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Can I use my pension income to qualify for a retirement visa in Thailand without having to deposit funds into a Thai bank account?
retirement visaThailand immigrationpension incomeO visaOA visafinancial requirementsAustralian embassyinternational transfers
Nov 23, 2022
3 years ago
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI have a question about over 50 retirement visa. I don't have the 800,000 to put in a Thai bank account but I do have an income stream paid by way of a monthly pension of over 65,000 thb. I have written evidence of this. My question is does this pension have to be paid into a Thai bank account. I saw from Criteria published on this page I think by Tod Daniels (item 3) proof is required but it does not specifically mention the Thai bank account. I have several health issues which may require me to return to Australia at any time so I don't really want to transfer my pension here in case it is required by me should I need to return to Australia for health treatment. Can anyone clarify this for me? Thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquired about the qualifications for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand, specifically regarding their monthly pension income of 65,000 THB since they do not have the required 800,000 THB to deposit into a Thai bank account. The responses clarified that proof of income can come from either 12 months of international transfers into a Thai account or an affidavit from the embassy, which Australians cannot currently obtain. However, they can still qualify by transferring that amount into a Thai account after getting a different type of visa initially.
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.
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Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI have been looking at both o and oa. They both have the same financial requirements. I don't have 800,000 and it is the pension side of things I am trying to clarify.
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI don't struggle to live on my pension in fact I only live on half of it and save the rest. I just dont want to tie my money up in another country. At my time of live I want my more flexibility than that. Thanks for your advice anyway.
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for all of that information. Very good of you to take the time. I will definitely investigate the situation with the Australian Embassy both in Thailand and in Australia.
David ********
@Beverley ******
I think as an Australian you are stuck with the 2 (possibly 3) possibilities.1 - 800K in a Thai bank account
2 - 65K/mth coming into a Thai bank account from a foreign country
3 - combination of Thai bank account and monthly income totalling 800K
Not sure how difficult it would be to transfer from Thailand back to Australia, I'm sure there are 'horror stories', but in general I would think it's not that difficult, but that would be for you to research.
The other potential possibility, which I am told I can access as a Canadian, but which is no longer available to Australia, is to have your embassy/consulate in Thailand write you a letter of verification for your income ... after which I am told you can use that method in leu of any Thai banking requirements (I assume you need to get a new letter every year to confirm your income is still valid, but not sure as I presently use the 'money in the bank method'.)
As I said, the verification letters are no longer available from Australian (US or UK either to my knowledge) embassies/consulates, but I would check with the foreign affairs department (or whatever department is in charge of these things in Australia) to see if there are alternative ways to get a letter of this sort ... highly unlikely as it may require agreements between Aus & Thailand, or it may just be up to Thailand as to which country's 'verification letters' they will accept ... but it might be something worth while researching before you make the move.
Reply to
David ********
Reply
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
So it basically boils down to the O visa and meet the *****
thb per month in a Thai bank account. Maybe I will look at Cambodia instead. Not so complicated there.Bobby ********
@Beverley ******
Probably a wise move. It seems you're struggling to meet the criteria in Thailand. I did it the easy way by getting almost two years from the OA and during that time I started the 65k monthly transfers. That's a few years back, but like yourself, I'm on a Public Service pension, so meeting the monthly amounts is no problem. I didn't want to touch my Super lump sum, as once you withdraw from it, you can't put it back, so you lose the benefit of the tax-free umbrella.Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
I am actually in Chiang Mai at the moment but thanks for that information.Bobby ********
@Beverley ******
You cannot apply for an OA visa whilst you are in Thailand. This can only be done from your home country, so that narrows down your optionsReply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Bonnie *********
I have an O-A retirement visa, you might look at the requirements for that.
John ************
Contact Thai Visa Centre
Bobby ********
@John ***********
She's already said she doesn't want to deal with agentsReply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks I will look into that.
Stephen *******
Get an O-X from Sydney (only) and the junk insurance with a 50% deductible. No need for any money in Thailand. Cheapest way available.
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for all the advice. I think I get it now.
Henrik ****
There are basically 3 ways to economically qualify for a retirement visa at Immigration in Thailand: 1) 800k THB in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to the application, 2) Monthly transfers into a Thai bank account of 65k for 12 months, but the first time only 3 months, 3) a) Affidavit from your Embassay confirming income of 65k, or b) Documentation of income from sources of income legalized by your Embassy of a total of 65k per month. Those methods can be combined also.
Roberto *********
This is from the Australian Embassy website. They stopped doing the affidavits about four years ago
Henrik ****
@Roberto *********
, yes, they stopped doing an affidavit. Seems strange if they won't legalize documents from sources of income. I dont know if "certified copies" includes "legalization" but it is not the same as such. But yes, they dont seem ready to help you much.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERWow. After reading all these comments I can now see why I am confused about the requirements.
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERYes I had already thought I would speak to the Australian embassy and see what they have to say as well as talk with someone at immigration but as people are saying different Immigration officers give different advice.
Roberto *********
@Beverley ******
The Australian embassy will NOT sign the required affidavit. The only way Australians can qualify is to actually transfer *****
baht each month into a Thai bank account.Reply to
Roberto *********
Reply
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI don’t know if you can make this clearer for me but why do I need an affidavit from the Australia embassy for proof of funds. I have a letter from the Australian Government which manages the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme which is where my funds come from. Why is that no sufficient proof.
Roberto *********
@Beverley ******
A letter from the Australian government will not suffice. Thai immigration will only accept an actual transfer of funds of *****
baht per month into a Thai bank account in lieu of an affidavit from the embassyHenrik ****
@Beverley ******
, get the letter legalised at the Australian Embassy. That should work but as many times in Thailand no guarantee. You must ask your local Immigration if they will accept. Many ppl do have success with this. The reason why most embassies wont do the affidavit any longer is because the Thai govt. requires the Embassy to do the exchange into Thai bath and "guarantee" your income. Kind of impossible. By documenting the income from the source and make the Embassy legalise it, the Embassy doesnt guarantee your income but only confirm the authenticity of the document. The exchange into THB is then done at your Immigration.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Roberto *********
@Beverley ******
It's quite straightforward. Unfortunately this guy is confusing the issue. Seek out Tod Daniels either in this group, or in the Thai visa advice group. This guy knows his visas inside-out and will give you the best advice. My current strategy is based on his advice. He is the guru on Thai visa issuesHenrik ****
@Roberto *********
, there is yet another route to go, which will work for most being able to get an OA in their home country even your Embassy wont do the affidavit. You can read that route above in my comment above also, namely to document your income from the sources and get it legalised at your Embassy.Roberto *********
@Henrik ***
You obviously are not aware that the Australian, American and British embassies will not certify the pension incomes. You really are out of your depth with this subjectReply to
Roberto *********
Reply
Henrik ****
@Beverley ******
, yes, the visa rules of Thailand are truly a mess. Each Immigration has its own ideas, sometimes even each Immigration officer. And the "rules" keep changing even the official laws and rules are the same.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Roberto *********
@Henrik ***
Bangkok is where I got the information! 🤣🤣🤣Roberto *********
@Henrik ***
I'm in the process of doing it myself. I have the list of the requirements from immigration. I do not want to put 800k into a Thai bank account, so I must get the twelve monthly payments in order to apply for an in-country retirement visa. That's the word from the immigration office. So I'm not mixed up about anything, but I'm pretty sure you are! I don't wish to discuss anything further with you as I believe you are referring to using agents to pay bribes to cut corners. I'm not into that. I wish to stay legal. But you choose however you want to do itHenrik ****
@Roberto *********
, where do I refer to agents? You are making up stories. Too bad about your Immigration office. Maybe try to go BKK. What I am telling you is from a friend doing exactly this very recently. There are several ways to get started. You might get an OA in your home country. You might get an O in your home country. Or you might go on a visa except and get the base O at Immigration. Actually, the last option has the least requirements. OA and O have become more the same in regard to requirements over the past few years, probably at least partly because of Covid. But to go from OA to O you will have to leave the country. There are truly a lot of details in this. I have never been using an agent and will never ever recommend anyone to do so. Pls stop your stories.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Bobby ********
@Henrik ***
I don't know what "the other scheme" is. All I know is you need 12 x 65k transfers (one year's worth) OR 800k deposit for three months prior. I think that's where you're getting confusedHenrik ****
@Bobby *******
, not true. But leave it if you believe so. Ppl are doing it in real life. Maybe some Immigration won't do it. This is Thailand.Roberto *********
@Henrik ***
I hate to rain on your parade but it seems you have very little knowledge of how the O and OA visas criteria work for citizens of UK, US and Australia. Most of what you're saying here is incorrect. I urge the OP not to take notice of what you're saying as it's too misleading. Good nightHenrik ****
@Roberto *********
, but you are wrong. What I am saying has been done in real life. I guess you don't understand how this work at all or mixing things completely. We could discuss new subjects like the requirements for getting O and OA in your home country. To some extent, those criteria are not that different as before. Still a very different approach.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Bobby ********
@Henrik ***
Incorrect. The *****
baht transfers must have a one year history. Three months is insufficientHenrik ****
@Bobby *******
, not the first time. But otherwise yes. It is the same with a marriage visa. If it was 12 months for the first time, then impossible to do a single entry Non-0 to be extended for 1 year. That is the reason.Bobby ********
@Henrik ***
You're still wrong. The first 12-month extension you must show 12 x *****
baht transfers. Marriage visa is totally different.Henrik ****
@Bobby *******
, if you were right, then the monthly money transfer scheme will in reality not be possible the first time. How to stay for the first 1 year in Thailand? Then you must get an OA at Embassy as the only way based on monthly income, which is a very different story.Steve ********
@Henrik ***
It's exactly the way I did it. I went from OA to O by leaving the country and returning, but I had to show TWELVE MONTHS of transfers. Three months they will laugh at you. The three months is for the 800k deposit, not the 65k methodHenrik ****
@Steve *******
, the OA is a very different kind of visa with additional requirements. I know ppl doing it recently. They didn't laugh at all.Steve ********
@Henrik ***
OA lets you stay up to two years. That's what I did in order to get the 65k monthly transfers going. I'm laughing let me tell you! Never had to tie up 800k for the rest of my life. Yep I'm laughing 🤣🤣🤣🤣Henrik ****
@Steve *******
, then laugh. The OA visa has additional requirements. It has advantages to going for the O visa. The 800k deposit is also an option if you prefer this way.Steve ********
@Henrik ***
I think you're having difficulties with reading English. I already said I wasn't prepared to tie up 800k for the rest of my life, hence I chose the OA to give me time to get the year's worth of 65,000 baht transfers. Once I did that, I switched to the O visa by leaving Thailand, and re-entering with a 90-day O visa, which I then extended at immigration. I prefer to have control of my money, not leave it languishing in a bank account until the day I die 😆😆😆Henrik ****
@Steve *******
, please stop. I have understood already, that you have different ideas. Your approach seems cumbersome. If making life cumbersome makes you laugh, then please keep laughing. OVER AND OUT.Steve ********
@Henrik ***
I am laughing. No money tied up for the rest of my life in a Thai bank account earning zero interest, and totally free to spend every baht of the *****
I transfer each month! Wasn't cumbersome at all. All went very smoothly! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Henrik ****
@Steve *******
, did we talk about going the 800k deposit way? No. Getting an OA in your home country, and then leaving Thailand to change it into an O is not needed. But please keep having your own fun with it.Bobby ********
@Henrik ***
And that is exactly the reason so many people find it difficult. If you read my earlier comment you will see that I proposed people should take the OA initially, they then have two years to get the monthly transfers happening. I've no idea where you get this three month story from.Henrik ****
@Bobby *******
, but the other scheme is possible at Immigration. It was discussed many years ago - and changed.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Mark *********
I am a Canadian who gets 3 Canadian Pensions totaling around 70,000 baht a year. This is all deposited into my Canadian bank account. I was told to: (1) get letters from my Pension plans stating the amounts; (2).send these letters with an affidavit signed by a lawyer by email to the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok; (3).apply to Thai Immigration for Retirement Visa based on 65,000 baht per month with copy of the Canadian Embassy confirmation of 65K baht per month income. I am in the middle of doing this now and waiting for the Canadian Pension letters.
Sharon *******
@Mark ********
I just came across this post and am wondering how your visa process went. I'm in the same position with 3 Canadian pensions. Were you able to get your retirement visa? If so, did you run into any other problems?Mark *********
@Sharon ******
Hi Sharon. The CPP and OAS person I talked to at Cdn Govt told me they would not send me a PDF statement and thst they only use Canada Post. So, I waited and waited and waited. Nothing. The ONLY problem I had and it was a big one is that the CPP and OAS letters didn't come. I phoned them many times, put on hold, disconnected, etc. They claimed no record of them going to send me confirmation of pensions and finally they said, "Oh, we can only mail to a Canadian address." So that killed it. What I have ended up doing was to put in 800,000 THB into an account and I have my Retirement Visa on that basis. The only advice I could give you then would be to get anything mailed to a Cdn address and forwarded to you in Thailand.Sharon *******
@Mark ********
Good to know. I've been trying to get my tax deduction changed for many months but they still haven't done it so I'm not surprised that you had problems. Also I worked for Service Canada for 19 years. While there are many great people working there who do their best for their clients, there are lots who don't give a damn.Thanks for responding. I'm glad you got your visa. What part of Thailand are you in? Has it been a good move so far?
Mark *********
@Sharon ******
Hi Sharon. My Thai wife and I live 6 and 6 in a small Udon Thani village and in our Vancouver apt. We built a house on our rice farm on 2015 and got married there in 2017. While there we travel a bit around the country as well as the rest of SE Asia. Apart from our home in Udon though we spend most of our time in Hua Hin which we love. A good move? Yep. No complaints.Reply to
Mark *********
Reply
Todd *********
@Mark ********
yes, it’s that easyMark *********
@Todd ********
Yes. Just waiting for the letters!Todd *********
@Mark ********
it’s slowly turning into a Canadian ghetto here, just like Mexico lol. Holy, so many refugee canadians out there now. Hope all goes smoothly! Where are u planning to live here?Mark *********
@Todd ********
Thanks Todd. We have a house we built in 2015, in an Udon Thani village. Been coming to Udon since 2013 and married in 2017.Bobby ********
@Todd ********
I understand Trudeau is looking at retiring on Koh Samui. Any truth in the rumour? I know you have the connections 🤣Todd *********
@Bobby *******
😂😂😂 if you have an extra room, he can stay with youBobby ********
@Todd ********
Mate, I'm already housing five other Canadian refugees. There is a limit you knowTodd *********
@Bobby *******
King Charles appreciates your dedication to the commonwealth!Todd *********
@Bobby *******
that’s seems where we are headed lolMark *********
@Bobby *******
He's as good as retired already. No idea about Koh Samui.Reply to
Mark *********
Reply
Bobby ********
@Mark ********
Yes Canadians can use the affidavit method. The only embassies which refuse to sign the affidavit are US, UK and AustraliaMark *********
@Bobby *******
You photo shopped me!Mark *********
@Bobby *******
Thanks Bobby. So to confirm, pension money deposited in a Canadian bank, counts?Bobby ********
@Mark ********
It sure does you lucky bastard! 🤣Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
John ********
Go to key visa service they can sort it all out for you
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI come and go several times a year so it is more like semi permanent.
Bobby ********
@Beverley ******
Beware of people suggesting you use agents. It basically means you will pay a bribe to bypass a requirement. Once you start this method there's no way to get off it.Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
I know not to use agents.Reply to
Beverley *******
Reply
Jim *****
If you are living overseas on a permanent basis you may lose all rights to Medicare. I would double check that
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTEROkay thanks for the advice
John **********
If you don't want to transfer money to Thailand your options are limited to either an OA visa obtained in your home country or an OX visa again obtained in your home country. If neither of these appeal then your only option is going to be monthly transfers but even then you're going to need 800k for the first year to allow you to build up 12 months of transfers
Beverley *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThe letter I have is from the Australian government which sets out my fortnightly pension which is tied to the CPI and increases twice per year. My pension is paid by Comsuper as an income stream. I have bank statements from Australia showing I have been receiving this pension for the last 10 years. The criteria that I mentioned before does not state a Thai bank account.
Bobby ********
@Beverley ******
The problem is the Australian embassy in Bangkok will not provide the affidavit required by Thai immigration, so you are confined to the *****
baht monthly transfers. I simply used the OA visa to get free entry into Thailand, and then commenced the transfers. As soon as you have 12 monthly transfers under your belt, leave Thailand and re-enter on the O visaTodd *********
@Bobby *******
always another way to skin the cat! Nicely doneReply to
Todd *********
Reply
Bobby ********
You don't actually transfer your pension, it can still be paid into an Australian bank account (I use St George Bank for mine). You then do a manual transfer of 65,000 baht each month into your Thai account. However, you must already have 12 monthly payments before you can apply for the visa, which is why I suggest to Aussies to first get the OA visa from Australia (where you use funds in Australia as proof). The OA can effectively give you two years in Thailand (with one border bounce). During this two year period, you can commence the monthly 65,000 baht transfers, so by the end of your second year, you will have sufficient proof in order to get the O visa in Thailand
Bob **********
@Bobby *******
he will need Thai health insurance for an O-A and he has health issues there’s another option but can’t refer on this groupTony *********
@Bob *********
that's a good point. Better to come in on a 45-day exemption and then apply for a non-O and then convert that to retirement extension. Health insurance is not required. That's what I did.Bobby ********
@Bob *********
There is another option. If health insurance is declined, the applicant can use the value of assets in Australia (bank accounts, shares, property etc) in lieu of insurance, provided it's to the same value.Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Brandon ************
You either need your embassy to verify your income, or you need to show proof of 12 continuous months of international transfers into a Thai account in your name over the previous year.
These are the only 2 options for confirming income so if your embassy doesn't do such verifications, then you can only use the 800,000 method while waiting for 12 monthly transfers to happen so you have proof.
These are the only 2 options for confirming income so if your embassy doesn't do such verifications, then you can only use the 800,000 method while waiting for 12 monthly transfers to happen so you have proof.
Henrik ****
@Brandon ***********
, the first time only 3 months as Tod has said.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
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