pond liner

ps its not a long term retirement visa, its a 5 yr visa that is renewable every 5 years.

@Todd ********

since when does a tax return reflect your income. If you are salaried and always have been fine. I would hate to think the tax I pay reflects my income. I would be starving. That's naive in the extreme. Just buy Thai elite and have done. Maybe Canadians are a law abiding bunch.

Its actually much more complicated than it appears. A lot depends on where the money comes from. If you have a mix of sources its much more complicated than having a single source. If you were savvy enough to split your income between a couple, say 75k each, how would either of you qualify? If you are a retired wealthy pensioner and have gifted certain things to nullify inheritance tax, maybe you would then be below the thresh hold. What if you let kids live rent free in some properties rather than letting them commercially and supporting them that way? The system of LTR will suit some and elite visa others, with dependants it gets worse. What is needed is a real desire from Thailand to support the immigration of wealthy pensioners, rather then flirting with the idea and then putting up too many barriers. On another simple point. they like everything certified from your home country. That will suit some and not others. I do not necessarily wants to detail my sources of income and get it certified in a home country. Elite allows that confidentiality.

@Justine ********

I am not sure they do. The rules are interpreted very strictly. By pension income, they mean pension income, several of the things you list I do not think would count. There are confirmations of that online from Thai officials.

You can never fully protect yourself. In a land ruled by generals it only needs the rise of an ultra nationalist party to throw everything into disarray. That's the risk you take, only you can quantify whether its worth it. I have rented out places for years, Nightmare tenants come in all shapes and sizes and agents are generally useless. Sometimes the best option is to take a hit now, sell off, buy a cheap holiday home, yes they still exist. Then you have a bolt hole to return to, a reasonably attractive area and easy to come and go without permanent tenants. I know others who buy a lock up and leave lodge in a country park, same principles. Liquidity is key when abroad and if in doubt always rent don't buy.

Tanking to the bottom of a deep recession

Take out worldwide cover (excluding USA) then you can get 180 days per year anywhere

@Ken *******

you have to be very very old to not be able to get health insurance

Love the fact all these optimists who think they can sell their house in a tanking market. You will be gazundered to death and lose 30% of what you think it's worth. What planet does your UK exist on?