Retirement in Phuket Total Enjoyment

Retirement to most is the point in life when a person stops employment completely. It is the end of the road of years of heading off to work each day. To others, it is a fresh start in life,the excitement of new things each day on their time and terms.

Now ask yourself these questions.

• Are you thinking of a good place for retirement?
• If you are, think about this. Are you really happy in your current situation?
• Do you desire to live near a beautiful tropical beach?
• Can you really survive on your retirement income in your home country?

These questions run through the minds of many people approaching retirement age. If you are not happy in your current situation, then it is time to make that change, if Phuket is right for you, then it’s time to get the ball rolling in a new direction.

Phuket has become a destination of choice for many retiring foreigners for a number of reasons.

Why is Phuket the choice for so many retirees?

Well it’s known worldwide for its beautiful beaches, spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue seas. It is Asia’s most popular beach destination. This fun island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white palm-lined beaches and superb hospitality!

Due to its boom in tourism Phuket is changing quickly and growing to be one of the most modern cities in Thailand, with an excellent infrastructure, fast and convenient air travel, fast Internet connections and much more going for it.

When asked about retiring in Phuket, every expatriate you meet gives you a different reason for retiring here. Whether it’s because of the world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests, Phuket is a place to extend your horizons. Take an exhilarating speedboat trip to the surrounding islands, or enjoy a serene cruise around mystical Phang Nga Bay. Or why not simply enjoy Phuket’s vibrant nightlife in Patong Beach, Total enjoyment!

If you are considering making the move, along with hundreds of other retirees, Phuketindex.com is pleased to provide you with this basic guide to retiring in Phuket.

Advantages

There are a good number of advantages of retiring in Phuket.

Cost of Living

This is probably the most important reason why Phuket is a popular choice for retirement. Many retirees are collecting some type of monthly pension, if you are this really is the way to go because you always have that monthly cash flow. If you have the income you can live a very, yes very lavish lifestyle with from 54,000 THB per month. A place to live is available for all budget levels, the big factor is where you want to live.

Phuket is loaded with tasty foods with plenty of open markets and roadside food stands to choose from, if you really want to you can live as the locals do and eat for 200 THB a day.

Phuket has a very good selection of supermarkets with both Western and Thai foods and you should not have any problems finding your ingredients for any type meal you prepare. Just find the right place where you can buy what
you need at a budget that works for you.

A New Lifestyle

The low cost of living will really give you a nice new lifestyle, think about the opportunities you normally can’t do in your home country. Phuket, because of its low cost will allow you to do just about anything. If you are looking for that special spa treatment that in western countries will usually set you back thousands of Baht, in Phuket you can enjoy and complete luxury spa treatment at anywhere from 1,000 THB.

There are so many outdoor activities to choose from, scuba diving, golfing, sailing and so much more and you can find
almost any in Phuket for a fraction of the cost.

Shopping

If you love to shop, Phuket is known a paradise for shopping, you can fi nd just about anything at rock bottom prices. If you are shopping for clothes, jewelry or furniture you can really fi nd some good deals, most places outside of a major shopping complex will allow you to haggle to get your best price. The best advice is to go where the local Thais shop, they can always point you in the right direction when it comes to fi nding a bargain.

Healthcare

Did you know that Phuket has some of the best medical services in the world? All doctors and nurses are very well trained, Phuket’s hospitals have some of the best services around, health tourism is really becoming a big business, and most hospital procedures can be performed at a fraction of the price when you compare it to the western countries.

It’s really not surprising foreigners fi nd themselves enchanted and wanting to spend their retirement in this breathtaking piece of tropical paradise. If you are interested in doing the same, applying for a retirement visa in Thailand
would be the first step to take. Listed on the next page are the requirements.

HOW TO OBTAIN A RETIREMENT
VISA IN THAILAND:

OBTAIN A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA
Requirements:

• Passport (at least one year remaining before expiration)
• You must be holding nationality or permanent residence of the country of application
• Proof of Funds

OBTAIN A ONE-YEAR RETIREMENT VISA
Requirements:

• Must be 50 years old and above
• Passport (signed copies of each page)
• Non-Immigrant Visa
• Departure Card TM.6
• Proof of meeting Financial Requirements
• Thai Bank Book (original)
• Letter from your Thai Bank
• Three(3) 4×5 cm photos, with full face taken

MEETING THE FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR A RETIREMENT VISA
Financial Requirements are as follows:

• Bank Account showing THB 800,000
• Monthly income of at least THB 65,000
• Combination (Bank Account + Income x 12 = THB 800,000)

REPORTING YOUR STAY EVERY 90
DAYS and VISA EXPIRATION

• You are required to report to the Immigration Police every 90 days if you are on a long term extension of stay. Persons holding a multiple entry visa will simply depart Thailand and renew their extension of stay after each 90 day entry.
• If you cannot obtain your extension inside Thailand, you will have to get a new non-immigrant visa from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.

OBTAINING A RE-ENTRY PERMIT

• Most people misunderstand the different concepts of “Extension of Stay” and “Re-entry Permit”. Sometimes mistaken for each other, you must understand that these are two different things, both of which you would need during your stay.
• The Extension of Stay is simply the controlling date. Everything else is dependent on this. Everything is invalidated when your Extension of Stay expires. On the other hand, the Re-entry Permit’s validity is subject to the validity of your Extension of Stay. However, leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit automatically invalidates your extension of stay.