@Michael ********

have you contacted Embassy? I don’t think they are accepting retirement visas atm. But you can buy refundable/changeable ticket quite easily once you get permission. Then just a COVID test 72-48 hours before. Embassies have detailed requirements, including insurance

@Darren ******

the problem isn’t usually on entry to Thailand, it’s being allowed to board the plane to Thailand. Although if you have a visa they don’t usually check because you usually have to have round ticket to get visa. So it’s pre checked at that stage.

You usually need a round trip ticket to get the visa in the first place (depending on where you apply). But this is all academic as no one knows what the new visa situation will be when Thailand ‘opens’.

No one knows what the ‘new normal’ situation will be with visas/exemptions for tourists to enter Thailand. Or when the Thai government will consider applications for other visas from outside (beyond what has already been announced re Elite etc). If you are outside Thailand the only thing you can do is wait and see. It’s going to be many many months.

@J *****************

I’ve helped several people to take their dogs back home from Thailand- to Israel, Europe and US. Zero problems, in fact I found it harder to arrange for a dog to go to the UK from Greece.

@Michel **********

All this stuff about Thailand being so hugely tourism dependent is just rubbish. Tourism makes up around 17% of the economy (including domestic, which is increasing as prices are dropping due to lack of international travellers). For comparison with other middle income countries, it's around 12% in the Philippines and 8% in Vietnam, neither of which are rushing to open (to put it mildly). If you go outside tourist areas, life is just continuing as normal.

@Ivan ***********

it’s just an expense, like rent. With respect, I think you’re coming at this from a v traditional ‘salary-based’ mindset. I don’t think you understand liquidity over 5 years. That money is a fund to make more money. If it’s tied up in a way that your residents status depends on it’s just dead to opportunity.

I’d rather pay more to have the flexibility.

@Ivan ***********

yeah but retirement is 1900 AND THEN keeping £18k tied up in a Thai bank account YEAR ROUND round or getting £2,500 monthly deposited in a Thai bank account YEAR ROUND. It’s not that I don’t have that money, it’s just that, to live in Thailand for 4-6ish months of the year, is it worth tying up your liquid assets in that way?

@Ivan ***********

I agree. I use agents for EVERYTHING. I have many many friends on retirement visas and, trust me, if you spend more than 4-6 months out of the country it can become a hassle because the whole point of the retirement visa is that you LIVE in Thailand