Newbie moving from UK early 2016 - I have loads of questions, hope it's ok post

[chiang mai]

Agreed SC, one size doesn't fit all.

[simon43]

I suppose i am pretty stupid, i left school without any exams

That could be a red flag when it comes to a Plan B. Without paper qualifications, you have little to offer a potential employer over a Thai applicant.

[Shadychris]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Probably because he fits into the group I refered to in the last para of #85 ;-)

[NoshowJones]

Hi ukrules,

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me which visa i should be applying for if the tourist one is no good? I haven't heard of the Thailand Elite but will look into it, £9300 is a big unexpected chunk to cough up though! Haha.

Thanks for the tips on renting. Can you give me any pointers on how much the electric rates should be, just so i know i'm not getting ripped off? Are there any websites to check on this?

Cheers

If you think £9300.A big chunk of change,maybe you should reconsider.

The Thai Elite card is the best option for a person of your age and intended length of stay.

Check it out.

It is the best option, but it shouldn't be, paying all that money and getting nothing in return, while still contributing to the Thailand economy.

Like I'm always saying, there should be something better for people like the OP.

One other thing, why can't the Thai government allow you to renew your METV in a neighbouring country without going back to your own country?

I am not changing my mind on this. You are only tolerated in Thailand, all the government want is your money.

Edited December 8, 2015 by possum1931

[Shadychris]

Hi ukrules,

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me which visa i should be applying for if the tourist one is no good? I haven't heard of the Thailand Elite but will look into it, £9300 is a big unexpected chunk to cough up though! Haha.

Thanks for the tips on renting. Can you give me any pointers on how much the electric rates should be, just so i know i'm not getting ripped off? Are there any websites to check on this?

Cheers

If you think £9300.A big chunk of change,maybe you should reconsider.

The Thai Elite card is the best option for a person of your age and intended length of stay.

Check it out.

It is the best option, but it shouldn't be, paying all that money and getting nothing in return, while still contributing to the Thailand economy.

Like I'm always saying, there should be something better for people like the OP.

Except in this case it's not the best option... The OP has stated more than once that he expects only to stay in Thailand for up to a couple of years.

If you are meaning to say that there should be a better option than an Elite Visa for people who wish to stay for 5, 10 or 20 years, well there is - it's called a Certificate of Permanent Residency.

Just out of interest what do you expect to 'get in return' for a visa beyond being allowed to stay in the country? I'm not aware of any other country that provides goods or services on production of a visa.....

[huawei]

Hello everyone,

I'm about to move to Thailand early next year for 5 years and have a lot of questions, hopefully it's ok to post them here and get some answers from you experienced expats. If I'm posting in the wrong place then please tell me where to go :

• I'm selling a business and have some rental properties in the uk. The properties are all being sold after April 2016 so i'm not liable for Capital Gains Tax, as long as i'm out the UK for 5 years, is this correct? I'm paying for professional tax advice at the moment but i'm interested if anyone here has some similar recent experience.
• How is it best to handle bank accounts when moving to another country? At the moment i've got a few uk accounts, is it best to keep these open and open another account in a Thai bank? Or use an offshore bank? If offshore, which currency is best to use?
• I'm about to apply for a Thai visa. I'm a bit confused as to which visa i should be applying for, is it a Tourist Visa valid for 60 days, then keep renewing it every 90 days? I'm 43 yrs old if it makes a difference.
• I've been to Thailand 6 times for short (2-3 week) holidays, but i've never rented an apartment on a long term basis. Is there things i should be watching out for? And how do i know it's a reasonable price? Where do i find places for long term rental?
• How does living in an apartment in Thailand compare the uk? I mean whats the differences i should be aware of, like kitchen appliances (oven, washing machine, etc), how to get uk tv channels, washing clothes and laundry, cooking, etc? Do i need any essentials to bring with me?
• I plan on moving around the country, and visiting other countries, maybe even going around the world at some point. In order to maintain my tax status as a Thai resident, how many days must i be resident in the country so the uk gov is satisfied concerning Capital Gains Tax (It could be a fxxxing big mistake if i get this wrong).
• How many days are you allowed back to visit friends and family in the UK for each year?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm excited about the move and also a bit nervous about how unprepared i feel! Any pointers regarding anything i've mentioned above would be really helpful!

Cheers

1 still liable to cgt. The rule was changed for non residences from April 2015.

2. Keep your uk bank accounts and keep your properties.

3. You probably have enough money to buy an elite card, then move onto retirement visa at 50.

4. Long term rental. Find a short term base then ask on here..

5. Not much difference. Probably have a gym and pool in the condo complex. As part of rental agreement insure Internet and cable included. Electricity rate to be negotiated.

6. You will never be resident for tax purposes here unless you work.

7. As previously stated your cgt situation will not change. As for being a uk tax residence, use to be 180 days outside, now it's more " life style" if you are continuously in and out, then you never really left. Just keep them ( visits )short .

Thanks huawel, appreciate you taking the time to answer everything.

Can you tell me why you think i'll still be liable for CGT? As i see it i pay tax on the gain from April 2015 to the date sold, which should be very much at all. I wish they had doubled since April 2015, but unfortunately they haven't.

Visits to the uk will be kept short, about 14 days a year to make sure i don't fall foul of the rules and have to pay all the CGT back.

Cheers![/quote

If you have more than one property now, ( I am assuming you are a uk resident) you will have capital gains tax to pay on them from date of purchase irrespective of when you move.

You can no longer apply The 5 year rule to establish a new cgt base value.

To establish the value at April 2015 you should look at the land registry values of sales around that time, have got an estate agents valuation, looked on zoopla etc..

To mitigate cgt..if you have more than one property. Sell to maximise the relief ( one a year) .Your current residence which will be your principal private residence will not be taxable for cgt.

Let us know what tax advise you are given.

[NoshowJones]

Hi ukrules,

Thanks for the reply. Can you tell me which visa i should be applying for if the tourist one is no good? I haven't heard of the Thailand Elite but will look into it, £9300 is a big unexpected chunk to cough up though! Haha.

Thanks for the tips on renting. Can you give me any pointers on how much the electric rates should be, just so i know i'm not getting ripped off? Are there any websites to check on this?

Cheers

If you think £9300.A big chunk of change,maybe you should reconsider.

The Thai Elite card is the best option for a person of your age and intended length of stay.

Check it out.

It is the best option, but it shouldn't be, paying all that money and getting nothing in return, while still contributing to the Thailand economy.

Like I'm always saying, there should be something better for people like the OP.

Except in this case it's not the best option... The OP has stated more than once that he expects only to stay in Thailand for up to a couple of years.

If you are meaning to say that there should be a better option than an Elite Visa for people who wish to stay for 5, 10 or 20 years, well there is - it's called a Certificate of Permanent Residency.

Just out of interest what do you expect to 'get in return' for a visa beyond being allowed to stay in the country? I'm not aware of any other country that provides goods or services on production of a visa.....

"it's called a Certificate of Permanent Residency". Seriously, how many expats can qualify for that? What percentage of expats have that?

I thought the OP mentioned he wanted to stay for five years. All I am really saying is the price of the 'Elite' visa cost way too much except for the

very few who can afford it.

I do not know the answer to this, but how much would you have to pay to stay long term in 'The Philipines', 'Cambodia' etc?

I would think it is a lot less than the equivilant of 100.000 Bt per year.

[MikePBrown]

Opening a Lloyds Account is can be done on the internet but you will need to send them the usual ID and Address verification proof, also when sending money to Thailand send it as pounds sterling as the Thai bank exchange rate will be better than the UK bank exchange rate. You can either have a Sterling account in Thailand and move any sterling into Thai Baht at your choice or send to a Thai Baht account in which case the Thai bank will automatically convert the sterling into Thai Baht on arrival.

Re-valuing your business at of April 2015 for CGT Evaluation - I am in the process of selling my UK home and the valuation options are detailed on the Inland Revenue web-site. My understanding is that you can either get a professional valuation done as of April 2015, which can be expensive (GBP500 to GBP1000 for me), or use the original purchase price and assume a straight line appreciation in value up to the sale date, the pro-rata increase from April 2015 to the Sale Completion Date is the capital gain. I am using the latter but don't know what sort of proof the Inland Revenue will require of the original purchase price. This is relatively straight forward for a house, unless you've built extensions etc but don't know how it would work for a business.

Good Luck

Newbie,

If one of your main reasons for moving to Thailand is to avoid Capital Gains Tax on properties you will sell after April 2016 you need to be very sure of the rules. E.g. for a UK Non-Resident selling his home after April 2015 is liable for capital gains from April 2015 to the date of sale, i.e. it is a new regulation but not retrospective.

You say you are getting advice on Tax, just make sure the person is a specialist for UK non-residents, also if you have the time and patience to read the information on the UK Inland revenue site you will probably be able to find your own answers on whether you will be liable to capital gains tax.

Regards banks I have a Lloyds International Sterling account in Isle of Mann, providing you keep GBP25k in it the monthly charge is GBP7/month but all telegraphic transfers of money abroad are free of charge. An alternative for money transfer is to send money from your UK bank to Bangkok Bank London (usually a free transfer) and it will then automatically be transferred to Thailand - subject to the correct information on the transfer and you having a Bangkok Bank account in Thailand - the charge for this is GBP20 at the UK end and Baht500 at the Thailand end.

Good luck with your move.

Hey thanks Mike, really good info there!

To be honest i might end up paying two different 'experts' to make certain i'm not getting duff advice, as it could cost me a lot. This is the main reason for the upheaval, so got to get this right.

Thats brilliant stuff regarding Lloyds accounts, another one for me to check out. I take it you don't have to go to the Isle of Man to open the account, and it's just a holding place for the offshore account address?

Thanks again

[maingmoom]

There is no longer capital gains tax exempion for ex pats as from last April. I have lived out of England for many years and still own two houses there. I was advised by my accountant to have a valuation as of last April on both properties. If I decide to sell at a later date these valuations will be taken into account and I will pay tax on the amount above the valuation.

[MikePBrown]

Newbie,

Re-Second Opinion on Tax.

If you want a free opinion I suggest you find a Financial Advisor who specialises in advising Expats - if you go to one of the larger firms they will usually know all the information, just tell them you will shortly have a load of capital with no home for it and they will fall over themselves to advise. However under NO CIRCUMSTANCES GIVE THEM A PENNY OF YOUR CAPITAL. Their purpose in life is to use your money to make money for themselves and making money or losing money for you is well down the list. One company that comes to mind is WT Fry Group based in Singapore but they do regular trips to Bangkok/Pattaya/Phuket and they have UK offices.

Good Luck

[SussexExpat]

Regarding Number 6.

My intention when I moved over here was to travel around Asia. One month after I arrived I met my future wife. Best thing that could have happened. Never did get to travel. Be prepared to change long term plans.

[huawei]

There is no longer capital gains tax exempion for ex pats as from last April. I have lived out of England for many years and still own two houses there. I was advised by my accountant to have a valuation as of last April on both properties. If I decide to sell at a later date these valuations will be taken into account and I will pay tax on the amount above the valuation.

Less your annual relief for capital gains and any capital expenditures since last April.

[Shadychris]

If you think £9300.A big chunk of change,maybe you should reconsider.

The Thai Elite card is the best option for a person of your age and intended length of stay.

Check it out.

It is the best option, but it shouldn't be, paying all that money and getting nothing in return, while still contributing to the Thailand economy.

Like I'm always saying, there should be something better for people like the OP.

Except in this case it's not the best option... The OP has stated more than once that he expects only to stay in Thailand for up to a couple of years.

If you are meaning to say that there should be a better option than an Elite Visa for people who wish to stay for 5, 10 or 20 years, well there is - it's called a Certificate of Permanent Residency.

Just out of interest what do you expect to 'get in return' for a visa beyond being allowed to stay in the country? I'm not aware of any other country that provides goods or services on production of a visa.....

"it's called a Certificate of Permanent Residency". Seriously, how many expats can qualify for that? What percentage of expats have that?

I thought the OP mentioned he wanted to stay for five years. All I am really saying is the price of the 'Elite' visa cost way too much except for the

very few who can afford it.

I do not know the answer to this, but how much would you have to pay to stay long term in 'The Philipines', 'Cambodia' etc?

I would think it is a lot less than the equivilant of 100.000 Bt per year.

You can likely find the answers to most of your questions very easily yourself - I'm not going to do your Googling for you ;-)

Off the top of my head I do know that the requirements for a PR certificate are not that tough to meet - although last I heard restricted to 100 applicants per country per year.

Re Elite visa - I guess the clue is in the word 'Elite' - i.e it is for the elite that can afford to pay it, and thus do away with the inconvenience of constant visa runs etc. Let's not forget Thailand is not obliged to make it easy for farang visa vagrants to stay in the country long term, and there are not many other countries that allow renewals of visas ad infinitum.

I have no knowledge of Cambodian Visa regs but the Phil, like Thailand, also has many options, and yes they are all cheaper than the Thai options. However I don't see the logic on deciding to stay in Thailand long term and then being bothered that it is more expensive for Visa costs than somewhere else - do the research first and then make a decision that you are happy to live with..

[rocketboybkk]

I'm not sure about the CGT rules about 5 years

What's your accountant in uk telling you?

They'll know the rules as its what they do

Why are you asking that here?

Crazy

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[kannot]

Another bloody tax evader.

I dont blame him one bit

[kannot]

Another bloody tax evader.

I believe the OP is extremely misguided or badly advised if he thinks he can avoid paying taxes on rental income or capital gains.

Capital gains is quite low these days- OP just pay up like everyone else.

Also OP - it's quite refreshing to hear you are so excited coming to Thailand- be aware ( apart from the Elite scheme) there is NO visa that will allow you to stay easily at your age.

You are planning to live in a country with a military Government. You are used to being protected by almost every law on the planet in the mollycoddled UK.

This is a lawless country- it can spit you out- trust very few people- especially other expats- by far the worst.

Good luck

PS if you are really concerned about electricity charges- forget it

Hi Peterb17, thanks for the comment. Not sure i'd agree on the CGT rate being low at 28%, i preferred it when we had taper relief as i'd be a lot better off than i am now and wouldn't be moving abroad. But then again i wouldn't have all this excitement going on right now

Really appreciate the comment, looking forward to 5 years of adventure (hopefully!). It certainly beats going to work 6/7 days a week and running a business i've totally lost interest in. Can't wait to get started.

Its very easy to get bored when you dont have the daily chores of work to do................I retired here at 46 and If I hadnt been kept busy on the land id be bored out of my head

[NoshowJones]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

[cgphuket]

No offense but popular to contrary belief, coming to Thailand does not make one a rock star that the world revolves around while all others are expected to sort you out. All of your questions can be found here with a little reading. Do yourself a favor and get in the habit of being responsible for yourself. It will pay off in the long run.

[chiang mai]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

"Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term".

How so, does the UK, US, Australia or western Europe make it any easier!

The fact is that people who are aged under 50 and retired are not the historic norm and even today are in a very small minority, the presumption is that because they retired so early they will have access to large amounts of cash, hence the Elite visa, a valid assumption I believe.

[NoshowJones]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

"Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term".

How so, does the UK, US, Australia or western Europe make it any easier!

The fact is that people who are aged under 50 and retired are not the historic norm and even today are in a very small minority, the presumption is that because they retired so early they will have access to large amounts of cash, hence the Elite visa, a valid assumption I believe.

I cannot speak for other countries, but the UK, unlike Thailand, has no room for more immigrants.

I think my views on the elite visa, and the hoops the under fifties have to jump through have been well documented.

We are only tolerated in Thailand for obvious reasons.

[chiang mai]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

"Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term".

How so, does the UK, US, Australia or western Europe make it any easier!

The fact is that people who are aged under 50 and retired are not the historic norm and even today are in a very small minority, the presumption is that because they retired so early they will have access to large amounts of cash, hence the Elite visa, a valid assumption I believe.

I cannot speak for other countries, but the UK, unlike Thailand, has no room for more immigrants.

I think my views on the elite visa, and the hoops the under fifties have to jump through have been well documented.

We are only tolerated in Thailand for obvious reasons.

There's no hoops to the Elite visa, either you have the money or you don't, either you are prepared to pay for it or not, nothing unfair about any of that.

[NoshowJones]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

"Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term".

How so, does the UK, US, Australia or western Europe make it any easier!

The fact is that people who are aged under 50 and retired are not the historic norm and even today are in a very small minority, the presumption is that because they retired so early they will have access to large amounts of cash, hence the Elite visa, a valid assumption I believe.

I cannot speak for other countries, but the UK, unlike Thailand, has no room for more immigrants.

I think my views on the elite visa, and the hoops the under fifties have to jump through have been well documented.

We are only tolerated in Thailand for obvious reasons.

There's no hoops to the Elite visa, either you have the money or you don't, either you are prepared to pay for it or not, nothing unfair about any of that.

Where did I say there were hoops to go through for the Elite visa. I said there was too many for the under fifties who want to stay long term

in Thailand.

I will state again, it is unfair to expect a Westerner who has a METV, and is under fifty, to have to go back to his or her home country to get it renewed.

Why can't they get it renewed at a neighbouring country Thai consulate? This does not reply to me as I will never have any need for

a METV visa, but I think back to when I first came to live in Thailand as a single guy, and it was the way it is now, how awkward it would have been for me

to stay here if I did not have a work permit.

I still think the vast majority of Thai people are wonderful, and the good far outweighs the bad here in Thailand.

Edited December 9, 2015 by possum1931

[laislica]

It sounds to me that you need to do much more research before making such a dramatic change in your life.

I think you have done well to start by asking questions here, but walk, don't run and for goodness sake don't jump!

I am sorry that I have not read more than the first few so forgive me if someone has mentioned these points.

We just arrived back from our time in Spain. We spend half time in Spain and half in Thailand.

So I am waving the Jet Lag flag!

Start learning to read/write Thai now.

Sign up for an online course.

After you can read, start learning to speak.

I arrived here aged 70 so it is quite hard for me.

I made the mistake of learning to speak (some) and never bothered with writing.

I met a great 50 yr old lady and we married, so I have my guide!

Unless you can read (or have a guide) how can you follow the direction signs?

Thai ladies are very available and seductive, so read Stephen Leathers "Private Dancer"

You can find a PDF online.

Also read Thailand Fever, see Amazon books, not expensive but essential.

I feel you need to learn the cultural differences between UK and Thai.

Note that it is acceptable in Thailand to tell lies if that would spare someones feelings.

Confrontation is a BIG no no! Losing your rag and shouting at someone is a quick way to get beaten or worse.

Go on you-tube, search big trouble in Thailand. There are many episodes of the series to watch.

If you decide to get into a long term relationship with a Thai lady, know that you will not be number 1.

Number 1 is reserved for har family and they will always come first.

If you "keep" or marry, your g/f / wife will have to provide money to her family and that's the way of it here.

If she was single, your lady would still give support to her parents, often over their own needs.

Some of us have been lucky and found the right lady, others not so.

In bars it is easy to meet a foreign man who invested heavily in a relationship only to loose it all.

Random drug testing can happen here so if you occasionally use recreational drugs, ensure you stopped long enough to be clean before you arrive.

Have nothing to do with drugs here - the penalties for a tiny bit of say cannavis are severe.

Note that foreigners are prohibited to own land, land must be in Thai's name.

There are ways to have a g/f own land which there is a rent contract to you for up to 30 years.

You can build on the land and the property is yours.

If the relationship breaks down, you can in theory, sell the land and move on but good luck with that.

You can buy a condo and you must show that the money came in from abroad.

If your plan is to move about then renting is probably the better option.

When you have a visa or extension and leave the country you must buy a re-entry permit 1,000 baht 20 quid.

Otherwise you visa or extension is lost.

If your plan is to exit and re-enter more tmany times, buy a multi entry permit 3,800 baht.

So, choosing to stay near a border and you plan to pop over this is an important consideration.

Unless you have a work permit, do not work, a WP is required for even voluntary, unpaid work.

.

It's a great country but traveling alone is hard work, you may feel the need for a guide.....

Will you write a book A Virgin Farang (Western Person) in Thailand?

I'm not joking, you will be able to give all the advice you need now.

Warn of all the pit falls you fell into - or nearly did.

Report what really saved you and where you were very lucky.

With good speech to text it might not be that hard to do.

I don't wish to put you off, just trying to add to the list of stuff you need to follow up on.

Good luck

[Shadychris]

Shadychris. I am not asking you to google anything for me, if I was that interested in other countries I would

do it myself. IMO, Thailand makes expats jump through too many unnecessary hoops, but I'm still better off here than the vastly overtaxed UK.

I stand by what I say, Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term, and the Elite visa is

far too expensive for most people in that age group.

"Thailand is very unfair to people under fifty who want to stay here long term".

How so, does the UK, US, Australia or western Europe make it any easier!

The fact is that people who are aged under 50 and retired are not the historic norm and even today are in a very small minority, the presumption is that because they retired so early they will have access to large amounts of cash, hence the Elite visa, a valid assumption I believe.

I cannot speak for other countries, but the UK, unlike Thailand, has no room for more immigrants.

I think my views on the elite visa, and the hoops the under fifties have to jump through have been well documented.

We are only tolerated in Thailand for obvious reasons.

The reason the UK has no more room for immigrants is largely due to the open door situation that has arisen from EU membership. The UK population had 13% of non-UK born residents at the end of 2014 - projections indicate that if the current trends continue with no tightening of controls by 2020 that figure will rise to 23% and by 2035 around 45%! That is the reality of a situation where visa controls\regulations are either relaxed or dispensed with.

Your arguments seem to be consistently based on the reasoning of an 'unfair' situation. However Thailand, or for that matter any other country should not have any obligation to make it easy for immigrants to reside there permanently. You are welcome in Thailand if you have employment, if you have capital behind you or if you are supporting Thai family. If someone does not fit into any of those categories why should Thailand tolerate them for more than a normal holiday visit?

Why should Thailand make it easy for those economic migrants who are just looking to stay long term somewhere cheaper than their home country?

If you want to argue on the grounds of fairness it is the case then that the UK is even more unfair - a Roma Gypsy family can now enter the UK and stay indefinitely, camped out on Public parks, begging and pickpocketing to make money, whereas it is quite difficult (not least expensive) to obtain a simple tourist visa for someone from SE Asia...

In my opinion Thailand's Visa regulations are already extremely accommodating, much more so than many other countries, and I suspect that I'm not the only one glad to see that action is now being taken to tighten them up.

[tassieman]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Yes...here's a start (from above)...

"If you are moving to Thailand as a complete newbie, you are going to be in for some nasty surprises. Ripped off at every opportunity, buying all the wrong stuff, not knowing where you`ve been or where you`re going or in which direction, lost in a wilderness of confusion."

and, as another friend who lived in the LoS for 12 years explained when I was in the pit of despair/confusion..."abandon all hope ye that enter"...go, but leave all your Western preconceptions/perspectives/expectations etc at the entry gate lol.

I actually described your situation to my Thai GF who is now staying with me in OZ for 3 months so we can get to know each other better...she said what at least a couple of other posters have said...why burn ALL your bridges??? Check it out first for 6 months? Sounds like you are cashed up enough to hang in Thailand and get a good feel for the place first. And, as MANY have said here and elsewhere...there's a HUGE difference between some fun filled holidays on the beach in Phuket/Koh Samui to committing full time etc.

Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained MP (good luck!)

[laislica]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Yes...here's a start (from above)...

"If you are moving to Thailand as a complete newbie, you are going to be in for some nasty surprises. Ripped off at every opportunity, buying all the wrong stuff, not knowing where you`ve been or where you`re going or in which direction, lost in a wilderness of confusion."

and, as another friend who lived in the LoS for 12 years explained when I was in the pit of despair/confusion..."abandon all hope ye that enter"...go, but leave all your Western preconceptions/perspectives/expectations etc at the entry gate lol.

I actually described your situation to my Thai GF who is now staying with me in OZ for 3 months so we can get to know each other better...she said what at least a couple of other posters have said...why burn ALL your bridges??? Check it out first for 6 months? Sounds like you are cashed up enough to hang in Thailand and get a good feel for the place first. And, as MANY have said here and elsewhere...there's a HUGE difference between some fun filled holidays on the beach in Phuket/Koh Samui to committing full time etc.

Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained MP (good luck!)

Another thing is the difficulty of taking money that you brought in - out again.

[chiang mai]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Yes...here's a start (from above)...

"If you are moving to Thailand as a complete newbie, you are going to be in for some nasty surprises. Ripped off at every opportunity, buying all the wrong stuff, not knowing where you`ve been or where you`re going or in which direction, lost in a wilderness of confusion."

and, as another friend who lived in the LoS for 12 years explained when I was in the pit of despair/confusion..."abandon all hope ye that enter"...go, but leave all your Western preconceptions/perspectives/expectations etc at the entry gate lol.

I actually described your situation to my Thai GF who is now staying with me in OZ for 3 months so we can get to know each other better...she said what at least a couple of other posters have said...why burn ALL your bridges??? Check it out first for 6 months? Sounds like you are cashed up enough to hang in Thailand and get a good feel for the place first. And, as MANY have said here and elsewhere...there's a HUGE difference between some fun filled holidays on the beach in Phuket/Koh Samui to committing full time etc.

Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained MP (good luck!)

Another thing is the difficulty of taking money that you brought in - out again.

Easily done, really.

[big carl]

Hi AbeSurd,

Thanks for the reply, i'll repost some of the questions in the forum you mentioned.

I'll have to have a chat with the banks and see what i'm supposed to do, i don't know whether they're all for UK residents or not. And ask about each ones off-shore accounts, if they do one.

I wasn't planning on keeping a UK address, would a rental property be ok to do this with even if it's rented out? Can you tell me why this is so important, this isn't something i'd even thought about before as i was told to cut all ties because of tax reasons.

If you plan on returning to the UK after the 5 years are up you will find that you suddenly have no credit rating, presumably you also won't have been on the electoral roll for 5 years so opening a bank account will not be easy, even if you deposit a large amount of money. You will need to start from scratch and this can become a real pain, even for small things like getting a mobile phone - no electoral roll record + no bank account = no credit, even for the small things. For this reason I keep an active UK mobile phone and bank account.

I suggest keeping at least one bank account open and not telling them anything. I've heard of people just mentioning that they now live abroad on a visit back to the UK and the banks reaction was to instantly freeze / close all accounts along with their credit cards and overdraft facilities !

There is some obscure regulation which says if you're in the UK for less than a certain number of days per year then you can't be treated as a resident, I think it's 15 days or less - this is from memory so I would check with your advisors on that. I haven't been to the UK for years and don't plan to ever return apart from maybe a short visit so it's not something I've really looked into in much detail. There are also many other rules like the 90 day per year thing but from what I read the greatly reduced number of days limit is (or was) definitive.

There's still plenty of people over here paying UK tax though so you do need to plan it carefully even if you never go back.

Loving the replies on this mate, so good to hear from someone experienced.

I understand what you're saying about credit rating and difficulties when going back, but i'm also concerned the gov could use this info against me for tax reasons if i did ever go back after 5 years. I'm sure I could use a relative's address for an account and mobile, so will need to make certain on this. Didn't consider any of these points so really appreciate the heads up. Definitely needs more investigation by accountants / advisors.

With all due respect I would see an accountant in England for a lot of your questions. You don't have to give him your real name you are just looking for information. As for the Visa see if you can get one in England. I first got mine at the Canadian conciliate in Vancouver Canada. It was 60 days with three entries. Each entry could be extended for thirty days for a total of 270 days. Not sure if they give triple entries now. I know they give double 60 days which with the extensions is 180 days.

As for renting try to make sure the building is being kept up some they are very lax about the upkeep. Also for the electricity I pay 6 baht a unit. Here the company rate is 3.75 baht a unit. The management uses the extra to keep the lights and elevators running also maintance on the pool. All told a good rate. I have heard as high as 10 baht a unit.

For your Visa's after when ever the first one runs out you have indicated that you want to travel. Should be no problem to figure the dates out that the Thai Government would have no problem with. You could also get another 60 day double entry. At your age I see no problem working it out until you are 50 when you can get a retirement Visa.

I would like to add that every one has their own conception of how things should be. I moved here with no expectations of how they should do things. It has worked very well for me now for over 8 years of retirement. And a couple of years prior coming and going. It is there country not mine. If I don't like it I will leave. Plain and simple. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Edited December 10, 2015 by big carl

[Shadychris]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Yes...here's a start (from above)...

"If you are moving to Thailand as a complete newbie, you are going to be in for some nasty surprises. Ripped off at every opportunity, buying all the wrong stuff, not knowing where you`ve been or where you`re going or in which direction, lost in a wilderness of confusion."

and, as another friend who lived in the LoS for 12 years explained when I was in the pit of despair/confusion..."abandon all hope ye that enter"...go, but leave all your Western preconceptions/perspectives/expectations etc at the entry gate lol.

I actually described your situation to my Thai GF who is now staying with me in OZ for 3 months so we can get to know each other better...she said what at least a couple of other posters have said...why burn ALL your bridges??? Check it out first for 6 months? Sounds like you are cashed up enough to hang in Thailand and get a good feel for the place first. And, as MANY have said here and elsewhere...there's a HUGE difference between some fun filled holidays on the beach in Phuket/Koh Samui to committing full time etc.

Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained MP (good luck!)

Nestling in amongst your post, is one very very good piece of advice that for reasons that escape me you chose to put 'lol' after.

Leaving Western preconceptions, perspectives and expectations at the gate is not just something that applies to Thailand, but is essential to do when re-locating anywhere - especially to any country with a significantly different culture than one is accustomed to. The inability of so many to do this is why they end up in, as you put it 'a pit of despair and confusion'.

If one is constantly comparing their new 'adopted' home with their previous existence, and especially if in a negative way, then they are going to make themselves miserable. They also won't gain much acceptance or respect from the locals who really aren't that interested to hear about how good everything was, or how things are done differently in your home country. That in turn will just lead to an increasing sense of isolation and loneliness and so the circle continues.

Start with a clean sheet and there's every chance of finding happiness. If that cant be done or achieved then remember, the problem is not Thailand, the problem is one of an individuals inability\unwillingness to adapt.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Shadychris

[tassieman]

don't do it.

Any reason why tassieman?

Yes...here's a start (from above)...

"If you are moving to Thailand as a complete newbie, you are going to be in for some nasty surprises. Ripped off at every opportunity, buying all the wrong stuff, not knowing where you`ve been or where you`re going or in which direction, lost in a wilderness of confusion."

and, as another friend who lived in the LoS for 12 years explained when I was in the pit of despair/confusion..."abandon all hope ye that enter"...go, but leave all your Western preconceptions/perspectives/expectations etc at the entry gate lol.

I actually described your situation to my Thai GF who is now staying with me in OZ for 3 months so we can get to know each other better...she said what at least a couple of other posters have said...why burn ALL your bridges??? Check it out first for 6 months? Sounds like you are cashed up enough to hang in Thailand and get a good feel for the place first. And, as MANY have said here and elsewhere...there's a HUGE difference between some fun filled holidays on the beach in Phuket/Koh Samui to committing full time etc.

Anyway, nothing ventured, nothing gained MP (good luck!)

Nestling in amongst your post, is one very very good piece of advice that for reasons that escape me you chose to put 'lol' after.

Leaving Western preconceptions, perspectives and expectations at the gate is not just something that applies to Thailand, but is essential to do when re-locating anywhere - especially to any country with a significantly different culture than one is accustomed to. The inability of so many to do this is why they end up in, as you put it 'a pit of despair and confusion'.

If one is constantly comparing their new 'adopted' home with their previous existence, and especially if in a negative way, then they are going to make themselves miserable. They also won't gain much acceptance or respect from the locals who really aren't that interested to hear about how good everything was, or how things are done differently in your home country. That in turn will just lead to an increasing sense of isolation and loneliness and so the circle continues.

Start with a clean sheet and there's every chance of finding happiness. If that cant be done or achieved then remember, the problem is not Thailand, the problem is one of an individuals inability\unwillingness to adapt.

Yo Shadychris . The 'lol' was actually a bit of a chuckle at my own foolishness I 'spose in relation to this and agree with you muchly...having my Thai GF stay with me in OZ has been great as it has allowed a degree of more open discussion about some of the more puzzling aspects of things-Thai...the big one I still have "trouble" with is the Thai inclination to tell a lie to save face/protect another's feelings and if/when exposed, tell a lie to cover the first lie (and so on....) ad infinitum. I see it as bordering (!) on shameless behavior, but.....well...now, I just see my dearest's WHOLE story as a tissue of untruths and I feel much more secure strangely enough lol. cheers, MP

Edited December 12, 2015 by tassieman