Dual Nationality

[pom66]

Hi i would appreciate your advice concerning retirement.

i Have dual passports Australian And UK

i recieve a full Pension from both

i am currently resident in the UK and am looking to retire to the L.O.S

my question is What Passport would you reccommend to use for the retirement

the combind pensions would satisfy the monthly 65K

the Australian pension is of course the higher of the two but which is better

thank you

[Maestro]

I have deleted a flame and the replies to it.

[phuketrichard]

if ur doing the combo method, use the one that has the most income as less money u will need in the bank

no idea if u can combine the two to get the 65,000 or not

[Maestro]

You will have to get the so-called embassy letter (income affidavit with your signature authenticated by the consulate) for the combined income from the consulate of the country whose passport you use for the arrival in Thailand and subsequent extensions of stay. There are two considerations I can think of:

1. Which consulate is more convenient for you to reach?
2. How much do the UK and the Australian consulates charge for the affidavit?

[TerryLH]

Wouldn't he need letters from both consulates if he wants to just use the income method?

Terry

[Mario2008]

Wouldn't he need letters from both consulates if he wants to just use the income method?

Terry

No, the embassy of the country he entered Thailand on will issue the letter for both pensions. It doesn't matter in which country the income is earned. A US-citizen earning his income in the UK still goes to the US-embassy, not the UK-embassy.

[lopburi3]

But in that respect using Oz passport might be best as there requirement is your statement of what you earn rather than the UK requirement for paperwork (which might involve getting extra stamps of non UK source or more paperwork).

[pom66]

yes i understand the letters i would need that is not a problem

i was more intrested in which country would be more benifical in a crisis

i have heard how difficult it can be if you lose a passport etc and was wondering along those lines as to which would be better

[bigwilly]

pom 66.

Bear in mind you can renew your aussie passport in BKK, you have to renew the UK Passport in Hong Kong.

I am a dual national also, retirement extension of stay always been on my Aussie passport.

Dont expect much help from either Embassy in a crisis, Aussie Embassy is good with Stat decs or paperwork and is a nice setting.

The British Embassy is an embarrasment. Aussie Embassy works good for me 14 years now.

BW.

[sandgroper3]

hi big willy

do you have any problems getting your aussie pension while you live in thailand

[UbonOz]

I have same, UK and AU passport.

I use my AU passport for all Thai related immigration.

AU Embassy do not require any proof of income, their format is you sign a Statutory Declaration and declare you have a minimum income of THB65,000/month which is sufficient proof for Thai Immigration.

The British Embassy require proof as far I understand from other posts on TVF.

[UbonOz]

Refer to Post #26 in the link below, it is the email I received from the AU Embassy in BKK.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/630517-proof-of-income/page-2

[bigwilly]

hi big willy

do you have any problems getting your aussie pension while you live in thailand

Hi.

Right now I am under retirement pension age in Australia, so no aged pension i am afraid, as I understand one has to be resident in Australia for 3 years prior to applying, funny how being an Australian Citizen doesn't mean much unless you are residing there! there is no way I will return to Oz at 62 years old and twiddle my thumbs for 3 years waiting to apply as they will probably stop payment after leaving. Stinks when I spent 26 years working there and paying huge tax's. I am now convinced that there will be no pension from either the UK or Australia as I intend to stay here in Thailand. Dont fancy my chances from UK as I left as a 19 year old lad.

Regards BW.

[pom66]

thank you all Australia it is

bye the way i still get my Australian pension paid into my Australian account

that way i get it every fortnight.

to get pension overseas you have to have been resident for 25 years but as from next year that will increase to 35 years

but it is not retrospective

big willy you have to have been in Australia for 2 years to get it paid overseas.but that only applies after you have been absent for more than 12 months so you can get it for twelve months

if you can it would be well worth having.

[dighambara]

if ur doing the combo method, use the one that has the most income as less money u will need in the bank

no idea if u can combine the two to get the 65,000 or not

WRONG - Only a total minimum amount need be sworn to.

You will have to get the so-called embassy letter (income affidavit with your signature authenticated by the consulate) for the combined income from the consulate of the country whose passport you use for the arrival in Thailand and subsequent extensions of stay. There are two considerations I can think of:

1. Which consulate is more convenient for you to reach?
2. How much do the UK and the Australian consulates charge for the affidavit?

Wrong - The Embnassy letter has nothing to do with any source of income. A person with a British passport could be living off a US pension - no conflict.

Wouldn't he need letters from both consulates if he wants to just use the income method?

Terry

Nope, only one letter for the one passport - the only passport Thai Immigration should ever see.

[lopburi3]

The embassy letter is indeed a statement of your income - nobody said it could not be US income included in a UK letter but the letter is a statement of income.

[Mudcrab]

not sure if it is retrospective but the Oz government announced that the pension will only be paid to non residents for 6 weeks from now on. And for a lot of boomers the retirement age has increased to 67.

Expect worse to come in the May budget.

[ripstanley]

not sure if it is retrospective but the Oz government announced that the pension will only be paid to non residents for 6 weeks from now on. And for a lot of boomers the retirement age has increased to 67.

Expect worse to come in the May budget.

That is the disability pension not old age pension.

[pom66]

Phew???

[belg]

you get full pension of both countries? did you work 2 lifetimes?

sounds like many foreigners in my home country, they seem to get full benefits without working by applying in many neighbouring countries

[Cats4ever]

not sure if it is retrospective but the Oz government announced that the pension will only be paid to non residents for 6 weeks from now on. And for a lot of boomers the retirement age has increased to 67.

Expect worse to come in the May budget.

Age Pension in Oz is fully portable overseas. You have to be in Australia to claim the pension. There is no time limit. Other pensions are much more limited for portability. If you get a UK pension, the amount of it will be treated as income for Oz pension assessment. That is not a dollar for dollar deduction but treated as earned or investment income.

Why not go to http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/centrelink-online-services

You can send email enquiries.

[Konini]

you get full pension of both countries? did you work 2 lifetimes?

sounds like many foreigners in my home country, they seem to get full benefits without working by applying in many neighbouring countries

Regarding the aged pension in Aus - as I understand it's not the same as UK where you pay National Insurance during your working years and get it whatever your circumstances when you reach a certain age. Australian pensions are private ones paid into by yourself and (for the last 20 years for most people) a percentage of your salary by your employer. A 'benefits' type pension is only available if you can prove your income is non-existent or quite low, although a few people do seem to get around this.