Pros and cons of favourite expat retirement destinations

Planning the next adventure after shrugging off a former career is attracting an increasing number of Britons to overseas locations.

Whether they’re planning on an early retirement, staying the course until the state pension is due or considering entrepreneurship as the answer to financial pressures, more and more British retirees are looking overseas to begin the next chapter in their lives. One of the most important considerations is whether active retirees are welcome in the chosen location and is what you see what you’ll get once you’ve taken the plunge. First impressions often don’t represent reality, especially if they’re acquired on a short visit.

If you’re priority isn’t sunshine all year round, several central European Baltic states could be the answer, with the Czech Republic’s capital of Prague well worth an exploratory visit. Its historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and culture vultures will be right at home in its museums, theatres and concert halls. Entrepreneurs are welcome, as are investors, especially in the Tech sector. Downsides include local tourist traps, inflation, the blatant sex trade, lousy coffee and few English speakers.

Latvia doesn’t immediately spring to mind as an expat haven, but its prime coastal position as well as its stunning countryside are major attractions, as is its comparatively low cost of living. Riga is the business hub, but there’s still a hint of former Soviet days taking the gloss off the experience. Neighbouring Estonia is a good place for a tech start-up, but the government-led bureaucracy is a serious nightmare, especially if you don’t have a job to go to or are coming in as a couple with family. In addition, English isn’t widely spoken, especially in government offices.

Thailand has a reputation as a cheap, easy place to live and work, but almost all websites extolling its charms need a serious update. Foreigners are disallowed from owning more than 49 percent of their businesses and must employ four Thais for every one expat. There’s a long list of occupations forbidden to foreigners, and immigration requirements including business visas are getting tougher every year. Inflation is wrecking the country’s reputation for cheap living, and internet services are average or worse. For retirees on decent pensions there’s a good, mostly American, expat community, but it has to be remembered that the present government is run by a military junta, with all that implies. Retirement visas are available at a price, but some immigration offices don’t welcome incomers from overseas, thus giving new meaning to the expression ‘pros and cons’. As for spoken English, forget it.