You’ve done some very good research. I’ve been here since 2017 and absolutely love it. With your common sense and attitude, you’ll love it too. All the best.
I live here in Nong Khai Thailand Darren and all you researched is “technically” correct, BUT, as any expat will tell you, things are not what they appear in the real world. I suggest you have a mentor or sit with a group of British guys for a beer and learn about how Thailand really works. Good luck on your adventure.
Mate don’t be paying £1000 for your visa … plenty of places can help you for half that price for you first visa and then a quarter of that to renew it … plus you get 60 days on entry and then 30 day extension at Jomtien immigration so 90 day in total once you get your 30 day extension go see the agent to organize your visa I use Maneerat on soi 13/2 (Soi Post Office) been with them for 5 years never a problem they can also sort a bank account for you usually Bangkok Bank anyways good look on the move fella
Darren, fist thank you so much for your great videos, I am a 67 year old Scottish lady living in Cannes south of France now for 48 years . But thinking also to move to Thailand. Just wanted to ask you if you have watched « Retired and living the dream » on you tube His name is Les from England. Been living in Thailand for 12 years. Looks a great man and honest. I think before spending all that money I know you can contact Les on a one to one for 1 hour or even 3 hours for the same price 10 pounds who knows perfectly the in’s and outs of everything in Thailand. But before watch his you tube channel first and see what you think. And his live videos as well. He seems a great Guy just like you. Thank you again for your fantastic videos. God bless you and your family. Patricia
@@PH-hw5nx dear Patricia. I worked in Cannes for 30+ years organising trade shows for TV, Music and Property. You know who we were🥰 Beautiful place but Covid brought us down. Our events brought €360 million a year to Cannes through our clients. Almost all of us were laid off in 2020. Age, illness and salary have stopped me getting another job. I wish you well🙏🏽😘😎 Mike
Daren my word of advice get an older building make sure the electricity is 5 baht per unit not 10 baht and the older buildings are 44 42 square meters the newer building are match boxes
Left uk last year October for Thailand. Best decision of my life. Just me, my bike and a little suitcase of vests and shorts. The cost of living has made uk an unviable option. And you get f all for it
Darren as an expat living in Thailand May I suggest that if you’re renting a condo you look at the Pratanmak area there are plenty of condos for rent with all the facilities and it’s about 10 minutes by taxi into Pattaya if you’re looking at houses try East Pattaya and again so many rental properties available. Visas I would suggest you speak with Cambodian Visa Shop in Soi Buakhow and they will look after all your visa requirements. Good luck.
Hey mate, you are making the right decision. I go to Thailand at least 3 times a year for work. Awesome country. Im in Australia. If you need help with anything when you get there, message me. I know heaps of Australian and British expats who live there who can give you great advice. There's nothing like local knowledge . And if you ever want to visit Australia, i have an air bnb on the beach that you are more than welcome to for free. Get this, it was 37c and 85% humidity in my home town the last few days. It was brutal, but i love it. You will acclimatise to the weather in Thailand to the point of a 26c day that will feel slightly chilly. I shit you not. Rant over, cheers mate. Have a top week. 👍🇦🇺🌴
You must be renting in London . If your monthly outgoings are £3600 per month . Don't book a condo online and wait until you arrive in Thailand. Have a great time
I live in rural Thailand 🇹🇭 and i love it, i take occasional trips to Bangkok, Pattaya etc etc and treat these locations as a holiday within a holiday 😂 You will love Thailand 🇹🇭 but take note from those that became ATM machines for some girls but don’t tar them all with the same brush and listen to the stories of the best to avoid. Common sense will see you enjoy. Best when you arrive in Pattaya to visit the immigration office in Jomtien and explain what you want to do because it isn’t as straightforward as many think. You can use an agent but I don’t know the cost of this. I opened a Thai bank account with Bangkok bank in back in 2016 whilst on holiday, it was easy then. I also got my first Thai visa from the Embassy in London who accepted I had enough money to get my visa but there was a lot of hassle getting a medical, police report etc and I had to travel back to London from Scotland 🏴 to complete it however it is another option available to you and you would arrive here with your retirement visa Every thing is easy after that if you stay within the Thai financial rules. I fell foul of these because of changes made in 2019 and it then becomes a bit of a hassle to renew it 😅😢 I got my 90 day visa easily enough and I go on Monday to apply for my retirement visa again and also do my 90 day check in at immigration since my arrival in Bangkok in August Good luck, I hope all goes smoothly 😊
I agree with some of the other posts. Get your Non O in London, open a bank account when you arrive in country and a letter of residence from your apartment owner, then apply for the retirement visa yourself. It is a pain in the butt but you'll have all the time in the world, plus it's a learning process. It will cost you 1,900 THB for the retirement visa. Why shell out 50k to 70k for someone to do it for you? The process is relatively easy and will introduce you to Thai bureaucracy, a surreal expirence which ine has to experience. The money you'll save will pay your rent for 4 or 5 months. Good luck whatever you decide.
Hi, D.J. mai pen rai, rai normally pronounced Li. Is the Thai for no worries no problem etc. Good luck with your move mate, also ladys say sawatdeKAA Men say sawatdeeKAP also kupKap men say lady say kupkaa for thank you. Remember men say kap lady says kaa. Sorry to bleat on at you😢😢
Hi Dj. Me again also phed prounounced pet. Dont ask me why, I havent got a clue means spicy so if you want it very spicy say pet MAK MAK. Little bit spicy (if you feel a little bit "delicate"after a few to many of those chocy/banana shake things😊) means pet nid noy. Nid noy being the the Thai for a litte bit.
Was back home in Ireland for a week and just catching up on your videos. Absolutely delighted your making this move. It will do ya the world of good. Your a good guy now go there and be happy cos ya deserve every bit of it. Keep up with the videos ❤
Your bang on about Pattaya Darren, we’ve been going to Thailand for 19 years, fell in love with it like you did. We only went to Pattaya for the first time in 2022 because of what everybody said about it and we loved it, it’s all there if you want it but if you want a quiet time you can. I’m 59 still working my wife retired after covid, got sick of being abused in a supermarket 😂. So we can only go for a couple of months max. What a place , good luck mate we will be following every minute of it 👍
The hardest part of this move DJ is the selling of the bikes not many will understand but i know how hard that is it has to be done i wish you happiness and health in this move and can't wait for more videos from you
I live in jomtien I don't go to the tourists area no need, I have me pick up motorbike which I use to travel around Thailand, dont think to much, you can do everything here, health, visas, condos etc, its very easy to do.
The beauty of thailand is that its bang in the middle of everywhere , laos, cambodia, vietnam , india , china , to name a few . this is a endless source of content for the channel. now the only way to make it sustainable is to live as a thai would live , ie eat where the thais eat , drink where they drink ect but im sure you know that already . This journey will change you for ever as it did me , for the better i might add , and im looking forward to watching it from the beginning .
Hi Darren thanks for showing us around London one more time I worked there for years and yes it’s a very special place but go to Thailand and start your new life and I for one will carry on watching you and your exploits as they unfold
Darren, I’ve been watching and enjoying your video postings for the past three years. I’m from Bethnal Green and was so interested in your visits in and around the East End of London (places I knew and those I didn’t) and then of course your reviews all over London. I’ll be honest and say that I wouldn’t be interested in your Thailand postings but I wish you all the best success on the new chapter of your life and thank you for all the entertainment you have provided me for the past three years. Having watched you and listened to you recently I could see that you were becoming less happy and dare I say it…..quite lonely as well. Your recent illness didn’t help but having lost your job recently as well, the uncertainty surrounding your flat and your son moving to the US, I think you have made the right decision to get out of London and the UK. All the best matey and I shall keep an eye out just in case you do return to London and make more vlogs…safe trip! 🤝👋👋
Best of luck mate. I did the same 20 years ago. One thing I'd say to anyone wanting to do this who needs to work, rather than retire with sufficient funds already in place, is find a way to earn money online/remotely. If you get that set up first, then the world really is your oyster.
What you should have done is apply for a non o visa online in the uk which cost me £60 and lasts 90 days, that gives you plenty of time to sort out a retirement visa
I own apartments in Pattaya that I rent to expats who live there long term, it’s a great place for them to live as it’s cheaper than Bangkok for a like for like size apartment and cost of living is probably 70% of Bangkok. It has everything not just the nightlife as you mentioned great restaurants and malls if that’s your thing. The airport in Rayong also has flights to the north and south and closer and an alternative to Bangkok airports. I live in Bangkok s it’s been a home with my Thai wife for years when I worked there but think Pattaya is a great alternative.
If your gonna go the 800k in the bank then do the visa yourself its quite simple 1900B, You will be prob have to get the bank account done by agent about 5 - 6K, Make sure you have a Wise card before you leave and serveral UK bank accounts in case one gets blocked or shut down best to use a VPN when accessing UK bank accounts to avoid suspicion.
Your retirement visa is 2000 baht, under 60 quid, health insurance is more complex but you should budget around 3000 quid per year for a decent coverage. Health insurance will rise every year and will be your biggest expense.
Why wouldn’t you get a non O visa before you go and get 90 days. 1000 pounds is an outrageous price for an agent. First you can do it all yourself. It cost me 1900 bt plus about another 3000 bt for a multiple entry stamp. You can get a residence letter for your bank account from immigration yourself if you have a lease then just go to Bangkok Bank. It’s not that hard. Also you need to season your 800k bt in the bank for 2 months before applying for your retirement visa, so if you don’t have that all set up before you go then the 30 days plus an extension isn’t going to give you enough time.
Hi Darren, You're so right you can't Buy Time... I've been in Thailand approximately a month Les at Retired and living the Dream has saved me so much time and given me great advice on accommodation and different areas also transport if you value your time give him a look you guys seem very similar in your outlook maybe even a collab 👍
I’ve never had any desire to go to Thailand (I live in the southern US where it’s hot as hell. We fantasize about going somewhere cooler, not warmer 😂) But I’m going to keep watching to see your adventure
Darren you can get in on a visa waiver scheme for 60 days, you can extend that for an extra 30 days with a border run and then get another 60 + 30 days. However you're better off on a retirement visa and I would suggest using an agent to do that so you dont need the 20k in the bank. An agent will charge you between 15 and 20k baht for that service and they will do everything including getting round the 800k bht bank requirements. Best agent in town is in soi post office 13/2 off 2nd road, called Maneerat. They charge 14k bht a year to do it. If yiu want any advice I'd be happy to help, been here a very long time and know all the tricks.
As of the 21st ish of December Laos are going digital with their visa and it will take 14-15 days to process! Which is insane, especially with the bad press they're receiving due to the methanol poisonings.
Hi Darren don’t listen to any of this negativity just follow your heart and you can’t go wrong wishing you all the success and happiness, you will find out there
You cant work on a Thai tourist visa, or a Retirement visa, but you will be running your UA-cam channel, which is monetised. Is that not classified as 'work' in Thailand?
Excellent DJ, my brother has just come home to get a up lift in his pension as this can’t be done from Thailand, he’s going back to live in Cambodia where he can get the pension increase in the future
No I think you will need to take out some kind of health insurance before you get there fella, even if you get 6 months and then review it when it needs to be renewed what is then the next option. It might hit home when after you've sold your bikes or and when you exit your apartment.... I wish you well and it will be a nice journey you go on.
Hi DJ.. I assume you've heard of Mark weins? ... he lives out there somewhere . Maybe in the near future,get intouch with him and do a day together trying new foods, be great content and give you some knowledge of the local area to create more content...again,good luck mate,I'll be following you with you're content over there ❤ much love mate...
Alright Darren, i know it was a bit of a treat but that was absolutely shite service in the Ned. I prefer the proper London boozers like the ship aground in Bermondsey. That Ned was soulless
Plenty good areas around Pattaya if thats where you want to be and there's an airport 😯 Jomtien, Pratumnak, Bang Saray is amazing further down the coast, Naklua, Wongamat, Na Jomtien and many others outside of the madness of Central Pattaya. Just do it, go for it and dont let the online basement dwellers stop you! 👍🥳
I went to Phuket first...in 97 98, everything was like free, 90 Baht to the pound and cheap cheap cheap. No rip offs yet except the jewellery shops. Great food and the girl friend experience. I tried Pattaya later, a bit more food choices and the rest was the same. I went every year in my guest house in soiYamato, the girls made the best green curry, and that was so good and plenty, I did not go out after. Full stomach, bed!!!! After COVID, no more Sa Apartments, cooks gone, there were also great 300g fillet steak at My Way Dutch restaurant, about 300 Baht with all the veg, fries and salade, gone as well. I skipped Pattaya, but I'll try again. On the whole, night life has become mercenary and silly price, I am 70 next year, do I care??? Prostate looming, so use it before you loose it...and be careful out there.
Alan from Aussie be careful as they are not as great as you think .holiday okay, they are there to take your hard earned cash that’s what it’s all about cash go to Malaysia by train it would suit your lifestyle better do it and you will realistically be better off try Kinabalu the lifestyle is basic but you would manage better for your age
Thank you, Darren, for another chill video ! I think you're gonna be our Hairy Biker in Thailand. Don't be surprised if you get a call from Si King ! All the best, amigo !
Have you booked your flight yet & will it be a one way ticket as I think you will need a flight booked out of Thailand (throw away ticket) to satisfy immigration at the airport.
Hey Daren, Wish you all the best mate, moving to any new country is always going to be a learning curve... Try to get well connected with other expats who can point you in the right direction do,s and Don't s yeh.. Slowly taking in your new life and giving yourself lots of time to weigh up your new life style Ballance. The weather and the people will be the first obvious bug plus and to say goodbye to the rotten UK weather and political mess is a huge plus in it's own. Wishing you a bon voyage safe journey and to find yourself a nice quiet peaceful home in which to re focus your new life. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧😀😀😀😀👍👍👍👍🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️
There are NO retirement visa's those referred to as such are extensions of the right to stay on visa's such as non immigrant O visa, with retirement as the reason. An extension does not change the visa type, visa's cannot be changed.
We share a lot of similar interests, i lived in Soho for 5 years before ending up in Jomtien. Love the Ned. Happy to give you the advise ive learnt so far. If you do the visa here which is the easiest way it cost me £800, that’s 15 months non O, bank account multi entry. You only need that lump sum if you do it in the UK. Hit me up if you want. I rented for a yer, wish i had done 3 or 6 months now.
@ love both, but the new condos walls are very thin so if you get a noisy neighbour its a nightmare. I’m in Dusit Grand Park 2, steam & saunas, huge pool 24 hour security for £320 a month. But far we what’s been 7 months here i would like to more to an older building. You can rent a month at a time or 3 months, sure its a bit more expensive, but compared to UK or Europe its still cheaper per unit than your whisky. lol Jomtien or Pratumnak are the place to be i think.
You're knocking it out the Park, Darren. Your videos are getting a lot of attention, views and comments so you must be doing something right. I hope it works out for you; its up to you.. Something was missing in you, Darren, and i believe you have a good chance to find it in your new destination. If not, there is nothing lost in coming back to London, you will have had a very valuable, life-changing experience. Something was missing in you, Darren and I think you may just have found it in your new destination. Keep making waves, i think youre nearly there.
Hello Darren, from what you have just said it seems that you had already made your mind about the move, before you had your holiday of a lifetime. Yet I got the impression it stemed from the 3week break. Just a small niggle. Cheers Allan&Family
Just try to keep your wits about you once you’re over there, don’t befriend any bar girls and don’t fritter your money away on milkshakes and you’ll be grand! Thailand looks a beautiful place but it does have a sordid and seedy side to it, personally it would not be for me and I’d far rather move somewhere like Australia or New Zealand but that’s just me.
Mot Sevices in Pattaya, She does visas and can open you your bank account. Visa 15 k bank account I think 6 or 7 k. She looks after the lot. She's on Facebook. Can speak great English and her husband is also English.
Wrong way Darren. Get yourself to the Thai Embassy in Queensgate, SW7.You can get a multiple entry visa for £150 quid. You have to leave every 60days but this is just a short hop bus drive over the border and back. Lots of 'Visa run' companies do this, you'll see them everywhere in Pattaya and other places. 7 hr round trip every 60 days will save you a few grand wile you find your feet. If you leave again just before the 6 month Visa expires, you'll get 60 days extra, so effectively it's 8 months visa. Dont jump in feet first. Lots of expat businesses there, and Thai, make their money from newbies. I was one of them ! All the best
you can actually see the happiness back! love to see you do youtube full time in thailand...one request before you leave you have to go back to city spice for a farewell meal,heres to the next chapter xx
A lot of us are just concerned, not like he has thought this through properly Gillian-going on a holiday somewhere is completely different than living there. However, he did say he would go there for a year and then have a think about what to do next.
@@mikekaraoke Total agree well said. Its easy as others do (not accusing DJ) but look a pint is £2 3 course meal £8 how much would you pay for that in London or UK. Seems like some oh look aren't I clever I only paid x for food accommodation etc.
@@747jono Exactly, and even cheaper when you go somewhere like a Wetherspoons! I don't mind London, but prefer eating out in Kent/Essex! Whereabouts you from?
@@747jono last time I went to Lancashire, went to Blackpool a few years ago 😃 As for Manchester now been there for like 6 + half years! I'm in Kent been to any parts???? I wass born in London but raised in Kent right between Dartford/Bexley. Off to sleep soon, so will reply when I wake up 😴💤
hello darren you dont need to keep going back to bangkok to get enternal flights theres an airport just outside of pattaya called U TAPAO airport where you can fly to all the islands and internally its about a 35 min drive from jomtien
£700 equivalent should get you a Non OA retirement visa plus a Thai bank account from a good agent in Jomtien /Pattaya. It's wise to get a local Thai bank account ASAP as it saves on the ATM fees which accumulate rapidly. Best wishes for the future.
You can get a bank a/c for B5000 through an agent .The retirement visa is easy to do yourself for B1,900 .Why in heavens name are you talking about £700 ?
..... .your just ahead of me on my journey to live in Thailand. Pattaya is not an option for me......too many distractions, and I've seen so many sad mem drinking themselves to death there, in the bars every afternoon. I'm choosing Chiang Mai (for most of the year), to be my base, with the rest being spent in either the south islands, Da Nang, or Malaysia. Hope it all works out for you, and if we are both in Chiang Mai......a beer would be good. All the best.
The problem with going full time on You-Tube is that you will soon run out of content and start posting boring nonsense or resorting to click bait, just look at your ex mate The MacMaster. 👎
I used farang thai visa for retirement visa think was 39kbaht for everything thing opened my bank account driving licence multiple entry health insurance pacific cross jomtien is a nice place upto you as the always say good luck
You get 60 days on entry, you then need 90 day visa before you can apply for the 1 year retirement visa. For the 90 day visa you need to show proof of residence on a form signed by the owner and 800,000 in a Thai bank for a full 2 months
Use an agent and you never have to show 800k, never ever. Agents get special treatment, because they pay for the special treatment, welcome to Thailand pay for the privilege. Make sure the Agent choose the bank the immigration like, i was given Bangkok bank near immigration office Jomtien opposite Rum Po market.
@ 😁 thanks for this, i didn’t realise, i have a friend who lives in Pattaya and i think this maybe why he uses an agent, I’ve never asked because I’ve always done it myself, the agent can be a big advantage for some then 🙏
Age and age related illnesses are facts of life. The older you get the more care you will require. Have a long hard think of what you will do if a sudden and serious illness flares up.
I think Jomtien is the place. Close to Pattaya geographically but quite different. Plenty of foreigner conveniences and the immigration office. Plus you can get large condos for a fraction of UK prices.
The plan you describe seems very vague tbh. No detail at all so I hope that all the loose ends are tied up both in Thailand and in the UK. For example, what’s the tax situation in both countries? How will you manage financially?
I really don’t think he can go full time on UA-cam, that is a huge risk and I don’t think I could move to a new country without having a proper job lined up and just hoping my UA-cam channel provides enough income to live on. Hopefully he’s thought of all these ins and outs.
Great video. Very informative. But sorry that bar looked completely soulless. An old bank I guess? 10 days doesn't seem long enough to find somewhere. Found 'it' in Thailand or her lol
800 000 thai baht in the bank don’t pay £1000 that’s to much Darren it’s about 30 000 £700 and the next time you pay cheaper but you can do it yourself I know a bloke who does your be fine Darren good luck on your new journey
That pub looks good, the more typical London pubs I hate them. I'm more a country pub guy, nice summer day out in the beer garden or open fire in the winter.
You’ve done some very good research. I’ve been here since 2017 and absolutely love it. With your common sense and attitude, you’ll love it too. All the best.
I live here in Nong Khai Thailand Darren and all you researched is “technically” correct, BUT, as any expat will tell you, things are not what they appear in the real world. I suggest you have a mentor or sit with a group of British guys for a beer and learn about how Thailand really works. Good luck on your adventure.
@@MrAlanPhilpott 100% correct, after visiting only 1 time for a short holiday, is very different to living there, good advice 👍
I Also Live in Nong Khai too M8.....Been Here Permanentely for 9 Years, But In ALL Since 1996.....( 29 Years )
Mate don’t be paying £1000 for your visa … plenty of places can help you for half that price for you first visa and then a quarter of that to renew it … plus you get 60 days on entry and then 30 day extension at Jomtien immigration so 90 day in total once you get your 30 day extension go see the agent to organize your visa I use Maneerat on soi 13/2 (Soi Post Office) been with them for 5 years never a problem they can also sort a bank account for you usually Bangkok Bank anyways good look on the move fella
Good advice
Plus get a WISE card for currency transfers
should be 20-25k baht DJ
Only the clueless, lazy or unqualified for visa's and extensions use agents. Perfectly easy to do it yourself
A 2nd from me for Manareet on 13/2
Darren, fist thank you so much for your great videos, I am a 67 year old Scottish lady living in Cannes south of France now for 48 years . But thinking also to move to Thailand.
Just wanted to ask you if you have watched « Retired and living the dream » on you tube
His name is Les from England. Been living in Thailand for 12 years.
Looks a great man and honest.
I think before spending all that money I know you can contact Les on a one to one for 1 hour or even 3 hours for the same price 10 pounds who knows perfectly the in’s and outs of everything in Thailand.
But before watch his you tube channel first and see what you think. And his live videos as well.
He seems a great Guy just like you.
Thank you again for your fantastic videos.
God bless you and your family.
Patricia
Is Les the guy with the brain tumour?
@@PH-hw5nx dear Patricia. I worked in Cannes for 30+ years organising trade shows for TV, Music and Property. You know who we were🥰 Beautiful place but Covid brought us down. Our events brought €360 million a year to Cannes through our clients.
Almost all of us were laid off in 2020. Age, illness and salary have stopped me getting another job. I wish you well🙏🏽😘😎
Mike
Daren my word of advice get an older building make sure the electricity is 5 baht per unit not 10 baht and the older buildings are 44 42 square meters the newer building are match boxes
Left uk last year October for Thailand. Best decision of my life. Just me, my bike and a little suitcase of vests and shorts. The cost of living has made uk an unviable option. And you get f all for it
Darren as an expat living in Thailand May I suggest that if you’re renting a condo you look at the Pratanmak area there are plenty of condos for rent with all the facilities and it’s about 10 minutes by taxi into Pattaya if you’re looking at houses try East Pattaya and again so many rental properties available. Visas I would suggest you speak with Cambodian Visa Shop in Soi Buakhow and they will look after all your visa requirements. Good luck.
Hey mate, you are making the right decision. I go to Thailand at least 3 times a year for work. Awesome country. Im in Australia. If you need help with anything when you get there, message me. I know heaps of Australian and British expats who live there who can give you great advice. There's nothing like local knowledge . And if you ever want to visit Australia, i have an air bnb on the beach that you are more than welcome to for free. Get this, it was 37c and 85% humidity in my home town the last few days. It was brutal, but i love it. You will acclimatise to the weather in Thailand to the point of a 26c day that will feel slightly chilly. I shit you not. Rant over, cheers mate. Have a top week. 👍🇦🇺🌴
Quite a few people i know have relocsted from the uk to Thailand and they love it
You go for it Darren
You must be renting in London . If your monthly outgoings are £3600 per month .
Don't book a condo online and wait until you arrive in Thailand.
Have a great time
I live in rural Thailand 🇹🇭 and i love it, i take occasional trips to Bangkok, Pattaya etc etc and treat these locations as a holiday within a holiday 😂
You will love Thailand 🇹🇭 but take note from those that became ATM machines for some girls but don’t tar them all with the same brush and listen to the stories of the best to avoid.
Common sense will see you enjoy.
Best when you arrive in Pattaya to visit the immigration office in Jomtien and explain what you want to do because it isn’t as straightforward as many think.
You can use an agent but I don’t know the cost of this.
I opened a Thai bank account with Bangkok bank in back in 2016 whilst on holiday, it was easy then.
I also got my first Thai visa from the Embassy in London who accepted I had enough money to get my visa but there was a lot of hassle getting a medical, police report etc and I had to travel back to London from Scotland 🏴 to complete it however it is another option available to you and you would arrive here with your retirement visa
Every thing is easy after that if you stay within the Thai financial rules. I fell foul of these because of changes made in 2019 and it then becomes a bit of a hassle to renew it 😅😢
I got my 90 day visa easily enough and I go on Monday to apply for my retirement visa again and also do my 90 day check in at immigration since my arrival in Bangkok in August
Good luck, I hope all goes smoothly 😊
I agree with some of the other posts. Get your Non O in London, open a bank account when you arrive in country and a letter of residence from your apartment owner, then apply for the retirement visa yourself. It is a pain in the butt but you'll have all the time in the world, plus it's a learning process. It will cost you 1,900 THB for the retirement visa. Why shell out 50k to 70k for someone to do it for you? The process is relatively easy and will introduce you to Thai bureaucracy, a surreal expirence which ine has to experience. The money you'll save will pay your rent for 4 or 5 months. Good luck whatever you decide.
Hi, D.J. mai pen rai, rai normally pronounced Li. Is the Thai for no worries no problem etc. Good luck with your move mate, also ladys say sawatdeKAA Men say sawatdeeKAP also kupKap men say lady say kupkaa for thank you. Remember men say kap lady says kaa. Sorry to bleat on at you😢😢
Hi Dj. Me again also phed prounounced pet. Dont ask me why, I havent got a clue means spicy so if you want it very spicy say pet MAK MAK. Little bit spicy (if you feel a little bit "delicate"after a few to many of those chocy/banana shake things😊) means pet nid noy. Nid noy being the the Thai for a litte bit.
@@Potterthepattayaperv
Yes. Pronunciation confusion of D and T, R and L, G and K, V and W. Been here 20 years and I'm still confused.
You have done your research and certainly look to be well prepared. Good luck and stay relaxed.
Thank you, I will
Was back home in Ireland for a week and just catching up on your videos.
Absolutely delighted your making this move.
It will do ya the world of good.
Your a good guy now go there and be happy cos ya deserve every bit of it.
Keep up with the videos ❤
Your bang on about Pattaya Darren, we’ve been going to Thailand for 19 years, fell in love with it like you did. We only went to Pattaya for the first time in 2022 because of what everybody said about it and we loved it, it’s all there if you want it but if you want a quiet time you can. I’m 59 still working my wife retired after covid, got sick of being abused in a supermarket 😂. So we can only go for a couple of months max. What a place , good luck mate we will be following every minute of it 👍
The hardest part of this move DJ is the selling of the bikes not many will understand but i know how hard that is it has to be done i wish you happiness and health in this move and can't wait for more videos from you
I live in jomtien I don't go to the tourists area no need, I have me pick up motorbike which I use to travel around Thailand, dont think to much, you can do everything here, health, visas, condos etc, its very easy to do.
Fair play to you Darran...Follow ur dreams..👌
The beauty of thailand is that its bang in the middle of everywhere , laos, cambodia, vietnam , india , china , to name a few . this is a endless source of content for the channel.
now the only way to make it sustainable is to live as a thai would live , ie eat where the thais eat , drink where they drink ect but im sure you know that already .
This journey will change you for ever as it did me , for the better i might add , and im looking forward to watching it from the beginning .
Thanks DJ, I wish you well on your new journey.
Hi Darren thanks for showing us around London one more time I worked there for years and yes it’s a very special place but go to Thailand and start your new life and I for one will carry on watching you and your exploits as they unfold
You have 1 life Go live it and be happy!. Best of luck with your new adventure in Thailand 🇹🇭.
The Land of Smiles
Exists on your hard earned cash
Holiday and residing are two different thing's
Another fantastic video Darren, thank you and please keep sharing your process of moving.
You’re being smart about the planning for this important move!
Hey up Darren this was quite a sweet video sharing your plans hope it all goes well for you "and not forgetting daisy"
Wishing you all the very best for your future life in Thailand, and hoping you will keep us up- to-date with everything ( please)❤
100%
Darren, I’ve been watching and enjoying your video postings for the past three years. I’m from Bethnal Green and was so interested in your visits in and around the East End of London (places I knew and those I didn’t) and then of course your reviews all over London. I’ll be honest and say that I wouldn’t be interested in your Thailand postings but I wish you all the best success on the new chapter of your life and thank you for all the entertainment you have provided me for the past three years. Having watched you and listened to you recently I could see that you were becoming less happy and dare I say it…..quite lonely as well. Your recent illness didn’t help but having lost your job recently as well, the uncertainty surrounding your flat and your son moving to the US, I think you have made the right decision to get out of London and the UK. All the best matey and I shall keep an eye out just in case you do return to London and make more vlogs…safe trip! 🤝👋👋
Best of luck mate.
I did the same 20 years ago.
One thing I'd say to anyone wanting to do this who needs to work, rather than retire with sufficient funds already in place, is find a way to earn money online/remotely.
If you get that set up first, then the world really is your oyster.
What you should have done is apply for a non o visa online in the uk which cost me £60 and lasts 90 days, that gives you plenty of time to sort out a retirement visa
Darren is going there for a year, then deciding what to do!
Good on you DJ i will feel sad 😢yet happy 😊 for you ,give it a blast mate and enjoy it ,you deserve 😊
I own apartments in Pattaya that I rent to expats who live there long term, it’s a great place for them to live as it’s cheaper than Bangkok for a like for like size apartment and cost of living is probably 70% of Bangkok. It has everything not just the nightlife as you mentioned great restaurants and malls if that’s your thing. The airport in Rayong also has flights to the north and south and closer and an alternative to Bangkok airports. I live in Bangkok s it’s been a home with my Thai wife for years when I worked there but think Pattaya is a great alternative.
Could you send me some details Alan - darrenjohnOTC@gmail.com
If your gonna go the 800k in the bank then do the visa yourself its quite simple 1900B, You will be prob have to get the bank account done by agent about 5 - 6K, Make sure you have a Wise card before you leave and serveral UK bank accounts in case one gets blocked or shut down best to use a VPN when accessing UK bank accounts to avoid suspicion.
Only mugs use agents, anyone can open a bank account without those parasites
Your retirement visa is 2000 baht, under 60 quid, health insurance is more complex but you should budget around 3000 quid per year for a decent coverage. Health insurance will rise every year and will be your biggest expense.
Go for it DJ and we all wish you every success with your new venture.
How much are you budgeting for paying thai tax on remitted foreign income ? (and worldwide income too when new law comes in.)
Hope the grass is greener, Good luck& don't look back
He is going there for a year, then thinking what to do next!
So if he does come back he will be looking back!
Why wouldn’t you get a non O visa before you go and get 90 days. 1000 pounds is an outrageous price for an agent. First you can do it all yourself. It cost me 1900 bt plus about another 3000 bt for a multiple entry stamp. You can get a residence letter for your bank account from immigration yourself if you have a lease then just go to Bangkok Bank. It’s not that hard. Also you need to season your 800k bt in the bank for 2 months before applying for your retirement visa, so if you don’t have that all set up before you go then the 30 days plus an extension isn’t going to give you enough time.
DJ don’t listen to the sceptics, dream and fly if it doesn’t work out there are plenty of other Countries out there Malaysia might appeal? Good luck 👍
Go for it DJ.....looking forward to your vlogs!
Hi Darren, You're so right you can't Buy Time... I've been in Thailand approximately a month Les at Retired and living the Dream has saved me so much time and given me great advice on accommodation and different areas also transport if you value your time give him a look you guys seem very similar in your outlook maybe even a collab 👍
Yeah true, but you can't buy wasting time either!
I’ve never had any desire to go to Thailand (I live in the southern US where it’s hot as hell. We fantasize about going somewhere cooler, not warmer 😂) But I’m going to keep watching to see your adventure
People say the same about Dubai being pretentious but they have never been. Travel broadens the mind. Go for it
Thank you for all the information darren very much appreciated
When you're in Bangkok, try and meet up with Paul G Eats. He seems like a decent person, fellow UA-camr.
He works there.
Unfortunately Bangkok is only a place to arrive - I wont be stopping
Darren you can get in on a visa waiver scheme for 60 days, you can extend that for an extra 30 days with a border run and then get another 60 + 30 days. However you're better off on a retirement visa and I would suggest using an agent to do that so you dont need the 20k in the bank. An agent will charge you between 15 and 20k baht for that service and they will do everything including getting round the 800k bht bank requirements. Best agent in town is in soi post office 13/2 off 2nd road, called Maneerat. They charge 14k bht a year to do it. If yiu want any advice I'd be happy to help, been here a very long time and know all the tricks.
As of the 21st ish of December Laos are going digital with their visa and it will take 14-15 days to process! Which is insane, especially with the bad press they're receiving due to the methanol poisonings.
Hi Darren don’t listen to any of this negativity just follow your heart and you can’t go wrong wishing you all the success and happiness, you will find out there
That is a stupid comment, a friend of mine did this to Australia and now back in England!
Can't wait for the Thai food vlogs and the hopefully southeast Asian food vlogs .. Cambodia/ Vietnam and who knows 🎉
Good luck to you. . Have a blast sir.
You will be arriving in high season, rates will be higher, maybe 6 months is better. Did you try Jomtien (south Pattaya)? Good luck.
Only been to Thailand once, Phuket, a place called Nai Harn, fantastic beach, enough bars and restaurants, woukd definitely go again.
You cant work on a Thai tourist visa, or a Retirement visa, but you will be running your UA-cam channel, which is monetised. Is that not classified as 'work' in Thailand?
Excellent DJ, my brother has just come home to get a up lift in his pension as this can’t be done from Thailand, he’s going back to live in Cambodia where he can get the pension increase in the future
No I think you will need to take out some kind of health insurance before you get there fella, even if you get 6 months and then review it when it needs to be renewed what is then the next option. It might hit home when after you've sold your bikes or and when you exit your apartment.... I wish you well and it will be a nice journey you go on.
Hi DJ..
I assume you've heard of Mark weins? ... he lives out there somewhere . Maybe in the near future,get intouch with him and do a day together trying new foods, be great content and give you some knowledge of the local area to create more content...again,good luck mate,I'll be following you with you're content over there ❤ much love mate...
Alright Darren, i know it was a bit of a treat but that was absolutely shite service in the Ned. I prefer the proper London boozers like the ship aground in Bermondsey. That Ned was soulless
Plenty good areas around Pattaya if thats where you want to be and there's an airport 😯
Jomtien, Pratumnak, Bang Saray is amazing further down the coast, Naklua, Wongamat, Na Jomtien and many others outside of the madness of Central Pattaya.
Just do it, go for it and dont let the online basement dwellers stop you! 👍🥳
Of all the places in the whole wide world you choose Pattaya.. I'm saying nothing:).
Says it all don’t it?
I went to Phuket first...in 97 98, everything was like free, 90 Baht to the pound and cheap cheap cheap. No rip offs yet except the jewellery shops. Great food and the girl friend experience. I tried Pattaya later, a bit more food choices and the rest was the same. I went every year in my guest house in soiYamato, the girls made the best green curry, and that was so good and plenty, I did not go out after. Full stomach, bed!!!! After COVID, no more Sa Apartments, cooks gone, there were also great 300g fillet steak at My Way Dutch restaurant, about 300 Baht with all the veg, fries and salade, gone as well. I skipped Pattaya, but I'll try again. On the whole, night life has become mercenary and silly price, I am 70 next year, do I care??? Prostate looming, so use it before you loose it...and be careful out there.
@Jennifer-cz2if Yea, probably running away from people like you
Alan from Aussie be careful as they are not as great as you think .holiday okay, they are there to take your hard earned cash that’s what it’s all about cash go to Malaysia by train it would suit your lifestyle better do it and you will realistically be better off try Kinabalu the lifestyle is basic but you would manage better for your age
Thank you, Darren, for another chill video ! I think you're gonna be our Hairy Biker in Thailand. Don't be surprised if you get a call from Si King ! All the best, amigo !
That would be cool!
@@DarrenJohn hairy biker?? With that failed hair transplant ???😂😂
Have you booked your flight yet & will it be a one way ticket as I think you will need a flight booked out of Thailand (throw away ticket) to satisfy immigration at the airport.
Hey Daren,
Wish you all the best mate, moving to any new country is always going to be a learning curve... Try to get well connected with other expats who can point you in the right direction do,s and Don't s yeh..
Slowly taking in your new life and giving yourself lots of time to weigh up your new life style Ballance.
The weather and the people will be the first obvious bug plus and to say goodbye to the rotten UK weather and political mess is a huge plus in it's own.
Wishing you a bon voyage safe journey and to find yourself a nice quiet peaceful home in which to re focus your new life.
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧😀😀😀😀👍👍👍👍🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️
Oh Man. I hope in Thailand you can afford a producer and cameraman. Come on guys. Let's help this man.
😘😎
He’s gonna need it if he’s going full time on UA-cam.
There are NO retirement visa's those referred to as such are extensions of the right to stay on visa's such as non immigrant O visa, with retirement as the reason. An extension does not change the visa type, visa's cannot be changed.
We share a lot of similar interests, i lived in Soho for 5 years before ending up in Jomtien. Love the Ned. Happy to give you the advise ive learnt so far. If you do the visa here which is the easiest way it cost me £800, that’s 15 months non O, bank account multi entry. You only need that lump sum if you do it in the UK. Hit me up if you want. I rented for a yer, wish i had done 3 or 6 months now.
You dont like the condo or the area?
@ love both, but the new condos walls are very thin so if you get a noisy neighbour its a nightmare. I’m in Dusit Grand Park 2, steam & saunas, huge pool 24 hour security for £320 a month. But far we what’s been 7 months here i would like to more to an older building. You can rent a month at a time or 3 months, sure its a bit more expensive, but compared to UK or Europe its still cheaper per unit than your whisky. lol Jomtien or Pratumnak are the place to be i think.
I gave up on that drinks server way before you did ! He's got ONE job to do ! You definitely must have absorbed some Thailand chill !
You're knocking it out the Park, Darren. Your videos are getting a lot of attention, views and comments so you must be doing something right. I hope it works out for you; its up to you..
Something was missing in you, Darren, and i believe you have a good chance to find it in your new destination. If not, there is nothing lost in coming back to London, you will have had a very valuable, life-changing experience.
Something was missing in you, Darren and I think you may just have found it in your new destination. Keep making waves, i think youre nearly there.
👍🏼🙂🙏🏼
@@DarrenJohnEnjoy the journey 👍
Hello Darren, from what you have just said it seems that you had already made your mind about the move, before you had your holiday of a lifetime. Yet I got the impression it stemed from the 3week break. Just a small niggle. Cheers Allan&Family
Nice i was at the Ned this morning.
Just try to keep your wits about you once you’re over there, don’t befriend any bar girls and don’t fritter your money away on milkshakes and you’ll be grand! Thailand looks a beautiful place but it does have a sordid and seedy side to it, personally it would not be for me and I’d far rather move somewhere like Australia or New Zealand but that’s just me.
Mot Sevices in Pattaya, She does visas and can open you your bank account. Visa 15 k bank account I think 6 or 7 k. She looks after the lot. She's on Facebook. Can speak great English and her husband is also English.
Just do it .........there's lots of me love you long time..stay clear xx best wishes x
😂😂🤣🤣
Nice video. What did you do as a young lad. What's been your profession?
Double m tours Pattaya done my retirement visa cheaper than 1k had brilliant service
Wrong way Darren. Get yourself to the Thai Embassy in Queensgate, SW7.You can get a multiple entry visa for £150 quid. You have to leave every 60days but this is just a short hop bus drive over the border and back. Lots of 'Visa run' companies do this, you'll see them everywhere in Pattaya and other places. 7 hr round trip every 60 days will save you a few grand wile you find your feet. If you leave again just before the 6 month Visa expires, you'll get 60 days extra, so effectively it's 8 months visa. Dont jump in feet first. Lots of expat businesses there, and Thai, make their money from newbies. I was one of them ! All the best
That's right Sean.
You can enter Thailand visa free and get a Pattaya agent to sort out your visa much cheaper.
you can actually see the happiness back! love to see you do youtube full time in thailand...one request before you leave you have to go back to city spice for a farewell meal,heres to the next chapter xx
He has done it is over on DJ’s food channel
Ignore the negative comments DJ. Thanks for sharing your experience of the transition as you make the move. Excited to see what’s next💙
A lot of us are just concerned, not like he has thought this through properly Gillian-going on a holiday somewhere is completely different than living there.
However, he did say he would go there for a year and then have a think about what to do next.
@@mikekaraoke Total agree well said.
Its easy as others do (not accusing DJ) but look a pint is £2 3 course meal £8 how much would you pay for that in London or UK.
Seems like some oh look aren't I clever I only paid x for food accommodation etc.
@@747jono Exactly, and even cheaper when you go somewhere like a Wetherspoons!
I don't mind London, but prefer eating out in Kent/Essex!
Whereabouts you from?
@mikekaraoke Bolton Lancashire but born and raised in Sale Greater Manchester no
@@747jono last time I went to Lancashire, went to Blackpool a few years ago 😃
As for Manchester now been there for like 6 + half years!
I'm in Kent been to any parts????
I wass born in London but raised in Kent right between Dartford/Bexley.
Off to sleep soon, so will reply when I wake up 😴💤
hello darren you dont need to keep going back to bangkok to get enternal flights theres an airport just outside of pattaya called U TAPAO airport where you can fly to all the islands and internally its about a 35 min drive from jomtien
Chiang Mai, Phuket and Koh Samui from Pattaya Utapao as well as Malaysia and Dubai 👍
£700 equivalent should get you a Non OA retirement visa plus a Thai bank account from a good agent in Jomtien /Pattaya.
It's wise to get a local Thai bank account ASAP as it saves on the ATM fees which accumulate rapidly.
Best wishes for the future.
You can get a bank a/c for B5000 through an agent .The retirement visa is easy to do yourself for B1,900 .Why in heavens name are you talking about £700 ?
Good job Darren love 🇹🇭🙏 Kreab
Keep it up Darrin…nice goodbye videos….its about life
..... .your just ahead of me on my journey to live in Thailand.
Pattaya is not an option for me......too many distractions, and I've seen so many sad mem drinking themselves to death there, in the bars every afternoon.
I'm choosing Chiang Mai (for most of the year), to be my base, with the rest being spent in either the south islands, Da Nang, or Malaysia.
Hope it all works out for you, and if we are both in Chiang Mai......a beer would be good.
All the best.
I recommend 'Dusit grand park 2' Jomtien for a condo. All the best. 👍
Heard good things
I say good luck to you Darren! He who dares
Rodney, he who dares 👍
The problem with going full time on You-Tube is that you will soon run out of content and start posting boring nonsense or resorting to click bait, just look at your ex mate The MacMaster. 👎
@jimmyredcab: agree 100%
There’s only so many times you can watch a bloke get his helmet on!!!
The McMaster is yampy
ex ?
Best of luck n the move I will follow you in Thailand love your channel Andy Dublin
Please research the Digital nomad visa, as a UA-camr with many viewers, I think you can get it. Good luck!
Destination Thailand Visa is the actual name but the details are still murky 👍
I’m planning to go in 4 years time when I’m 63 . To travel around and then maybe settle
I used farang thai visa for retirement visa think was 39kbaht for everything thing opened my bank account driving licence multiple entry health insurance pacific cross jomtien is a nice place upto you as the always say good luck
You get 60 days on entry, you then need 90 day visa before you can apply for the 1 year retirement visa.
For the 90 day visa you need to show proof of residence on a form signed by the owner and 800,000 in a Thai bank for a full 2 months
Use an agent and you never have to show 800k, never ever. Agents get special treatment, because they pay for the special treatment, welcome to Thailand pay for the privilege. Make sure the Agent choose the bank the immigration like, i was given Bangkok bank near immigration office Jomtien opposite Rum Po market.
@ 😁 thanks for this, i didn’t realise, i have a friend who lives in Pattaya and i think this maybe why he uses an agent, I’ve never asked because I’ve always done it myself, the agent can be a big advantage for some then 🙏
Age and age related illnesses are facts of life. The older you get the more care you will require. Have a long hard think of what you will do if a sudden and serious illness flares up.
I think Jomtien is the place. Close to Pattaya geographically but quite different. Plenty of foreigner conveniences and the immigration office. Plus you can get large condos for a fraction of UK prices.
The plan you describe seems very vague tbh. No detail at all so I hope that all the loose ends are tied up both in Thailand and in the UK. For example, what’s the tax situation in both countries? How will you manage financially?
I really don’t think he can go full time on UA-cam, that is a huge risk and I don’t think I could move to a new country without having a proper job lined up and just hoping my UA-cam channel provides enough income to live on. Hopefully he’s thought of all these ins and outs.
@@Jennifer-cz2if Yeah, he is being very hasty just after a 3 week holiday! 🤷🏻♂
Great video. Very informative. But sorry that bar looked completely soulless. An old bank I guess? 10 days doesn't seem long enough to find somewhere.
Found 'it' in Thailand or her lol
800 000 thai baht in the bank don’t pay £1000 that’s to much Darren it’s about 30 000 £700 and the next time you pay cheaper but you can do it yourself I know a bloke who does your be fine Darren good luck on your new journey
Enjoy thailand
I go every xmas and love it.
Try Koh samet
1 30 hour from pattaya , beautiful
Enjoy
Darren what are you going to do with your furniture and possessions?
WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's gonna magic them all in to reasonable comments as opposed to patheticness
That pub looks good, the more typical London pubs I hate them. I'm more a country pub guy, nice summer day out in the beer garden or open fire in the winter.
I totally agree, esp pubs in Kent, Essex, Surrey etc
Be careful with the women out there DJ make sure you don’t get rinsed
A lot of it happens
It happened to both my uncle and my husband’s grandad.