1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

and very importantly WATCHING the video if you haven't already.

How about giving us a precis/short list of the points you are trying to make, very unsuccessfully so far!

Frankly, I don't understand why this theme is re-occuring. Whyle it's so simple: Park your 50 meter long yacht in Monaco ans nobody will ask you how long you intend to stay.

Especially in S/E Asia, the officialdom has realised, that after an original "investement burst" (buying house for family), the average Farang will have to live by a "homeland pension" that is usually not too lavish. Them knowing, that the "homeland pension" would not allow for a pleasant retirement in the home country, but it would in S/E Asia. In other words: No big spenders arriving. No need to roll out any red carpets for those arrivals or pampering long term residents.

I said it before and I say it again. Unless you have a fat wallet, the doors are gradually closing. Worldwide.

20 minutes ago, swissie said:

I said it before and I say it again. Unless you have a fat wallet, the doors are gradually closing. Worldwide.

the doom and gloom brigade?

you're one of the guys who moved back home?

26 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

the doom and gloom brigade?

you're one of the guys who moved back home?

The arrogance of Westerners is astonishing. They expect Thailand to offer them a low-cost place to live because they supported a government that imposed heavy taxes on them, contributed to a high cost of living, and failed to save adequately for retirement.

17 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

the doom and gloom brigade?

you're one of the guys who moved back home?

You know that my comment reflects current "immigration policies" worldwide. Unless you have not been paying attention.

Why would I have left if I couldent afford Thailand? To become poor in my home country? I visited the world on tourist visas, never officially left my home country. I was able to afford it, but never having the desire to live permnently in theose many countries I visited.

Even having lived in the "Sticks" of Thailand or in Pattaya, I decided "it's not for me longer term".

Harder in some ways for sure.

1: Thai Health insurance for seniors, 65, 70 and above. Few choices if any and expensive.

2: The potentially ominous or at the least annoying Long Stay 180 day tax rules or processes. Paperwork? Documentation? TBD

3: Hotel price collusion in some cities. I just was in Pattaya and Hua Hin. So many use Agoda or other sites.

4: Plane fare from other countries. Not really a Thailand controlled thing, but is definitely hurting the two or three week blue collar tourist visitor that used to be so common from the UK or even the USA.

5: Thailand Evisa in advance asking for flight details. Gosh, the reason I first went to Thailand was because my travel was often unplanned and I could just jet off and Visa exempt on arrival. Still can kind of do that,, depends on airlines asking to see a valid visa before travel. Or having to do the evisa TDAC thing on arrival, assuming one has an internet usable phone upon arrival,

4 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

The arrogance of Westerners is astonishing. They expect Thailand to offer them a low-cost place to live because they supported a government that imposed heavy taxes on them, contributed to a high cost of living, and failed to save adequately for retirement.

That's a very obnoxious slice of toxic rhetoric.

However as you're talking about why people retire abroad, it is true that a top reason for a large segment of people is geographical arbitrage.

They may or may not be able to afford to retire at all in their home country, but the goal with geographical arbitrage is to get the proverbial more bang for the buck elsewhere.

That can be done domestically to a certain degree by moving to cheaper at home places.

Thailand is indeed on the list of such countries. It's not a matter of expectation. It's still a matter of economic reality even though Thailand has gotten a lot more expensive. Other major target countries like Ireland and New Zealand aren't.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by Jingthing

5 hours ago, swissie said:

Frankly, I don't understand why this theme is re-occuring. Whyle it's so simple: Park your 50 meter long yacht in Monaco ans nobody will ask you how long you intend to stay.

Especially in S/E Asia, the officialdom has realised, that after an original "investement burst" (buying house for family), the average Farang will have to live by a "homeland pension" that is usually not too lavish. Them knowing, that the "homeland pension" would not allow for a pleasant retirement in the home country, but it would in S/E Asia. In other words: No big spenders arriving. No need to roll out any red carpets for those arrivals or pampering long term residents.

I said it before and I say it again. Unless you have a fat wallet, the doors are gradually closing. Worldwide.

A response.

The Philippines is in SE Asia.

They offer the SRRV visa which is permanent residence for life.

It requires a bit of annual maintenance by paying a fee, but that's it.

So your conspiracy theory of how Asean nations view retired expats is interesting, it may or may not be true, and doesn't apply to all.

On your general point that the doors are closing, I can only comment on retirement visas and also nations that offer non-retirement visa paths.

NO!

The doors are NOT closing.

That is BS.

It is true that there is a trend (though not universal) to raise financial requirements and in some cases adding some annoying non-money policy changes, by and large they can be explained by normal adjustments for cost of living and inflation.

For example Nicaragua raised their requirement from 600 USD a month to 1000 a month.

Then there is Panama which is very often on the top of international lists for their benefits packed retirement visa (PERMANENT RESIDENCE) offer.

It sits at 1000 USD a month as it has been as long as I can remember.

Which is a bit off as you can't really live a decent expat life there for 1000 USD.

Yeah they'll likely raise it someday but not to a level that would filter out middle class people.

Edited August 2Aug 2 by Jingthing

Living in Thailand requires that I adjust to the changing immigration policies. The only issue I had was Biased Thai instructors when I did my MA here...

On 8/1/2026 at 8:28 PM, Rockyroad said:

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

Where have you seen this? Arent they supposed to be happier? Sunshine all year. Lower cost. Friendly locals. Why would they be miserable?

Just now, Maxbkkcm said:

Where have you seen this? Arent they supposed to be happier? Sunshine all year. Lower cost. Friendly locals. Why would they be miserable?

No real gf. Can't speak Thai. No good visa. Poor health. No gym. Chang Beer.

11 minutes ago, Rockyroad said:

No real gf. Can't speak Thai. No good visa. Poor health. No gym. Chang Beer.

You have a good visa? DTV ?

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

That's a very obnoxious slice of toxic rhetoric.

However as you're talking about why people retire abroad, it is true that a top reason for a large segment of people is geographical arbitrage.

They may or may not be able to afford to retire at all in their home country, but the goal with geographical arbitrage is to get the proverbial more bang for the buck elsewhere.

That can be done domestically to a certain degree by moving to cheaper at home places.

Thailand is indeed on the list of such countries. It's not a matter of expectation. It's still a matter of economic reality even though Thailand has gotten a lot more expensive. Other major target countries like Ireland and New Zealand aren't.

NZ has $3 a litre fuel. Hotels cost $250 a night.

A $400 a week lifestyle in Thailand costs $1000 in NZ.

Yesterday I took a train ride. 7 baht. Cornetto for breakfast 25 baht. In NZ they are 80 baht.

Gym 50 baht Thai, 400 baht NZ.

Weather Thai warm, NZ freezing!

On 7/31/2026 at 8:58 PM, Jingthing said:

Latin America is not a monolith.

It's not a monolith, but it is corrupt, dangerous and more expensive relative to Thailand.

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The Philippines is in SE Asia.

They offer the SRRV visa which is permanent residence for life.

So why don't you move there?

Are the expats on the SRRV on the public healthcare system?

9 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

So why don't you move there?

Are the expats on the SRRV on the public healthcare system?

I understand that they can get a 25% off the public healthcare system

My 2 cents:

Cambodia offers a very easy ER annual retirement visa for about $300/year and no proof of finances of bank deposit needed (I have such a visa as a plan B). In my 25 years of using Thailand as my 'base', I have seen the visa rules tighten more and more. That's their choice - it's their country. But don't be surprised if foreigners choose to go elsewhere........

13 hours ago, KhunLA said:

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.

12 hours ago, KhunLA said:

@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.

Mexico looks good on the surface until you have been there for a while unlike Thailand where you can virtually go and live anywhere and be safe where no other foreigners reside but in Mexico you are safer where foreigners congregate and live where there is support and eyes out for everyone due to rampant corruption with the government and police where if you are living in an area with few foreigners then if any problems arise with the police, government which is effectively run by the cartel then there is little hope. Mexico is very dirty, the people there don’t wash their hands and I mean this is all the people everywhere there and there is no clean running water, you can’t brush your teeth with it you have to shower with your eyes closed and have to soak your fresh salad vegetables in bottled water with iodine. Mexico is a last resort bottom of the barrel 3rd world sh!te hole country full of 4th grade local population.

21 hours ago, Grecian said:

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.

I've been married in the past, have kids, and had an amical divorce. I'm still in contact with the ex. I'm financially secure, and retired younger than most. I have friends here, from many different countries, and walks of life. I meet new people regularly, through golf. I exercise regularly, and consider myself to be in good health. I have hobbies. I travel the region, Eg. Singapore F1, and occasionally back to my home country.

I didn't come to Thailand to start a relationship with a Thai hooker who is half my age, or younger, adopt her extended family, and be relieved of my hard earned and my kids inheritance, like has happened to so many here, probably yourself included. Why would I want to join "The Issan House Builders Club?" 😂

I'm open to meeting an educated and professional Thai women in the future, but I'm currently not looking to start a new relationship. I like my life, and my lifestyle.

The picture you have of me is wrong.

Now, how much do you "pay" your Thai missus every month, and do you have a nice house in Issan? 😂

Edited August 3Aug 3 by KhunHeineken

22 hours ago, save the frogs said:

I don't like that lifestyle too much.

It's more sane to be with one woman.

I don't rule that out in the future, but I guarantee you she will not have a sick buffalo. 😂

Some of the Thai girls definitely make it harder.

On 8/2/2026 at 1:26 PM, KhunHeineken said:

Is this not the point being made?

No. This is:

5 minutes ago, JerryM said:

No. This is:

I am ok as well, just for different reasons that you think you are ok. 😂

4 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

I am ok as well, just for different reasons that you think you are ok. 😂

Yes. You play golf. I grew up in a golfing family but never took to it.

But i did have Arnold Palmer as a neighbor and got to volunteer for a couple of years at his tournament (Tiger Woods won that year)

Edited August 3Aug 3 by JerryM

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

No. This is:

That could be a response/applied to many post(ers) on AN!

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

But i did have Arnold Palmer as a neighbor and got to volunteer for a couple of years at his tournament (Tiger Woods won that year)

You know who doesn't look OK? Tiger Woods.

I think it's not even his first DUI arrest.

Guy looks like he's going on a downward spiral.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

You know who doesn't look OK? Tiger Woods.

I think it's not even his first DUI arrest.

Guy looks like he's going on a downward spiral.

Just a bad day ... think he's had better. Just a kid, better times ahead.

... "Tiger Woods is 50 years old (born December 30, 1975) and has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion. He is one of only a few active athletes to achieve billionaire status." ...

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Just a bad day ... think he's had better. Just a kid, better times ahead.

... "Tiger Woods is 50 years old (born December 30, 1975) and has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion. He is one of only a few active athletes to achieve billionaire status." ...

With all his money, if he wanted to drink or take drugs, and needed transport, why not hire a chauffeur? What a Cheap Charlie. 😂

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

"Tiger Woods is 50 years old (born December 30, 1975) and has an estimated net worth of $1.5 billion.

Should Thailand offer him PR / Citizenship to entice him to move some of that money to Thailand, or should he be treated like every other expat retiree? 😂

3 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Should Thailand offer him PR / Citizenship to entice him to move some of that money to Thailand, or should he be treated like every other expat retiree? 😂

Anyone with a Thai parent can claim Thai citizenship regardless of where they were born