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Can I move to Thailand with my family now at 46 years old, despite needing to wait until I'm 50?

Non-O VisaThai Visa RulesMarriage VisaExpat Life in ThailandVisa RequirementsEducation Costs in ThailandOffshore InvestmentsFamily MigrationFinancial Planning for Expats
Oct 2, 2024
3 months ago
Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi

I’m 46 years old and been married to a Thai lady for 15 years with 3 children. My wife holds British and Thai nationality as do my 3 daughters, 21,14 and 11.

I’ve £400k in an offshore bond that I could draw £2k per month from as income.

Can I and my family move to Thailand from the UK now or do I need to wait until I’m 50 years old?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user inquires about relocating to Thailand with their family at age 46, being married to a Thai citizen and having children with dual nationality. Responses clarify that they can apply for a Non-O visa based on their marriage at any age, without needing to wait until 50. Requirements include maintaining 400,000 Baht in a Thai bank account for visa extensions or providing proof of a steady income equivalent to 40,000 Baht monthly. Discussions also touch on potential living costs in Thailand, particularly education expenses for the children, which can be significant.
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Si *******
What about the kids education ?

International schools cost a fortune,
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Si ******
 depends what you call a fortune

I’ll leave them in uk hahaha
3 months ago
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Si *******
@Mark **********
A fortune for some (me)

is not a fortune for others ,true,

20k a year per child £.

Before the relentless add on.
3 months ago
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Si *******
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Peter *********
Move brother, move!
3 months ago
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Ian ********
Are you asking if you can move visa wise then yes no problem you can get a visa based on family, if you are asking financially wise then sadly i would say no unless you have a way of earning whilst you are here, otherwise that money has to last you the rest of your life. You need to factor in many things eg. Inflation, your 2k a month now wont buy as much in 20 years time.
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *******
 it was more the age 46 question rather than the £2k enough money question tbh - but many thanks
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ian *******
 I’ve got pensions to take at 55 … and taking £2k a month from my investment of £4-500k offshore will still give the portfolio growth, as I get older I can start eating in the half million pounds
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Mario *********
Watch out for that sweet tea ….may have something in it ……. Now this sounds good.
3 months ago
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Paul ********
The UK has fallen leave asap, you have money, so everything is possible in Thailand. 🕶
3 months ago
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Carlos *********
Did you want to move to Thailand now, or do you want to wait until you're 50?
3 months ago
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Neale *********
Private schools are super expensive in Thailand
3 months ago
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Anthony ******************
Your children are Thai Citizens?
3 months ago
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John *******
Enjoy Thailand have you considered moving some of That money into global equity

*****
would give you around 7-8 percent

Risk equals return

I have less Then you but sons dual nationality and in The Royal navy so actually just 2 of us

You could be looking at a 40 year retirement

Inflation is everyone s enemy

Equity is The way forward
3 months ago
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Michael *********
5 year DTV Visa available now. Need to show 500,000bht (equivalent) upon application, no seasoning, 10,000bht for the application. Your wife & children obviously need nothing as Thai citizens.
3 months ago
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Us *****
You can move your family and just get a dtv for 5 years that you are married to a Thai. This will bring you to 50. But international school is going to be peng maak maak for your daughters. You might want to get a online job before you move. That 2k pound is not going to cover it.
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Us ****
 approx term fees per annum ?
3 months ago
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Chris *********************
@Mark **********
 my 2 daughter's go to MEP school in chainart province, I pay 37k bht a year each,

At there school English is the first language, Chinese, and thai, it depends on where you live for what it costs.in that price they get free school trips, good food and a good education, my daughter's are aged nearly 13 and 11 .
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ********************
 that’s excellent to hear - cracking advice
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Us *****
@Mark **********
 international school is peng maak maak. They definitely charge you raakaa farang. You can look up the prices online. Each school is private and has their own prices. Maybe 20k pound a year. I am not sure.
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Us ****
 I’ll send them to boarding school in England in that case. Hahahaha
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Ernesto ********
2k pounds for family of 5 per month is the real question. Schooling , health insurance, rent , transpo, food and much more. I wouldn’t risk it
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ernesto *******
 it’s a minimum of £2k. My wife has income. And my 21 year old daughter may not come to Thailand, more than likely she won’t. But she’s financially independent of me now already.

I’d also consider buying a business for my wife to run in her name etc
3 months ago
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Ernesto ********
@Mark **********
 I guess that’s every man’s dream. Go for it
3 months ago
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Ernesto ********
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Richard ***********
Keep your money off shore
3 months ago
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Graham ******
In that case the DTV is the only simple option
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard **********
 oh without a doubt

Investment is offshore by a British company so would never move it all into any country - Thailand included
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Mee ******
3 months ago
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Frank ********
@Mee *****
 beware of the bond producing taxable income after being in Thailand over 180 days
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank *******
 true. Think offshore bond may avoid it. My FA will keep me right.
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I think I could also do digital nomad work for uk firm for another £2k or so per month
3 months ago
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Willem ****
@Mee *****
Countries such as USA, UK and Australia.... dont issue a verified proof of income.
3 months ago
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Steve ********
@Willem ***
 And Denmark🇩🇰
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Willem ***
 don’t think I need it from previous comments ie just leave 400k in Thai bank
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Bob *******
British embassy does not issue income documents anymore
3 months ago
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Mee ******
Another option you have apart from 400k in the bank account, is that you get a proof of income document from your embassy and submit with the rest of paperwork to the immigration for the Non-O (Thai wife).

Just to be clear, it's has to be income from oversea, and it have to be at least 40k baht or more per month.
3 months ago
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Mee ******
I see, good to know that not all embassies offer such documents. For me, it was easy to obtain the proof of income from my embassy and it took less than 15 minutes. Submitted to the immigration with no issue.
3 months ago
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Graham ******
@Mee *****
 The British Embassy does not do the proof of income affidavit so 400k is the only option (unless the OP gets a job)
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 it seems the easiest way to be fair. And I can afford to leave £10k sitting forever if I need to.
3 months ago
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Graham ******
@Mark **********
 When your annual extension is approved you can draw from the 400k for living expenses for the period leading up to 2 months before you apply for your next extension when you will need to deposit again back to the 400k. It's not dead money for life. ;)
3 months ago
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Graham ******
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mee *****
 I think, depending on baht vs sterling I’d have 80-100k baht per month from my investment offshore.
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mee *****
 I think I would just leave 400k in the bank rather than try and prove income. But I’ll speak to my financial advisor
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Chris ********
You could get a non immigration O visa, spouse or dependent. That's what I have
3 months ago
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Dover **********
9 thousand uk pounds!😉
3 months ago
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Jan ******************
You don’t need to wait until your 50 years, but you’ll need to prove £ 9,300 to apply and two months each year prior to your yearly application for extension of stay.

Some immigrations accept proof of a monthly income of minimum £ 930 for your yearly extension of stay.

That’s the requirement for apply for a Non O visa based on marriage and yearly extension of stay in Thailand.

If you apply for the Non O visa at the embassy before you leave, this is the requirement at the Thai embassy in London.

*************************************************************
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
 outstanding advice Sir
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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Graham ******
You can get a Non-O based on marriage at any age but you'd need 400k in a Thai bank account each year for your extension
3 months ago
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Pat ****
wow much more doable for me in the near future better than 800k
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 so just leave the 400k there permanently?
3 months ago
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Graham ******
@Mark **********
 When your annual extension is approved you can draw from the 400k for living expenses for the period leading up to 2 months before you apply for your next extension when you will need to deposit again back to the 400k. It's not dead money for life. 😉
3 months ago
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Graham ******
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Christopher *************
@Graham *****
 400k baht , to be clear not pounds lol
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Christopher ************
 I thought that! Phew!!
3 months ago
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Mark ***********
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