So you want to retire to Thailand. Many foreigners who reach retirement age in their home country have heard about how easy it is to retire in Thailand. But why would you want to move to an Asian country that you know very little about?

Yes there have been documentaries about retiring to Thailand and recently the Australian TV series "Landline" featured a segment on retiring to Thailand to live. They termed it "Retiring to Paradise".

Here are a few reasons why you might want to retire to Thailand to live.

1. The cost of living is cheaper.
2. The weather is warmer and there is no cold winter.
3. The local Thai people are very friendly.
4. Thai food is delicious.

I have lived in Thailand for twenty years. All these things are true and give fair reason to pack up and move to Thailand to live. But what about your friends and family? And what about the fact that Thailand has a very different culture to your country.

There is also a language barrier. Not all Thai people speak English, French or German. Learning to speak Thai can be a great advantage for the foreigner planning to move to Thailand to live.

Thai Visa

To retire in Thailand you will need a visa. If you are over the age of 50 years then the Thai immigration offer a one year renewable visa provided you can show a Thai bank account in your name with a balance of 800,000 baht or more, or evidence that your income from your country, such as a pension, is equal to or more than 65,000 baht per month.

You can also present a combination of funds in your Thai bank account and a monthly income as long as together the total adds up to 800,000 baht for the year.

If you are granted this visa you must report in person every ninety days to an immigration office closest to your place of residence in Thailand.

Before applying for the Retirement Visa you must have a Non-Immigrant "O" Visa.

Retiring in Thailand eBook Guide

Would you jump from a plane without checking that your parachute is working? Similarly would you pack up and move to retire in Thailand before doing a little research on the topic?

A lot of men of retirement age have asked me, "Is there a guide book for living in Thailand?" In answer to this question I will always direct the inquirer to an eBook written by Bill Williams. He has written a few books about living in Thailand and the bar girl scene. But the one that contains a lot of useful information for a man planning to retire in Thailand is "After-The-Rush".

Here are just a few of the issues covered in the book. It will take you by the hand and guide you through the process of purchasing land and condominiums in Thailand. You could save $350 on legal fees. It will give you advice on how to find decent rental accommodation at the right price. It shows you how to navigate your way around the various local transport options, pay the correct fare and avoid scams.

It points out important things you should do if you are involved in a vehicle accident in Thailand, teaches you more than sixteen important do's and don'ts that are related to Thai culture. It directs you to a bundle of cultural tips to enhance your relationship with any Thai lady. The book also discusses health issues and gives good advice about the hospital options. You can download the book from the link above and be reading it in a few minutes. In my opinion it is a must read for anyone planning to retire in Thailand.

The Cost of Living in Thailand

This is one of the main issues that attracts pensioners to move to Thailand. The cost of living in their own country can be so expensive that it restricts their style of living. For example if you enjoy a night out at the movies you will be surprised at the low cost of movie entertainment in a modern high tech state of the art movie theatre in Thailand. For a normal seat it will cost you 190 baht that's around $6.00 USD.

How much is a can of Coke? At the supermarket you will pay around 10 baht for a small can of coke.

How much is a liter of petrol in Thailand? The average price of a liter of unleaded is 38 baht.

How much should I pay for a haircut? In Thailand there are many price options for a man's haircut. I have my haircut in an air-conditioned salon just a short walk from my Thai home and it costs 70 baht. If you go "downtown" it might cost up to 200 baht.

Pork is around 150 baht per kilo and beef is around 180 baht per kilo.

So you can see from these examples that the cost of living in Thailand for a retiree is very affordable.

Transferring Money to Thailand

An important issue to consider is how to transfer money from your country to Thailand. Some governments will not transfer pension funds to a foreign bank account. You will need to check that with your local pension provider.

You may also wish to keep the major portion of your hard earned cash in a bank or some other financial institution in your own country that pays interest or dividends.

If you transfer funds from a bank in your country you will probably be charged a transfer fee and receive a poor exchange rate for converting the funds to Thai baht. Here is a cheap and reliable way to transfer funds to Thailand or many other countries. You can transfer money abroad at the real mid-market rate. And since there are no hidden charges, it's up to eight times cheaper to send money abroad.

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