Can I use a new bank account with 800,000 Baht for my retirement visa extension in Thailand?

May 28, 2024
6 months ago
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello. I hold a non-0 annual extendable retirement visa. I have had a bank account with 800+ in for 2 years to satisfy immigration requirements. I want to change banks and have already opened another account in April with 400k in. Can I just simply add another 400k to my new account 2 months before I apply for an extension due on December 12 or do I have to show both accounts. Basically I want to use the money in my new account for visa purposes but I won't have 12 months statements to show them from my new account. I want to ideally close the original account and withdraw and transfer the 800k to my new account but don'twant to screw up my visa extension process. Thanks
676
views
2
likes
26
all likes
17
replies
1
images
5
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user holds a NON-O annual extendable retirement visa and wants to know if they can transfer funds into a new bank account for visa requirements. They currently have over 800,000 Baht in an old account but wish to close it and use the new account opened with 400,000 Baht. Responses suggest maintaining 800,000 Baht in the new account for two months before the extension application, while also possibly showing something in the old account during the transition.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Brook ********
I asked the same question a few weeks ago. The answer, which may depend on the individual Immigration Office, was to move ฿40x,000 to the new account first, then the other ฿400,000 a week later.

Of course you do this outside of the required balance periods.

In my case I was looking for a higher interest rate.
Lee ***********
@Brook *******
what best rate did you find please
Brook ********
@Lee **********
2.5% APR for 48 months
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brook *******
I thought you did but couldn't find your post. Did you have to show bank statements for both accounts to cover the 12 month period between visa applications? Thanks
Giorgio *********
I think the best thing to do is to go ask at the immigration office.
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Giorgio ********
thought I'd try here first in case anyone has had similar experience of this 😀
Giorgio *********
@Barry *******
be aware that every office have own rules.
Kool *******
The same as the first year, you need to show them that the bt800,000 was in the account for three months after you received your one year extension stamp, and that the balance never dropped below bt400,000 for the rest of the year in that account you used. For the new account, to switch over, you will need to show bt800,000 in that new account for at least two months before you apply for your extension. To switch over you basically need bt400,000 in the old account, and bt800,000 in the new account at the same time. You might also ask your local immigration, as they might have a better way.
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
good answer thanks, so using your maths, I'll need 2 bank statements and 2 letters when I apply for extension in December right ?
Kool *******
@Barry *******
yes, but go and ask your local immigration office to make sure, and it's a good idea to do it now, so you aren't dealing with fast approaching time frames.
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
good thinking but the danger is if I ask them now, things could change by December 555 TIT
Kool *******
@Barry *******
with most long term visa extensions the rules don't change once you are on them, and there are no breaks in keeping them. As an example there are still a few Vietnam vets that are still on retirement extensions when the financial requirement was just bt20,000, and it still applies, as they've never had a break in keeping them.
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
lucky them
Andreas *********
@Barry *******
😂🤣 lucky only IF it was correct what Kool Breez wrote. The financial requirement for these "grandfathers" has always been 200.000.- THB and not just twenty-thousand Baht 😂
Barry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
still I’d settle for 200k et tu ?
Andreas *********
this would be a nice step, but it won't happen. Thai government might rather rise the 800.000.- THB requirement to 1 million in the future
Colin *********
@Andreas ********
probably an accidental typo that wasn't picked up. You know what all those zeros do to the eyes
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else