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Can my wife and I obtain a wealth visa in Thailand after entering on a tourist visa?

Nov 21, 2025
5 months ago
Erhardt *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My wife and I are planning our second retirement in Pattaya early next year. We are planning on entering on a 60 day tourist visa. We are planning on applying for a wealth visa after arrival. We will have a 30 lease agreement from our son and daughter in law which is Thai. My son is on the lease but will not live with us. We are 80 and 78 years old and have $100,000 set aside in a US bank account for the past year. This is a requirement if you plan to being self-insured.  We can meet the requirements as for as income. We don’t plan on returning to the US anytime that year but staying in Thailand. Is this possibly or should will apply for a 5 year elite visa and after 5 years get a wealth visa.

We need to open a Thai bank account but plan on having enough US funds to live comfortably for the rest of the year if need be. We have a small Yorkie dog that will be with us upon arrival. My son which has now three condos, says we should be able to do this with a good agent. We were in Thailand last year for 7 weeks.

Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user plans to retire in Pattaya with a 60-day tourist visa and aims to apply for a wealth visa afterward. They have sufficient funds and a lease agreement but are uncertain about the best visa option. Comments suggest that the long-term resident (LTR) wealthy pensioner visa might be the best choice due to its benefits and reduced requirements compared to the Thai Elite visa, which is considered expensive. However, opening a Thai bank account may require a non-O visa instead of just a tourist visa.
LONG TERM RESIDENT (LTR) VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Olav *********
Search the visa in the thai embasy in your country and get no problems,easy and best.
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Nongnuch ********
you got a few things very mixed up. I guess the mods will explain.
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Steve ****
You should be fine. I got an O A outside th country and after a full year will do LTR. Elite is extremely expensive and IMO not really worth it.
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Todd *********
If you qualify for the LTR wealthy pensioner visa, your search is over. It's the best visa Thailand has ever offered. Thai Elite is only useful if you don't qualify for LTR. LTR is 10 years, tax free, easy to apply for online and no agent needed. And with$100k in the bank, you don't even need health insurance. It's up to you to decide what policy you want or don't want.
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Mark ************
***************
094 583 4305 (Bangkok)
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Mark ************
Hello Erhardt Weikert from
***************
... At +78 & +80 we can OFFER of Health & Life insurance premiums fixed 5

years… Please check messages from
**************
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Tom ********
You can not open a Bank account on a Tourist/short term visa you need to apply from your own Country for a None O visa or similar long term.
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Tom ********
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