If you are planning to retire in the near future or have already done so, this is the book for you. Retirement brings with it so many advantages. You are no longer bound to a strict work routine and can make use of your newly found freedom to indulge yourself a little.

However, just because you are retired does not mean that you are old. You are not yet of an age when you are content to sit back and reminisce about the past. Instead you are determined to live life to the full and fulfil as many of your aspirations as you can. These may well involve spending time in a different – probably warmer – clime for part or even all of the year.

But how does one set about turning these dreams into reality? How to Retire Abroad offers suggestions and advice, and also provides a wide range of contacts – from estate agents to embassies, from furniture removers to financial advisers. Such assistance could prove crucial, since moving abroad is not without its pitfalls. It is essential to investigate carefully before taking the plunge, and this applies whatever your age.

I do not want to give the impression that retirement abroad is difficult or impossible. Already one million British pensioners are living abroad, and that number is increasing rapidly. One think tank estimates that by 2020 the number of British people aged 55 and over living outside the UK on a permanent basis will increase fivefold and they will be increasingly adventurous in their choice or retirement location.

If this prognostication is correct, over the next 15 years some four million individuals will require advice on how to set about fulfilling their dreams. I am therefore pleased to present a completely revised and enlarged version of this book which aims to make the task as smooth as possible.

The number of countries featured has been increased: Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sri Lanka and Thailand are making their first appearance this time round. I have extended the reference section to include estate agents who deal with some of the more unusual destinations, such as Goa, Argentina, and Bali. The number of emigration, financial and legal advisers has also been increased and nearly every page has been updated and modified in some way.

I hope that this new version will prove an indispensable guide in your decision making, raising points you may have overlooked and steering you successfully in the right direction. However, I cannot emphasise too strongly that because individual circumstances differ greatly, it is only possible to offer general pointers in the pages of this book. I therefore recommend that before you venture into the unknown you seek out as much advice as possible specific to your own situation. It is vital to look before you leap.

Unfortunately, no book of reference can claim to be completely up to date. Organisations come and go; addresses and telephone numbers seem to alter with increasing rapidity; laws change, particularly those relating to immigration, social security and taxation. So you should never hesitate to contact the relevant authorities and professionals for the very latest information, a chore now made somewhat easier thanks to the technological wizardry of the Internet.

Nor can a book of this size be all-embracing. I have concentrated on the countries which are currently the most popular destinations for either retirement or long-stay holidays. I also suggest others which could well develop into retirement havens in the future. Of course, there are many other places which have retirement potential, and my selection should in no way inhibit your choice.

I am, incidentally, always pleased to receive suggestions and comments that might be incorporated into future editions of this book. In the meantime I trust that this volume will help you to reach the right conclusions and that you will enjoy a full and rewarding retirement.