Can I convert my work permit to a retirement visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Thai Retirement Visa Visa Conversion Work Permit Cancellation Extension of Stay Non-O Visa Immigration Procedures Thailand Expat Visa

Mar 23, 2020

5 years ago

Philip *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Can someone please help me with a Thai immigration question? Here are my facts:

(1) I am a US citizen and currently have a valid Thai work permit and visa (Extension of Stay) valid until September 2020.

(2) My Thai employer, however, is terminating my contract on 31 March 2020.

(3) My Thai employer requested a copy of my passport and TM6 so they can cancel my work permit and visa effective 31 March 2020.

(4) I am over 50 and meet the requirements for a Thai retirement visa.

(5) I have a letter from my Thai bank (SCB) stating my savings account had sufficient funds for 3 months (i.e., 800k baht).

(6) I paid my Thai taxes and have an official receipt stating my taxes are paid.

I want to convert my current work permit/visa into a retirement visa without leaving the country. Can someone please explain if I can do this and how?

Thank you very much for your time in answering my question.

Much appreciated.

Philip Lyren

P.S. I contacted several Thai immigration law firms and am getting very conflicting and confusing advice. One firm says I must leave the country to get the retirement visa. Another firm says I must first cancel my work permit/visa and then apply for the retirement visa. This seems wrong because if I cancel my work permit and Extension of Stay, then I must leave Thailand because I am here without a valid visa.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The poster, a US citizen, is seeking guidance on converting their work permit/visa into a Thai retirement visa without leaving the country after their employer terminates their contract. They meet the retirement visa requirements, including sufficient funds and tax payments. Various comments provide conflicting information about whether they need to cancel their work permit before applying for the retirement visa or if they can stay in the country during the process. Some users share their successful experiences and suggest steps to take, including obtaining a cancellation letter and applying for an emergency visa extension.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Kru ******

I just retired from teaching and converted my non lmm B to a retirement visa. I gave the following documents...tm7 completed, copy of every page of my passport, landlady id card copy and house info, rental contract, certificate showing cancelled work permit, certificate from school saying i'm retired, letter from the bank certifying money in the bank and updated bankbook and printout of bank transactions for past 3 months.i didn't have to leave the country and was in immigration maybe 30 minutes. I hope this helps.