Special Report: Thailand voted one of the best destinations for retirees



BANGKOK: -- Thailand has been named as one of the most popular countries in the world for retirees, according to the article "The World’s 7 Most Retiree-Friendly Nations".

The article was published recently by the Huffington Post, an American online news aggregator and blog.

The popular online news site’s article looked at countries, such as Malaysia, Ecuador, and Panama that have legislation in place to make it easy for non-native pensioners to apply for retirement stay and are attractive as retirement destinations that offer formal retiree visas with low monthly financial requirements.

Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said that Thailand has long been a popular destination for retirees, thanks to advantageous exchange rates that ensure pensions and savings have always gone a lot further here than in more expensive nations.

Thailand is regarded as a welcoming country for people wanting to retire on a long-term basis and the retirement visa does not stipulate an annual minimum stay. In addition, retirees are eligible for visas at the relatively young age of 50 and there are no additional financial requirements for their dependents.

Retirement visas are issued when applicants offer proof of income, which currently stands at around 65,000 baht per month, or about 2,100 US dollars.

Mr. Thawatchai said that people are also discovering that Thailand offers other advantages to people coming to spend their golden years in the Kingdom. It is a Thai custom to respect senior citizens. The nation can boast great year-round warm weather, easy access to international luxuries, a welcoming culture, and a range of easily accessible accommodation.

There is already a large community of expat retirees in Thailand, mostly found in large coastal towns and islands, such as Pattaya, Hua Hin, Phuket, or Samui. Chiang Mai is also a popular spot and boasts a range of accommodation to suit people retiring here. Most retired residents come to enjoy the warm weather, as well as the blend of traditional culture and modern luxuries.

In 2013, Thailand welcomed a total of 26.5 million visitors, representing an increase of 18.76 percent over 2012. Tourists spent an average of 150 US dollars per day in 2013. From January to July 2014, Thailand welcomed 13.6 million visitors.

In order to encourage more tourist arrivals, Thailand is offering a three-month tourist visa fee waiver for holders of Chinese and Chinese Taipei passports from August 9 to November 8, 2014. The nation also allows a 30-day extension of stay for visitors from 48 countries and one territory.

International tourists visiting Thailand can also now avail themselves of a special online insurance coverage scheme, known as “Thailand Travel Shield,” set up by the TAT in cooperation with four Thai insurance companies.


-- NNT 2014-09-08

I do understand why Thailand is one of the most welcome countries for retirees.

They only ask me to have 800K Baht in my account that I can't touch and present myself every 90 days to the immigration office.

What else could I ask for?

Wow!! TAT is really getting desperate. It must have taken them countless man hours online surfing to find the article from an obscure abd insignificant news source called the Huffington post.

Then they call it popular and turn the small article into a sales pitch about retiring here. 1 paragraph stating they made top 7 list of destinations and the rest about requirements to retire here.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

The Times, The New York Times, Sydney Morning Herald, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, Le Figaro STOP PRESS!!!

The Huffington Post has spoken.

Like the photo but of all the retirees I know here, and I am one, i don't know any who brought an original wife.

There would be a corkage charge at Swampy.

utter BULL ....I dont care what any thai lovers on here say ..I've been here a long time and its NOT foreigner friendly

I do understand why Thailand is one of the most welcome countries for retirees.

They only ask me to have 800K Baht in my account that I can't touch and present myself every 90 days to the immigration office.

What else could I ask for?

Your information about the bank account rules is incorrect.

The 800K bank method can be spent down to zero during the year, if you so wish.

There has never been any requirement not to touch the account during the year, except that it must be seasoned for three months (two the first time) before each annual extension application.

Other methods are to show income of 65K baht monthly or a combo of bank and income totally at least 800K.

Yes there are limitations in the Thai welcome.

No long term path towards more stable residence is offered by Thailand and that is a weakness compared to some of the competition like Ecuador.

Of course the 90 day report thing is an annoyance and let's us know who be DA BOSS.

....and don't forget to mention, costas2008, the fact that you have to renew your visa every year, you have no right to buy a house or land, you may not work and finally, it isn't the cheap place to live that it was 20 or even 10 years ago, Yes, it's a good place to retire to - or I wouldn't still be here - but don't let anyone tell you that it's a farang friendly country and that their immigration regulations encourage us to stay.

How much did TAT pay for this ? Besides Huffington post is not a very reliable source for news.

I never got to vote, anyone else?

I do understand why Thailand is one of the most welcome countries for retirees.

They only ask me to have 800K Baht in my account that I can't touch and present myself every 90 days to the immigration office.

What else could I ask for?

Your information about the bank account rules is incorrect.

The 800K bank method can be spent down to zero during the year, if you so wish.

There has never been any requirement not to touch the account during the year, except that it must be seasoned for three months (two the first time) before each annual extension application.

Other methods are to show income of 65K baht monthly or a combo of bank and income totally at least 800K.

Yes there are limitations in the Thai welcome.

No long term path towards more stable residence is offered by Thailand and that is a weakness compared to some of the competition like Ecuador.

Of course the 90 day report thing is an annoyance and let's us know who be DA BOSS.

Sorry, JT, it shows my ignorance.

Thanks for the information.

I do understand why Thailand is one of the most welcome countries for retirees.

They only ask me to have 800K Baht in my account that I can't touch and present myself every 90 days to the immigration office.

What else could I ask for?

You can use the money apart from two months before the first Retirement Visa or three months before following visas at these times you have to have at least 800,000Thai Baht in the account. You can use anything above that. With rates of around 2.5% on Saving Accounts and a firm Baht it is good anyway. Look at the rules for other countries Australia for example, last time I did this you had to have 750,000AUD AND invest another 750,000AUD. So to retire you need 1.5Million AUD. What a sad joke, how many Australians have 1.5m?

I'm happy that I'm not the only one who laughed at the source of this "news". It's the Huffington Post with it's very bad writing and reporting. If you want to be believed, never quote the Huffington Post as your source.

Yes the seasoning applies to 800K with the 800K bank method. Obviously if your account is larger than that you can spend during the seasoning period as long as it remains above 800K during those months.

Thw Huffington Post is nothing but a 2nd rate online hack. They are always coming up with BS headlines that never have any newa value

I'm happy that I'm not the only one who laughed at the source of this "news". It's the Huffington Post with it's very bad writing and reporting. If you want to be believed, never quote the Huffington Post as your source.

Here is the article.

The info on Thailand (and the other countries) is hardly complete.

For example, the fact that you can qualify in Ecuador and Thailand with NO income is not mentioned and that is very significant to many below pension age.

But I don't see anything wrong with it as a place for people to do research on some alternative countries to retire in.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-peddicord/best-countries-to-retire-abroad_b_5696159.html

Huffington Post is American which explains most of the picks are in Latin America, although Latin America is objectively an area of the world where most of the lower budget oriented retirement visa programs are actually located.

I suddenly felt grey and old looking at promotional photograph. Anyway, you are only as young, as the young girl you are feeling........

Yes- TAT seem to be releasing "good news item" after "good news item" - one gets a certain sense of desperation.

How much did TAT pay for this ? Besides Huffington post is not a very reliable source for news.

They didn't pay anything.

Thailand often gets on such lists.

For good reasons.

Thailand has good weather, good food, "exotic" culture for westerners.

A kind of English is widely spoken, not well, but that's quite an advantage compared to most Latin American countries where you really must learn the local language.

It is affordable and retirement visa program is accessible by most middle class retired age people.

There are the downsides of course.

There are downsides to any choice.

As an expatriate who could retire anywhere in the world, you need to research the following factors related to the place where you intend to settle.

1. Quality of life.

2. Cost of living.

3. Tax regime.

4. Climate.

5. Security.

6. Language/communication.

7. Quality, availability and price of medical facilities.

If you analyse Europe, Spain is the best place to be. If you check out Asia, Thailand fulfills all the above requirements.

However, I would agree with some of the sentiments above that they put a lot of obsticles in your way. This is their way of proving you are up to living here! TIT!

Like the photo but of all the retirees I know here, and I am one, i don't know any who brought an original wife.

There would be a corkage charge at Swampy.

Might be a question of whom “one” mingles with – I know several who brought ”the original wife” (non Thai) with them from abroad. Perhaps they just could afford the corkage charge…?

However, like you NongKhaiKid, I also didn’t, either because I never got married abroad, or because I couldn’t afford corkage charge for all my girlfriends and need to find local replacements…

The OP is about Retirees.

Thailand is a very comfortable place for a Retirees.

I am quite happy here.

The ideal case would be the same Thailand minus:

90 days reporting

only one year permission to stay

right to buy 1 Rai of my own land.

Everything else is very acceptable and affordable.

I never got to vote, anyone else?

Me neither, if TAT want to get serious, send out a questionnaire to all us retirees to complete. Immigration know where I live, I have to report in like a parolee every bloody 90 days.

I'm very surprised, I didn't know the retired are like in the picture.

Like the photo but of all the retirees I know here, and I am one, i don't know any who brought an original wife.

There would be a corkage charge at Swampy.

Might be a question of whom “one” mingles with – I know several who brought ”the original wife” (non Thai) with them from abroad. Perhaps they just could afford the corkage charge…?

However, like you NongKhaiKid, I also didn’t, either because I never got married abroad, or because I couldn’t afford corkage charge for all my girlfriends and need to find local replacements…

Aren't you the lucky one ! As for the people i mingle with i am more than happy to call everyone one of them friend.

utter BULL ....I dont care what any thai lovers on here say ..I've been here a long time and its NOT foreigner friendly

I totally agree. Don't mention Farlang tax or racism. Only time Thai's are happy is when they are milking money out of us.

No one voted Thailand as a great place to retire. This was written by a travel blogger to promote her website and book. One person thinks Thailand is a great place to retire.

Well I have explored many retirement destinations and I chose Thailand. I think it's a pretty good choice. Again, there are strong downsides to it but really there are strong downsides to ANY choice (including staying home). If there was a perfect paradise for retired expats I'm sure most of us (including me) could never afford it!

utter BULL ....I dont care what any thai lovers on here say ..I've been here a long time and its NOT foreigner friendly

I totally agree. Don't mention Farlang tax or racism. Only time Thai's are happy is when they are milking money out of us.

So you're remain here to moan & get milked? Nice purpose in life haha.

I think older retirees find it a nice place to be cared for, get loaded and laid cheaply and easily, and relax & slow down.

Only 33 & enjoying the same thing, in 30 years will probably still enjoy those same things in Thailand & in life I hope! ...hopefully enjoying it more than some bitter geezers on forums I should think.....

May be it's the best. Let me cross my 50.

On the other hand, everybody is criticizing but staying in Thailand on the other hand. 555+