Retirement in Krabi.

[Old Croc 9,513]

I'm somewhat perplexed that a poster who has been a member of this forum since 2009 and has more than 1200 posts under his belt would ask such a naïve, newbie type question!

He frequently posts vehemently about Thai politics, but knows nothing about COL and visa issues?

I note he hasn't been back to his thread to respond to any answers.

While an interesting discussion for many, I have to wonder about the OP's motives in starting it.

[bangkoklasse 265]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

To be clear are saying that the income requirements of a Thai Retirement Visa of 800, 000 baht in a Thai bank account for over two months, or an monthly income of 65,000 baht become redundant if the person ireceives a State Pension of any amount ? I find this hard to believe since these pensions depend on contribution history so someone could be on a reduced state pension, which might be a very small amount.

SDM

He talks about a non O multiple visa that he can get in the UK. And you probably talk about the extension of stay based on retired/pension that needs 800k in the bank or 65k as income. It's two very different things

Edited June 8, 2014 by bangkoklasse

[SDM0712 269]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

To be clear are saying that the income requirements of a Thai Retirement Visa of 800, 000 baht in a Thai bank account for over two months, or an monthly income of 65,000 baht become redundant if the person ireceives a State Pension of any amount ? I find this hard to believe since these pensions depend on contribution history so someone could be on a reduced state pension, which might be a very small amount.

SDM

You are talking about the O-A visa, not the same thing.

Im not "talking" about anything. I was just asking a question based upon the post of course.

But I have my answer now, thank you.

SDM

Edited June 8, 2014 by SDM0712

[grumpyoldman 2,064]

38K Bath per month may be possible now if you are extremely careful, not a lot of room for leisure already.

But I wouldn't advise you to take the risk considering exchange rate fluctuations, rising prices of everything in Thailand, possible health issues, changing visa regulations, etc.

Personally, I wouldn't attempt it,...unless I was fluent in Thai, and had at least a few connections, such as a Thai that held you in great esteem. In Chiang Mai, 38k baht is about the average monthly income for Thai folk (like a taxi driver), who live like Thai's, and are part of extended families. For a farang (a term that merely means Westerner), it is not so easy get Thai prices on goods and services unless you are seen as an integrated resident,...which includes dressing like a Thai, and having a fundamental understanding of their Buddhist culture. Chiang Rai or Nong Khai would likely be easier, price wise,...but from Bangkok and south,...you'd best have 60k baht+ per month for a no-frills, austere retirement.

From what I've noticed....foreigners who respect the Thai culture, ie., refrain from wearing beach clothes unless they're at the beach,...have a lower cost of living than farang pushing their cultures onto the Thai.

This is wildly inaccurate. 38k is at least three times what the typical working class guy makes a month, even in Bangkok, and 60k a month is great for a comfortable life, even in Bangkok, even for a Westerner. You've got a problem with mathematics or with reality, one or the other.

I also think the average Thai makes considerably less than 38K per month. Assuming you make the Thai minimum wage of 300 baht per day and you work 30 days per month that works out to 9000 Baht per month. If you were to assume that most people make double the minimum wage that is still less than 18,000 per month (not many people work every day of the month). I do think it would be difficult for most westerners to make it on less than 20K Baht per month, for very long.

I agree with the last post here, please do not compare what a Thai can live on in Thailand as compared to a westerner and if you don't know where I'm coming from, you have not been here long.

[bangkoklasse 265]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

To be clear are saying that the income requirements of a Thai Retirement Visa of 800, 000 baht in a Thai bank account for over two months, or an monthly income of 65,000 baht become redundant if the person ireceives a State Pension of any amount ? I find this hard to believe since these pensions depend on contribution history so someone could be on a reduced state pension, which might be a very small amount.

SDM

You are talking about the O-A visa, not the same thing.

Not the O-A visa. Because you don't need 800k in a Thai bank to get that. The extension of stay that you get at the Immigration here in Thailand. The visa's you get in other countries outsideThailand

[SDM0712 269]

Point 2 is your interpretation of "resident". I am a UK tax resident, domicile does not come into it. I receive a repeat prescription from my GP every 6 months.

Hi Sandy

It's not my interpretation, I was quoting verbatim from the NHS link I gave. All I am suggesting is make some investigation, just in case.

Regards

SDM

Edited June 8, 2014 by SDM0712

[sandyf 6,294]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not. I have my own home in Thailand and can live quite comfortably on my state pension.

As many have said one of the big concerns is healthcare. I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment.

I have been here for over 5 years and am still a UK resident paying tax in the UK. The HMRC does not collect tax from pensions paid in Thailand, if you owe tax it is collected by other means. I have a small pension paid in the UK and all tax is taken from that.

Yes he will get a non O multiple from UK. But he can't live in Thailand with that. He can probably get about 14-15 months out of that. But do you like him to go back to UK once a year to get a new visa? Especially with his tight budget. He need an extension of stay to live here.

I have lived here for over 5 years on a multi entry Non-Imm O marriage visa, never had an extension of stay.

If travelling back to UK once a year is in fact a problem then he would have to consider other options. Apart from the visa I do it to see my son and keep my prescription going. The saving in medication charges pays for the airfare. Everyone has to calculate what suits them best.

[bangkoklasse 265]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not. I have my own home in Thailand and can live quite comfortably on my state pension.

As many have said one of the big concerns is healthcare. I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment.

I have been here for over 5 years and am still a UK resident paying tax in the UK. The HMRC does not collect tax from pensions paid in Thailand, if you owe tax it is collected by other means. I have a small pension paid in the UK and all tax is taken from that.

Yes he will get a non O multiple from UK. But he can't live in Thailand with that. He can probably get about 14-15 months out of that. But do you like him to go back to UK once a year to get a new visa? Especially with his tight budget. He need an extension of stay to live here.

I have lived here for over 5 years on a multi entry Non-Imm O marriage visa, never had an extension of stay.

If travelling back to UK once a year is in fact a problem then he would have to consider other options. Apart from the visa I do it to see my son and keep my prescription going. The saving in medication charges pays for the airfare. Everyone has to calculate what suits them best.

With a tight budget like his it's very difficult to do that. If having 38k baht a month, and then go out of the country every 3rd month. And once a year fly back to UK for a new visa. Then his 38k a month will probably only be 28k a month

Edited June 8, 2014 by bangkoklasse

[Scotssing 160]

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The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not. I have my own home in Thailand and can live quite comfortably on my state pension.

As many have said one of the big concerns is healthcare. I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment.

I have been here for over 5 years and am still a UK resident paying tax in the UK. The HMRC does not collect tax from pensions paid in Thailand, if you owe tax it is collected by other means. I have a small pension paid in the UK and all tax is taken from that.

Yes he will get a non O multiple from UK. But he can't live in Thailand with that. He can probably get about 14-15 months out of that. But do you like him to go back to UK once a year to get a new visa? Especially with his tight budget. He need an extension of stay to live here.

I have lived here for over 5 years on a multi entry Non-Imm O marriage visa, never had an extension of stay.

If travelling back to UK once a year is in fact a problem then he would have to consider other options. Apart from the visa I do it to see my son and keep my prescription going. The saving in medication charges pays for the airfare. Everyone has to calculate what suits them best.

I know a number of people living in Thailand who get meds from a GP in the UK. Whether they should is another issue but some GPs are quite obliging especially if they have known you a long time

[sandyf 6,294]

Point 2 is your interpretation of "resident". I am a UK tax resident, domicile does not come into it. I receive a repeat prescription from my GP every 6 months.

Hi Sandy

It's not my interpretation, I was quoting verbatim from the NHS link I gave. All I am suggesting is make some investigation, just in case.

Regards

SDM

What you are quoting is aimed at people who have been out of the NHS for some time. I have never left the system, my prescriptions have been virtually continuous since I left the UK.

[larsjohnsson 620]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not. I have my own home in Thailand and can live quite comfortably on my state pension.

As many have said one of the big concerns is healthcare. I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment.

I have been here for over 5 years and am still a UK resident paying tax in the UK. The HMRC does not collect tax from pensions paid in Thailand, if you owe tax it is collected by other means. I have a small pension paid in the UK and all tax is taken from that.

Yes he will get a non O multiple from UK. But he can't live in Thailand with that. He can probably get about 14-15 months out of that. But do you like him to go back to UK once a year to get a new visa? Especially with his tight budget. He need an extension of stay to live here.

I have lived here for over 5 years on a multi entry Non-Imm O marriage visa, never had an extension of stay.

If travelling back to UK once a year is in fact a problem then he would have to consider other options. Apart from the visa I do it to see my son and keep my prescription going. The saving in medication charges pays for the airfare. Everyone has to calculate what suits them best.

I have been doing it similar to you but from Sweden. But there is no way I could have done it with 38k a month, if I had to include all my travel and airplane tickets in that monthly budget

[bangkoklasse 265]

Point 2 is your interpretation of "resident". I am a UK tax resident, domicile does not come into it. I receive a repeat prescription from my GP every 6 months.

Hi Sandy

It's not my interpretation, I was quoting verbatim from the NHS link I gave. All I am suggesting is make some investigation, just in case.

Regards

SDM

What you are quoting is aimed at people who have been out of the NHS for some time. I have never left the system, my prescriptions have been virtually continuous since I left the UK.

I do exactly the same when I go home to Sweden. Get my medicin and bring it to Thailand. I'm also in the system because I go home every year.

[sandyf 6,294]

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not. I have my own home in Thailand and can live quite comfortably on my state pension.

As many have said one of the big concerns is healthcare. I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment.

I have been here for over 5 years and am still a UK resident paying tax in the UK. The HMRC does not collect tax from pensions paid in Thailand, if you owe tax it is collected by other means. I have a small pension paid in the UK and all tax is taken from that.

Yes he will get a non O multiple from UK. But he can't live in Thailand with that. He can probably get about 14-15 months out of that. But do you like him to go back to UK once a year to get a new visa? Especially with his tight budget. He need an extension of stay to live here.

I have lived here for over 5 years on a multi entry Non-Imm O marriage visa, never had an extension of stay.

If travelling back to UK once a year is in fact a problem then he would have to consider other options. Apart from the visa I do it to see my son and keep my prescription going. The saving in medication charges pays for the airfare. Everyone has to calculate what suits them best.

I have been doing it similar to you but from Sweden. But there is no way I could have done it with 38k a month, if I had to include all my travel and airplane tickets in that monthly budget

This observation seems to have been overlooked.

"The main point to be considered is accommodation and if the home in UK is given up or not."

I sold my home in UK and built in Thailand so my only accommodation overheads are electricity and internet. As a non smoker and moderate drinker I can get by on a relatively modest amount.

If the OP has no additional capital and only the pension, there is no doubt things will be tight.

[SDM0712 269]

What you are quoting is aimed at people who have been out of the NHS for some time. I have never left the system, my prescriptions have been virtually continuous since I left the UK.

No time limit is mentioned, the relevant quote is " People who do not normally live in this country are not automatically entitled to use the NHS free of charge " and the relevant word " normally "

Would you say that you "normally" live in the UK or "normally" live in Thailand ? I suppose the acid test that they might apply is out of the last 12 months, how many did you spend in the UK. Really I have no idea how the NHS would quantify "normally" but clearly if you spent more time in the last year living in Thailand than the UK I cannot see how it could be claimed to be "normally" living in the UK.

Now this part is my opinion, so feel free to shoot this down in flames (!), you say you have a repeat prescription and you have " never left the system". I believe that your GP has just let it ride since it is an existing arrangement and just turned a blind eye to it. However lets say you need an operation, it's a new condition, something expensive like that, these days the NHS is very underfunded and will scrutinize every situation. This would be new and authorised by the hospital and not your GP.

This was a great concern of mine and I looked I to it at some length and concluded that it was not anywhere near a certainly that I would be treated for free.

SDM

Edited June 8, 2014 by SDM0712

[shadmo63 166]

@ajarnsiam said "It is against UK law to claim a pension on the basis of a fraudulent UK residence when you are registered and living as a retiree in Thailand. I'm not sure what the penalty would be for this, but I guess it could jeopardise your pension rights as well as giving you a criminal record."

Australian Centrelink (Social Security) records are now linked to airport/immigration records so they know when you come and go automatically - so you could not achieve the above if you tried.