Answered4 years ago

Can my wife piggyback my retirement visa in Thailand, or does she need her own funds?

Thai Retirement Visa Visa Rules Dependent Visa Immigration Thailand Bank Account Requirements Trailing Spouse Visa

Mick *********

asked Jan 20, 2023

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Hi thanks for advice on getting my retirement visa me and my wife are from the uk we both have a retirement visa I had the 800 thousand in bank so easy for me to do wife paid a agent for herself but  was told she can piggyback my 800 thousand when we renew are visas is this true o does she need the 800 thousand in her bank thanks

Answer summary

The poster is seeking clarification on whether their wife, who is also on a retirement visa, can use the husband's 800,000 baht requirement for their renewal in Thailand. Responses indicate that her eligibility to piggyback on the husband's visa may depend on the specific immigration office, and it is suggested she might need to apply for a trailing spouse visa or maintain her own funds to ensure a hassle-free process. Additionally, opening a bank account in her name may provide a more secure option.

7 repliesnewest first

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Kool *******

The most hassle free way, if you have the funds, is get her a Thai bank account in her name, then transfer her bt800,000 into it from overseas. This keeps her on her own visa, as she is now, and then there is no question if your local immigration office would accept her as a trailing spouse being she's over 50. Not to imply anything, just being real, but if something terminal was to happen to you, an immediate visa extension change would not be a worry.

4 years ago

Graham ******

Yes she can apply for a dependent visa when you have converted your Visa to an extension of stay

4 years ago

Brandon ************

Some immigration offices will allow your wife to do the trailing spouse extension and some will not if your spouse is over 50. You would need to ask your immigration office.

Then the way to do it is a bit complicated. She would need to leave Thailand and go to a nearby consulate and get a non-O visa from there based on being married to someone with a retirement visa in Thailand. Then when she has 30 days or less left on that visa she can go to your immigration office and apply for the 1 year extension based on trailing spouse, and they will stamp her extension to expire when yours does. Future years will be easier to do and can remain inside Thailand.

4 years ago

Steve *******

@Brandon ***********

no need to leave the country she already has the non imm O or extention of stay

4 years ago

Mick *********

@Brandon ***********

she as a retirement visa now which runs out next year same as mine

4 years ago

Brandon ************

@Mick ********

but that's not what you want. You said you want her to do trailing spouse. So she will have to leave Thailand to apply for that visa.

You can ask your immigration office if she can switch to it without leaving but I doubt they would let her

4 years ago

John **********

@Brandon ***********

they should let her as it's just changing the reason for her extension, not starting fresh. The first extension must be for the purpose the visa was issued but 2nd extension onwards it should be possible to change the reason.

4 years ago