Can I Buy a Multiple Entry Visa in Chiang Mai Before Leaving Abroad and How Does It Work with My Retirement Visa?

If you plan to leave Thailand after obtaining your 1 year extension then you will need to get a re-entry permit to maintain the extension.

Okay you've got your wires crossed a bit 😉 .

-First off you're NOT renewing anything 😮

-You would be applying for a new "yearly extension of stay" based on retirement.

-You can apply for that when you have 45 days or less left on your current stamp as long as you meet the financial requirements

-You DO NOT lose any time applying early because they add the new year extension to your current expiration date.

-The extension of stay costs 1900baht and is sold with NO RE-ENTRY permit (because you're already IN thailand)

-They issue the new yearly extension right on the spot, there is no 'processing time'.

Then after you get the year extension you can buy a re-entry permit (either a single re-entry for 1000baht OR a multiple re-entry for 3800 baht)

AND

the re-entry permit is good for the whole year your extension is good for.

So the total cost for you at the immigration office for a new yearly extension and a multiple re-entry permit would be 1900+3800=5700 baht