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Can I extend my retirement visa in Thailand using the 12 monthly payments method if I lack the 800,000 baht in my bank account?
Retirement VisaVisa ExtensionVisa RequirementsMonthly Income MethodThai Immigration OfficeJomtien ImmigrationBank StatementsProof of Income CertificateForeign Pension Payments
Jun 27, 2025
10 months ago
Laurie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello
Has anyone recently extended their retirement visa using the 12 monthly payment method ? Before I get trolled I do not have 800,000 in my Thai bank account but have regular monthly payments from the UK into my account all exceeding 65,000 baht.
Any advice appreciated. Using the immigration office in Jomtien
Thanks in advance
Has anyone recently extended their retirement visa using the 12 monthly payment method ? Before I get trolled I do not have 800,000 in my Thai bank account but have regular monthly payments from the UK into my account all exceeding 65,000 baht.
Any advice appreciated. Using the immigration office in Jomtien
Thanks in advance
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks advice on extending their retirement visa in Thailand without having the required 800,000 baht in their bank account, as they receive monthly pension payments from the UK exceeding 65,000 baht. The responses detail that for the initial extension, having the full 800,000 baht is typically necessary, while subsequent extensions may allow the use of the 65,000 baht monthly income method if certain conditions are met. However, each immigration office has its own rules, and some respondents share frustrations with inconsistent regulations and requirements for proof of income.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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John **********
Your problem is that you used an agent for your existing extension so you won't have met the terms of that extension. Even if you had 800k baht in the bank its very unlikely you could do the next extension yourself. You are stuck on the agent wheel, you will have to continue to use an agent for the foreseeable future. The only way to get off the agent wheel is to leave Thailand close to the end of your current extension (without a re-entry permit) and either apply for a 90 day Non-O visa in another country or come back in visa exempt and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa at your local immigration office (by meeting their requirements) and then applying for a 12 month extension (they may or may not allow you to use monthly income at that point, but chances are they won't)
Troels ******
I use K Bank and they send me a detailed credit advice e-mail that shows the origin (UK) and the destination. I take 12 copies of this with 12 months statement copies. (Kasikorn will print off 6 months free - so twice yearly with a letter of confirmation on the last month). You will need copies of your bank book front and latest pages showing a deposit on the day you attend. I always did this the day before but I have seen people say their local immigration send them back to do it on the day of application). Then the relevant form with picture, passport etc.
Andy ************
Depends ENTIRELY on your immigration office in Thailand. They are the only people who can give the correct advice on this one, as each office has different approaches to the 65k bank transfers. I switched from OA (which did not require the 800k) via an out/in on exempt and then 90-day non-O from CW, then 12-month extension. I had started the 65k transfers whilst on OA, so I never had the 800k lump sum. However, I also never used an agent
Simon *********
I've been here 10 years now, 5 years on married visas and 5 years on an elite visa. Planning to switch to retirement.
Past 3 years transfering my monthly pension payments into my Thai account, same day every month. So I have 3 years bank statements and pension statements, but the local immigration insist on a Proof of income certificate from the British Embassy...
Since the British Embassy don't provide it, I'm forced to use an agent... Very frustrating. My Swedish, German and Irish friends, just pop to their embassies and get a certificate, easy peasy.
Past 3 years transfering my monthly pension payments into my Thai account, same day every month. So I have 3 years bank statements and pension statements, but the local immigration insist on a Proof of income certificate from the British Embassy...
Since the British Embassy don't provide it, I'm forced to use an agent... Very frustrating. My Swedish, German and Irish friends, just pop to their embassies and get a certificate, easy peasy.
Roger ********
@Simon ********
l used to use my P60 without any problem.Nick ************
@Simon ********
yep, some offices will not allow renewals based on monthly income so they are asking you to do something impossible.Reply to
Nick ************
Reply
Stephen ********
Immigration doesn't like the 12 payment visa. I have had trouble every year.
Alastair *******
@Stephen *******
they’re lazy!Reply to
Alastair *******
Reply
John ********
You will need the
*****
0 for the first year before the immigration will allow you to use the 65k, unless you can find a immigration office to say you can use the 65k on your frist yearLiam ***********
@John *******
lady at korat immigration told me earlier this year (March )that it’s 800k OR 65 k + pm certified pension incomeNo need for 800 k
I have the handout which says exactly this
John ********
@Liam **********
every immigration office has its own rules unfortunately and you will find that the immigration office in Bangkok will not except the 65k on the first year, unless your countries embassy will confirm that you have the money to pay into your accountReply to
John ********
Reply
Chris *******
If you are currently on extension.
You will need to prove:
800k 3 months after last approval
400k always
AND proof of 12 monthly consecutive transfers of international funds.
Otherwise you'll be paying an agent.
You will need to prove:
800k 3 months after last approval
400k always
AND proof of 12 monthly consecutive transfers of international funds.
Otherwise you'll be paying an agent.
Alastair *******
@Chris ******
not correct. If you go the *****
per month pathway you have no obligations about your bank balance!You have to get approval of that pathway after 12 months of payments into a Thai Bank.
Chris *******
@Alastair ******
yes it is correct. You have to fill the previous extension requirements in order to get the new extension. Otherwise people would not keep the funds in the account as required.Reply to
Chris *******
Reply
Nick ************
@Chris ******
what you say makes sense but I did not have to show that I had met the requirements of my previous extension. The monthly payments were made into another account.Reply to
Nick ************
Reply
Colin *******
You must have proof of 12 month of continious payments showing the money came from a foreign account otherwise it does not count
Laurie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin ******
Thanks for the informationLynnette *******
@Laurie *******
but you have to have the 800,000, the extension on that basis, complying with that extensions rules, whilst you bring in the 65k every month. On the second extension you can then switch.Reply to
Lynnette *******
Reply
Pete *******
For the original non o and 1st extension you must use money in the bank method. You can switch to the 65k monthly method for your 2nd extension.
Laurie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks everyone for the info. I think I will go to the immigration office and see what they say
Liam ***********
@Pete ******
unless your income is embassy certified?Pete *******
@Liam **********
some offices will only accept embassy certified income for the monthly method.Reply to
Pete *******
Reply
Pete *******
If you fail to have 800k in your bank account at the time you apply for the second extension you will be denied as you did not satisfy the conditions of the 1st extension even though you are swapping to the monthly payments.
Peter **********
@Pete ******
Afaik when you switch from 800k to the 65k monthly method you need to keep the 800k only for three months. For the rest of the year it’s “only” 400k.The prerequisite is to receive 65k foreign transfers into your account for 12 months during that year.
Nick ************
@Pete ******
not true. They did not even ask to see my previous years balance and I renewed solely on the 12 monthly payments of *****
baht that went into a different bank account.Graham ******
@Pete ******
It's 800k for the first 3 months of the first extension then never drop below 400k until the second extension using the 65k method is inked inPete *******
@Graham *****
thanks for clarifying.Laurie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
Hi there. I did go to Manareet last year for my first extension but thought for the second extension I could use the monthly payment option ?Graham ******
@Laurie *******
maybe but maybe not, it depends what the agent did for you such as renting you the 800kNick ************
@Laurie *******
you can if you have made the necessary 12 monthly payments of *****
+ baht and they are shown as international transfers. I also had to submit my UK bank statements to prove where the money had come from. It did not have to be pension income.Ron ******
@Laurie *******
You must continue to meet the requirements for the current extension for the full year. The 800k must remain in your account for three months after your extension is approved and must not drop below 400k at any time during the year. It then needs to be back to 800k two months before applying for your next extension. If you failed to do this then you have not met the conditions on which your current extension was approved and therefore won't be able to use monthly transfers.Reply to
Ron ******
Reply
Laurie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Pete ******
Thanks for the information. This would be my second extension but I do not have the 800,000 in the accountPete *******
@Laurie *******
then you’re not getting an extension by yourself. Suggest you go speak with Maneerat on Soi Post Office ****
Pattaya. She assists in cases like these.Reply to
Pete *******
Reply
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