Can I spend the money transferred for my Thai pension visa, and is there a minimum amount that needs to stay in the bank?

Jan 6, 2021
4 years ago
Patrik *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Question. If I am to apply for a 1 yr pension visa based on monthly income of 65.000 tb can I spend that money?...is there a minimum that needs to stay on that Thai bank account on a regular basis?Thank you🙂
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a 1-year pension visa in Thailand based on a monthly income of 65,000 THB, there is no requirement to keep any portion of that amount in your Thai bank account after the transfer. You must transfer the minimum of 65,000 THB monthly, which needs to be documented as a foreign transfer in your bank account. Once confirmed, you are free to withdraw and spend that money as you wish. Additionally, while income verification may depend on your nationality, some embassies provide income letters instead of requiring proofs of transfers.
Steve *********
If your embassy is one of those who continues to provide "income letters" then there is no need to actually bring any money into T/L. As far as I recall, only US. UK, & Ozzy citizens need to prove 65k bt/month income. Everyone else can still get a embassy letter and Immigration usually prefer that you continue to use that. Note: this is my current understanding, but I'm happy to be corrected if things have changed over the past year.
Bobby ********
Steve Garrard. I think you've got it. NZ "might" also be in that group, but it's such an inconsequential little country that most people haven't heard of, let alone point out on a map, so it doesn't matter.
Patrik *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks so much. Just one more question. The transfer can be anything right?Doesn't have 2b from an official source right?I mean I intend to do a monthly transfer from my savings account...
Dom **************
@Patrik ********
it needs to be an international transfer.
Bobby ********
Patrik Pulinka. What nationality are you? They will only allow FTs from a few countries, otherwise you need embassy affidavit
Patrik *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
I am Italian and Hungarian citizen.
Bobby ********
Patrik Pulinka. It goes by which passport your visa is in. Check with the embassy to see if they will give you the affidavit. I'm not aware exactly which will not do it, but for sure it's UK, US and Australia. Otherwise you may be rejected when you apply for an extension
Patrik *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
ok thank you!!
Bobby ********
You just have to ensure it shows in your bank book/account as a "foreign transfer" or "international transfer" to satisfy the IO at extension time. As soon as you check your account and this is shown, you're free to withdraw the money and do whatever you want with it (but do remember to pay your rent and utilities before you hit the bars 🤣).
Bobby ********
Paul Rogers. Screenshot from Transferwise group. As you will see there is a foreign transfer method using Transferwise into Bangkok Bank which gets the required FTT in your bankbook. They want this at CW, but it's possible your immigration office doesn't require this, which is all good!
Paul ********
Its not a question of risk its a question of the bank letter matching deposits in your book. You are scaring people saying the book HAS to have some particular notation which some banks do not provide. The letter proves the international transfer.
Bobby ********
Paul Rogers. The book will have FTT in it, if it's a foreign transfer. If it scares people it's their issue. It's just not a risk I'm prepared to take! I don't want to be denied an extension!
Paul ********
@Bobby *******
you dont need this category in your passbook. You need the bank to confirm it is a foreign transfer whether of not your book says so
Bobby ********
Paul Rogers. I personally wouldn't risk it. If it's a foreign transfer it will show that way in your book. immigration want to see the bank book. I've had them ticking the FTT entries in the book against the letter.
Tod *********
there is no requirement that you keep any amount of the 65K baht a month income you transfer in from abroad. The requirement is only that you transfer a minimum of 65K baht a month each month every month into a thai bank account in your name only for the preceding 12 months before you apply for your next extension
Peter ****************
@Dawn *********
and you say per fortnight $840 abroad. So about 40,000฿ a month. And yes, you can already live with that in Thailand. Paying per fortnight is a good idea I must say. But....getting totally off topic. Sry.
Dawn **********
@Tod ********
always amazes me. The Thai government insist 65K baht (AUD$2,786) per month transferred in from overseas as a minimum for you to live on and support yourself.

The Australian pension is $944 (22,018 baht) per fortnight but if you are out of the country or live overseas for more than 6 weeks it reduces to about $840 (19,588 baht ) The Australian government insists that even at $944 that amount is more than enough to live on yet the Thai government bear in mind thailand is a lot cheaper to live in than Australia insists it is not enough to live on in thailand. That’s a lesser amount of at least 25,000 baht per month to live on in Australia.

Go figure.
Guy ***********
@Dawn *********
i agree but 65k฿ per month is 780k฿ over a year. The other option is 800k฿ in the bank for 5 months reducible to 400k฿ for the remaining 7 months.

Your choice for the privilege of living in Thailand.
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