6 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they lowered the financial requirements.

Yesterday at 09:07 AM

On 8/27/2026 at 8:55 AM (u-know-hoo) said:

At some stage these amounts will have to increase because their purchasing power is being eroded away over time.

(JerryM) They might decide to lower the numbers so more expats will be able to meet the genuine requirements and not have to pay bribes to IMM officials via a conduit to get around them.

And apologies to whom first alluded to this but it would seem not plausible for the 800K baht to be raised past 1,000,000 baht since:

Deposit Protection

From August 11, 2021 Thai Baht Deposits are protected under the Deposit Protection Agency Act up to a maximum of one million baht per one depositor per financial institution.

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Save-And-Invest/Save/Bualuang-Extra-Savings

Edited August 28Aug 28 by JerryM

3 hours ago, Wingate said:

While I appreciate your argument, I think the wild card is Anutin. The recent crackdowns on many previously acceptable actions are probably his doing, though I could be wrong. The nominee system served a purpose. It brought capital into Thailand. It was never a secret. Anutin---or somebody--thinks its job is done.

In order to entice only "quality retirees", it would not surprise me if the financial levels were increased dramatically, even if they dwarfed the average of other supposedly welcoming destinations.

I could see something like $100K per year income or 3 million baht in a Thai bank. That isn't so high as to eliminate everyone, but it's high enough that it would suggest an ability to add more economic value to the Thai economy. A retiree living on 50K baht a month doesn't really add much value on his own, and I doubt the argument that an infinite number of 50K/month retirees adds up washes with Anutin. Plus, agents could still make money helping retirees to pretend they've plopped 3 million baht in a Thai bank.

If I look around the world, I see leadership is increasingly catering to, almost solely, the elite of society. I don't see why Thailand would be any different.

Finally, were I a retiree, I would not bank on being grandfathered, simply because I've been here for a long time, built a house, married a Thai woman, or produced mixed kids. Everyone best have a Plan B, just in case. Somehow, just somehow, I get the impression Anutin is not fond of westerners.

OK.

Obviously I mostly disagree

You can bet the house they won't lower it

If they raise the level its hard to predict grandfathering.

There are conflicting precedents.

Last financial change was.

OA change to health insurance requirement wasn't.

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You can bet the house they won't lower it

If they raise the level its hard to predict grandfathering.

There are conflicting precedents.

Last financial change was.

OA change to health insurance requirement wasn't.

I don't think they will likely lower it but given the deposit insurance max I don't see how can raise it past 1 million baht.

As to the grand fathering I don't think the OA is a valid comparisons as the grandfather mechanism is already in the extension Police Order but if the 1 million is a cap it really doesn't make much difference.

Edited August 28Aug 28 by JerryM

It’s due for an increase.

800k or 65k isn’t the same as 15 years ago.

With my LTR, I’m GTG. If that visa increases, I’m still GTG.

2 minutes ago, HolmesEquivelant said:

It’s due for an increase.

800k or 65k isn’t the same as 15 years ago.

With my LTR, I’m GTG. If that visa increases, I’m still GTG.

You get much more with your visa.

OA and O retirement give very little.

5 minutes ago, JerryM said:

I don't think they will likely lower it but given the deposit insurance max I don't see how can raise it past 1 million baht.

As to the grand fathering I don't think the OA is a valid comparisons as the grandfather mechanism is already in the extension Police Order but if the 1 million is a cap it really doesn't make much difference.

If they do raise it I can imagine 1.2 million.

Its a clean 50 percent raise.

It wouldn't shake out the majority.

I hear the bank insurance argument but I don't think that would stop them.

Edited August 28Aug 28 by Jingthing

4 hours ago, Wingate said:

While I appreciate your argument, I think the wild card is Anutin. The recent crackdowns on many previously acceptable actions are probably his doing, though I could be wrong. The nominee system served a purpose. It brought capital into Thailand. It was never a secret. Anutin---or somebody--thinks its job is done.

In order to entice only "quality retirees", it would not surprise me if the financial levels were increased dramatically, even if they dwarfed the average of other supposedly welcoming destinations.

I could see something like $100K per year income or 3 million baht in a Thai bank. That isn't so high as to eliminate everyone, but it's high enough that it would suggest an ability to add more economic value to the Thai economy. A retiree living on 50K baht a month doesn't really add much value on his own, and I doubt the argument that an infinite number of 50K/month retirees adds up washes with Anutin. Plus, agents could still make money helping retirees to pretend they've plopped 3 million baht in a Thai bank.

If I look around the world, I see leadership is increasingly catering to, almost solely, the elite of society. I don't see why Thailand would be any different.

Finally, were I a retiree, I would not bank on being grandfathered, simply because I've been here for a long time, built a house, married a Thai woman, or produced mixed kids. Everyone best have a Plan B, just in case. Somehow, just somehow, I get the impression Anutin is not fond of westerners.

Probably the best post I’ve read from you to date.

A milestone has been achieved.

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You get much more with your visa.

OA and O retirement give very little.

If you get married the O or OA requirements would be half I believe.

Just now, HolmesEquivelant said:

If you get married the O or OA requirements would be half I believe.

Off topic

If Thailand raises to 100k usd / 3 million in bank they'll murder their program.

That will not happen.

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

If Thailand raises to 100k usd / 3 million in bank they'll murder their program.

That will not happen.

I hope they do raise the requirement. On topic.

4 minutes ago, HolmesEquivelant said:

I hope they do raise the requirement. On topic.

Of course you do.

Get rid of the riff raff.

@HolmesEquivelant Depends what year, exchange rate one picks.

When I got here, 2000, 800k / 65k in USD was $20k / $1650

couple years later and cost $18k / $1477

couple years later and cost $27.5k / $2240

now ... $24.2k / $1971

So already back at the top end of what OP stated ... $1000 - $2000 monthly income.

Edited August 28Aug 28 by KhunLA

3 hours ago, JerryM said:

With apologies to Australian Helen Reddy:

I am strong (strong)

I am invincible (invincible)

I am AGENT (ooh)

Not sure Helen is the answer to who we Oz blokes aspire to but if she's your old thing.... 🍀

2 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Not sure Helen is the answer to who we Oz blokes aspire to but if she's your old thing.... 🍀

That's OK -- I've heard for years to wit:

Jerry you're a rank amateur and there is nothing you have ever said that the agents aren't 3 steps ahead of you.

Here's an even more fun topic of discussion.

Clearly AI is going to radically transform societies within 5, and certainly 10 to 20 years.

There are many predictions --- some utopian, more dystopian but extreme radical transformation is certain.

How do foreign retired expats fit in a not far away future of AI transformed Thailand?
We all know they don't allow us in because they like how we smell.

We're here because of the economic benefits to Thailand.

So in 5 to 10 years will there even be an economic benefit anymore?

Also of course, it is probably AI not humans that will decide the usefulness or lack thereof of all humans in Thailand, including the flotsam and jetsam of foreigners.

Edited August 28Aug 28 by Jingthing

On 8/28/2026 at 8:14 AM, JerryM said:

The thing about the grandfather -- whether they do it or not -- is that it is already built into the mechanism at 2.22(6) f the current ministerial order.

I wouldn’t rely on grandfathering. They didn’t grandfather those on Non-OA’s when they brought in the compulsory medical insurance requirement a few years back. I was sadly affected. I switched to a Non-O as a result.

12 minutes ago, skorts said:

I wouldn’t rely on grandfathering. They didn’t grandfather those on Non-OA’s when they brought in the compulsory medical insurance requirement a few years back

That is specious argument. The grandfather mechanism is already and has long been in the current Police Order at 2.22(6).

Edited August 29Aug 29 by JerryM

On 8/28/2026 at 7:45 AM, Jingthing said:

Yes I understand but I think this might be different in that the agent game might actually be quasi legal.

Of course if they do ever crack down on it , it would be an expat earthquake.

I've never used them and advise against it, but so many do and I think in some cases these days like converting to an O within Thailand you may even need to.

There is no such thing as quasi legal. Only fools think that. It's either legal or illegal. Circumventing the 800k rule by bribing immigration officials is ILLEGAL.

2 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

There is no such thing as quasi legal. Only fools think that. It's either legal or illegal. Circumventing the 800k rule by bribing immigration officials is ILLEGAL.

That is partially true. The Immigration officer does have the right to waive the 800K requirement under the current police order via the 'discretion' although that right was originally put in there for hardship or humanitarian circumstances.

Just does not have the right to ask for a bribe, even via an intermediary, saying that, without the bribe, he/she won't do it.

Edited August 29Aug 29 by JerryM

20 hours ago, JerryM said:

I don't think they will likely lower it but given the deposit insurance max I don't see how can raise it past 1 million baht.

As to the grand fathering I don't think the OA is a valid comparisons as the grandfather mechanism is already in the extension Police Order but if the 1 million is a cap it really doesn't make much difference.

Are you kidding me? As IF they give a flying f about deposit insurance.

4 minutes ago, JerryM said:

That is partially true. The Immigration officer does have the right to waive the 800K requirement under the current police order via the 'discretion' although that right was originally put in there for hardship or humanitarian circumstances.

Just does not have the right to ask for a bribe, even via an intermediary, saying that, without the bribe, he/she won't do it.

But as I understand it, the immigration officer is not waiving the 800K requirement.

Do the agents not provide documents showing the financial requirement has been met?

1 minute ago, Yellowtail said:

But as I understand it, the immigration officer is not waiving the 800K requirement.

Do the agents not providet documents showing the financial requirement has been me

That 5 minute deposit is not for the same.

5 minutes ago, Celsius said:

Are you kidding me? As IF they give a flying f about deposit insurance.

There might be some opposition to an expat being required to make a deposit beyond the limit of an insured account.

Edited August 29Aug 29 by JerryM

2 minutes ago, JerryM said:

That 5 minute deposit is not for the same.

I know that the financial requirement is not met, but I do not understand your response.

If the IO is waiving the financial requirement, why the need for the 5-minute deposit?

Just now, Yellowtail said:

I know that the financial requirement is not met, but I do not understand your response.

If the IO is waiving the financial requirement, why the need for the 5-minute deposit?

Plausible deniability to the IMM officer person putting their signature in the passbook that everything is copacetic.

What isn't copacetic? That the only reason the IMM front-line officer waived the 800K was because of taking a bribe.

Edited August 29Aug 29 by JerryM

7 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

But as I understand it, the immigration officer is not waiving the 800K requirement.

Do the agents not provide documents showing the financial requirement has been met?

The financial requirement has clearly NOT been met. A 5 minute deposit is not the same as 5 months 800k and 7 months 400k. The IO is being paid a bribe to look the other way.

14 minutes ago, JerryM said:

There might be some opposition to an expat being required to make a deposit beyond the limit of an insured account.

They will just tell them to deposit in 2 different accounts.