10 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

As I have posted before, the 800k baht can't stay 800k baht forever. It's already been 800k baht for decades.

Eventually, the Thai government will increase it. It could be a small increase to keep pace with inflation and the higher cost of living, or they could increase it significantly, in the hope of attracting more wealthy retirees, and clearly out the not so wealthy.

So, in the future, I can see this rise making it harder for foreigners to retire here.

Or remove this visa altogether, leaving DTV and LTR.

42 minutes ago, Grecian said:

In inflation linked terms when was it last this cheap to secure long term visas? 800k hasn't risen for what 20 years?

Not that I complain it is 800K, as I have the money in Thailand anyway, but you should check your facts.

When I started on my retirement extension 18 years ago it was 250K, it then went up to 500K and later 800K

6 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

Not that I complain it is 800K, as I have the money in Thailand anyway, but you should check your facts.

When I started on my retirement extension 18 years ago it was 250K, it then went up to 500K and later 800K

Would you like to explain that a wee bit better, as nothing has changed since I've been here, 2000, , actaually pre 2000, but I only asked about 2000 onward, and seem AI agrees with me ...

Deportation anyone?

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

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.

Why do you believe the people of Thailand owe you anything? You sound like an entitled Westerner.

Just now, Mr Awesome said:

Why do you believe the people of Thailand owe you anything? You sound like an entitled Westerner.

Straw Man Garbage.

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

Yes, very much so. The immigration compliance process is more detailed, and as reliant on paper and unnecessary documentation as before and worse, the administration of the regulations is inconsistent. That's where the problems lie. It is 2026 and the modern world has moved to biometrics, reliable online reporting methods and a consistent application of rules. The need for multiple photos, photocopies of documents etc. is needless.

1 hour ago, 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.

You are referring to the visa on arrival used by short term tourists. It does not help the long stay foreigner. In today's world of travel options the reduction of 60 to 30 days is a pain in the a$$ for the cold climate travellers who wish to go somewhere to avoid the worst of their winter. The ongoing short stay period of stay for land crossers doesn't help the people who travel in and out of the country by land routes. For example, a person who wants to visit Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and wants to use Thailand as a base for travel is screwed. The visa rules limit land crossing activity and duration of stay.

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Would you like to explain that a wee bit better, as nothing has changed since I've been here, 2000, , actaually pre 2000, but I only asked about 2000 onward, and seem AI agrees with me ...

I knew our AI resident would be here soon.

I stand corrected, it was 200K until 1997, I didn't have a retirement visa at that time yet, but was living here already for years, so that may have confused me.

I really don't mind how much the requirement is, as I'm also not someone who buys breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7-11 and claim it's the best a man can get.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Straw Man Garbage.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Straw Man Garbage.

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

Straw Man Garbage.

That's a weak response. Thailand does not owe you anything. You bring little value to Thailand.

Almost noone is sincerely addressing the actual topic.

I suggest you watch the video which give strong evidence of a real and quite negative trend.

If there are points in the video that you think are inaccurate, give evidence.

3 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

In today's world of travel options the reduction of 60 to 30 days is a pain in the a$$ for the cold climate travellers who wish to go somewhere to avoid the worst of their winter.

For those people there are other visas available. I know several Scandinavians who stay here 6 months every year, and they don't have retirement visas

I hope they are.

Thailand is still a developing country. Most of the population are on very low wages and need to be protected. It's not some established wealthy country at the moment.

You can't just have an influx of foreigners taking over. You dilute society, you dilute the culture, and you see an increase in problems financially for Thais (for example rising rent prices as they have to compete with foreigners).

Most developing foreign countries have protection mechanism in place - like India.

Thailand has not really made anything difficult. It should go stronger, especially targetting cheap trash tourists

Jingthing wrote:

"'The tax thing is a big big negative for many of us"

And the video seems to suggest that all those who live here must file a tax return. Not true. Only those with taxable income.

No reported cases of any long stay westerner being prosecuted or sued for non payment of tax.

The person who did the video is scare mongering. Rules change all the time.

Get on with it and get a life.

😄

1 minute ago, zombie nights said:

Jingthing wrote:

"'The tax thing is a big big negative for many of us"

And the video seems to suggest that all those who live here must file a tax return. Not true. Only those with taxable income.

No reported cases of any long stay westerner being prosecuted or sued for non payment of tax.

The person who did the video is scare mongering. Rules change all the time.

Get on with it and get a life.

😄

Straw Man Garbage.

36 minutes ago, harvardgrad said:

Nothing is permanent and I see things shifting in favor of things being easier for passport bros instead of retirees. So cheap Charlie's lose out

I agree.

The retirement visa / extension is nothing more than 1 year tourist visa.

Everyone should have a Plan B here.

4 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

I hope they are.

Thailand is still a developing country. Most of the population are on very low wages and need to be protected. It's not some established wealthy country at the moment.

You can't just have an influx of foreigners taking over. You dilute society, you dilute the culture, and you see an increase in problems financially for Thais (for example rising rent prices as they have to compete with foreigners).

Most developing foreign countries have protection mechanism in place - like India.

Thailand has not really made anything difficult. It should go stronger, especially targetting cheap trash tourists

Thai expat style of Stockholm syndrome.

44 minutes ago, Peter Crow said:

Or remove this visa altogether, leaving DTV and LTR.

Anything is possible. They could go down that route.

Like I said, it could be a small increase, or a significant increase as part of a broader policy to clear Thailand out of people from all around the world living on meager western country aged pensions who are not spending much money here.

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

Anything is possible. They could go down that route.

Like I said, it could be a small increase, or a significant increase as part of a broader policy to clear Thailand out of people from all around the world living on meager western country aged pensions who are not spending much money here.

The DTV should be banned. That is the cause of all problems. Scandalous they let it go through. Most politicians don't even know how it works properly.

Easier,a lot easier before it used to be a whole long day getting an extension, or a 90-day report having to go down to Bangkok to the old immigration offices, just hoping you had got it right, then back down again to pick up the passport, or a 4-hour wait for extension stamps to be transferred in a new passport.

Now, with our local office a 50-minute ride to the office and now a 45-minute job, it takes longer to get the covering letter from the bank.

Someone said better roads; now all our local roads are tarmac. When I first came here, it was 20% ?, the rest just crushed stone.

27 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

I knew our AI resident would be here soon.

I stand corrected, it was 200K until 1997, I didn't have a retirement visa at that time yet, but was living here already for years, so that may have confused me.

I really don't mind how much the requirement is, as I'm also not someone who buys breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7-11 and claim it's the best a man can get.

That was about the same time as the crash, and exchange rate USD / THB was $1 / ฿25 THB for the 13 years prior (institued in 1984) and then more than doubled in six months from July to January 1998, at $1 / ฿54, and surely contributing to the rise, since extremely low prior to that time.

For at least 13 yrs, one only needed $8k USD for retirement visa.

1998 that changed to $14.8k for retirement visa @ ฿54.

That's fluctuated from $20k to $29.k since I've been here (฿40-฿29), as USA deficit skyrocketed, and at present $23.8k, so not bad, considering the inflation over the past 28 or 42 years. which ever threshold one wants to use 1998 or 1984.

My COLA have increased 70+% since 2000, and yet, the 800k has remained the same. So no complaints here.

Not sure those increase are Thailand's fault, or USA's fault, or mixe of both. Either, still cheap as chips, and very easy to stay here. Even easier, half that cost if married.

Edited 23 hours ago23 hr by KhunLA

34 minutes ago, KhunHeineken said:

Anything is possible. They could go down that route.

Like I said, it could be a small increase, or a significant increase as part of a broader policy to clear Thailand out of people from all around the world living on meager western country aged pensions who are not spending much money here.

Or basically nothing change as it has been the last 28 ish years. Been hearing the same doom & gloom for 26 yrs, and not much, if any has changed. Changes have mostly been for the better.

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Or basically nothing change as it has been the last 28 ish years. Been hearing the same doom & gloom for 26 yrs, and not much, if any has changed. Changes have mostly been for the better.

The purchasing power of the 800k baht has diminished, considerably, over the years in Thailand. It simply can not stay at 800k baht forever. It's not a question of if, just when, it will be raised.

It may be raised a small amount to reflect higher costs of living in Thailand at the time, or it could be raised significantly, as part of a broader policy, but for sure, at some stage in the future, it will be raised.

1 minute ago, KhunHeineken said:

The purchasing power of the 800k baht has diminished, considerably, over the years in Thailand. It simply can not stay at 800k baht forever. It's not a question of if, just when, it will be raised.

It may be raised a small amount to reflect higher costs of living in Thailand at the time, or it could be raised significantly, as part of a broader policy, but for sure, at some stage in the future, it will be raised.

After 28 years of being the same, 800k THB, would that really be a surprise, or a hardship, as my COLA have gone up 70+% since I arrived in 2000.

The 800k THB has only cost me more, since 2000 ($20k) due to the out of control increase of the USA deficit since 2000 and devalued USD to THB, to now ($23.8k).

Is there anything else that's been the same price for 28 yrs ???

Edited 22 hours ago22 hr by KhunLA

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Almost noone is sincerely addressing the actual topic.

I suggest you watch the video which give strong evidence of a real and quite negative trend.

If there are points in the video that you think are inaccurate, give evidence.

The loophole that enabled expat pensioners to live tax-free in Thailand has, quite rightly, been closed. If you are resident in a country why shouldn't you pay tax there?

Wrt to border control/ immigration, nothing much has changed. Thailand has just adopted a stricter interpretation of the laws.

I don't see any reason to condemn Thailand for deporting illegal immigrants or foreign criminals.

So yes, things probably are more difficult in some ways for expats/long stay visitors as a result of Thailand actually enforcing existing laws. Why should that be a problem? There is nothing illegal or immoral in the Thai authorities doing so.

On tax, nobody has a problem with being taxed on income earned in Thailand,

The change that made Thailand a tax unfriendly country was now taxing remittances to Thailand of income that was earned outside of Thailand.

For Thai tax residents of course and in some cases exceptions based on treaties.

Nobody who isn't insane would consider this change as a move to make things easier for foreigners in Thailand.

Individuals need to look at their own specific situation to check the impact of this of course.

I haven't heard of an exception for buying real estate (if there is let me know) but that part of it is especially serious and needing very aggressive extreme tax planning.

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I think the obvious answer is yes they are.

Absolutely wrong.

5 year DTV.

20 year Elite.

No price increase in extensions of stay.

Gay foreigners able to get marriage visa for being married to a Thai man.

Online TM30. Online TM47.

But oh no, I didn't watch THE VIDEO in the OP. 🙄

46 minutes ago, Packer said:

Absolutely wrong.

5 year DTV.

20 year Elite.

No price increase in extensions of stay.

Gay foreigners able to get marriage visa for being married to a Thai man.

Online TM30. Online TM47.

But oh no, I didn't watch THE VIDEO in the OP. 🙄

Because you don't want to know.

Willfull ignorance.

Elite program priced into atrocious value.

Jinghting has a point:

1) Taxing income earned outside Thailand

2) No criminal certificate for driver's licence now

3) No more visa waiver on a long term basis

Basically Thailand is becoming like, well, our own countries.

Not a fan of the grey/black colour palette in the video. Too fascist.

Thailand does not want farangs living permanently in their country; their prerogative.

Adapt or leave, or split time w home country living.

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

On tax, nobody has a problem with being taxed on income earned in Thailand,

The change that made Thailand a tax unfriendly country was now taxing remittances to Thailand of income that was earned outside of Thailand.

For Thai tax residents of course and in some cases exceptions based on treaties.

Nobody who isn't insane would consider this change as a move to make things easier for foreigners in Thailand.

Individuals need to look at their own specific situation to check the impact of this of course.

I haven't heard of an exception for buying real estate (if there is let me know) but that part of it is especially serious and needing very aggressive extreme tax planning.

Why should you expect to live tax-free in Thailand? Public services e.g. police, education, public hospitals, etc need funding. If you are resident in Thailand, why should you expect to be exempt from contributing? The argument that you don't use these services doesn't wash. You are hardly going to negotiate a price on the spot with the fire service should you require their services in an emergency.