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Can US retirees apply for a DTV in Thailand?
Retirement VisaDependent VisaDTVProperty Investment in ThailandImmigrationVisa RequirementsExpat Guidance
Jun 5, 2025
a year ago
Anonymous *************
ORIGINAL POSTERHello,
My husband and are are planning a move to Thailand. We plan on spending 5-6 months in a row in the country each year.
We are US citizens
We make 2,000 a month (social security)
We have 210K USD in savings
My husband is 69 years old
I am 39 yrs old.
We currently live in France.
We are planning on purchasing a rental property that will increase our income to 4,000 USD per month.
Can we get a DTV as retired people?
My husband and are are planning a move to Thailand. We plan on spending 5-6 months in a row in the country each year.
We are US citizens
We make 2,000 a month (social security)
We have 210K USD in savings
My husband is 69 years old
I am 39 yrs old.
We currently live in France.
We are planning on purchasing a rental property that will increase our income to 4,000 USD per month.
Can we get a DTV as retired people?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A US couple is planning to spend 5-6 months annually in Thailand and is curious about obtaining a retirement visa. The husband qualifies for a retirement visa due to his age, while the wife can apply for a dependent visa. Many comments recommend against pursuing the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) given their circumstances, with suggestions emphasizing the need to properly understand the Thai real estate market before making any property investments.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
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- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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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Diana ******
Obtain a retirement visa
Diana ******
You can try to get a DTV for medical reasons but, you have to report to immigration every 6 months ( go out of the country), or you can apply for a retirement visa which you have to renew every year.
Diana ******
I advice you not to buy anything until you spend one year in Thailand before buyin a property, I advice you to rent insted of buying,
It can become a nigth mare.
It can become a nigth mare.
Fitfac *****************
We would recommend
1) wife apply for softpower muaythai(39 years old doing muaythai is normal)
2) once wife gets dtv, then the husband can apply for spouse dtv visa.
You do not need purchasing a rental property. It doesnt increase ur chance of getting the visa.
1) wife apply for softpower muaythai(39 years old doing muaythai is normal)
2) once wife gets dtv, then the husband can apply for spouse dtv visa.
You do not need purchasing a rental property. It doesnt increase ur chance of getting the visa.
John *********
If one of you can do a remote work business (not doing any business with Thais/Thai companies) then that might work to apply for DTV but not if you are both retired, or going to be doing business within Thailand ie. Buying a condo to rent out etc
Muay *************
We have done a DTV Muay Thai visa for a couple who were 72 and 93 years old. And they came training 2 x a week too!
Anonymous ******************
The benefit of having a retirement visa is you can open a bank account, which you can't do on a dtv
Greg ********
Two options. 1) Husband gets retirement visa and you come as dependent. Costs 1900 THB each per year if you do it yourself 2) DTV - One of yiu takes a course in say cookery or Muay Thai. The other comes as dependent. Cost is 10k THB each for 5 years plus Soft Power course. Rental- buy outside Thailand where you can own 100%, you know the market and will get capital appreciation. Do not buy anything here unless you know the market well and are experienced local investors.
Anonymous ******************
Your husband can apply for a retirement visa and yourself as dependant. For the revenue planned, I highly doubt you would generate 2k monthly with an investment of 210k on the long-term.
Razvan ******************
They have social security, did you read the post?
Anonymous ******************
@Razvan *****************
And? 4000 expected - 2000 social security = 2000 to be generated. 😏 I did read.Reply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant 310 are you sure? I was told last year it required switching from tourist visa to ED then ED to a dependent on retirement. I didn’t get more details because was a lot of work and expensive if we used an agent
I think he could get retirement and wife DTV would be easier but wife has to leave every 6 months.
I think he could get retirement and wife DTV would be easier but wife has to leave every 6 months.
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Bob **********
Will you use your savings to purchase the rental property??because honestly it’s not a lot of money
Anonymous ******************
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
Chris *******
As to the rental property you want to buy , have a look at Ko Samui.
It’s an upmarket destination with a rental yield of 10-15% per year.
It’s an upmarket destination with a rental yield of 10-15% per year.
Anonymous ******************
@Chris ******
only way eny one get just 10% is by over price rental property... And is just GREED....Chris *******
Anonymous participant 361 Well some say you can’t make serious money with a rental property but you say making 10% or more is just ’greed’?
It’s called capitalism.
It’s called capitalism.
Anonymous ******************
ppl like you are the problem in the world .. Greed -- not think a off the ppl who normal live ther dont got the Sick price ppl like you try to force down on the normal thai who get pay lesh .. you 🤮🤮🤮
Reply to
Anonymous ******************
Reply
James ********
@Chris ******
frankly speaking it's foolish to buy anything in Thailand. Keep their $$$ in the USA earning interest. And note there's a significant age difference between the two. If he passes first, she will be faced with challenges to stay in Thailand. Owning property adds to that.John *********
@James *******
agree, just rent in Thailand imo, keep yourself free from all the associated problems of ownership etcStephen ********
@James *******
not really, they'd be better buying somewhere to live in Thailand if that's where they see home from now. At her age, she could save 40 years rent. If you look at property prices in Thailand. Even in the relatively expensive phuket, it only takes 8 to 10 years of equivalent rental payments to cover the initial outlay. By the time she's his age, rent will be at least 4 times today's rate.James ********
@Stephen *******
when he passes, which Thai Visa will she have available? Depends on whether she's age 50+ and eligible for retirement. AND selling property may be as it is now, difficult.Stephen ********
@James *******
Based on her passing first🤷♂️😂 (possibly). I suppose, on 4k a month and presuming she could produce the 500k she would get a dtv. Which is likely, as that's 300k less than what he'll need to get a retirement visa now. If she's over 50, she get a retirement anyway. I don't see a problem selling the property as difficult, they are already two Americans, living in France, wanting to move to Thailand. How much more complicated could it get. But, whichever of them passes first? Its likely they'll want to keep the property anyway.Reply to
Stephen ********
Reply
Bob **********
@Chris ******
they won’t get $2000 US out of a rental hereChris *******
@Bob *********
Why not? A 15% rental yield would get them USD 2,625 per month on their 210k investment.Anonymous ******************
@Chris ******
15% yield sounds very optimistic... With that amount of money, they may get a condo or small house. Good luck to rent that 70k and over for years.Chris *******
Anonymous participant 310 7 million THB gets you a small 2 bedroom villa with a pool which currently rent for 80 - 100k per month in Ko Samui.
Bob **********
@Chris ******
you can’t own itChris *******
@Bob *********
That’s just a matter of defining ‘own’. You can obviously ‘own’ a property in Thailand economically.Bob **********
@Chris ******
buying in company names will soon be a thing of the past invest all you like in Samui it’s up to you but telling someone to base there retirement on a rental in Thailand is absurdChris *******
@Bob *********
I did not say anything about owning land through a company. There is a difference between economic ownership and legal ownership.Bob **********
@Chris ******
there retired they don’t need any Thai BSChris *******
@Bob *********
They want to buy a rental property in Thailand. Nothing wrong with that.Bob **********
Anonymous participant 310 not many properties go up in value over here with shoddy construction most condos trying to see off plan offer 10% if you can rent it there are thousands of condos sitting empty this guy must work for a real estate company
Anonymous ******************
@Bob *********
Plus all the legal issues/costs you may face if trying to invest into a house that could slightly raise the yield. As you said, only a few expensive freehold condos may be OK.Bob **********
@Chris ******
in Thailand?? My best friend has condo’s in the best building in Pattaya and a $550,000 unit gets him 65K baht a month when rented invest in your own country don’t buy here you’ll be sorryChris *******
@Bob *********
I would never recommend buying a condo and certainly not in Pattaya or Phuket.Stephen ********
@Chris ******
I have property in London and Thailand, been a landlord for 30 years. Phuket would generally be the best to let property.Chris *******
@Stephen *******
I have properties in Southern France and Thailand 😀.The Phuket property market is already oversaturated. There are currently 6,900 (!) new villa units across 219 projects available for sale or under construction.
Stephen ********
@Chris ******
it's just a much bigger market, more tourists, more farang living there.Reply to
Stephen ********
Reply
Chris *******
Your husband can get a retirement visa and you can get a dependent visa.
No need for a DTV for both of you.
No need for a DTV for both of you.
Rok ********
@Chris ******
i do not think Thailand is doing Non-O (retirement) dependant visaJohn **********
@Rok *******
a Non-O based on being over 50 can be obtained either inside Thailand or at a Thai consulate before coming to Thailand. A Non-O dependant visa is not available inside Thailand based on someone on a Non-O based on ageChris *******
Rok ********
@Chris ******
google is one thing, IO office another.Chris *******
@Rok *******
I know someone with a dependant visaJohn *******
@Chris ******
based on the primary having a retirement visa?Chris *******
@John ******
YesReply to
Chris *******
Reply
J.P. *********
Nope. Your husband can get a retirement visa. You will have to get a tourist visa 2 months with 1 month extension while in country for total of three months, then leave to a bordering country for a day or two, then return and on another two months. You can do that each year for a total of 5-6 months in the country per year.
Anna *********
@J.P. ********
not exactly accurateGreg ********
@J.P. ********
The wife can get a dependent visa on the back of the husbands retirement visa. No need for tourist visa and border runsChris *******
@J.P. ********
Why answer when you don’t know much about visas for Thailand?J.P. *********
@Chris ******
soft power isn't going to work for a 70 year old and it is becoming less and less reliable. They also mentioned nothing about coming to learn courses or interests, just hoping rental income would do it.Reply to
J.P. *********
Reply
Bob **********
@J.P. ********
bad informationReply to
Bob **********
Reply
Tod *********
there is no "retired people" category for the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) 🙁
These are the categories you can get a DTV for
These are the categories you can get a DTV for
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
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