Five questions. Two minutes. Here is what we are actually evaluating — and why each question matters.
Year of birth
Thai retirement visas have a minimum age requirement of 50. Your age also affects which visa route is available to you and how we model your long-term financial position.
Whether you receive a UK pension
The UK State Pension is frozen for retirees living in Thailand — it will not increase with inflation. Knowing whether you receive one lets us flag this risk accurately and factor it into your financial picture.
Type of move — full, hybrid, or seasonal
This changes everything. A permanent move requires a different visa strategy than spending four months a year in Thailand. It also affects your tax residency, NHS entitlement, and how we model your costs.
Monthly income
Thailand's retirement visa requires a minimum monthly income or a lump sum held in a Thai bank account. Your income also determines whether your budget comfortably covers life in Thailand — or falls short.
Savings
Savings act as a buffer — they can meet visa financial requirements if your monthly income alone does not, and they affect how resilient your retirement plan is to unexpected costs like healthcare or currency shifts.
There are two main visa routes for British retirees in Thailand. We assess which one fits your situation — or whether a combination approach makes more sense.
Non-Immigrant O-A Long Stay
For retirees planning to live in Thailand long-term. Requires proof of income or savings, health insurance with minimum coverage of 40,000 THB outpatient and 400,000 THB inpatient, and renewal each year. Valid for 1 year, renewable.
Non-Immigrant O Retirement
An alternative route that can be extended inside Thailand. Often preferred for its flexibility. Requires meeting the same financial thresholds but has slightly different application steps depending on where you apply.
Seasonal / hybrid approach No visa required
If you plan to spend less than 180 days a year in Thailand, you may not need a retirement visa at all. British citizens can enter visa-free for 30 days, extendable to 60. This approach suits those splitting time between the UK and Thailand.
We take your monthly income and compare it against a realistic cost of living in Thailand — rent, food, transport, utilities, and private healthcare. The figures are based on mid-tier expat costs, not tourist prices and not rock-bottom local rates.
We then apply four financial risk flags: whether your income meets the visa threshold, whether it comfortably covers living costs, whether your savings provide an adequate buffer, and whether the UK pension freeze creates a meaningful long-term gap in your income.
The result is not a precise financial plan — it is a directional assessment designed to tell you whether your numbers are broadly in the right range, and where the pressure points are.
Good fit
Your income, savings, and intended move type align well with what Thailand requires. You are likely to meet the visa thresholds and cover your costs comfortably.
Conditional fit
The fundamentals work, but there are one or two factors — income level, savings buffer, or insurance costs — that need attention before the move makes full financial sense.
Split strategy
A permanent move may be premature, but a seasonal or hybrid approach — spending part of the year in Thailand — could work well with your current finances and avoid the need for a retirement visa entirely.
Not recommended
Based on your current income and savings, a move to Thailand carries significant financial risk. This does not mean it is impossible — but it would require meaningful changes to your financial position first.
Five questions. Your personalised verdict in under two minutes.
Start the assessment →This tool is for information only. It is not financial, legal, or immigration advice. Visa rules, exchange rates, and costs change — always verify current requirements before making any decisions.