Rachel Fieldhouse
Retirement Life

"I can buy a property here for about a third of the price": New retirement offer set to entice Aussies

Retirees and travellers with their sights set on holiday hotspots like Thailand or Indonesia could see their dreams come true with the introduction of an enticing offer.

The Thai government has announced a new 10-year-visa to encourage Aussie retirees to relocate in a bid to rebuild the local economy - an offer that is particularly appealing during the current cost-of-living crisis.

Indonesia has introduced a similar program called the Second Home Visa, which offers foreigners a five- or 10-year permit to move in and comes into effect next month.

For retiree David Astley, the lower property prices in comparison to Australia were a major appeal.

"I decided to move to Thailand because I can buy a property here for about a third of the price," he said.

Now, Mr Astley has a three-bedroom house which he says cost him just $270,000.

"I pay less than $2 (here) for a flat white ... I pay about $4 for lunch," he said.

As for those hoping to move to Indonesia, Australians will need proof of at least two billion rupiahs, or around $AU 200,000, as well as a passport that is valid for at least 36 months and a resume, per Traveller.

Ross Taylor, the founder of the Indonesian Institute, said the government is welcoming “foreigners with open arms”.

"We're getting more and more inquiries of people wanting to come, not just to retire but to come here and set up a business and have a lifestyle," Liam Hayes, also of the Indonesia Institute, said.

The announcement comes after Indonesian tourism officials announced a separate scheme to attract digital nomads to work in-country for up to six months on a visa that previously prevented them from doing so.

Image: Getty Images

Tags:
Retirement Life, Travel, Thailand, Indonesia, Cost-of-living, Property