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Are retirement visas in Thailand facing stricter enforcement like other visa types?

Thai retirement visaVisa enforcementStudent visa issuesVisa application from abroadImmigration rulesVisa cancellation reasons
Aug 29, 2025
16 days ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I’ve read that visas for retirees are getting stricter and more enforced. Would the same restrictions be applied for other visas when applying from abroad or online? During the week over 10k student visas got questioned. Stories I’ve seen online.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation reflects concerns over stricter enforcement of retirement visas in Thailand amidst reports of mass questioning of student visas. While some commenters dispute the idea that retirement visa rules are changing, others assert that recent actions mostly affect student visas, which have been misused by individuals not genuinely enrolled in courses. There's a general sentiment that rumors and misinformation are causing undue concern, emphasizing the importance of verifying sources before heeding claims about visa regulations.
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Henrik *****
Check if your source is trustworthy first, before listening to rumors.
16 days ago
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Cris ******
The visa system vs the banking are two different animals. Depending on your branch the visa system is fairly straightforward. The banking system, mainly Bangkok bank is in complete disaster mode at the moment.
16 days ago
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Henrik *****
It is not the banks that are the problem, they just follow the rules the Authorities empose on the banks, to get Thai banks comparable with other banks in the western world, which is in the aim of the Thai government.
16 days ago
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Henrik *****
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THAI ******************************
There’s been a lot of scaremongering lately, much of it fueled by AI-generated articles. The recent crackdown on student visas wasn’t about genuine students, but rather the misuse of this visa category by people entering Thailand to work illegally.

In many cases, they were taking on jobs that wouldn’t even be legally available to foreign workers in the first place.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@THAI *****************************
 it’s good to see Thai Immigration weaning out the illegal visa holders and protecting Thai jobs..
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *******
 piss off nob.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
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Todd *********
There are no issues at all with retiree visas.
16 days ago
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Douglas *********
Cambodia!!! No visa hassles!!!
16 days ago
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Max *************
@Douglas ********
 Well, stay there then. 😎
16 days ago
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Paul ********
@Douglas ********
 And no banking bs either. ABA Bank is owned by the National Bank of Canada. We like that.

No 90 day reporting, no 800k baht held hostage, and no constant exchange rate fluctuations. No police doing random sweeps of bars detaining innocent people for mandatory drug testing - with no reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

Condos are bigger and cheaper. The new western supermarkets are awesome. You can legally ride a scooter under 125cc without a license. The food is delicious and the Cambo's know how to run a good restaurant, and they mix a mean cocktail. And the Khmer ladies. . .
16 days ago
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Paul ********
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Colin **********
10,000 student visas of foreign nationals who failed to meet the required criteria. Many visa holders abused student visas by not genuinely enrolling in courses or attending classes, using the visas to stay in Thailand unlawfully or work illegally. An enforcement issue nothing to do with retirement.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 no, it was an article I shared and was looking for a general chat.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 it’s picky backing from what you said the government favours wealthy retirees.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 that newspaper is no longer around it was over 20yrs ago. I was just sharing what was talked about back then and it’s still the focus today going of what you posted.
16 days ago
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Colin **********
@Paul ******
 for me a 20 year post adds nothing to the conversation.
16 days ago
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Colin **********
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 there was an article in the Phuket gazette a very long time ago when I used to live there and in bold writing front page said, Quality farlangs only.
16 days ago
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Graham ******
@Paul ******
 do you believe every media report?
16 days ago
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Colin **********
@Paul ******
 what was the substance of this report its nolonger available.
16 days ago
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Colin **********
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colin *********
 that was the story I read and rightfully so Thailand is cracking down on people taking the piss out of the system. The other story about retires and we codes was on
@The ********
 site.
16 days ago
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Colin **********
@Paul ******
 the other story was opion that the government favours wealthy pensioners is pretty reasonable, however, the recent flurry of financial and banking stuff on visas is in response to Thailand trying to fall inline with International financial norms and scams causing the some of reactions of Bangkok bank.
16 days ago
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Colin **********
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Giovanni **********
If a Visa gets cancelled it's obviously for a good reason. If your visa is done honestly and you meet the criteria Why would there be a problem? Something to consider.....
16 days ago
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Frank *********
@Giovanni *********
 yes why indeed, that's what many people are asking because there is a lot of arbitrariness, no point in pretending there is not
16 days ago
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Giovanni **********
@Frank ********
 Maybe you need to improve your command of the English language. I am in total agreement With Paul's comment
16 days ago
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Frank *********
@Giovanni *********
 maybe you need to mind your own business
16 days ago
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Giovanni **********
@Frank ********
 And you, yours . So why are you here? To argue or to discuss.
16 days ago
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Giovanni **********
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Giovanni *********
 I agree with you. It’s a general chat on what I’ve seen today and during the week. But some embassies and agents could possibly be more influenced with some extra incentives to get the visas through?
16 days ago
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Giovanni **********
@Paul ******
 Indeed 😄
16 days ago
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Giovanni **********
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Brandon ************
Read what? Show us. Give examples.

Nothing has changed for retirement visas, either from embassies or from immigration offices in Thailand.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thanks mate..

It seems it’s a page I might not be following with there’s inaccurate information.
16 days ago
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Beverly ***************
@Brandon ***********
 I have an ED visa and haven’t been notified. It would be devastating to lose this as I am soon starting language classes.
16 days ago
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THAI ******************************
@Beverly **************
 Majority of the 10,000 were illegal chinese workers.

If you’re not working illegally, you probably have nothing to worry about.
16 days ago
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THAI ******************************
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 yes and it’s good to see immigration do their part at weaning people out.
16 days ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I’m not sure about that. It’s where I read it at. I would’ve posted the correct article from the rightful place.
16 days ago
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Kim **********
@Paul ******
 are you talking about the article saying that 10,000 people abusing the student visa by not actually attending any classes?
16 days ago
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Kim **********
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 If I knew how to link what I read I would. Unfortunately I don’t and don’t know what you mean by stolen AI articles.
16 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 they've been caught stealing articles and photos from other people and posting them as their own with AI edits
16 days ago
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Brandon ************
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 it was a story on the Thaiger just now.
16 days ago
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Max *************
@Paul ******
 A piece of advice. Stop reading The Thaiger. It's probably the most useless website ever.
16 days ago
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Steve ********
@Paul ******
 The article on The Thaiger was pure clickbait. They referred to a "new" retirement visa which is over two years old. There's three other retirement visas, the conditions of which haven't changed for years. If you're thinking of retiring to Thailand, my first piece of advice to you is to ignore the crap being pedalled by The Thaiger. You're welcome
16 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Paul ******
 I don't read the stolen AI articles from them, so you'll have to link it if you want feedback.
16 days ago
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Brandon ************
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