I was planning to retire to Thailand but after reading some of the visa topics I might have to forget it, it looks daunting unless you have an organised mind, which mine isn't. I thought I could just get the visa on the plane like before and then just do visa runs from Pattaya to Cambodia or Laos a couple of times a year but it seems there are so many types of visa and I do not know which one I require.

I have enough money to live a comfortable life in Thailand for quite few years but renewing visas and the travel involved will soon eat it up. I live in Gran Canaria at the moment but with cigarettes going up weekly and being ripped off with rent and telephone charges then the money will be gone very soon.

Does anyone have any idea how I can live in Thailand; just a studio and simple food, without too much hassle?

Depends on your age really. If you are over 50 you can get a one year retirement visa as long as you have 800,000 baht in a bank here or can show that you recieve 65,000 baht per month in pension.

All you have to do then is turn up at your local immigration office (Jomtien if you live in Pattaya), every three months to let them know you are still alive. I think you can even renew your retirement visa in immigration now.

You can still find cheap condo's to rent in Pattaya and I still pay 29baht for 20 cigarettes.

Moved to the visas for Thailand sub-forum.

Scouse.