An increasing number of people call about wanting to immigrate out of the United States to Thailand.  Usually they met someone over there, but we have had clients seek long term "O-X" retirement visas so they can set up an elderly parent to live in Thailand at a nice place with caretakers.  The requirements are pretty strict, especially when compared to what the United States expects of people showing up unannounced.  An American has to keep at least three million Thai Baht (about $100,000 USD) in a Thai bank to stay there, or, perhaps just around $60,000 USD if they can show sufficient regular monthly income also.  Proof of local Thai health insurance also is required. And, the foreign retiree has to check in every 90 days with Thai authorities about their location!

 

Foreigners with this kind of visa cannot work in Thailand while on this visa.  If you leave Thailand without first obtaining a re-entry authorization, you will have invalidated your long-term visa by leaving. 

 

All of this plus new COVID-19 requirements set up an Omaha Beach of obstacles for foreigners seeking entry to Thailand, especially with permission to stay long-term.

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At least for now, there's no more coming to Thailand without a visa and making occasional visa runs to the Cambodia or Burmese border for passport stamps.  Thailand also famously implemented an explicit "Bad Guys Out Good Guys In" policy after 2016.  In 2019 Thai Immigration Police started arresting people including those who just overstayed visas in "Operation X-ray Outlaw Foreigner."   

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If you have the resources and otherwise qualify, then the advantages of living in Thailand still make it worth the commitment.

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