the Thai government can shift the goal posts all they like, they can pull the rug out from under me, they can tighten enforcement, they can do whatever they want, and all it will mean for me is I change location for my retirement.

So, no confiscation, no freezing of a lot of my cash, no fire sales etc. They can put all the hoops in front of me they like, but I'll decide whether I want to jump through them, and will not be forced to jump through them like so many others here have to do.

All of the above is by design, and this is why I sleep well here and without one eye open.

The OP's advice was "don't buy property and have a Plan B." This sums it up, and whilst it's too late for many here, the next generation of retiree would do well to not dig themselves the same hole, thus putting themselves at the mercy of the Thai government.

5 hours ago, JerryM said:

Also by just bringing in 65K+ per month and no bribe necessary.

Correct, but again, the 800k / 65k can not remain these amounts forever.

I have already posted the Australian aged pension is under 65k per month. I'm sure the aged pensions of many other countries are also under 65k a month.

So, raise the 800k to 1.2 million and the 65k to 100k and seriously ban agents, even for just 18 months, and now Thailand has clear out expats who live here on meager income and / or have no savings, and this MAY be done on purpose as part of a broad plan to do so.

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Tourists are potential ex-pats. Seeing property of compatriots being repossessed and their businesses shut down is not a good look for anyone thinking of a holiday here. And the knock-on effect on employment will be catastrophic.

I agree.

Before we all retired here we came here for a holiday, probably several holidays over many years. It's those holidays here that inspired us to retire here in the future.

Fast forward to 2026 and tourism in Thailand is on the way down, and tourism to Vietnam is breaking records.

Out of the record number of tourists going to Vietnam, how many will be inspired to retire in Vietnam in the future, rather than Thailand.

In relation to the OP, the harder Thailand makes it to live here, the more and more hoops they put in front of expats, the more enforcement they put in place etc, it just means other retirement destinations become more attractive.

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

How happy do you expect to be at age 70+?

Back pains, knee pains, can't wee properly, can't lift anything much, skin problems, hearing problems, sight problems.

And everything getting worse.

I'm surprised how generally happy I am, considering all the accumulated incurable health problems.

This is why I suggested the Thai government may not only look at raising the 800k / 65k, but also putting a ceiling on the retirement visa / extension age here in the future. Example, retirement visa is available from 50 to 75 years of age. After 75, you no longer meet the criteria.

This way, the Thai government gets you in when you have money, and are capable of spending it, then get rid of you when you have spent most of your money and / or are incapable of spending it.