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Can I use my existing bank account in Thailand to meet the retirement extension financial requirements?

Retirement Visa Non-Immigrant O Visa 800k THB Requirement Bank Account Requirements Source of Funds Visa Extension Process Thai Immigration Expats in Thailand

Mar 19, 2026

a month ago

Roberto ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone, I need some advice regarding my first Retirement Extension (based on the 800k THB deposit).

I will be arriving in Thailand on a 90-day Non-Immigrant 'O' visa. I already have a long-standing Thai bank account (opened 15 years ago on a tourist visa). The balance has consistently stayed well above 1,000,000 THB for many years.

My questions are:

1. Can I use this existing account to prove my funds for the 1-year extension at the @Immigration office?

2. Most of the balance comes from cash deposits made during my many trips over the years, with very few international wire transfers (remittances). Does the 'source of funds' or 'international origin' matter for the 800k deposit method, or is the 2-month seasoning of the balance sufficient?

I’ve heard conflicting reports about whether the money must come from abroad for the initial extension. Thanks in advance!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice about obtaining a Retirement Extension in Thailand based on a bank deposit of 800,000 THB, questioning if an existing Thai bank account can be used to meet financial requirements and if the source of funds needs to be verified. Commenters generally confirm that as long as the required balance is held in the account, the source or origin of funds does not typically prompt questions during the extension process, particularly since the user already has a Non-O visa.

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Alan ******

You only need to print 12 months.

Deposit 100 baht on the day you go in , so it has the up to date, date.

They won't read each transaction over the 12 months, just the balance for the past 2 months.

a month ago

Malcolm **********

I have been doing my own retirement extension for 14 years, first in Pattaya and now in Khon Kaen and all they have ever wanted is the letter from the bank, a photocopy of the bank book and now a 12 month statement. You need the bank book to be updated on the day you apply and the bank letter/statement issued the same day, just withdraw 100 Baht from the ATM as you go into the bank for the documents and get them to update the book & photocopy it as well. I have never seen the need for using an agent that will cost (apparently) up to 20,000 Baht for something I can do in a few minutes for the 1,900 Baht fee at Immigration and about 200 Baht at the bank but it's up to you.

a month ago

Roberto ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Malcolm Whitlock thank you Malcolm. I know you are right I am little scared for my first time so many documents and so many small details. Besides officers in immigration some is nice but some not so much.

a month ago

Malcolm **********

It does depend on where you are and who you see but in the last 14 years of doing it myself I've found that so long as you try, you are polite and don't get angry the Immigration staff tend to be helpful, more so when you move out of the major tourist cities. My recommendation is to give it a try yourself first as you can always get an agent to do it within a week and so long as you don't leave it to the last minute you should have plenty of time to do that, Obviously things would be different if you didn't meet the financial requirements, If it's not too far away you could also just go to Immigration, see what you need, pick up the necessary forms and ask them about it, that probably won't work well in Bangkok or Pattaya but shouldn't be a problem elsewhere.

a month ago

Reply to

Malcolm **********

Jason ******

I used an agent for my first extension, I didn't want any hassle and believe me it worked , no questions where My money come from in bank , yeah It costs money for an agent but they never asked a damm question, just took a photo , I jumped all the ques, and they are all friendly and lovely and touching me in friendly way, even got me a coffee . Yeah I know it's just cos of the money , one of the questions is draw a map of your location where you are staying , which I know for a fact immigration will check this location and make sure your there at the time of checking and then maybe 3 to 5 days later you get your extension after they checking the map Is correct, well they never bothered cos 2.5 hours later I had my year extension already. Money talks in thailand I am afraid. Next year I will do it on my own ( no agent ) , cos I now know how it all works.

a month ago

James **********

They just look at the balance and the history needed, they qont question where the money came from

a month ago

Tom ********

The will certainly ask you to update your account as you can no longer have a Bank account on a tourist visa,

a month ago

Roberto ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Tom Jarvis I visited the bank in February and they told me so far my account doesn’t have any problem. But sure I will change from tourist to retired

a month ago

Graham ******

Tom Jarvis when the OP asks for the Immigration letter and statement for the extension his passport/visa will be part of the process so nothing to do prior

a month ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Stuart *********

I don’t know the policy at Si Sa Ket but generally there is no “where the funds come from” when applying for an extension.

It could matter for a transfer from a tourist/exempt entry to a non O in country but if you already have the Non O it shouldn’t matter the source of funds only that you have them.

12 x 65k transfers need to be seen as overseas but a balance of 800k doesn’t.

a month ago

Roberto ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

thank you

a month ago

Reply to

Roberto ***********

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