Department 04 · Expat Finance
Updated May 2026 · 15 min read
Thailand has been a retirement destination for British expats for decades. Warm weather, excellent healthcare, and a cost of living 3-4x cheaper than the UK.
Non-Immigrant O-A Visa
- Age: 50+
- Financial: 800,000 THB (~£18,200) in Thai bank OR 65,000 THB/month income
- Health insurance: Thai-approved, 3M+ THB coverage
- Costs: Visa £150, insurance £800-3,000/yr, annual extension 1,900 THB
Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa
10-year visa, no 800K deposit, work permit available. Requires $40K/yr income. Fee: 50,000 THB.
The 800K Bank Deposit Trap
Money must be in Thai bank 2 months before application, stay 3 months after, never drop below 400K, and return to 800K before next extension. Effectively locked up most of the year.
Living Costs
Comfortable retirement: £800-1,500/month. Chiang Mai = best value, Pattaya = biggest expat community, Hua Hin = nice balance.
Planning Your Move?
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