Many retired people are choosing to leave their homeland to start a new life in sunny Thailand, and who could blame them? The Land of Smiles has much to offer those in their golden years; sun, stunning beaches, delicious, healthy food and most importantly, a low cost of living.
If you are about to reach retirement age and your heart is set on moving to Thailand.
Few Tips To help You Through a Smooth Transition
Use a visa agent for your retirement visa
Rather than having to deal with a lot of red tape, you can enlist the services of a reputable Thai visa agency and leave the stress to the professionals. As long as you meet the financial requirements, either deposit 800,000 Thai baht into a Thai bank account in your name or show evidence of an income that exceeds 65,000 Thai baht per month. Using an agency, you won’t need to go to a Thai immigration office, which can be a stressful experience!
Take out comprehensive health insurance
You should ซื้อประกันสุขภาพ (Buy health insurance) from a reputable Thai insurance company which offers a range of policies from basic to fully comprehensive. Hospital treatment is very expensive in Thailand, and an accident or illness could wipe out all your savings, which is all the more reason to be insured.
Don’t rush to buy property
- Thailand is a large country, and you should take your time choosing the region where you will live.
- Rent a place for 6 months, and if you are happy after that period, you can think about buying a place in that area. Otherwise, consider relocating to another part of the country and comparing the two.
- Foreigners are not allowed to own land in Thailand, but you can own a condo unit.
- If you wish to build your dream home, you can lease the land for 30 years, with an option for another 30 years.
- This means you legally own the house but not the land it sits upon.
- You should consult an English-speaking Thai lawyer before signing a lease or buying a condo to ensure that everything is legal and above board.
Try to gain a deep understanding of Thai culture
Learning to speak Thai opens many doors, and you will not feel isolated if you can make friends with the locals.
There are Thai language schools and freelance online Thai teachers who can fit in with your schedule; a few hours per week and regular free practice will see your Thai develop in leaps and bounds, and in a couple of years, you will be able to have a conversation in Thai. Click here to learn about how the seasons can affect your health, especially in Thailand.
Adopt a Buddhist mindset
Thais are very cool, and the reason for this is Buddhism, which we can learn a lot from. Try to enjoy each passing moment and don’t get stressed over things you can’t control, and life suddenly becomes much more enjoyable.
We hope that the above advice helps you to integrate into Thai culture, and Thailand has much to offer you in many respects.