1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

How many guys have come undone here trusting their Thai missus?

You need to choose wisely ... and not piss her off.

But let me add ... in the west, is it much different? The house may be in your name, but if the marriage goes south, the assets get divided.

The dealer always wins.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by save the frogs

8 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

What I'm saying is that there is an avenue for citizenship for people who are willing to pay taxes here.

Too old to work ? Well it's too late

I never said it does not exist here. I said there is no reasonable pathway towards PR / citizenship, as in, for the majority, which is expat retirees.

For me, it makes no sense to offer it to working foreigners, when you have people a lot more wealthy who have stopped working, yet they are not offered it.

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

You need to choose wisely ... and not piss her off.

But let me add ... in the west, is it much different? The house may be in your name, but if the marriage goes south, the assets get divided.

The dealer always wins ... and the missus is the dealer.

I'm single and I rent here, including the women.

I'm the dealer. I always win.

I will NEVER join the huge club of those who have been done over here by a Thai women.

10 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'm single and I rent here, including the women.

I don't like that lifestyle too much.

It's more sane to be with one woman.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Maybe some others can help with why many countries are much more liberal with this?

You may want to research and find the few that offer PR or citizenship, may not be so liberal with it. Especially if you don't want to work. Do you want to work ?

I posted a list, short list, and all had financial requirements, and can't say I'd want to live in any of those countries.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1401510-do-you-agree-that-thailand-is-making-it-harder-for-foreigners/page/13/#comment-20693602

Or are even less stable than TH, which in my opinion is very stable. We'll have to just agree to disagree on Thai's stability or lack of.

36 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

You may want to research and find the few that offer PR or citizenship, may not be so liberal with it. Especially if you don't want to work. Do you want to work ?

I posted a list, short list, and all had financial requirements, and can't say I'd want to live in any of those countries.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1401510-do-you-agree-that-thailand-is-making-it-harder-for-foreigners/page/13/#comment-20693602

Or are even less stable than TH, which in my opinion is very stable. We'll have to just agree to disagree on Thai's stability or lack of.

You're wrong.

2 hours ago, KhunHeineken said:

The point the OP made, pages ago, and I agree with, is without offering PR / Citizenship to expat retirees, we are all nothing but 1 year tourists, thus have zero rights here, and with zero rights, why would one "invest" in Thailand

1 hour ago, KhunHeineken said:

I'm single and I rent here, including the women.

I'm the dealer. I always win.

I will NEVER join the huge club of those who have been done over here by a Thai women.

Yea we get it; you invest in nothing and nobody in Thailand and probably have lived that way for years.

But man finds meaning thru connections, the people he loves, the things he contributes to. Drifting around from soi to soi always "winning" Hmm a tiny percentage of men are suited to being the man with no name riding off into the sunset but there's real danger for the vast majority that they're just sad lonely old men walking from one park bench to another.

On 7/29/2026 at 1:59 PM, terryq said:

No.

It's easier.

When I first arrived here you only got 15 days visa exempt. Since then it increased to 30 then to 60, which was stated as a temporary measure, and probably back to 30 sometime soon.

Not easier for me. In 1984, wanting to spend my EU winter somewhere warm and a bit exotic , I contacted the Thai Embassy ( at the time there was one in Monaco,Marseille, Lyon, and Paris) so I chose Monaco being nearest to me. Filled out the forms , a photo, passport, some money ( can’t remember how much) and walked away with a double entry tourist visa , renewable and as she explained allowed me to spend my 4 months in Thailand with one border run. I did this every year for many years, had a beautiful condo ( hardly any at that time) in a small building in Kata beach , 5 mins to beach.

My border runs turned into 10 day trips all over Asia, and even a 3 week Australia and another 2 weeks Japan,Borneo, Bali, etc.

Fantastic, all I had to do was bring my own tea with me from home. Never had a problem, yes , Thailand was a better place then. Went often to Patong up the road shopping or a night out.Bangla was a fun road but no fights or drop dead drunks, no drugs . It changed of course after the Tsunami, so I moved to Hua Hin , then Jomtien. Of course, no more double entries , but none bothered the genuine long stayers , many of my friends had bought condos legally, played golf.

I’m quite sure we all contributed to Thai society, spending , eating out every evening and bothering no one.

Changed my mind about 2019 when I saw that Thailand was changing fast, and the tourists weren’t quite so nice. Also, nothing was being done by the Thai authorities to regulate everything, including the roads ( the 20 000 dead every year )

no city planning, dangerous lack of pavements, pollution and general filth. ( including some newcomers).very expensive health care and being treated as unwelcome objects.

Ok, I’ll stop “ whining” as Yagoda puts it. I still come, rent a great place instead of buying and try my best to get 3 months stay without being hassled.

PS, my retired snowbirds who have bought are not happy.

53 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You're wrong.

Not sure what part you stating I'm wrong. If just Thai instability, as stated, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Now on the countries that do offer PR, for me, it would be Mexico only, and I don't qualify, finacially, $4300 a month income for temp residency, for 4 yrs, then transfer to PR @ $7400 monthly income 😲

Or invest in property @ $535k for temp residency.

So I'm guessing most of the Yanks that live there, aren't on PR status 😂

So if tossed out of TH, it would be back to USA, permanently, and not a bad thing at all. The list below SUCKS, and not in a good way.

No desire to live in these ...

... Americas

Canada

Panama

Dominican Rep

Costa Rica

... EU if PR, they tax any worldwide income NO THANK

Portugal

Spain

Cyprus & Malta

Germany

Greece

France

Italy

Bulgaria

... Asia Pac & Mid East ... NO THANKS

Austraila

Singaport

United Arab Emirates

If you know of any others, feel free.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by KhunLA

6 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure what part you stating I'm wrong. If just Thai instability, as stated, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Now on the countries that do offer PR, for me, it would be Mexico only, and I don't qualify, finacially, $4300 a month income for temp residency, for 4 yrs, then transfer to PR @ $7400 monthly income 😲

Or invest in property @ $535k for temp residency.

So I'm guessing most of the Yanks that live there, aren't on PR status 😂

So if tossed out of TH, it would be back to USA, permanently, and not a bad thing at all. The list below SUCKS, and not in a good way.

No desire to live in these ...

... Americas

Canada

Panama

Dominican Rep

Costa Rica

... EU if PR, they tax any worldwide income NO THANK

Portugal

Spain

Cyprus & Malta

Germany

Greece

France

Italy

Bulgaria

... Asia Pac & Mid East ... NO THANKS

Austraila

Singaport

United Arab Emirates

If you know of any others, feel free.

You don't have at least 75k usd in a retirement account?

Hard to believe

Mexico.

Leads to permanent residence in 5 years.

38 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You don't have at least 75k usd in a retirement account?

Hard to believe

Mexico.

Leads to permanent residence in 5 years.

38 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You don't have at least 75k usd in a retirement account?

Hard to believe

Mexico.

Leads to permanent residence in 5 years.

To add.

Show that 75k one time in your home country.

Never show again.

Never a need to import money into Mexican Bank.

If you have about 300k usd in a retirement account you get instant permanent residence. .

Edited August 2Aug 2 by Jingthing

49 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Or invest in property @ $535k for temp residency.

Where are you getting that figure from?

7 Countries Where an 80K investment in real estate gives you residency:

Albania, Georgia, Serbia, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Bulgaria

Obviously each country has its own set of offers or lack of offers.

Not the primary topic here.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure what part you stating I'm wrong. If just Thai instability, as stated, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Now on the countries that do offer PR, for me, it would be Mexico only, and I don't qualify, finacially, $4300 a month income for temp residency, for 4 yrs, then transfer to PR @ $7400 monthly income 😲

Or invest in property @ $535k for temp residency.

So I'm guessing most of the Yanks that live there, aren't on PR status 😂

So if tossed out of TH, it would be back to USA, permanently, and not a bad thing at all. The list below SUCKS, and not in a good way.

No desire to live in these ...

... Americas

Canada

Panama

Dominican Rep

Costa Rica

... EU if PR, they tax any worldwide income NO THANK

Portugal

Spain

Cyprus & Malta

Germany

Greece

France

Italy

Bulgaria

... Asia Pac & Mid East ... NO THANKS

Austraila

Singaport

United Arab Emirates

If you know of any others, feel free.

I hear North Sentinel Island has nice beaches.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Obviously each country has its own set of offers or lack of offers.

Not the primary topic here.

Some of the EU countries with easy residencies have winters, which is why no one wants to go. You can always pop out in winter.

47 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You don't have at least 75k usd in a retirement account?

Hard to believe

Mexico.

I'

I'll be 72 at year's end, figure 2 yrs to liquidate what we have, so 74 or older. And I haven't even thought about where I'd live. I did state earlier, no hurricane or earthquake location, which Mexico has gotten hit with both. That's why I scratched Mexico off retirement list before coming to TH.

Lump sum wouldn't be a problem, income would, but moot subject.

I'm not going anywhere for a big unknown, and some areas aren't safe, and may need kidnap insurance, or so I read. Being unsafe, another negative I noted elsewhere that's not acceptable.

Along with the probability, more expensive healthcare. I got my GP here, he's a kidney doc, and a Cardiologist that I like. I can easily self diagnos & medicate here with no problems. From AI ...

I'd be knocking on 80 by the time I got PR, if still alive. Uproot my wife for what, to watch me die in a foreign country Not to mention, the wife would have to learn another language. For me, us, it's TH, or USA, although that 'what if' will never happen. Thai BBQ suits me just fine.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by KhunLA

24 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

I hear North Sentinel Island has nice beaches.

Holy Buddha, you couldn't give free housing and an expense account to live in any part of India. Are you allowed to eat beef there 😂

12 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'll be 72 at year's end, figure 2 yrs to liquidate what we have, so 74 or older.

It was a bad idea to start a thread like this on this forum.

As most people on this forum are around your age and have been in Thailand 20 years or more and have famiiies.

Most people on here are too old and too settled to relocate, except back home maybe.

The video in the OP is more for people considering to retire in Thailand in their early 50s.

Just now, save the frogs said:

It was a bad idea to start a thread like this on this forum.

As most people on this forum are around your age and have been in Thailand 20 years or more and have famiiies.

Most people on here are too old and too settled to relocate, except back home maybe.

The video in the OP is more for people considering to retire in Thailand in their early 50s.

Not sure why PR is important to anyone. COL is more important to me, and easy, accessible, fairly inexpensive healthcare. NO income tax, being a Yank.

Real retirement visa that can't get any easier to qualify for. As long as you can deal with the heat, and live south of us, for decent air, not seeing any negatives with TH.

Almost forgot, inexpensive solar, BEV, and an excellent charging network. Seriously, doesn't get any better

Especially since not sure where, would be better. I peek at places I really liked, that I played tourist at, 25+ years ago, I don't recognize them, and not in a good way.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by KhunLA

21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Holy Buddha, you couldn't give free housing and an expense account to live in any part of India. Are you allowed to eat beef there 😂

Not sure, but you might be on the menu.

27 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Holy Buddha, you couldn't give free housing and an expense account to live in any part of India. Are you allowed to eat beef there 😂

Some parts of India eat beef, but never been.

55 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Obviously each country has its own set of offers or lack of offers.

Not the primary topic here.

You say it is not about individuals and now you say it is not about other countries!

I have asked you previously to provide a precis but nothing is forthcoming!

So what actually is the "primary topic here", if there is one?

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

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

Maybe for some. But for this old fart, 25 years here, married to a Thai (comfortably, for 45 years) -- things have always been pleasant. No concerns about not being a permanent resident -- what more would that get me, as I have no problem with all the property being in the wife's name. As for Immigration headaches -- my LTR visa has smoothed that out. Healthcare? Superb hospitals, and my home country policy (Tricare) takes care of most of it.

No, I think the chubby guy in a baseball hat is stirring a pot that doesn't apply to the older, settled retirees here in Thailand.

54 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not sure why PR is important to anyone. COL is more important to me, and easy, accessible, fairly inexpensive healthcare. NO income tax, being a Yank.

Real retirement visa that can't get any easier to qualify for. As long as you can deal with the heat, and live south of us, for decent air, not seeing any negatives with TH.

Almost forgot, inexpensive solar, BEV, and an excellent charging network. Seriously, doesn't get any better

Especially since not sure where, would be better. I peek at places I really liked, that I played tourist at, 25+ years ago, I don't recognize them, and not in a good way.

I don't understand how it is that you don't understand that residency security is important to a lot of people and generally highly valued when people are shopping for countries to live in. That's really weird. It's so obvious. That doesn't mean it's important to you or all people though.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

I'll be 72 at year's end, figure 2 yrs to liquidate what we have, so 74 or older. And I haven't even thought about where I'd live. I did state earlier, no hurricane or earthquake location, which Mexico has gotten hit with both. That's why I scratched Mexico off retirement list before coming to TH.

Lump sum wouldn't be a problem, income would, but moot subject.

I'm not going anywhere for a big unknown, and some areas aren't safe, and may need kidnap insurance, or so I read. Being unsafe, another negative I noted elsewhere that's not acceptable.

Along with the probability, more expensive healthcare. I got my GP here, he's a kidney doc, and a Cardiologist that I like. I can easily self diagnos & medicate here with no problems. From AI ...

I'd be knocking on 80 by the time I got PR, if still alive. Uproot my wife for what, to watch me die in a foreign country Not to mention, the wife would have to learn another language. For me, us, it's TH, or USA, although that 'what if' will never happen. Thai BBQ suits me just fine.

Mexico is a big country.

Sounds like you're thinking about the coasts for storms and Mexico City for big quakes.

There are good choices where those aren't an issue.

For example Lake Chapala outside of Guadalajara which is a major expat haven.

Regrets that this topic has veered into talking about Plan Bs and being a part of that.

Suggest that its best to get back to the topic which you can refresh your memory by reading the OP and very importantly WATCHING the video if you haven't already.

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

For example Lake Chapala outside of Guadalajara which is a major expat haven.

Expat haven, that would be the last place you'd find me. Another reason why I enjoy where I live, it's not an expat haven, which I avoid when O&A.

I like the surf, so that would be a must. Pacific side and Gulf side both get hit with bad storms. Loved Mex. City, but I'm not really a big metro person. Not sure if it would get to me after a while.

I'm not going anywhere, as enjoying myself too much right here.

16 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

For example Lake Chapala outside of Guadalajara which is a major expat haven.

If you want to live in a foreigner ghetto.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Mexico is a big country.

Sounds like you're thinking about the coasts for storms and Mexico City for big quakes.

There are good choices where those aren't an issue.

For example Lake Chapala outside of Guadalajara which is a major expat haven.

I’ve spent a lot of time in Mexico and really like it there, but the endemic subversive undercurrent and the pervasive filthy water there makes it an uninhabitable place to live for this one, don’t plan on ever going back either.

13 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

If you want to live in a foreigner ghetto.

@Jingthing Same as some areas here, wouldn't be for me. If ever lived in USA again, MX would definitely be on my O&A map. Would love to go back to MX, expecially MX city, hang out with a family, that played host to me.

Buddy lent me condo/apt for long week, and his brother & wife took us to tourist spot, pyramids & all, had nice meal at his sis's place. First time I stayed and socialized with folks that definitely weren't the haves. Ask my young guide what to bring, wine his mother likes and he sad, no. Bring ice cream, she loves it but never buys it. And don't buy too much, as we don't have frezzer.

His nephew, our guide, took us all around during evening hours & bars, to keep us in right neighborhoods. Which his mother gave him an earful every night, as he was only 16, still in school. A very mature 16. That was 1990, so I was 35, and GF, 21 maybe, as she had one more year of college. Still a party animal and we loved the city and outskirts. There was still remnants of the 1985 earthquake not fixed yet.

Tijuanna was a sh!thole, but the Yucatan area was nice, and north of was a consideration for retiring. They had a few bad storms though.

Not sure what the place would be like now, but saw snaps and vids of Cozumel. Geez, what a change, as was there before they dredged out one of the coral reefs for cruise ships. There was only 1 tourist bar, 'Carlos & Charlies', the rest was sleepy little town.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by KhunLA