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Retirement age - 50 - regulation or law?


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You need to have weathered fifty winters before being eligible for the Thailand retirement visa.

Is this age limit written into law, or is it a regulation decided on by an immigration official?

Is it the sort of thing that could be changed (either upwards or downwards) with an official's signature, or would it require legislation?

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

Perhaps there'll be moves to drop it further (with an even higher financial requirement) to include all the younger "perpetual tourists" that no longer have the back-to-back tourist visas or visa exemptions available to them.

...if anyone from the junta is reading.....

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

Perhaps there'll be moves to drop it further (with an even higher financial requirement) to include all the younger "perpetual tourists" that no longer have the back-to-back tourist visas or visa exemptions available to them.

...if anyone from the junta is reading.....

Doesn't Thai Elite card cover that?

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

Perhaps there'll be moves to drop it further (with an even higher financial requirement) to include all the younger "perpetual tourists" that no longer have the back-to-back tourist visas or visa exemptions available to them.

...if anyone from the junta is reading.....

Let me guess -- you want it lowered to 41?

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Doesn't Thai Elite card cover that?

Is it worth to mention the Elite Privilege card in each visa topic ?

Ok, we all know there is this option, but looks a bit like the last chance visa for me...

Hard to compare a Retirement Extension at 1'900 Baht/year

with the Elite Card at 100'000+ Baht/year and direct payment for 5 years... sad.png

Many people would not take the Elite Card even if they had the money. It's a lot of money for a visa.

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Doesn't Thai Elite card cover that?

Is it worth to mention the Elite Privilege card in each visa topic ?

Ok, we all know there is this option, but looks a bit like the last chance visa for me...

Hard to compare a Retirement Extension at 1'900 Baht/year

with the Elite Card at 100'000+ Baht/year and direct payment for 5 years... sad.png

Many people would not take the Elite Card even if they had the money. It's a lot of money for a visa.

It's about the same price as 5, 2 week millionaire holiday visits to Thailand when travel and hotels are taken into account. Cheap at 1/2 the price, but of course it is a take it or leave it option. Better to be a clever visa runner???

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I believed most South East Asia countries are promoting themselves as ideal "silver hair" retirement destination and the terms & conditions are quite identical. So lots of choices if you eligible to retire in Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia etc. You actually spoil for choice.

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I believed most South East Asia countries are promoting themselves as ideal "silver hair" retirement destination and the terms & conditions are quite identical. So lots of choices if you eligible to retire in Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia etc. You actually spoil for choice.

I considered them all. I would never live in a muslim country, the Phillipine property is way overpriced and it often gets battered by storms and just didn't fancy Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos.

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

Perhaps there'll be moves to drop it further (with an even higher financial requirement) to include all the younger "perpetual tourists" that no longer have the back-to-back tourist visas or visa exemptions available to them.

...if anyone from the junta is reading.....

Let me guess -- you want it lowered to 41?

Doesn't really affect me - I've been happily "retired" for 7 years, last three of which were extensions - and I totally agre with watso63's post.. even under the current military "rule", which is still IMO less restrictive than the UK....

And I agree with Parasise's grandmother that one need's to keep one's hands busy doing something "constructive", but better than being tied to a 9-5 job doing something that you hate - as many in their home countries seem to find themselves trapped in.... and I don't mean illegal working - plenty to do to keep busy if you seek.

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Well over the last few days there have been plenty of posts to have the age 50 restriction lowered for those who sold their company at age 30 and plenty of posts by others in the younger crowd who would want to see it raised i.e. the You're next crowd.

In general it seems there are plenty of those non-Thais who know better of what Thailand needs than those Thais who actually are in control.

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Actually age 50 is new (but with higher financials) - it used to be age 60 with an option at age 55 but with higher financials for the 55-60 year period. The grandfather clause allowed the lower financials to be maintained for those already on retirement extensions until continuous extensions ended.

Perhaps there'll be moves to drop it further (with an even higher financial requirement) to include all the younger "perpetual tourists" that no longer have the back-to-back tourist visas or visa exemptions available to them.

...if anyone from the junta is reading.....

Let me guess -- you want it lowered to 41?

Doesn't really affect me - I've been happily "retired" for 7 years, last three of which were extensions - and I totally agre with watso63's post.. even under the current military "rule", which is still IMO less restrictive than the UK....

And I agree with Parasise's grandmother that one need's to keep one's hands busy doing something "constructive", but better than being tied to a 9-5 job doing something that you hate - as many in their home countries seem to find themselves trapped in.... and I don't mean illegal working - plenty to do to keep busy if you seek.

I'm retired, but I never get bored and I am always busy. A 2 or 3 hour bike ride most days, gardening, a bit of internetting, socialising with a few farangs or Thais. Got 365sport.tv. I usually get up at dawn and by dusk it's dinner followed by a film. When my condo is finished, my time will be spent between the Surin countryside and Pratumnak/Pattaya where there is more to do at night. There is absolutely nothing I miss about the UK except maybe the "free" NHS. Anyone that gets bored only has themselves to blame.

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The law is the abstract/legal top dog. From the law comes the written regulation (the practical interpretation of the law) that tells what needs to be complied with and how it's going to be enforced. i.e. CFR (federal) of CCR (state of California)

If its one's job to comply with the law, one should care about what the regulation says as this is what the regulatory bodies will enforce and your job is to interpret that regulation or learn how the regulation applies to you and the enforcement of it...Sometimes they will refer to this as standard(s) of the regulation

CB

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Under the current Thai Military Junta - that has assumed all powers of government - anything could change - IF they wanted it to ... But do they really care about matters that are basically trivial in their eyes? Therefore, I don't think so ... It would be nice if the Military Government would pay attention to all matters of law - but it is wishful thinking at this time.

Edited by JDGRUEN
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This is the hierarchy of the retirement age 50 regulation:

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Section 34

aliens entering into the kingdom for a temporary stay may enter for...

15. Other activities as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulations.

Ministerial Regulation (text not at hand)

defines for what "other activities" the non-O visa can be issued.

Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Section 35

The Director General or the competent official deputized by the

Director General shall have the authority to permit the alien , who entered to stay

temporarily in the Kingdom under Section 34 , to remain in the Kingdom under

any prescribed conditions. The periods of time which one is authorized to stay in

the Kingdom are as Follows...

3. Not exceeding one year for a case under Section 34...(15)

If it is deemed necessary that the aliens have to stay in the Kingdom Longer than

the period of time prescribed in the paragraphs...(3)...the Director

General shall consider granting the aliens extension of stay for a period not

exceeding one year for each time.

Police Order 777/2551 (2008 ), clause 2.22

In the case of retirement:...

(2) Must be 50 years of age or over.

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It is set by a ministerial regulation that requires several approvals including the cabinet to change.

It is not just a matter of changing the police order.

Thanks Joe, sounds like the sort of thing the Junta won't be rushing to change.

Shhhh... there seems to be several changes per day detailed on Thai TV each evening and one never knows what will be coming next.

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