@Max ************

I know the US has a tax agreement with Thailand that exempts taxation of Social Security and other federal pensions but doesn’t exempt other types of pension payments. Best to check the tax agreement your country has with Thailand.

To me the Elite Visa made the most sense for someone under 50 to bridge to the day they turn 50. I do know a couple of over 50 retirees with 20 year Elite visa’s and they love it.

I had one bank account with 800,000฿ + 400,000฿ (emergency funds) + I topped it with monthly expense money. I did this for 6 years before getting my LTR.

Actually, this is not as straightforward as people make it out to be. It will depend on where you choose to live and what lifestyle you adopt. Like anywhere there are cities, suburbs, and the countryside. Parts of Bangkok would probably be the most expensive choice. Generally, if you expect to live exactly as you do in your home country or live like you are on a 2 week vacation then you won’t realize much savings. Thailand won’t be more expensive than your home country but you will have to adapt to local products, food, and culture. That is not a bad thing. $3,000 should be plenty for you to live a pretty comfortable life depending on your choices. Also factor in initial moving costs, visa expenses, health insurance, and savings to act as an emergency fund or funds to return to your home country if you decide Thailand is not for you.

Hopefully you have been here before.

@David ****

You will need a residency certificate but the property is your wife’s. I was able to get a yellow book for my wife’s house but there are other ways to get a residency certificate.

@Stephen ********

A friend near Kantharalak said the bombs were shaking his house 2 hours ago. He is evacuating.

Probably still missiles being launched from the Cambodian side.

@John *******

70 years is generally the cutoff age for not being able to get insurance. You definitely need to contact an insurance company yourself. What I am paying is irrelevant to you.

@John *******

For me the cost is about same as my previous US insurance. Your cost is going to depend on your age, the amount of coverage, the deductible, and possibly your health status. You need to ask the insurance company or broker directly for your personal circumstances.

I also have Pacific Cross. My strategy for health insurance in Thailand is to have a large deductible (in my case, 40,000฿). I pay for routine care myself and the insurance is there for something really serious. This keeps the year price down, I’m now getting a 20% no claims discount.

My Pacific Cross policy qualified for my previous OA visa extensions and now for my pensioner LTR.

@Leon ***

my understanding is that the Elite visa staff assist you with this type of of stuff.

Personally I think the Elite visa makes the most sense if you are under 50 years old. I know a guy that retired at 44 and got a 5 year Elite visa which he converted it to a 20 year before the price change.

Now you can get the 20 by invitation. I don’t know what invitation means.