@YT *******************

she's right though.

@YT *******************

where do your kids go to school ?

@YT *******************

yes of course the child can go to school, a government run/funded Thai language only Thai school. So the kids development is already behind his alternative (internationally schooled) self by having this lower level of education. To stand any chance of greatness, they'll need to be the top of their class, the top of their year, so they'll need to be absolutely fluent in Thai, or they'll struggle and end up in the bottom class, with naughty kids and those with learning difficulties. So imagine the parents you're going to meet on parents day, school sports day etc, that's if the parents are known, and not in jail, or drunk/high on those days. Imaging you and your girlfriend are busy on a day, unable to collect the kid. Don't worry because a classmates dad can pick them up and drop them home, once he's used your child as a decoy on a drugs run from the next province. He's high/drunk, got no licence or insurance, a history of child sex abuse and a car full of Crystal meth. Are you starting to get the picture ? Can you just imagine the kids and the parents you will encounter ? Well that is your child's life for 10-11 years. If the child is female, she'll end up as a sex worker, or in 7-11, or a beauty technician in a nail shop. If it's a boy, he'll end up a woman, or motorbike mechanic. Now imagine the same at an international school. The school facilities, the international and English speaking teachers with western standards and expectations, The intelligent, inspirational and English speaking classmates, and their pleasant and responsible and trustworthy parents, mostly still together in a relationship, few with any criminal record, local or international business owners, well connected, with people in high places, and willing to help out the parents of their kids classmate. Possibly even make lifetime friends, the kids AND you. Imagine the sleepovers. Even though you don't think you'll need any of this, it's nice to have it there incase.

Also, I'll guess that you don't speak much Thai, and yes the kids can pick up words eventually, but how will you really communicate and express yourself and your feelings and such and how will they ?. I'm sure you may have noticed that is missing from conversations with your partner. I say 'conversation' but it's not really now is it.

@Michael *******

it's very valid comment in my opinion.

@Chizel ******

the OP not interested in international school ? Or the child themselves ? Do you have or know anyone with children in government school ?

@Michael *******

but bringing a child into this world you can afford no problem ? I guess you don't know the cost of international schools then ?

@Bradley ********

thai tax system is of a voluntary nature, which might seem bonkers to many farang, me included. Buy to say nobody pays tax in unless they work for a large corporation is not so true. Anyone wanting a mortgage or other financial credit product will know rhey have to do a tax return to do so. And there is also another 'tax' paid by small businesses with a visible presence, in the form of protection racket payments to local law enforcement. Which is odd, as last week the police chief said that his staff are all heavily in debt. But if you know where your local police chief lives, go and take a look at his driveway on Friday and see the typical cars owned by his deputies. It doesn't look like they are in debt, but if so, these cars are the cause.

@Pat ******

but return to your home, or just floating between different countries?

This is a plan for permanent retirement ? Or just for the first few years of retirement ? Or just for a year or two of travelling ? As I think you'll run into problems with immigrations, probably Thailand first. But that's not certain, but will you be leaving a home and possessions in either country, in which case a denial of entry could be more of a problem. Or if you will pack up your life and stick it on your back each time, then its less of a problem. But packing up and carrying your life will become difficult as your possessions will increase with time. With my recent experience of visa juggling, I didnt realise the consequences of doing so until it was too late. Long story short, I now have the Elite Visa, and the sensation of security and permanence when I got the acceptance letter was pretty nice, and made me realise in the years previous I had 'built my castle on sand, and it wasn't going to hold up much longer.

@Declan *********

but some embassies are now limiting visa issuance to 1 per person per year, as Brandon states.