Comments on: Moving to Thailand from Australia

By: David Walden

David Walden — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 05:46:49 +0000

I see you have used much of my writings on how Australians can live in Thailand. I can live with that, happy with that…David

By: allen honney

allen honney — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 05:08:51 +0000

I am trying to get my retirement visa in Thailand while still here in Australia and finding it difficult and complex can anyone recommend a solicitor or agency that can help me in the Cairns area?

By: David Walden

David Walden — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 03:39:00 +0000

If you rent out your home in Australia and reside in Thailand Centrelink will quickly find out about it. Immigration will tell as soon as you leave. Your Australian house will become an asset for Centrelink purposes and asset value will apply as soon as you have a tenant. You can leave it vacant empty for 12 months and all will be OK. Offsets are not available for Centrelink nor are they really available for taxation purposes. if you are out of Aus. I have a friend in Thailand who turned his house into 3 separate living areas in Aus. One for himself and 2 sections he rented out free to 2 of his grandchildren and partners. All was OK for a while he was living mostly in Thailand. Although he claims he receives no rent for the 2 extra areas (flats) Centrelink deemed (and can do so) that the value of the rented out section was worth $500,000. The house was quite large-worth over 1 million dollars near Sydney.. He claimed he was letting his grandkids stay their rent-free. Didn’t have much luck with that and had his pension reduced substantially. Many people try this way but it is fraught with danger ATO and Centrelink are very much 2 different things… James tried to send this privately to your email address as above, it was returned.

By: David Walden

David Walden — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 02:39:14 +0000

In reply to Godfree Roberts. If you seek advice from an Australian legation you will only be advised to contact Centrelink...Australian embassies overseas have no skills when it comes to Centrelink matters (Aust Social security).

By: David Walden

David Walden — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 04:55:08 +0000

If you rent your house out to a tenant when getting the AAP the house will now be treated as an asset and the rules allowing you to be absent whilst out of Australia will no longer apply. The 12 months vacant house still being asset free will no longer apply. The income and deeming rules regarding assets and income will apply. Of course your now rented out house which is now an asset will raise your asset threshold to about $470,000 from about $270,000.. If you still have a mortgage on your now rentall house asset, this may improve your asset allowance to where you keep your assets under the threshold. The other way is to rent it out to a friend or your kids and keep your mouth shut. (that’s what usually happens).

By: David Walden

David Walden — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 23:40:59 +0000

Really the main thing to be happy in Thailand with a Thai wife is if you are reasonably good with the Thai language (takes about 20 years). I’m still useless with the language after 8 years..555. If you are not able to have an in-depth conversation with your wife or girlfriend and that’s just about all farangs? with local or international politics which most Thais know nothing about, economics (know even less), corruption (don’t want to know), immigration (not their problem), health matters, the new car or house (in her name) or money to spend, then you will only be left with visiting the pub watching football or chasing after sex. Even blind Freddy knows that.

By: David Walden

David Walden — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:41:12 +0000

In reply to David Walden. Both the Aus Govt Medibank System and the Private system are suspended at the moment you leave Australia. They are linked to Australian Immigration and reinstaed when you return. You cannot obtain medical service paid by either system when you are out of Australia, not fair any farang will tell you..

By: David Walden

David Walden — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:35:08 +0000

In reply to David Walden. Medibank Private, Medical benefits Fund, Bupa, and a 50 other funds provide additional services and are know as the 'Private System". Their service are in addition to the Public Govt Services.

By: David Walden

David Walden — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 00:27:59 +0000

Australian Medicare is free (paid by tax) medical services provided to permanent residents and Citizens by the Government, It is comprehensive cover for any ailment for hospital medical treatment and will will be treated free of charge. You may have to make some contribution if you wish to engaged with your prefered doctor. It is commonly referred as the “public system”. e.g. If you have an accident or get sick and are taken to a public hospital and spend a month their it will cost you nothing the govt will pay all cost. Non-urgent medical services may be delayed to a time to fit in with the hospital time tables. In addition to this service you can elect to pay a premium to a private medical company or mutual fund. These companies will allow elective services in addition the the public treatment available where and when you wish at a time convenient to the patient usually in a private hospital. Some of the fees associated with this service are paid by the govt but many are not and much of the costs are paid the Insurance fund. You pay extra to the private fun and get to have treatment done when it suits you. This a very short, short explanation of the system

By: Godfree Roberts

Godfree Roberts — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 23:30:13 +0000

In reply to Steven. I suggest asking The Australian authorities or your local consulate.