International Retirement Migration & Marriage: Thailand, Philippines & Beyond

What is International Retirement Migration (IRM)?

International Retirement Migration describes the growing trend of retirees from wealthy countries relocating to developing nations for a higher quality of life at lower cost. Countries like Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, and Costa Rica actively court retirees with special visa programmes.

The romantic dimension of IRM is significant but often discussed in hushed tones. Many older Western men who retire abroad enter relationships with — and marry — local women. This creates a unique subset of international, interracial, and intergenerational relationships with their own dynamics, challenges, and rewards.