Answered3 years ago

Can I ordain as a monk in Thailand on a retirement visa?

Thailand Retirement Visa Monk Ordination Visa Types Immigration Rules Bhikkhuni Sangha

Kay ******

asked Apr 15, 2024

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Hello everyone, I hope you are all well and not suffering too much from the excessive heat here. 

I have, perhaps, an unusual question. Does anyone know if it possible to ordain as a monk on a retirement visa? If someone does have any information about this, could he/she tell me if the bank and the imm. office accept a monastery as a permanent residence? Thanks for your help.

Answer summary

The post discusses the possibility of ordaining as a monk while on a retirement visa in Thailand. It explores whether a monastery can be recognized as a permanent residence for immigration purposes. Various commenters provide insights and details on visa types available for monks, including different non-immigrant visa categories. The original poster learns that while some foreign men have successfully ordained on a retirement visa before, the situation regarding female monks (bhikkhunis) is less clear. Ultimately, they receive confirmation from immigration that using a monastery’s address for residence is acceptable.

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Chris **********

I was told by a monk that if you get a letter from the Abbott you are able to stay indefinitely.

3 years ago

Kay ******

@Chris *********

I sincerely thank you for going out of your way to ask a monk. I just left immigration and once they understood that I am not a missionary nor a volunteer, they said that I can use the monastery’s address as my residence….so I’m good to go! Have a nice day.

3 years ago

Kay ******

Hello everyone, thank you for your advice. I am not sure if the religious visa works in my case because, unfortunately, the bhikkhuni sangha (female monks) is not 100% recognized in Thailand yet. I have read on another forum that some retired foreign men have ordained as monks in Thailand while on their retirement visa however, the forum was from many years ago. Perhaps the best thing to do is to go the the Imm. Department and ask. I was just hoping that someone here might know someone who went this route (retirement visa for monk ordination).

3 years ago

Nongnuch ********

and this one is the "Non-Imm-R-A" visa (again, sorry for the intermingled German text)

3 years ago

Nongnuch ********

Actually there are three religious visa categories: ED5, Non-R and Non-R-A. It depends on the institution she chooses . . . Here's "Non-Imm-R" (sorry for the German text in between)

3 years ago

Michael ********

There is a specific visa for monks forgot what it is though

3 years ago

Nongnuch ********

"R" and "R-A" visa are maybe not the correct visa in her case. I think she needs the ED5 visa (applied for in the E-visa online system)

3 years ago

Jan **********

@Michael *******

non-imm R

3 years ago

Ken ***********

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3 years ago

Kay ******

@Ken ******

They are not allowed to be ordained as bhikkhunis (female monks) in Thailand, however they can get samaneri/sikkhamana (novice) ordination and training in Thailand. Then, they go to Sri Lanka or India for full ordination in the Theravada lineage 😊

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3 years ago