In Southeast Asia, you can circle around in 4-5 countries at 2-3 months each without bothering with a retirement visa, and then just keep repeating this every year. So it is possible to travel lots of countries by staying as long as they allow as a tourist plus extension. Perpetual travel.
Nice thought! However, that's all well and good, until you become too ill or too old to travel and you have no family /friends support system to help you. If you have not established a close network of people who are ready to help you with your daily needs you are going to be in deep poo 💩! Furthermore, you need to good income to support such travelling and renting places /hotels.
JEH. That's a good topic to discuss and understand ways to overcome those barriers. Dan....have you thought that far ahead? Sometimes I think about that but I don't worry because I plan to find that one place I'd like to live and establish a community of friends along with my partner who is a Filipino. 🙂
Circling around every 2-3 months per country ... hmmm ? If you're somebody in the mid 30s, well... hell yeah go ahead YOLO! But if you're 60 and up I'm gonna pray for u....
Hey Dan, good video. I enjoyed it and I want to say for me at least, the most important thing you said in the entire video was the last thing and that is, “you have choices if some government turns down your retirement visa application.” I hope I quoted you correctly. I’m currently in Ecuador preparing to go through the retirement visa application process and I’ve been worrying off and on about whether I’ll be approved. I should because on the surface I meet the requirements, but like you said some obscure rule could derail my plans, then just last night I thought, life is too short for me to stress over stuff like that. I have a place to stay, food to eat and I have enough to take care of my other needs and if for whatever reason my application falls short I can pack my few bags and fly off to somewhere else. I have money for a plane ticket and accommodations once I get to wherever I’m going, so I should enjoy each day as it comes. In the grand scheme of things all we can control anyway is the choices we make. Thanks for helping me and whoever else is listening to keep things in the proper perspective.
Indeed, every country has their little rules, and probably a lot of them are downright silly and annoying. As foreigners, we’re at the mercy of these foreign countries we are inclined to live in. I’ve been researching them all and for my situation, only the Philippines and Cambodia are easy peasy. Cambodia more so than the Philippines. Good luck with your retirement visa application in Ecuador, but if they do reject it, know that you DO have other options.
@@thefilipinojoe thanks for the encouragement and you’re right I have other options. Who knows maybe I’ll just do what Dan and Qiang do and just travel endlessly or until I drop dead! Lol!
@@keith4826 I’m in my third month here in Cuenca specifically and so far so good. I’m slow to acclimate to new surroundings, so I don’t tend to go far once I touch down. Cuenca is a good sized city and for me it has a lot to keep me as occupied as I want and I moved to the edge of el Centro, so there’s something to do and see in all directions all within a matter of a very few minutes walk. Honestly, I could walk around my current neighborhood all day every day and never see it all. A place is walkable when you actually have places you want or need to go that are within a few minutes on foot. I know this is a dig, but so many US Americans talk about how walkable their city is and they don’t have a clue what walkability really is until they leave the states. There are probably a few places in the US that are genuinely walkable, but they’re mostly on the east coast in the area of NYC, Boston, Philadelphia and maybe D.C. Correct me if I’m wrong please. Right now things are a bit up in the air because of the “paro,” protest, and I’m hoping the government and the indigenous communities can come to an agreement soon, because it’s really impacting the movement of people, goods and services around the entire country. But still I think you probably should keep it on your short list.
@@nrnexusrising I love Cuenca. Studied maps of the area. Practiced español en mi computadora para dos anos….lol. I’ve been reading about the protests and will send positive thoughts your way. I decided on the Philippines for now. The visa is so easy. They have a new administration coming into power here and if there is any signs of “marshal law” I’m on a plane ✈️. I’m in a Mountain City myself, Baguio. It’s about 5,000 ft elevation. However it’s not nearly as walkable as I had hoped. I’m in the city center and do walk everywhere I need to go. But I miss long walks
Great video! I quit my Canadian Government job in Oct 2014, sold & gave away all my "stuff" & set sail to find a place to retire. After 14 months, I realized that I did not have to stay anywhere; I could just travel. Unfortunately, COVID restrictions ended my travels in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2020. After 5 weeks, the Government of Canada got 370 of us back to Canada, dumped us out in Toronto & told us to find our own way to our respective cities. I was back in Edmonton, Alberta from April 15 - July 29. After 2.5 months of sorting out my options, I applied for & received a Permanent Residency Visa for Mexico. I have spent the last 2 years travelling around Mexico, the last 4 months were spent in Mexico City. On July 27, this year, I left Mexico & am currently in Southern California awaiting my Sept 12th flight to Singapore! While, I am eternally grateful for Mexico allowing me, a foreigner, to enter during COVID &, I cherish knowing that my residency card doesn't expire, I am SO looking forward to resuming my travels. Namaste, from Gypsy Cumbia. May we live long & prosper. *Mexican Temporary Residency Visas have to be renewed after the 1st year, are then good for 3 years, and are easily converted to a Permenant Residency Visa after completing the 4 years of Temporary Residency. ** Canadians used to be able to stay in Peru & Chile for 6 months each, on a tourist stamp. Now, I see that Chile is 90 days & Peru's length of stay is subject to the whims of the immigration officer.
always great to be out of Canada. Can't believe you went back during Covid. Wow. And Edmonton, my hometown, but a nightmare to live. I'm guessing you have left Singapore already - for where?
@@mactravel112 I had no other choice but to go back to Canada. All other countries were already closed to foreigners. Last summer, I didn't go back at all. This summer, I will go back & do my 25th year of volunteering at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. After that, I don't think I'll go back anymore. I leave KL tomorrow for Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.
@@CumbiaDancer5678 oh we definitely all had choices. Mexico was always wide open, why didn't you just stay in Turkey? Lots of people with visa issues went to Turkey. We stayed in Thailand for the whole time, was absolutely fantastic the entire time. We laughed and laughed at the Canadian 'repatriation flights'. Our home and native land had absolutely no idea what it was doing. Must have been sheer misery in E-town. We are in Cambodia now, but heading back to Thailand for a couple of weeks and then on to KL. I have been traveling full time outside of Canada for a decade now and no way I would go back. When on Borneo, take the time to visit Brunei, very interesting country and few people ever visit. Hopefully the Oilers are still playing when you get home and the cup parade is there for you this summer!!!
@@mactravel112 well, hindsight is 20-20 & I made the best decision for me. I had already left Thailand so, I couldn't go back. Staying in Turkey was not something I would have considered; personal reasons. As mentioned, I did get a residency visa for Mexico so, I enjoyed the last 2 years also. To each his own. We all made the best decisions for our own lives, based on the information available at the time. Istanbul airport was shut down. There were no flights going anywhere. The GofC hired a plane, got the Gov of Turkey to open the airport & airspace to allow 370 of us to get through armed security at the entrance to the airport & get on that one plane. It was not a fun time... Now, it's in the past &, I never want to experience anything like it ever again. Enjoy your travels.
Your channel and Hobo Ventures seem packed with "valid" and "reliable" information. Recently, many videos on the Tube appear unconvincing. Much thanks for your "feet on the ground" data!!
Thank you, Dan, really enjoy the information you provide, either directly or where to look. I've seen several comments below regarding the requirements for retiring in Cambodia, and this is a summary of what I found: In Cambodia, all you need to do is purchase a visa-on-arrival at the airport by filling out a short form, providing two passport photos, and paying $35 for a “business” or “ordinary” visa, which will be valid for one month. Once you are in the country all you have to do is extend your visa for a one-year period-at a cost of less than $300-which allows you to live in the country and come and go at your pleasure, without the stringent income requirements needed by many other Southeast Asian countries. As long as you behave yourself, the authorities are happy to welcome another foreign guest to their country to support the local economy. Among the many expats we have talked to their monthly budgets tend to range from as low as $1,000 up to $2,500, with many saying they can live comfortably for an average of $1,500. Accommodation tends to make up the largest monthly expense, but rentals in places like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap can be found for as little as $250 for a one-bedroom apartment in a pleasant area. The cost of utilities like electricity will depend on whether you are a slave to air-conditioning or if you are content with a simple fan. Either way, most expats spend around $100 each month for their electricity, water, garbage, and cable bills combined. As for cellphones and mobile internet, it is very cheap here, with $10 a month being enough to keep you online and making international calls for less than 5 cents a minute.
Thank you for your cost of living numbers Marc D! Have a great day! Dan Have you seen our RUclips country playlists yet? ruclips.net/user/VagabondAwakeplaylists
If you have served in the military in your home country , the Philippines gives an ex military retirement visa for a few thousand $$$$$. But only applies to some countries USA. UK. Australia , Canada etc.
Great rundown on which countries offer retirement visa and the costs. My wife and I have been following yours and Qiang's videos for years. We are narrowing down to get the Panama Pensionado video (we qualify now)as our base and them will slow travel the rest of the world on tourist visas. We refer to your Retire Cheap Reports (thanks for the Lifetime Membership!) prior to exploring the countries. I really hadn't considered the Argentina Visa so we will look into that one as well. Since my wife is a retired airline employee, we are looking at dividing our time in four month chunks for the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Hi Dan, very informative indeed. It was never in my plan to retire in another country but you've convinced me that it is possible. Glad i got to meet you today.
This is first I have heard about Mexico changing their retirement visa amounts. I’m confused as to why they would first require $2700/month then raise it to $4500😳. I think you said it was not a firm number? I did hear they use to be lax about those “not being legal” but now are cracking down. One lady said she had to use a consultant and apply for some type of forgiveness and pay $500 for legal visa. It’s all confusing to me! I guess just keep checking with consulate, correct? I’m not ready yet, but will be in 6 months.
Check with the consulate closest to your home for the options. Personally, I love Mexico, but it is not really a great option anymore for some that wants a formal retirement visa and has a limited budget.
Dan and Qiang have exactly the right idea... To hell with visas, paperwork, bureaucracy etc. Just slow travel! That's my plan too! Thanks for this guys!
We are heading to Mexico in March. We’ll get our temp residency visa ( again…long story) in November, in Atlanta. We are too young for social security but have assets and just need to show a bank or retirement account with at least $43,000. We have senior dogs and dont want to put them on a plane so we plan to be there at least until they pass. So assets work if you don’t have income. Will that allow us permanent residency in 4 years…I think so ? My wife is Nicaraguan so we can head there if need be. Great video Dan ! Oh, I am curious how slow travel to lots of different countries bumps up monthly expenses, adding travel and getting short term rental rates ? Thx !
It cost more depending on how often you move places in the same country or region, what part of the world you are traveling through, and how often you fly domestic or international. We will try to do more on that topic before too long. :-)
We’re doing the travel retirement as well for now, but I’m interested in obtaining residency in at least one country so this was very informative. Gracias
Can't believe Dan never even mentioned the EASIEST country (BY FAR) to live in forever: Cambodia. No proof of income, no visa runs, pay a modest fee yearly for your visa and stay as long as you want, with ever having to leave. Doesn't get any easier than that.
@@koufax174 Cambodia has that wild-west, anything goes feel that the Philippines and especially Thailand lost many years ago. The people are friendlier and less cynical and likely to scam you than other SE Asian countries. The cost of living is generally lower as well.
Nice work reporting how the visa free cycling can operate. I'm imagining one a bit different as it is also appealing. Turkey/Italy/Greece/Spain/Morocco Mediterranean Sea loop. It is generally ninety day maximums among these destinations and and there is a 180/365 day annuall limit regarding the Schengen grouped nations. Maybe add in Bulgaria and Albania as fallback retreats too to be sure of options. Cheers Dan.
Wow! A real informational packed video about traveling around the world at low cost. Very well done video. I found it extremely helpful. Thanks for making it.
Another great video Dan, Informative and right to the point. Cambodia and Tbilisi are the easiest. I often wonder how many American expats throughout the world after many years retired and living abroad return home to the U.S. especially as they age. I would say a very high percentage
I love your videos, but this one is by far my favorite! Great info, and your attitude about paperwork, bureaucracy, and income requirements was awesome and made me laugh. Thank you!
Dan check out Indonesia`s new B211A visa. It`s similar to renewing the Philippine tourist visa every 60 days but runs indefinitely not just 3 years.[no more visa runs!] By far the most liberal visa I have seen.
Good video🎉,. I stayed three years in Philippines ,and then got a 90 day extension. I am back in america but will return to Philippines later this year
Very well-researched and well-presented summary. I successfully applied for and received a Colombian 3-year pensionado visa, and have now been living in Medellín for just over 20 months. While Medellín has many good qualities, if you're seeking a more relaxed and peaceful retirement life, this may not be ideal for you. As a large urban environment, it features all the attendant hassles of big-city life, including major traffic, noise, and air pollution. Many aspects of the short-travel existence sound appealing, and I may consider a change to that kind of lifestyle when my visa renewal comes up next year.
Hey Dan, loved your video. How come you didn't mention Brazil. They will allow 6 months of temporary residency per calendar year without any paperwork at all.
Liked 👍🏻and subscribed I’ve been watching your channel for years. Put everything into action 5 months ago. Took my pension, sold the house and hit the road. Great information, from banking to mail etc. On the Island of Luzon now. Living a stress free life. South America is still very high on my list and would love to tour the other America
GREAT VIDEO !!! Dan, when we see your “ cost of living” videos if you are living in a country, like $800/month in Matagalpa….if someone slow travels country to country, they are paying slightly higher rents plus travel expenses. Is there a guestimate as to a % increase we’d be looking at if slow traveling ? Thank you, Dan ! Your ole pal, BananaPatch
Hey Banana Patch, It really depends on how much tourist-ing you do, like tours, and such. But just the accommodations alone could easily double depending on how long you rent each place you stay while slow traveling. If you stay just for a few days, it could be triple the monthly rate per day. If you stay for a week, it could be double the monthly rate per day. Also it can take a few days to find your favorite local foods each time you get to a new place, so that adds expenses too. So add all that up and the slow travel costs could be double the long term cost of living you could achieve by settling long term. They gives me a good idea for a video to make, thanks! Dan
Not sure how long ago you did this research but Chile always has been one of the most expensive countries to live in South America and now with the global inflation after the pandemic , food is even more expensive than in US. I am saying this because I am originally from Chile living in US for 41 years and I have family living there. Also it has become very unsafe including Perú, Argentina and Colombia. They are many pick pockets on the streets, subways and buses to the point that you can not use your cel while walking on the streets because they will grab it directly from your hand . It is also very common to steal cars even when you are inside at a stop sign or traffic light. I love my country ( great skiing by the way ) but definitely I won’t choose to retire there.
Hi Dan, Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video, I really enjoyed it. I am in Malaysia and would like to visit the Philippines very soon but hate wearing a mask outdoors, do you have to wear a mask outside? Thanks
Thank you for the report, was thorough and very informative Recently was looking into the Philippines retirement Visa and learned there may be different options available..for example, instead of depositing 20k in a Philippines approved account, If you can prove you have at least $800.00 / month retirement, you may be able to just pay a determined amount, don't recall if it was 5k or so...About retirement in Mexico, I considered that before since I was actually born in Mexico, grew up in the US...however, I no longer consider that due to some civil unrest in certain cities..I was going to visit a brother who retired in Southern Mexico, but he said not to even visit him due to the dangers in some parts of Southern Mexico.. I been to a few places myself, not like you, but prefer the Philippines bc English is a primary language..I was in Dumaguete recently, returning there shortly and never went anywhere they did not speak English....places like China, Vietnam, Russia, Japan, I only found English speakers in the hotels, or airports...food for thought... Again, thanks for sharing, great job...
I believe the figures are as follows. Applicants aged 50 and above who receive a pension Deposit USD 10,000 Pension for a single applicant USD 800 (monthly) Pension for a couple USD 1,000 (monthly) If you are bringing more than one child as dependent Additional deposit of USD 15,000 per child Applicants who do not receive a pension Deposit for applicants 35 to 49 years old USD 50,000 Deposit for applicants aged 50 and above USD 20,000 Deposit for former Filipino citizens (at least 35 years old) USD 1,500 If you are bringing more than one child as dependent Additional deposit of USD 15,000 per child
Ernie Mendez, Although Visa rules can change at anytime, so you have to do your own research on this. But at the time I wrote the below report, here is why we decided to not get a retirement visa in the Philippines. The short story is that if you are from the visa free countries, you can extend your tourist for up to 36 months. Here are the details at the time we did the research: vagabondbuddha.com/retirement-visa-in-the-philippines-do-you-need-one/ Best, Dan
Thanks Dan for all the good Info. I go to Philippines quite often. I usually stay 3 months or so. Thanks for not mentioning the city that I stay, We dont want to be overrun with Expats.
I really enjoy your information! I feel the best option for me would be the way you two are living (tourists visa)I don’t want a lot of paper work. I’m disabled living on SSDI. I had a accident when I was fairly young, and did not have money saved, I was self employed. It’s too expensive here, I need too get out!
Just have the check deposited to a US bank and make ATM withdrawals several times a month in the country your in. Pay attention to what Dan says about minimum income requirements by country. Getting by on less than $1500 per month doesn't factor in all the true costs you will have like health or travel insurance costs for instance. Always have $2500 or so as an emergency fund.
cool thing in EC is the Professional visa (available for folks of retirement age, too) where a degree from a qualifying college reduces the income requirement to $425/mo (edit: as of Jan 2022)
Does Vietnam have a retirement program? The last information they allow is 30 days then are require a leave for visa update. I would even look at China but that may to far out there.
I love your videos but have to ask, how do you pack for all your traveling. I’m seriously curios about what you always take with you how much luggage etc. could you please share with us how you do it? Thank you
As for Thailand ...can you confirm that as of Oct 1st anyone 50 and older no longer need to show a onward ticket leaving the country? Seems they are specifically targeting the retirement aged travelers entering Thailand.
Great question Steve Donovan, As you have probably heard we almost never buy round trip tickets. We move forward slow traveling the world. But some countries require a return ticket or onward flight. But the rules change all the time so don't assume what I am about to tell you is true for any airline or country. You have to check the night before. But is they require a return ticker or onward flight, here is what we do. If so, when you try to board your flight going to the country, with a one-way ticket, the airline will ask for proof of a return flight or an onward flight. We handle this three possible ways. If you can find a refundable ticket a few hours before you board your flight, buy that, and cancel after you clear customs at your destination. If not, buy an onward flight from one of the online companies that offer onward flights. They cost about $12 USD. Just Google the words "Onward Flights" and a few will pop up. But if you decide to buy the $12 onward flight, show up at the airport 3 hours early. We had one refused by the airline once. So that brings up the third way. When your $12 onward flight is refused, step out of line, and log on with your computer or smartphone and buy the cheapest flight you can find exiting the country. For example, we search online for the cheapest ticket to a nearby country, leaving that country. Then you lose much less money than you would if you bought a roundtrip ticket to your home country. Skyscanner is the best place to find cheap tickets in our experience. Some countries will also let you buy an onward train or bus ticket to another country which can be even cheaper. Use RometoRio.com to find those. Best, Dan
I have entered Thailand 20 times without a return ticket They take one look at all the stamps and visa in my passport and they know returning or leaving is not a problem Bangkok immigration officers are very experienced and not stupid What is the purpose of your trip? Answer To spend as much money as I can everyday. Always makes them laugh.
hi dan, good video. thanks for the info. I'm just now applying for my 13a being married to a Filipina. I was going to go back to the USA once a year and use the balikbayan program but going through this CCP-19 thing and the high inflation in the states, I decided to stay permanently in the Philippines.
ya i'm doing that but kind of a lot in the paperwork,i did the one year probation they call it through a visa service where they can fix everything but that's pretty pricey at around 40,000 plus php so the next year i will try doing it myself for under 15000 php so i'm told but really i like just renewing every 2 months for about 2-3000 php but my wife is pushing me for the 13a ,thinks it;s so much better than leaving the country every 3 years -i would like getting out as and expat can go nuts if they dont take a break now and then
Slow travel is the absolute best way to go. I did the same thing for a year 93’-94. Thinking you have to “pick” one place to move to and retire is not only scary but also very limiting. If you are healthy and mobile I would say slow travel for as long as possible. Think outside the box🌈
The law in Argentina specifies about $250 a month with the inflation there, but my lawyer there says people will not be approved for the rentista visa with an income of less than $2000 a month.
Have you been to Baguio City, Phils.? The climate there is cool all year round cuz its a city of mountains and its 1,500 meters above sea level. They are the vegetable bowl capital of the Phils. coz they produced all kinds of vegetables and fruits like strawberries, grapes etc and its cheap.
Me personally would be Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Poland, Hungary. There all safe, people speak English, cheap or fairly cheap to live, plenty of things to do, friendly people, etc
I am retired in Thailand. I wouldn’t count on a lot of Thais speaking English. There are a lot of expats so there is an English speaking expat community.
@@2Rugrats9597 I’ve lived in Bangkok 5 years. There are sizable expat communities in Chiangmai and Phuket but also Pattaya/Jomtien, Hua Hin and really any city if you look for them. I will be moving to rural Isaan next year and even there I’ve found expat friends. Just don’t expect English to be widely spoken by Thais. You are going to have to pick up some minimum Thai to get by.
Great information Dan the only countries on that list I would be interested in are Portugal and Turkey! I lived in Mexico for 4 years it's passe now for many people. Best to visit for a few months and then leave. I love the Filipino people but their lifestyle and infrastructure is not my style. Malaysia sounds interesting and Thailand's becoming passe as well. Hope you guys are doing great thanks for the information!!
@@gregwil694great question. Yes @Wild Bill, please answer the question. Can you give example of what lifestyle and what kind of frastructures we Filipinos have that doesn't match your lifestyle and infrastructure preference?
Montenegro, Poland and Baltic states? Outside of large cities, life is comfortable at 2k dollars per month in Eastern Europe. Good private health insurance in Poland is 180 dollars per month right now including home doctor's visits, which is an insane unthinkable luxury in the US.
Hi 2_UU, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ruclips.net/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/видео.html Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/ Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or RUclips channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Hi @dexagalapagos, Thanks for the idea. I haven't run into much danger in my travels. When you show up in a new town anywhere in the world, even the USA or Europe, you are at a disadvantage. I have a report that explains how I stay safe when I arrive in a place I am not familiar with yet. Here is a link to that report: vagabondbuddha.com/how-to-travel-the-world-safely/ Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps our business grow. Dan
@@VagabondAwake I think a lot of this world travel is presented as almost invariable safe, but having talked to some people who have spent extensive time in various places, not all locations are really the same. There's a lot more crime in some countries as opposed to others. A relative ranking of their safety would be invaluable. Like, for example, Bali is often mentioned as a nice destination, but there's actually a decent amount of crime there, as opposed to something like Phuket. At least according to some people who spent years living in both locations. You mention often in your video that you love Mexico, when I spent some time there, it was ok, but watching on the news a week later that bodies were discovered in suitcases under a bridge near where we stayed was a bit unsettling. I don't think I'd ever go back there, knowing what sort of stuff goes on with the cartels there in the background.
Most places you mentioned here requires x amount/month. What happens if you are not collecting social security yet or have a pension, but you have an account with $120k in it? Can that be an accepted substitute?
@@intuitivesean443 Exactly, I wouldn't want to show my whole hand if I didn't have to and would also split that money up between more than one bank in the event you have an issue with the one you'll have a backup plan. Say like Charles Schwab (reimbursed ATM fees) and whatever regional or other bank you use.
One of my favorites places to retire so far is Turkey because it is very safe like Taiwan and other countries in Asia. It is very beautiful and inexpensive living with American dollars . I have been there three times . On my second visit in 2018, I spoke to an attorney to find out how to become a permanent resident. Well if you buy property , Turkey will welcome you right away , but if you rent a place which is one of the requirements to obtain residency , it is s bit complicated. Most of landlords will not rent you a place knowing that you are trying to get permanent residency because they will have to report the extra income and pay taxes on the money they receive from the rents. Another requirement apart from showing that you are receiving a monthly pension , a US$ 10,000 is required to have in your bank account.
I watched your video on Thailand. I saw another one on Lampur. Both seem to have luxurious accomodations that are shamefully cheap. My Mexican visa will never expire. That does not mean I have to live there. I can come and go from there. Everytime I see street food videos from Thailand, I drool.
Very helpful video Dan! What transportation do you use to get between cities in the Philippines?How many personal items do you carry from country to country?
@@lightfoot1Juke thanks I get a military pension recharge $$$ every month so I'm never broke but trying to get a visa in Chicago is like pulling teeth to get an appt 👌
@@philipjanek3864 Yes you can. But it could be quite tiresome after some time. Eventually you would have to choose one where to stay put (as a homebase or HQ) and then maybe travel-hop to the rest of SE Asia from time to time
@@glossopharynz actually my plans changed I'm going to Vietnam first so I'll add that to my country list. If the Philippines doesn't get rid of that stupid ohp I'll wait that one out 😆
I guess the downsides to moving with tourist visas is we may eventually get tired of traveling…..not sure, and we would also keep paying more for rentals since it is always a few months. But if we don’t get tired of travel….maybe that is the best option.
Been watching your channel for quite some time.. 69 and still living in USA but would be nice to find out if there is a chat line with ex pats or others interested in a move….
Check out Internations. They are an expat group that operates worldwide. A great source of information and has networking and social opportunities with other in country expats.
In Southeast Asia, you can circle around in 4-5 countries at 2-3 months each without bothering with a retirement visa, and then just keep repeating this every year. So it is possible to travel lots of countries by staying as long as they allow as a tourist plus extension. Perpetual travel.
That is a GREAT idea!!!
Nice thought!
However, that's all well and good, until you become too ill or too old to travel and you have no family /friends support system to help you. If you have not established a close network of people who are ready to help you with your daily needs you are going to be in deep poo 💩! Furthermore, you need to good income to support such travelling and renting places /hotels.
JEH. That's a good topic to discuss and understand ways to overcome those barriers. Dan....have you thought that far ahead? Sometimes I think about that but I don't worry because I plan to find that one place I'd like to live and establish a community of friends along with my partner who is a Filipino. 🙂
You can stay in Cambodia forever if you want. Dan seems totally ignorant about that.
Circling around every 2-3 months per country ... hmmm ? If you're somebody in the mid 30s, well... hell yeah go ahead YOLO! But if you're 60 and up I'm gonna pray for u....
Hey Dan, good video. I enjoyed it and I want to say for me at least, the most important thing you said in the entire video was the last thing and that is, “you have choices if some government turns down your retirement visa application.” I hope I quoted you correctly. I’m currently in Ecuador preparing to go through the retirement visa application process and I’ve been worrying off and on about whether I’ll be approved. I should because on the surface I meet the requirements, but like you said some obscure rule could derail my plans, then just last night I thought, life is too short for me to stress over stuff like that. I have a place to stay, food to eat and I have enough to take care of my other needs and if for whatever reason my application falls short I can pack my few bags and fly off to somewhere else. I have money for a plane ticket and accommodations once I get to wherever I’m going, so I should enjoy each day as it comes. In the grand scheme of things all we can control anyway is the choices we make. Thanks for helping me and whoever else is listening to keep things in the proper perspective.
Indeed, every country has their little rules, and probably a lot of them are downright silly and annoying. As foreigners, we’re at the mercy of these foreign countries we are inclined to live in. I’ve been researching them all and for my situation, only the Philippines and Cambodia are easy peasy. Cambodia more so than the Philippines. Good luck with your retirement visa application in Ecuador, but if they do reject it, know that you DO have other options.
@@thefilipinojoe thanks for the encouragement and you’re right I have other options. Who knows maybe I’ll just do what Dan and Qiang do and just travel endlessly or until I drop dead! Lol!
Wishing you the best of luck in Ecuador 🇪🇨
Ecuador was very high on my short list.
I’d still love to spend some time there
@@keith4826 I’m in my third month here in Cuenca specifically and so far so good. I’m slow to acclimate to new surroundings, so I don’t tend to go far once I touch down. Cuenca is a good sized city and for me it has a lot to keep me as occupied as I want and I moved to the edge of el Centro, so there’s something to do and see in all directions all within a matter of a very few minutes walk. Honestly, I could walk around my current neighborhood all day every day and never see it all. A place is walkable when you actually have places you want or need to go that are within a few minutes on foot. I know this is a dig, but so many US Americans talk about how walkable their city is and they don’t have a clue what walkability really is until they leave the states. There are probably a few places in the US that are genuinely walkable, but they’re mostly on the east coast in the area of NYC, Boston, Philadelphia and maybe D.C. Correct me if I’m wrong please. Right now things are a bit up in the air because of the “paro,” protest, and I’m hoping the government and the indigenous communities can come to an agreement soon, because it’s really impacting the movement of people, goods and services around the entire country. But still I think you probably should keep it on your short list.
@@nrnexusrising I love Cuenca. Studied maps of the area. Practiced español en mi computadora para dos anos….lol.
I’ve been reading about the protests and will send positive thoughts your way.
I decided on the Philippines for now. The visa is so easy.
They have a new administration coming into power here and if there is any signs of “marshal law” I’m on a plane ✈️.
I’m in a Mountain City myself, Baguio.
It’s about 5,000 ft elevation.
However it’s not nearly as walkable as I had hoped.
I’m in the city center and do walk everywhere I need to go. But I miss long walks
Great video!
I quit my Canadian Government job in Oct 2014, sold & gave away all my "stuff" & set sail to find a place to retire. After 14 months, I realized that I did not have to stay anywhere; I could just travel.
Unfortunately, COVID restrictions ended my travels in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2020.
After 5 weeks, the Government of Canada got 370 of us back to Canada, dumped us out in Toronto & told us to find our own way to our respective cities.
I was back in Edmonton, Alberta from April 15 - July 29.
After 2.5 months of sorting out my options, I applied for & received a Permanent Residency Visa for Mexico. I have spent the last 2 years travelling around Mexico, the last 4 months were spent in Mexico City.
On July 27, this year, I left Mexico & am currently in Southern California awaiting my Sept 12th flight to Singapore!
While, I am eternally grateful for Mexico allowing me, a foreigner, to enter during COVID &, I cherish knowing that my residency card doesn't expire, I am SO looking forward to resuming my travels.
Namaste, from Gypsy Cumbia.
May we live long & prosper.
*Mexican Temporary Residency Visas have to be renewed after the 1st year, are then good for 3 years, and are easily converted to a Permenant Residency Visa after completing the 4 years of Temporary Residency.
** Canadians used to be able to stay in Peru & Chile for 6 months each, on a tourist stamp. Now, I see that Chile is 90 days & Peru's length of stay is subject to the whims of the immigration officer.
always great to be out of Canada. Can't believe you went back during Covid. Wow. And Edmonton, my hometown, but a nightmare to live. I'm guessing you have left Singapore already - for where?
@@mactravel112 I had no other choice but to go back to Canada. All other countries were already closed to foreigners.
Last summer, I didn't go back at all. This summer, I will go back & do my 25th year of volunteering at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. After that, I don't think I'll go back anymore.
I leave KL tomorrow for Kota Kinabalu, Borneo.
@@CumbiaDancer5678 oh we definitely all had choices. Mexico was always wide open, why didn't you just stay in Turkey? Lots of people with visa issues went to Turkey. We stayed in Thailand for the whole time, was absolutely fantastic the entire time. We laughed and laughed at the Canadian 'repatriation flights'. Our home and native land had absolutely no idea what it was doing. Must have been sheer misery in E-town. We are in Cambodia now, but heading back to Thailand for a couple of weeks and then on to KL. I have been traveling full time outside of Canada for a decade now and no way I would go back. When on Borneo, take the time to visit Brunei, very interesting country and few people ever visit. Hopefully the Oilers are still playing when you get home and the cup parade is there for you this summer!!!
@@mactravel112 well, hindsight is 20-20 & I made the best decision for me. I had already left Thailand so, I couldn't go back. Staying in Turkey was not something I would have considered; personal reasons.
As mentioned, I did get a residency visa for Mexico so, I enjoyed the last 2 years also. To each his own. We all made the best decisions for our own lives, based on the information available at the time.
Istanbul airport was shut down. There were no flights going anywhere. The GofC hired a plane, got the Gov of Turkey to open the airport & airspace to allow 370 of us to get through armed security at the entrance to the airport & get on that one plane. It was not a fun time...
Now, it's in the past &, I never want to experience anything like it ever again.
Enjoy your travels.
Thanks for your comments, Gypsy.
Your channel and Hobo Ventures seem packed with "valid" and "reliable" information. Recently, many videos on the Tube appear unconvincing. Much thanks for your "feet on the ground" data!!
Thank you, Dan, really enjoy the information you provide, either directly or where to look.
I've seen several comments below regarding the requirements for retiring in Cambodia, and this is a summary of what I found:
In Cambodia, all you need to do is purchase a visa-on-arrival at the airport by filling out a short form, providing two passport photos, and paying $35 for a “business” or “ordinary” visa, which will be valid for one month.
Once you are in the country all you have to do is extend your visa for a one-year period-at a cost of less than $300-which allows you to live in the country and come and go at your pleasure, without the stringent income requirements needed by many other Southeast Asian countries. As long as you behave yourself, the authorities are happy to welcome another foreign guest to their country to support the local economy.
Among the many expats we have talked to their monthly budgets tend to range from as low as $1,000 up to $2,500, with many saying they can live comfortably for an average of $1,500.
Accommodation tends to make up the largest monthly expense, but rentals in places like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap can be found for as little as $250 for a one-bedroom apartment in a pleasant area.
The cost of utilities like electricity will depend on whether you are a slave to air-conditioning or if you are content with a simple fan. Either way, most expats spend around $100 each month for their electricity, water, garbage, and cable bills combined. As for cellphones and mobile internet, it is very cheap here, with $10 a month being enough to keep you online and making international calls for less than 5 cents a minute.
Thank you for your cost of living numbers Marc D! Have a great day! Dan
Have you seen our RUclips country playlists yet?
ruclips.net/user/VagabondAwakeplaylists
@@VagabondAwake You're welcome, Dan. No, I had not seen this list, I have it bookmarked now, thank you.
Excellent. Thank you again. Yes, I was flabbergasted regarding what Mexico want for temporary residency
I was sad to read about it. Mexico is one of my favorite countries.
If you have served in the military in your home country , the Philippines gives an ex military retirement visa for a few thousand $$$$$. But only applies to some countries USA. UK. Australia , Canada etc.
Great rundown on which countries offer retirement visa and the costs. My wife and I have been following yours and Qiang's videos for years. We are narrowing down to get the Panama Pensionado video (we qualify now)as our base and them will slow travel the rest of the world on tourist visas. We refer to your Retire Cheap Reports (thanks for the Lifetime Membership!) prior to exploring the countries. I really hadn't considered the Argentina Visa so we will look into that one as well. Since my wife is a retired airline employee, we are looking at dividing our time in four month chunks for the Americas, Europe and Asia.
Hi Dan, very informative indeed. It was never in my plan to retire in another country but you've convinced me that it is possible. Glad i got to meet you today.
This is first I have heard about Mexico changing their retirement visa amounts. I’m confused as to why they would first require $2700/month then raise it to $4500😳. I think you said it was not a firm number? I did hear they use to be lax about those “not being legal” but now are cracking down. One lady said she had to use a consultant and apply for some type of forgiveness and pay $500 for legal visa. It’s all confusing to me! I guess just keep checking with consulate, correct? I’m not ready yet, but will be in 6 months.
Check with the consulate closest to your home for the options. Personally, I love Mexico, but it is not really a great option anymore for some that wants a formal retirement visa and has a limited budget.
Dan and Qiang have exactly the right idea... To hell with visas, paperwork, bureaucracy etc. Just slow travel! That's my plan too! Thanks for this guys!
We are heading to Mexico in March. We’ll get our temp residency visa ( again…long story) in November, in Atlanta.
We are too young for social security but have assets and just need to show a bank or retirement account with at least $43,000.
We have senior dogs and dont want to put them on a plane so we plan to be there at least until they pass.
So assets work if you don’t have income.
Will that allow us permanent residency in 4 years…I think so ?
My wife is Nicaraguan so we can head there if need be.
Great video Dan !
Oh, I am curious how slow travel to lots of different countries bumps up monthly expenses, adding travel and getting short term rental rates ? Thx !
It cost more depending on how often you move places in the same country or region, what part of the world you are traveling through, and how often you fly domestic or international. We will try to do more on that topic before too long. :-)
omg this is the ultimate retirement/travel vlog 🤩
🤩
We’re doing the travel retirement as well for now, but I’m interested in obtaining residency in at least one country so this was very informative. Gracias
Can't believe Dan never even mentioned the EASIEST country (BY FAR) to live in forever: Cambodia.
No proof of income, no visa runs, pay a modest fee yearly for your visa and stay as long as you want, with ever having to leave. Doesn't get any easier than that.
Thanks for adding this Metal Guru. :-)
@Craig Latimer YES! You gotta LOVE that. I never went to any immigration office during my years there.
What do you prefer about living in Cambodia vs other SE Asian countries
@@koufax174 Cambodia has that wild-west, anything goes feel that the Philippines and especially Thailand lost many years ago. The people are friendlier and less cynical and likely to scam you than other SE Asian countries. The cost of living is generally lower as well.
@@metalguru5226 thank you
Tons of good info...again! Thanks Dan
Nice work reporting how the visa free cycling can operate. I'm imagining one a bit different as it is also appealing. Turkey/Italy/Greece/Spain/Morocco Mediterranean Sea loop. It is generally ninety day maximums among these destinations and and there is a 180/365 day annuall limit regarding the Schengen grouped nations. Maybe add in Bulgaria and Albania as fallback retreats too to be sure of options. Cheers Dan.
Wow! A real informational packed video about traveling around the world at low cost. Very well done video. I found it extremely helpful. Thanks for making it.
Another great video Dan, Informative and right to the point.
Cambodia and Tbilisi are the easiest.
I often wonder how many American expats throughout the world after many years retired and living abroad return home to the U.S. especially as they age.
I would say a very high percentage
why would they ever return to USA? Who wants lower quality of life and care as they age?
Absolutely awesome content Dan. The trick being that "skipping stone" lol.😅 Stay single as long as possible ❤
Thank you, Wonderful Information!
Great information Dan! Glad you are doing these videos!
I love your videos, but this one is by far my favorite! Great info, and your attitude about paperwork, bureaucracy, and income requirements was awesome and made me laugh. Thank you!
Thx Dan !
What an increasable video. So many places to go under 1K a month. Great job Dan.
Sounds Good !!! Very Informative !!!
Dan check out Indonesia`s new B211A visa. It`s similar to renewing the Philippine tourist visa every 60 days but runs indefinitely not just 3 years.[no more visa runs!] By far the most liberal visa I have seen.
Awesome. I love Indonesia! And their foods!!
Information I'm seeing online is saying 60 days plus max 4 renewals of 30 days for total 180 days.
I was just reading about that. :-)
Great summary, so many options.
Good video🎉,. I stayed three years in Philippines ,and then got a 90 day extension. I am back in america but will return to Philippines later this year
I love your videos keep up the great work
Thanks, will do!
Dan you are an inspiration
Great informative video Dan, loving your attitude, especially towards Govt b s....go where you are treated best!
Good video. I'd be interested in a video of countries with affordable meaningful health insurance for older retirees
Colombia
Yes, and is there an "international" health insurance that is affordable, for retirees that want to be covered while "slow travelling"?
Thanks for the video ideas. :-)
Very well-researched and well-presented summary. I successfully applied for and received a Colombian 3-year pensionado visa, and have now been living in Medellín for just over 20 months. While Medellín has many good qualities, if you're seeking a more relaxed and peaceful retirement life, this may not be ideal for you. As a large urban environment, it features all the attendant hassles of big-city life, including major traffic, noise, and air pollution. Many aspects of the short-travel existence sound appealing, and I may consider a change to that kind of lifestyle when my visa renewal comes up next year.
thanks Dan, easily my favorite resource for slow travel on a modest retirement budget....you are the best...
Very helpful info as always. Many thanks Dan and Qiang.
Hey Dan, loved your video. How come you didn't mention Brazil. They will allow 6 months of temporary residency per calendar year without any paperwork at all.
I was just reading about that. :-)
Hi Dan! We spent 2 months in Rio De Janeiro Brazil and loved it. We are retired. Do you know anything about the retirement visa for Brazil?
I have not read about it recently. I would just Google and start reading if I were you. :-)
Liked 👍🏻and subscribed
I’ve been watching your channel for years.
Put everything into action 5 months ago.
Took my pension, sold the house and hit the road.
Great information, from banking to mail etc.
On the Island of Luzon now. Living a stress free life.
South America is still very high on my list and would love to tour the other America
Exciting. Thanks for letting me know Keith!
Thanks for the information..good report…
LOVE YOUR CHANNEL! VERY INFORMATIVE. THANK YOU!
You are so welcome!
What do you know about access to medical care as a retiree in these countries?
Really informative. Thanks again
Great Vlog !! Thanks Dan!
Cool video, liked that you included yourself in the little window, keep them coming 👍🏻😉🙏🏻☀️🇨🇭
Very interesting video!
GREAT VIDEO !!!
Dan, when we see your “ cost of living” videos if you are living in a country, like $800/month in Matagalpa….if someone slow travels country to country, they are paying slightly higher rents plus travel expenses. Is there a guestimate as to a % increase we’d be looking at if slow traveling ?
Thank you, Dan !
Your ole pal,
BananaPatch
Hey Banana Patch,
It really depends on how much tourist-ing you do, like tours, and such.
But just the accommodations alone could easily double depending on how long you rent each place you stay while slow traveling. If you stay just for a few days, it could be triple the monthly rate per day. If you stay for a week, it could be double the monthly rate per day. Also it can take a few days to find your favorite local foods each time you get to a new place, so that adds expenses too. So add all that up and the slow travel costs could be double the long term cost of living you could achieve by settling long term. They gives me a good idea for a video to make, thanks! Dan
thanks dan good video!
Good job Dan!
Not sure how long ago you did this research but Chile always has been one of the most expensive countries to live in South America and now with the global inflation after the pandemic , food is even more expensive than in US. I am saying this because I am originally from Chile living in US for 41 years and I have family living there. Also it has become very unsafe including Perú, Argentina and Colombia. They are many pick pockets on the streets, subways and buses to the point that you can not use your cel while walking on the streets because they will grab it directly from your hand . It is also very common to steal cars even when you are inside at a stop sign or traffic light. I love my country ( great skiing by the way ) but definitely I won’t choose to retire there.
Stay tuned. We may go there before the end of year.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for all the hard work you put into this video, I really enjoyed it. I am in Malaysia and would like to visit the Philippines very soon but hate wearing a mask outdoors, do you have to wear a mask outside?
Thanks
unfortunately yes, we still have to wear mask outdoors
@@rayjayb6986 Thanks for the info.
Everyone wears a mask here. Not any drama about it.
Thank you for the report, was thorough and very informative
Recently was looking into the Philippines retirement Visa and learned there may be different options available..for example, instead of depositing 20k in a Philippines approved account, If you can prove you have at least $800.00 / month retirement, you may be able to just pay a determined amount, don't recall if it was 5k or so...About retirement in Mexico, I considered that before since I was actually born in Mexico, grew up in the US...however, I no longer consider that due to some civil unrest in certain cities..I was going to visit a brother who retired in Southern Mexico, but he said not to even visit him due to the dangers in some parts of Southern Mexico..
I been to a few places myself, not like you, but prefer the Philippines bc English is a primary language..I was in Dumaguete recently, returning there shortly and never went anywhere they did not speak English....places like China, Vietnam, Russia, Japan, I only found English speakers in the hotels, or airports...food for thought...
Again, thanks for sharing, great job...
I believe the figures are as follows.
Applicants aged 50 and above who receive a pension
Deposit USD 10,000
Pension for a single applicant USD 800 (monthly)
Pension for a couple USD 1,000 (monthly)
If you are bringing more than one child as dependent Additional deposit of USD 15,000 per child
Applicants who do not receive a pension
Deposit for applicants 35 to 49 years old USD 50,000
Deposit for applicants aged 50 and above USD 20,000
Deposit for former Filipino citizens (at least 35 years old) USD 1,500
If you are bringing more than one child as dependent Additional deposit of USD 15,000 per child
@@rayjackman8943 cool, thx for the info
Ernie Mendez, Although Visa rules can change at anytime, so you have to do your own research on this. But at the time I wrote the below report, here is why we decided to not get a retirement visa in the Philippines. The short story is that if you are from the visa free countries, you can extend your tourist for up to 36 months. Here are the details at the time we did the research:
vagabondbuddha.com/retirement-visa-in-the-philippines-do-you-need-one/
Best,
Dan
@@VagabondAwake thank you for the info, great job on your videos
Thanks again for the USD dollar amounts for visiting the Philippines, 30 is great. Been looking for this for weeks.
Thanks Dan for all the good Info. I go to Philippines quite often. I usually stay 3 months or so. Thanks for not mentioning the city that I stay, We dont want to be overrun with Expats.
Thanks for the info !
@Dan - I definitely like and agree you you traveling on a tourist visa. I am planning on doing the same. I'm 4 years away from my early retirement.
Hey Dan, I love the video. Do you happen to know what the minimum required monthly income is to obtain a retirement visa in Guatemala?
If my memory serves me it was $1000 month last I checked.
Thank you Dan❤️
Great video again Dan
Great information. Hope to do slow travel 3 yrs from now.
Hope too see you.
I really enjoy your information! I feel the best option for me would be the way you two are living (tourists visa)I don’t want a lot of paper work. I’m disabled living on SSDI. I had a accident when I was fairly young, and did not have money saved, I was self employed. It’s too expensive here, I need too get out!
There is extra paper work to do if you want to get your SSDI outside the USA . In some cases there are time limits on some countries
Just have the check deposited to a US bank and make ATM withdrawals several times a month in the country your in. Pay attention to what Dan says about minimum income requirements by country. Getting by on less than $1500 per month doesn't factor in all the true costs you will have like health or travel insurance costs for instance. Always have $2500 or so as an emergency fund.
cool thing in EC is the Professional visa (available for folks of retirement age, too) where a degree from a qualifying college reduces the income requirement to $425/mo (edit: as of Jan 2022)
Hi Dan, great video . Thanks for sharing !
Does Vietnam have a retirement program? The last information they allow is 30 days then are require a leave for visa update. I would even look at China but that may to far out there.
Here is the present deal: ruclips.net/video/7IhgASGmURc/видео.html
Good information thanks Dan!
I love your videos but have to ask, how do you pack for all your traveling. I’m seriously curios about what you always take with you how much luggage etc. could you please share with us how you do it? Thank you
Here you go: vagabondbuddha.com/what-i-pack-to-travel-the-world/
As for Thailand ...can you confirm that as of Oct 1st anyone 50 and older no longer need to show a onward ticket leaving the country? Seems they are specifically targeting the retirement aged travelers entering Thailand.
Great question Steve Donovan,
As you have probably heard we almost never buy round trip tickets. We move forward slow traveling the world. But some countries require a return ticket or onward flight. But the rules change all the time so don't assume what I am about to tell you is true for any airline or country. You have to check the night before. But is they require a return ticker or onward flight, here is what we do. If so, when you try to board your flight going to the country, with a one-way ticket, the airline will ask for proof of a return flight or an onward flight. We handle this three possible ways. If you can find a refundable ticket a few hours before you board your flight, buy that, and cancel after you clear customs at your destination. If not, buy an onward flight from one of the online companies that offer onward flights. They cost about $12 USD. Just Google the words "Onward Flights" and a few will pop up. But if you decide to buy the $12 onward flight, show up at the airport 3 hours early. We had one refused by the airline once. So that brings up the third way. When your $12 onward flight is refused, step out of line, and log on with your computer or smartphone and buy the cheapest flight you can find exiting the country. For example, we search online for the cheapest ticket to a nearby country, leaving that country. Then you lose much less money than you would if you bought a roundtrip ticket to your home country. Skyscanner is the best place to find cheap tickets in our experience. Some countries will also let you buy an onward train or bus ticket to another country which can be even cheaper. Use RometoRio.com to find those. Best, Dan
I have entered Thailand 20 times without a return ticket They take one look at all the stamps and visa in my passport and they know returning or leaving is not a problem Bangkok immigration officers are very experienced and not stupid What is the purpose of your trip? Answer To spend as much money as I can everyday. Always makes them laugh.
hi dan, good video. thanks for the info. I'm just now applying for my 13a being married to a Filipina. I was going to go back to the USA once a year and use the balikbayan program but going through this CCP-19 thing and the high inflation in the states, I decided to stay permanently in the Philippines.
ya i'm doing that but kind of a lot in the paperwork,i did the one year probation they call it through a visa service where they can fix everything but that's pretty pricey at around 40,000 plus php so the next year i will try doing it myself for under 15000 php so i'm told but really i like just renewing every 2 months for about 2-3000 php but my wife is pushing me for the 13a ,thinks it;s so much better than leaving the country every 3 years -i would like getting out as and expat can go nuts if they dont take a break now and then
Slow travel is the absolute best way to go. I did the same thing for a year 93’-94. Thinking you have to “pick” one place to move to and retire is not only scary but also very limiting. If you are healthy and mobile I would say slow travel for as long as possible. Think outside the box🌈
Thank you ron young! Your interactions help our channel grow! Have a great day. :-) Dan
Dan....the value you bring is unprecedented. Thank you so much. Unbelievable info....!!
going for the month of august ..which city in the philipines would you retire in?
Dumaguete might still be my favorite. I am also loving Baguio right now.
@@VagabondAwake thinking of baguio august 25th
I think I read Albania is back to offering almost a year stay.
The law in Argentina specifies about $250 a month with the inflation there, but my lawyer there says people will not be approved for the rentista visa with an income of less than $2000 a month.
Okay thanks
Hello enjoy travel the deperent country thanks to stay my country Philippines enjoy explore manila god bless stay safe now u in tagaytay.
Good stuff Dan, I like the sarong in the thumbnail LOL
Have you been to Baguio City, Phils.? The climate there is cool all year round cuz its a city of mountains and its 1,500 meters above sea level. They are the vegetable bowl capital of the Phils. coz they produced all kinds of vegetables and fruits like strawberries, grapes etc and its cheap.
They grow coffee beans here too 👍🏻
Stay tuned!
Me personally would be Malaysia, Thailand, Mexico, Poland, Hungary. There all safe, people speak English, cheap or fairly cheap to live, plenty of things to do, friendly people, etc
I am retired in Thailand. I wouldn’t count on a lot of Thais speaking English. There are a lot of expats so there is an English speaking expat community.
@@martypoll where in Thailand? I was thinking Chiangmai Mai and Phuket area
@@2Rugrats9597 I’ve lived in Bangkok 5 years. There are sizable expat communities in Chiangmai and Phuket but also Pattaya/Jomtien, Hua Hin and really any city if you look for them. I will be moving to rural Isaan next year and even there I’ve found expat friends. Just don’t expect English to be widely spoken by Thais. You are going to have to pick up some minimum Thai to get by.
Nicaragua raised it's pension requirement to 1000$ a month.
It's not 600$ a month
I will check and if true, I will update the next time around. Thanks. These things change.
Lots of very useful information in this report. Thanks Dan.
Great information Dan the only countries on that list I would be interested in are Portugal and Turkey! I lived in Mexico for 4 years it's passe now for many people. Best to visit for a few months and then leave. I love the Filipino people but their lifestyle and infrastructure is not my style. Malaysia sounds interesting and Thailand's becoming passe as well. Hope you guys are doing great thanks for the information!!
I'm curious to know the difference between your style and a Filipino's lifestyle.
@@gregwil694
Possibly something like this lifestyle..
Millions have this lifestyle..
ruclips.net/video/BwGQMz3Tjqo/видео.html
@@gregwil694great question. Yes @Wild Bill, please answer the question. Can you give example of what lifestyle and what kind of frastructures we Filipinos have that doesn't match your lifestyle and infrastructure preference?
Wild Bill - just stay where you like it the most and be happy.
Wild Bill - just stay where you like it the most and be happy.
Montenegro, Poland and Baltic states? Outside of large cities, life is comfortable at 2k dollars per month in Eastern Europe. Good private health insurance in Poland is 180 dollars per month right now including home doctor's visits, which is an insane unthinkable luxury in the US.
Hi 2_UU, Would you like to be a guest start on one of my videos? Here is an example guest star video: ruclips.net/video/ySM_2jAC4v4/видео.html
Your interview could be just your voice or we could do a zoom call showing your face. If you would like to be a guest star and share your story please leave a personal message here: vagabondbuddha.com/contact/
Thank you for your comment. The detail of your comment makes this real for people. If you have a business, service, or RUclips channel, you could share that on the interview. Best, Dan
Great information as usual...
I learned a lot from this video thanks. you always have great ideas for travelers.
Is Portugal really that cheap to retire in? I was there recently and it seemed more expensive than NYC. Rents in Lisbon seemed very high
Its true. Portugal has seem some inflation lately. You are going to have to work pretty hard there to keep the budget low.
Would love to see a list of the top 10 safest countries to easily retire to.
Hi @dexagalapagos, Thanks for the idea. I haven't run into much danger in my travels. When you show up in a new town anywhere in the world, even the USA or Europe, you are at a disadvantage. I have a report that explains how I stay safe when I arrive in a place I am not familiar with yet. Here is a link to that report: vagabondbuddha.com/how-to-travel-the-world-safely/
Thanks for watching and commenting. It helps our business grow. Dan
@@VagabondAwake I think a lot of this world travel is presented as almost invariable safe, but having talked to some people who have spent extensive time in various places, not all locations are really the same. There's a lot more crime in some countries as opposed to others. A relative ranking of their safety would be invaluable. Like, for example, Bali is often mentioned as a nice destination, but there's actually a decent amount of crime there, as opposed to something like Phuket. At least according to some people who spent years living in both locations. You mention often in your video that you love Mexico, when I spent some time there, it was ok, but watching on the news a week later that bodies were discovered in suitcases under a bridge near where we stayed was a bit unsettling. I don't think I'd ever go back there, knowing what sort of stuff goes on with the cartels there in the background.
Most places you mentioned here requires x amount/month. What happens if you are not collecting social security yet or have a pension, but you have an account with $120k in it? Can that be an accepted substitute?
Cambodia has a age requirement only if I believe 50 or 55 no cash requirement
Thomas there maybe a way to show that money coming out of a retirement account as a monthly cash flow
@@intuitivesean443 Exactly, I wouldn't want to show my whole hand if I didn't have to and would also split that money up between more than one bank in the event you have an issue with the one you'll have a backup plan. Say like Charles Schwab (reimbursed ATM fees) and whatever regional or other bank you use.
Yes, many countries have a cash instead of monthly option and other countries have such long stays that you don't need to get a retirment visa at all.
@@VagabondAwake Thank you Dan
One of my favorites places to retire so far is Turkey because it is very safe like Taiwan and other countries in Asia. It is very beautiful and inexpensive living with American dollars . I have been there three times . On my second visit in 2018, I spoke to an attorney to find out how to become a permanent resident. Well if you buy property , Turkey will welcome you right away , but if you rent a place which is one of the requirements to obtain residency , it is s bit complicated. Most of landlords will not rent you a place knowing that you are trying to get permanent residency because they will have to report the extra income and pay taxes on the money they receive from the rents. Another requirement apart from showing that you are receiving a monthly pension , a US$ 10,000 is required to have in your bank account.
Always good information
I watched your video on Thailand. I saw another one on Lampur. Both seem to have luxurious accomodations that are shamefully cheap. My Mexican visa will never expire. That does not mean I have to live there. I can come and go from there. Everytime I see street food videos from Thailand, I drool.
Very helpful video Dan! What transportation do you use to get between cities in the Philippines?How many personal items do you carry from country to country?
Buses, minivans, ferries. Packing: vagabondbuddha.com/what-i-pack-to-travel-the-world/
I'm going to Thailand before the Philippines. Can I just hop back and forth from Thailand to Cambodia and Thailand and the Philippines indefinitely? 😆
Yes, the only limitation will be your bank account $$.
@@lightfoot1Juke thanks I get a military pension recharge $$$ every month so I'm never broke but trying to get a visa in Chicago is like pulling teeth to get an appt 👌
@@philipjanek3864 Yes you can. But it could be quite tiresome after some time. Eventually you would have to choose one where to stay put (as a homebase or HQ) and then maybe travel-hop to the rest of SE Asia from time to time
@@glossopharynz actually my plans changed I'm going to Vietnam first so I'll add that to my country list. If the Philippines doesn't get rid of that stupid ohp I'll wait that one out 😆
Not very often, but I have heard of people being refused rentry into Thailand if someone tries to come back in in less than a week.
Cambodia baby!
$300 yearly for ER (retirement visa) and no bs like minimum pension income. We live well on $3000 to $7000 a month.
Very informative 👏 thank you 😊
My understanding is that Albania changed to 90 days and then changed back to 360 days because of the outcry. Is this not true? 😮
I haven't checked recently. Sorry.
I dont disagree with most of countries you mentioned, however, I know a lot of expats in Thailand living there, with a 1000 $ monthly.! All included.
There are back door ways in Thailand. Put I won't publish anything about that. Because I have freinds that could lose their easy retirement status.
But is the cost of living in Argentina and Philippines comparable?
I haven't been to Argentina since 2009. Once I go I will report on cost of living there.
Nice video!
Wow si kuya bogs. Nanunuod din 😂
@Joshua Mallorca Syempre! :)
@@BogsKitchen haha 🤣 idol kuya bogs. Aylabyu🤣
I guess the downsides to moving with tourist visas is we may eventually get tired of traveling…..not sure, and we would also keep paying more for rentals since it is always a few months.
But if we don’t get tired of travel….maybe that is the best option.
How much do I need to show in my bank account to get Temporary Residency in Mexico, if I don’t meet the $2,700 a month threshold! 🇲🇽😃
Temporary residence about 44K USD but can be in retirement accounts like IRAs. Permanent residence 176K USD.
Great ask and answer.
Been watching your channel for quite some time.. 69 and still living in USA but would be nice to find out if there is a chat line with ex pats or others interested in a move….
I just put our videos and write ebooks about my favorite places to retire. Visit VagabondBuddha.com. Best of luck! Dan
Check out Internations. They are an expat group that operates worldwide. A great source of information and has networking and social opportunities with other in country expats.