Retired visa in Thailand

I see from your profile that you're from England so I'll refer to information given by the Thai Embassy in London. First of all, if you look at the FAQs on their website (https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publi … 236972c562) you'll note that they're pointing you in the direction of the Non-immigrant “O-A” (Long Stay) visa. This isn't the visa you need.

The visa you need is the Non-Immigrant Type O (Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with a state pension who wants to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days) - single entry only), which is not only cheaper than the Non-immigrant “O-A” (Long Stay) visa but also has less onerous conditions attached to it. You apply for both of these visa types in the UK.

About a month before your visa expires (90 days from date of entry to Thailand in the case of the Non-Immigrant Type O visa) you apply at an Immigration Department office in Thailand for a one year extension, which costs 1900 baht (see https://visaguide.world/asia/thailand-visa/extension/ for details). Note that to meet the financial requirement you will have to open a bank account almost as soon as you arrive in the country and deposit THB 800,000 in it, as you need to prove to the Immigration Officer that the money has been deposited for a minimum of two months before you apply for the visa extension.

Forgot to post the link for the Non-Immigrant O visa. It's https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publi … bd000733c.

Let me try that link again as it seems to be broken. https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publi … 3bd000733c

Hi 👋 myself and my husband are hoping to retire to Koh Samui in a few months. Is the 800,000 baht deposit requirement to be doubled for a couple?

Hi 👋 myself and my husband are hoping to retire to Koh Samui in a few months. Is the 800,000 baht deposit requirement to be doubled for a couple?
-@midge6262

Yes,in separate bank accounts. You can also go for the so called combination method, 1 part pension and 1 part money in the bank. Let's say you have 30,000 baht/month in pension. That's 360,000 baht in a year. Then you just need 440,000 baht in the bank. Per person,that is. Less pension,more money in the bank.

Combination method cant be use in every Immigration Office as have being report multi times over at thaivisa (aseannow)

So if that the goal, Be sure to stay in a area it is allow. (I know what the police order say, But this is Thailand)

Some office want the money in the bank to be season.

Other only want the money in the bank on the day you go to Immigration.

And some want to see you still have it the money 90 days after you get a new stamp.

So again, Be sure to check it out what the Immigration Office want in the area you going to stay in.

And dont wait to check it out, So you might not have the time to meet the requirements.

At my Immigration Office what they want change every year.

So i normal get the paper needed to all of it, Bank letter to prove the money being there for 12 month and it is mine, Income letter from my Embassy.

And last 6 month of bank transfer into my Thai bank, Copy from my bank book, I update it every month 6 month before i have to go to Immigration office, As that what my office check.

A few times my Immigration Office dont care about my income letter, and want transfer money in per month/year plus money in the bank to use the Combination method.

Season money or not have being 50/50 for me, And once i have to return 90 days later to show i still have the money in my bank account.

Only trying to let you know, It is a good idea to try find out what the office want in the area you going to live in.

Kindly.

Combination method cant be use in every Immigration Office as have being report multi times over at thaivisa (aseannow)
So if that the goal, Be sure to stay in a area it is allow. (I know what the police order say, But this is Thailand)
Some office want the money in the bank to be season.
Other only want the money in the bank on the day you go to Immigration.
And some want to see you still have it the money 90 days after you get a new stamp.

So again, Be sure to check it out what the Immigration Office want in the area you going to stay in.
And dont wait to check it out, So you might not have the time to meet the requirements.



At my Immigration Office what they want change every year.
So i normal get the paper needed to all of it, Bank letter to prove the money being there for 12 month and it is mine, Income letter from my Embassy.
And last 6 month of bank transfer into my Thai bank, Copy from my bank book, I update it every month 6 month before i have to go to Immigration office, As that what my office check.

A few times my Immigration Office dont care about my income letter, and want transfer money in per month/year plus money in the bank to use the Combination method.

Season money or not have being 50/50 for me, And once i have to return 90 days later to show i still have the money in my bank account.

Only trying to let you know, It is a good idea to try find out what the office want in the area you going to live in.

Kindly.
-@Never done that

I answered the post about Koh Samui and as far as I know the combination method is allowed at Samui Immigration.Do you know something I don't?

Nope, I dont know about Koh Samui

That why i say go and ask for them self.

NEVER trust any thing from a forum or people when it come to stay here.

So many wrong, Not complet answer again again.

I learn the hard way to never trust people or forum about my stay here when i move here.

And a trip to Immigration Office to be sure, I all ways advice people to do when coming here...

Kindly.

Nope, I dont know about Koh Samui
That why i say go and ask for them self.
NEVER trust any thing from a forum or people when it come to stay here.
So many wrong, Not complet answer again again.

I learn the hard way to never trust people or forum about my stay here when i move here.
And a trip to Immigration Office to be sure, I all ways advice people to do when coming here...

Kindly.
-@Never done that

I answered the post because I know that Samui immigration accepts the combination method.

If you know how to use Google,then you can check it out yourself. You don't seem to understand that I've been living in Thailand many years, and you're not helping anyone when your posts aren't  correct.

Leeds Forever.

I post correct information for my Office, Like i writ it was.

Even same office might have different rules, I have same person giving a list what needed, And return 2 hours later when i return to same person, Now want something else.

I learn that the first year here, And still the same here nearly 12 years later.

That come from me using 3 Immigration Office, Close friends from 2 other Immigration Office, And have no count of how many more over Thailand with same "problems" i got to know over the years here.

If you live here long, You know that the way it is here.

I never use google for importend thing, As google dont give you fact, Only link to site that might or might not have the correct information on that site.

I know you can google and copy past, And like it. That you.

But as many have told you on here, We not all that way when looking for answer.

And i all ready say, NEVER to trust anything from a forum & people about something so importend as you stay here in Thailand (or any other country) or you might end up with problems.

As this can be fix easy with a visit to Immigration Office early on to be "sure", I advice to do it.

But people can do what every they want, Only give input about how it can be here.

Have a nice day all out there and enjoy life.

Kindly.

@Retiree I'm only staying for 90 days now so the Non Immigrant O visa will do for me. I won't be needing an extension this time.I have to apply for the visa online as the Thai Embassy London advises this.

@saulzadka

You can extend from Tourist to a 1 Year Non O Retired Visa With not less than 20 remainings days of Visa in Your Passport .

  I know an immigration officer located in the northeast of Thailand that can help you out .

@kevh Yes , the best option if You're planning to stay for 90 days in Thailand is to apply your visa in Thai Embassy in the country where you Are .

@saulzadka
You can extend from Tourist to a 1 Year Non O Retired Visa With not less than 20 remainings days of Visa in Your Passport .
I know an immigration officer located in the northeast of Thailand that can help you out .
-@Jean Christian76

You can change from a 60 days tourist visa to a 90 days Non-immigrant O based on retirement at the local immigration office. Then after ~60 days into those 90 days,you can apply for a 1 year extension of stay. It's not a visa. 

@Leeds forever! Correct. I did it, despite some immigration officers saying I couldn't.

@Jean Christian76 I decided to go for the single entry Non O visa in the end. Applied for the evisa online and it was approved in 24 hours👍If we do decide to go Vietnam during our stay,apparently we can leave Thailand then re enter under visa exemption scheme which will give us another 30-45 days,which will be fine for what we need.

@Jean Christian76 I decided to go for the single entry Non O visa in the end. Applied for the evisa online and it was approved in 24 hours👍If we do decide to go Vietnam during our stay,apparently we can leave Thailand then re enter under visa exemption scheme which will give us another 30-45 days,which will be fine for what we need.
-@kevh

You can use a re-entry permit if you're coming back before the visa expires. Cost: 1,000 baht.

@Leeds forever! Hi they would not ask for any documents as a retired person ?

@Leeds forever! Hi they would not ask for any documents as a retired person ?
-@Jathai22

Ask when? Which one of my posts are you asking about? Click on Quote instead of Reply when responding to a specific post.

@Retiree What if I am 60 years old but don't want to touch my private pension yet, as I can work part time for my UK employer whilst in Thailand?

Plus I easily surpass the 800,000 THB bank deposit requirement.

Is Type O still the best visa for me?

PS, i'm married for 22 years with my wife from Buriram and live in Lancashire UK.

We have the option to buy some nice land in SiSaKet early next year so plan to go to Thailand in May '23 with a view to making it a permanent stay.

@Retiree What if I am 60 years old but don't want to touch my private pension yet, as I can work part time for my UK employer whilst in Thailand?
Plus I easily surpass the 800,000 THB bank deposit requirement.
Is Type O still the best visa for me?
PS, i'm married for 22 years with my wife from Buriram and live in Lancashire UK.
We have the option to buy some nice land in SiSaKet early next year so plan to go to Thailand in May '23 with a view to making it a permanent stay.
-@Skater2011

Yes,if you're going for the 800k in the bank method, the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement is the best way to start. Then after 60 days you can apply for a 1 year extension based on retirement at the local immigration office. As far as I know you retire at 67 in the UK, so you aren't officially retired. I don't know if you need proof of being retired when applying for the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement.

@Retiree What if I am 60 years old but don't want to touch my private pension yet, as I can work part time for my UK employer whilst in Thailand?
Plus I easily surpass the 800,000 THB bank deposit requirement.
Is Type O still the best visa for me?
PS, i'm married for 22 years with my wife from Buriram and live in Lancashire UK.
We have the option to buy some nice land in SiSaKet early next year so plan to go to Thailand in May '23 with a view to making it a permanent stay.
-@Skater2011
Yes,if you're going for the 800k in the bank method, the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement is the best way to start. Then after 60 days you can apply for a 1 year extension based on retirement at the local immigration office. As far as I know you retire at 67 in the UK, so you aren't officially retired. I don't know if you need proof of being retired when applying for the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement.
-@Leeds forever!

The link to the website of the Thai embassy in London I provided earlier in this thread has at its heading for the retirement visa: "Non-Immigrant Type ‘O’ (Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with a state pension who wants to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days) – single entry only)". However, that is clearly nonsensical because I know of no country that grants a state pension at the age of 50. The UK certainly doesn't.

However, the text below the heading concerning the financial requirement provides more encouragement. "Financial evidence e.g. A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000". This suggests that if you are over 50, not yet in receipt of a pension but able to demonstrate an income over three months of at least £10K, you should qualify. I'd be inclined to check that with the embassy yourself though.

I was under the impression that you're not allowed to work if you're the holder of a non-immigrant 'O' visa based on retirement but if you believe the editorials on expat.com, that may not be the case if you're working online for a UK employer (see https://www.expat.com/en/guide/asia/tha … iland.html) I notice that this article doesn't say anything about tax if you work in Thailand for an extended period of time, and that's something you probably ought to take specialist advice on if you're considering the digital nomad option.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you're looking at a non-immigrant 'O' visa based on retirement rather than one based on marriage if your wife is Thai?

@Retiree What if I am 60 years old but don't want to touch my private pension yet, as I can work part time for my UK employer whilst in Thailand?
Plus I easily surpass the 800,000 THB bank deposit requirement.
Is Type O still the best visa for me?
PS, i'm married for 22 years with my wife from Buriram and live in Lancashire UK.
We have the option to buy some nice land in SiSaKet early next year so plan to go to Thailand in May '23 with a view to making it a permanent stay.
-@Skater2011
Yes,if you're going for the 800k in the bank method, the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement is the best way to start. Then after 60 days you can apply for a 1 year extension based on retirement at the local immigration office. As far as I know you retire at 67 in the UK, so you aren't officially retired. I don't know if you need proof of being retired when applying for the 90 days Non-immigrant O visa based on retirement.
-@Leeds forever!

The link to the website of the Thai embassy in London I provided earlier in this thread has at its heading for the retirement visa: "Non-Immigrant Type ‘O’ (Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with a state pension who wants to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days) – single entry only)". However, that is clearly nonsensical because I know of no country that grants a state pension at the age of 50. The UK certainly doesn't.

However, the text below the heading concerning the financial requirement provides more encouragement. "Financial evidence e.g. A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000". This suggests that if you are over 50, not yet in receipt of a pension but able to demonstrate an income over three months of at least £10K, you should qualify. I'd be inclined to check that with the embassy yourself though.

I was under the impression that you're not allowed to work if you're the holder of a non-immigrant 'O' visa based on retirement but if you believe the editorials on expat.com, that may not be the case if you're working online for a UK employer (see https://www.expat.com/en/guide/asia/tha … iland.html) I notice that this article doesn't say anything about tax if you work in Thailand for an extended period of time, and that's something you probably ought to take specialist advice on if you're considering the digital nomad option.

Out of curiosity, is there a reason you're looking at a non-immigrant 'O' visa based on retirement rather than one based on marriage if your wife is Thai?
-@Retiree

One reason many applicants goes for "based on retirement", instead of "based on marriage"is the paperwork. Depending on where you got married the requirements differ. When having 800k it's so much easier. An annual extension is just a walk in the park. It takes me less than 5 min every year at the immigration office.

@Leeds forever! Hi they would not ask for any documents as a retired person ?
-@Jathai22

You mean proof of being retired? That's entirely up to the local immigration office. When using the "money in the bank method", there's no need to show proof of being retired. But,when using monthly deposits the local immigration office has the right to ask for the source of the money and even proof of being retired. I don't know how often it happens,but it does happen.