Retirement in Chiang Mai
It is affordable to retire in Chiang Mai, a province in Northern Thailand.
If you have been considering to retire in the Kingdom of Thailand, you can settle in Chiang Mai and secure a retirement visa to Thailand.
Check the following factors that allure foreigners to retire in Chiang Mai: People are friendly It would be nice to resettle to a neighborhood where people are genial.
When you retire abroad, you'll be away from your home country and your comfort zone, friends and neighbors, townspeople.
This would mean a lot of adjustments.
In Chiang Mai, people are warm and accommodating, you are just as comfortable and content as if you are home.
Food Known for its spices, Thai cuisine is famous worldwide because it is healthy and organic.
You can see the distinct Thai palette in your favorite regional food that any retiree would enjoy such as khao soi (chicken curry noodle), khaep mu (deep fried pork skin), and sai krok (Chiang Mai sausage).
Cost of living Lifestyle in this area is on average around 70% cheaper than living in North America.
As compared to other cities in the world, Chiang Mai's cost of food, house rent, transportation, services, and other basic needs is extremely lower.
Thus, a retiree could live in Chiang Mai with a high standard lifestyle without spending much of his pension income, savings and investment.
Wonderful year-round climate Chiang Mai's climate is generally warm and sunny in the morning and with crisp mountain air in the evening.
The mountainous terrain in this place offers warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season is cool.
Chiang Mai has lush countryside that is both quiet and cosmopolitan.
Low crime rate This province is known to be safe for expats.
Chiang Mai experiences low crime rate against tourists as compared to other urban counterparts around the world.
It is a safe place for those wishing to conduct business or leisure, and for those taking part in different tourist activities.
Great medical services and facilities A number of hospitals and clinics in Chiang Mai are available, equipped with medical facilities.
This will ensure that health and safety of retirees living in Chiang Mai is of top priority.
Convenient public transport and good road network Chiang Mai is accessible by International and Domestic flights.
Chiang Mai International Airport offers flights to main cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Vientiane, Yangon.
There are also railway trains available.
As per getting around the city you can take songthaew, tuktuk, public bus, motorbike, metered taxis, cars.
Great sports, nature facilities; huge range of interest groups available for all to join In Chiang Mai you can engage to different array of activities and hobbies such as trekking, white water rafting, yoga, thai massage, or thai boxing.
Retirement is not only a time to relax, this is also a good time to do diverse activities for physical, mental and spiritual development.
Wide range of cultural pursuits and a number of annual festivals Different festivals are celebrated whole year-round.
In January, there is the Bo Sang Umbrella Fair and San Kamphaeng Handicraft Festival held.
This festival showcases world-famous paper lamps, fans, umbrellas and parasols.
This fair is held yearly to share with the people a number of best quality handicraft products made and designed by the community.
There is a contest on who can make and decorate the best products.
One of the festival's activity also includes cultural performances.
During this annual festival, you can see stalls in the main street of Bo Sang selling traditional paper umbrellas and handicraft.
In another street called San Kamphaeng Road, you will find pottery, stoneware, silverware, lacquerware, paperware, sculptures, jewellery, wood carvings and silk products.
Another highly anticipated celebration, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held in the month of February.
This colorful festival attracts a lot of foreigners to visit North Thailand.
You could witness a parade featuring variety of flower-decorated floats in different themes and designs.
One of this festival's highlight is the Flower Queen Beauty Pageant which features beautiful ladies competing for the crown.
Another festival's activity includes flower arrangement competition.
This exhibits Chiang Mai people's creativity in terms of producing the best intricate-designed flower bouquet.
Another most sought-after celebration in Chiang Mai is the Songkran Festival (water festival).
This is held in the month of April every year.
It features Songkran procession, culture shows and beauty contest.
Retirees would enjoy water fights and splashing of water on the street.
This is a week of fun, cleansing and giving blessings.
Sunday market, local markets, night bazaar, food markets Talat (market) and bazaars are everywhere.
Small shops and bazaars are set up on the street.
They sell here delicious street foods, cheap housewares, clothes, and souvenirs.
For an expat wanting to retire in Chiang Mai, the first step to take is applying for a retirement visa in Thailand.
Retirement visa allows you to stay in Thailand for 1 year.
The first step includes obtaining a 90- day Non-immigrant visa in order to be allowed to enter Thailand.
You need a valid passport and you need to be physically located in the country of your nationality or permanent residence in the time of application.
Once in Thailand, we will convert this visa to One Year Retirement Visa.
Obtaining a One-Year Retirement Visa You need to provide the following requirements to secure a One Year Retirement Visa: You must be 50 years old and above at the time of application; Passport copy signed on each page; you currently have a Non-Immigrant visa; embarkation card; proof of meeting financial requirements (Bank Account showing THB 800,000; OR Monthly income of at least THB 65,000; OR Combination (Bank Account + Income x 12 = THB 800,000); photo ID.
Once you have secured a One Year Retirement Visa, you are required to report to the Immigration bureau every 90 days verify your current address.
If you have been considering to retire in the Kingdom of Thailand, you can settle in Chiang Mai and secure a retirement visa to Thailand.
Check the following factors that allure foreigners to retire in Chiang Mai: People are friendly It would be nice to resettle to a neighborhood where people are genial.
When you retire abroad, you'll be away from your home country and your comfort zone, friends and neighbors, townspeople.
This would mean a lot of adjustments.
In Chiang Mai, people are warm and accommodating, you are just as comfortable and content as if you are home.
Food Known for its spices, Thai cuisine is famous worldwide because it is healthy and organic.
You can see the distinct Thai palette in your favorite regional food that any retiree would enjoy such as khao soi (chicken curry noodle), khaep mu (deep fried pork skin), and sai krok (Chiang Mai sausage).
Cost of living Lifestyle in this area is on average around 70% cheaper than living in North America.
As compared to other cities in the world, Chiang Mai's cost of food, house rent, transportation, services, and other basic needs is extremely lower.
Thus, a retiree could live in Chiang Mai with a high standard lifestyle without spending much of his pension income, savings and investment.
Wonderful year-round climate Chiang Mai's climate is generally warm and sunny in the morning and with crisp mountain air in the evening.
The mountainous terrain in this place offers warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season is cool.
Chiang Mai has lush countryside that is both quiet and cosmopolitan.
Low crime rate This province is known to be safe for expats.
Chiang Mai experiences low crime rate against tourists as compared to other urban counterparts around the world.
It is a safe place for those wishing to conduct business or leisure, and for those taking part in different tourist activities.
Great medical services and facilities A number of hospitals and clinics in Chiang Mai are available, equipped with medical facilities.
This will ensure that health and safety of retirees living in Chiang Mai is of top priority.
Convenient public transport and good road network Chiang Mai is accessible by International and Domestic flights.
Chiang Mai International Airport offers flights to main cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Taipei, Vientiane, Yangon.
There are also railway trains available.
As per getting around the city you can take songthaew, tuktuk, public bus, motorbike, metered taxis, cars.
Great sports, nature facilities; huge range of interest groups available for all to join In Chiang Mai you can engage to different array of activities and hobbies such as trekking, white water rafting, yoga, thai massage, or thai boxing.
Retirement is not only a time to relax, this is also a good time to do diverse activities for physical, mental and spiritual development.
Wide range of cultural pursuits and a number of annual festivals Different festivals are celebrated whole year-round.
In January, there is the Bo Sang Umbrella Fair and San Kamphaeng Handicraft Festival held.
This festival showcases world-famous paper lamps, fans, umbrellas and parasols.
This fair is held yearly to share with the people a number of best quality handicraft products made and designed by the community.
There is a contest on who can make and decorate the best products.
One of the festival's activity also includes cultural performances.
During this annual festival, you can see stalls in the main street of Bo Sang selling traditional paper umbrellas and handicraft.
In another street called San Kamphaeng Road, you will find pottery, stoneware, silverware, lacquerware, paperware, sculptures, jewellery, wood carvings and silk products.
Another highly anticipated celebration, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival is held in the month of February.
This colorful festival attracts a lot of foreigners to visit North Thailand.
You could witness a parade featuring variety of flower-decorated floats in different themes and designs.
One of this festival's highlight is the Flower Queen Beauty Pageant which features beautiful ladies competing for the crown.
Another festival's activity includes flower arrangement competition.
This exhibits Chiang Mai people's creativity in terms of producing the best intricate-designed flower bouquet.
Another most sought-after celebration in Chiang Mai is the Songkran Festival (water festival).
This is held in the month of April every year.
It features Songkran procession, culture shows and beauty contest.
Retirees would enjoy water fights and splashing of water on the street.
This is a week of fun, cleansing and giving blessings.
Sunday market, local markets, night bazaar, food markets Talat (market) and bazaars are everywhere.
Small shops and bazaars are set up on the street.
They sell here delicious street foods, cheap housewares, clothes, and souvenirs.
For an expat wanting to retire in Chiang Mai, the first step to take is applying for a retirement visa in Thailand.
Retirement visa allows you to stay in Thailand for 1 year.
The first step includes obtaining a 90- day Non-immigrant visa in order to be allowed to enter Thailand.
You need a valid passport and you need to be physically located in the country of your nationality or permanent residence in the time of application.
Once in Thailand, we will convert this visa to One Year Retirement Visa.
Obtaining a One-Year Retirement Visa You need to provide the following requirements to secure a One Year Retirement Visa: You must be 50 years old and above at the time of application; Passport copy signed on each page; you currently have a Non-Immigrant visa; embarkation card; proof of meeting financial requirements (Bank Account showing THB 800,000; OR Monthly income of at least THB 65,000; OR Combination (Bank Account + Income x 12 = THB 800,000); photo ID.
Once you have secured a One Year Retirement Visa, you are required to report to the Immigration bureau every 90 days verify your current address.
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