Answered7 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a tourist visa or exemption if I'm applying for a retirement visa later?

Retirement Visa Thai Immigration Rules Visa Types Tourist Visa Non-O Visa Long-Term Stay

Alexandre *********

asked Sep 6, 2019

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Hi group.

 Apologies in advance if my post seems like a duplicate of previous posts.

I have transfered 800 k THB to my Thai saving account on August 1st in order to apply for retirement visa (I am 50). My (late) understanding is that I have to wait at least 90 days after receiving the funds before applying for retirement visa from Thailand which is ok with me except that I am now back in Europe (France)..

I would like to come to Thailand on a tourist visa or exemption before these 90 days and then apply for the retirement visa from Bkk as this is where the money is now. Unfortunately the Thai Embassy website states that I cannot apply for a tourist visa less than 90 days after being back from the kingdom.

I am worried I will be denied access if I fly in on an exemption (French passport) (I have had 5 in the last 12 months and stayed a total of 128 days in the kingdom). 

I would like to avoid transferring the funds back from Thailand especially as the bank will ask me to sign plenty of docs for such an amount which would need me to fly in anyway. (Some banks might be more flexible, mine is not :-)). I plan on booking a return tkt and come back to Europe for Christmas. I also always travel with about 25 k THB in cash in  various currency and can show a letter of invitation + copy of Tabien Ban from my thai gf. I also still have my TM30 from my last stay.

Should i wait 50 more days in Europe ☹️ or should I be ok flying in without a visa? (planning on coming back in 3 weeks)

Apologies in advance for mixing up concepts and visas types but am a bit at a loss about what to do.

Answer summary

The user is navigating the complexities of applying for a retirement visa (Non-O visa) in Thailand while currently in Europe. They have transferred 800,000 THB to a Thai bank account but are concerned about the 90-day wait period before applying for the visa. Additionally, they are unsure if they can enter Thailand on a tourist visa or exemption, especially considering restrictions related to previous entries and their current visa status. Community comments suggest alternative options and clarify requirements related to the 800k THB fund, implying that the waiting period may not apply as the user initially thought.

14 repliesnewest first

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Ellie *******

Just wondering if it is possible for you to get non-O (over 50) single entry from your home country instead of single entry tourist visa?

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

@Ellie ******

will give it a try thanks 🙏🏻

7 years ago

Ellie *******

Maybe you can check the detail requirement for SETV with embassy directly.

If you can get Non-o (over 50) single entry, you would be able to skip 1 & 2 from

@T**

's direction for so-called-retirement extension above.

I guess with non-o, much less hassle at immigration upon your arrival to Thailand and check-in to your flight, too.

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

Ellie Takei i think i could. Money requirement is less (20 k € or 680 k THB) but i would need a medical certificate (easy) and a police certificate (might take weeks to get in France). Interesting to know that depending where you look on the official embassy website they either state that they will not give a tourist visa unless you’ve left Thailand at least 90 days or that they might reject a SETV application if you have spent more than 90 days in Thailand in the 6 months prior to application). Confusing....

7 years ago

Tod *********

It is a THREE step process (meaning it takes 3 visits to the immigration office) to go from 'nothing' (a 60 day tourist visa entry or a 30 day visa exempt entry) to first a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 THEN a year extension of stay based on the same reason.

It goes like this

1 - Apply for the 90 day Non-O visa when you have 15 days or MORE left on your current entry stamp.

- get a 14 day under consideration stamp

2- Go back on that date get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day entry stamp inked in

WAIT until you have 30 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp (AND until your funds are seasoned the 2 months)

3- Go back and apply for the yearly extension. They issue the year extension on the date you apply for it.

7 years ago

Sa **********

@Tod ********

hi thanks for this info, i have plan to do exactly this steps. but my question is: can i combine 500K/yearly early retirement income/benefit. (500K +300K cash= 800 K total) i had contact with swedish embassy in bkk, they can fix "certificate letter of income" (only show the required bankstatements). then i have info that additional to that, i need statements from my bank(sweden ) every monthly moneytransfer to thaibank.(show immigration) i ask this to avoid blocking money, when i have many years of guaranteed income proof. sry for long question

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

@Tod ********

copied/noted 😍

7 years ago

Tod *********

I don't know who told you the wrong information about the time the 800K baht needs to be in a thai bank account to get a 90 day Non-O visa issued in Bangkok based on being over 50 (retirement).

There is NO requirement it be in the bank ANY specific time period and you could have had the money transferred in to your thai bank account from abroad, and immediately went to Chaengwattana Immigration office and applied for a 90 day Non-O visa. It would have gone under consideration for 14 days then you have went back and gotten the 90 day Non-O visa inked into your passport.

THEN you would wait until the money was in the account for 2 months before you applied for your yearly extension <- it's the year extension that requires the seasoned funds when using banked money.

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

@Tod ********

Ouch! Thanks for clarifying 🙏🏻

7 years ago

Tod *********

What was the reason you didn't get a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa from the thai consulate in your country?

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

🙏🏻thank

@s **

od. Do you think 5 exemptions and 128 days in 12 months won’t get me in trouble when i come back? (Sorry for asking this silly question, I know you don’t have divination superpowers)

7 years ago

Tod *********

@Alexandre ********

yep, you'll be fine, (y) It's just a longer process here inside the country at the immigration office than it is at the thai consulate in your country.

7 years ago

Alexandre *********

@Tod ********

i did not try. Thought I would do it directly in Bkk (funds came from US and I just transfered them to my bank account). Seemed logical as i keep reading about the 800 k rule 🤪. I don’t mind renewing every year. My understanding is that if i leave the 800 k in the bank forever, i should be good (don’t trust the exchange rate fluctuations)

7 years ago