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Do I have to use an agent every year for my retirement visa in Thailand?
Nov 7, 2025
6 months ago
Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI hope this is not a dumb question but if you used a agent to sort out your retirement visa and all the other stuff do you have to keep using the agent every year after that this will be my first retirement visa
TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a retirement visa in Thailand, whether you must continue using an agent each year depends largely on how the initial application was handled. If you provided the necessary funds (800,000 baht) in your own bank account, you can likely handle renewals yourself in the future. However, if the agent used their own funds for your initial application, you may be required to continue using their services. It's important to comply with all visa requirements to avoid issues during renewal.
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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
James ***************
A colleague used an agent to put the money in the bank, next renewal he had his own money. The IO looked at his bank book, he said you use agent before use one again. Moral is if you plan to do that get a new bank book which doesn’t show the funds in and out in few hours.by an agent.
Brandon ************
@James **************
so how is a new bank book going to fix when they check your 12 month bank statement to see if you kept your balance at 800,000 for 3 months after last year's extension and then never let it drop below 400,000 the rest of the year to ensure you met the requirements of your previous extension?Mark *********
@James **************
not my experience. I had an agent help open the bank account and then I did my own paperwork for the nano visa. Chiang Mai immigration office did not give me any hassles and accepted and approved my application, if I understand you correctlyReply to
Mark *********
Reply
Eamonn *******
Don't use an agent
Andrew ********
As long as you have your own money in savings - you can do the renewal yourself use agent for paper work prep
Anthony ********
@Andrew *******
what’s the price for getting an agent to just do the paperwork ?Ant ***********
@Anthony *******
Do you already have a retirement Visa & looking to extend ?Do you have a Thai bank account
If it’s an extension renewal do you have the 800K ?
Paperwork only without using Agents funds - about 8K
For a renewal
Anthony ********
@Ant **********
thank you , u have answered the question that I asked. 😃Reply to
Anthony ********
Reply
Trav **********
@Anthony *******
Last time I did that it was 9,000.Kim **********
@Anthony *******
it depends. In addition, it’s more if they need to open the bank account for you.Andrew ********
@Anthony *******
depends on the agent - what they do for you.Reply to
Andrew ********
Reply
David *******
Why not just do it yourself?
Not difficult.
Been doing it for decades.
800,000b in a Thai bank account, plus a few things like 2 photos, proof of address etc.
For an OA med. insurance is needed.
An O visa is better. as no insur.
Not difficult.
Been doing it for decades.
800,000b in a Thai bank account, plus a few things like 2 photos, proof of address etc.
For an OA med. insurance is needed.
An O visa is better. as no insur.
Helen *******
@David ******
Hi I am applying for a Non-0 visa one of the requirements is two recent photos but does not mention the size do you know if is the same as the passport pictures
And do you have to
File individual if you are a married couple
Thanks for your time
David *******
@Helen ******
It is on Thai website.Reply to
David *******
Reply
Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTERCheers everyone there is a lot to think about
Bill *********
@David ******
Visa agent is the way to go. Saves time and stress. I'll always use my agent for anything immigration related.Troels ******
@Bill ********
You must be your agent's friend!! I have done my own visa applications since 2007. I submit bank statements, pension advice forms + copies of passport, tabien baan, bank book and now tax return certificate is required.Bill *********
@Troels *****
My agent and her husband are friends. They live in the same building as me.Reply to
Bill *********
Reply
David *******
@Bill ********
For the lazy, incompetant . You must be flat out busy all day and night.Bill *********
@David ******
Not really lazy and not entirely incompetent, as I think I have a pretty good handle on a quite satisfying lifestyle. I'm surprised how fast the days go by with my several projects underway each day. And because my office hours are based on US time, yes, I'm pretty busy throughout the night too!Reply to
Bill *********
Reply
Trav **********
@Bill ********
Waste of money, but if you got enough to throw away go for it.Bill *********
@Trav *********
Here's my thinking: I make money while I'm sleeping thru my various income streams, which more than covers the Visa agent costs. On the other hand, I've never found a way to make time. So the money spent allows me to optimize my time; that's not throwing money away at all.Kim **********
@Bill ********
after spending from 6:30 am til 5 pm at immigration for my kids education visa extensions… I’m 100% paying an agent if I have to to it again (planning on switching to an ltr once I have enough passive income)Trav **********
Good for you champ
Reply to
Trav **********
Reply
Kim **********
@Bill ********
agent is fine if you were using them to make opening the bank account easier or speeding the time you have to spend a immigration. If that’s worth the cost to you then absolutely go for it. But if you’re using an agent to fake having money in a bank account and get around the rules, it’s probably not the best of ideas and may come back and bite you. Yo***
@Kim *********
yes right. But as long as I see, there is no clear boundary between legal and illegal. It is legal but tomorrow it will be illegal. it was illegal but today legal but tomorrow illegal again like this. And, legal means what is lawful or not clearly illegal too. And also illegal but death law. there are laws that are already dead. no enforcement and no practicing possible. no feasibility at all.. like this.. an example is, in public, you should not take off your shirts. But there are many without cover everywhere. Actually this is illegal but no one cares. It is not possible to enforce. and sometimes when too hot or too much sweating, it is recommended to take off clothes a while to cool down outside. yes, but officially this is illegal too according to the law. it is but, up to the Thai government. If they want enforcement, yes they can at any time. Well, life isnt go nicely.Bill *********
@Kim *********
I hear ya... and agree. I procured a really excellent agent who facilitated setting up the bank account for me, where I then supplied my own funds. I've maintained the required balance fully on my own ever since. She also did help immensely with the time spent at immigration; most of it was setting in the coffee shop while she worked her magic. Thus I have nothing but positive experiences with the Visa agent method.Reply to
Bill *********
Reply
Bill *********
No. You can choose whomever you wish. I really like mine so I use her for everything, but not mandatory.
Stan **********
Nothing to stop you putting your money in a Thai bank after you use an agent, if you did not have it in before and then doing your own visa when it comes to renewal.
Just have to fulfil the requirements
Just have to fulfil the requirements
Brandon ************
@Stan *********
there are still a few things that can trip you up. If the agent got your visa and/or extension in an impossible time frame, then you can't do it yourself next year. Agents can get extensions 3 months early but normal people cannot. So if it stamp has an impossible date on it, no immigration office will let you apply.
Also if your agents takes your passport and gets your extension from an immigration office a few hundred kilometers away that's known for agent extensions, you also won't be able to do it yourself next time.
Andreas *********
@Stan *********
what you wrote is not 100% correct . . . . . Yes, you can start put your own 800,000 THB funds into your account during the first year, but then you still need an agent service plus tea-money ONE MORE TIME. Only then in the year that follows, you will be able to fulfill the requirements of keeping your funds in your account according to the rules . . .Stan **********
@Andreas ********
you can do the following...Just whack 400,000 in immediately you have your account set up. Then you have 9 months to top it up to the 800,000 required for retirement "extension" or if "marriage extension" you have the 400,000 in their already 😁
Or if you want to use an agent again then the cost for them to 'fast track' you as you have the money in situ the couple of months before. Which I think is around 7,000 baht
Or the monthly income road, bit more paper work but still doable
Andreas *********
@Stan *********
it won't work because you need to keep a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account for THREE months after being issued the extension. The agent but will have withdrawn the funds right after you got the extension stamped. This is the moment you are violating the rule. So which ever turn you make, even if you put your own funds into your account on the same day, you have already violated the rules at the very moment the agent took the money out. Understand?Reply to
Andreas *********
Reply
Trav **********
@Peter *********
Correct.Jay *******
@Stan *********
except that you won't be able to show that you had the required funds in your account for the whole year since the agent puts the money in and then immediately takes it out.Stan **********
@Jay ******
just whack 400,000 in immediately you have your account set up. Then you have 9 months to top it up to the 800,000 required for retirement "extension" or if "marriage extension" you have the 400,000 in their already 😁Jay *******
@Stan *********
you have to maintain 800k balance for the first 3 months if your non 0 is based on age 50.Reply to
Jay *******
Reply
Peter **********
@Jay ******
That’s right, but one more year later you’re safe and can eliminate the use of the agent.Reply to
Peter **********
Reply
Ossie *********
No
Colin **********
If you complied with all the visa requirements then you should be able to do it yourself, if you didn't comply your immigration office may not want to take your application.
Stuart *********
That will depend on what the agent did for you. If you provided the funds and all they did was the basic paperwork then you should be able to DIY in further extensions.
If they provided the funds for your extension then you’ll be stuck using the agent train because you didn’t follow the rules of getting the extension.
If they provided the funds for your extension then you’ll be stuck using the agent train because you didn’t follow the rules of getting the extension.
Karl ******
@Stuart ********
I can't believe that. Point one, if I open a different bank account and transfer 65,000 baht for a year or more. What's the issue going to immigration with my new bank account showing funds.Steve *******
@Karl *****
Immigration will see your previous years extention and would almost certainly want confirmation that you followed the financial requirements of that extentionKarl ******
@Steve ******
Thanks Steve for your reply but as you see it and go with me. They see a passport with a stamp and how I had 800,000 baht In my account. So the new bank account is showing 65,000 baht for a year. Am I being too simple.Steve *******
@Karl *****
You need to prove the 800k was in your bank account for 3 months after you received your extension and didn't drop below 400k for the whole year of your extension in order to get your new yearly extension based on 65k per monthKarl ******
@Steve ******
Thanks Steve.Reply to
Karl ******
Reply
Stuart *********
If you didn’t follow the rules for your first extension then you can’t use the 65K method of bank deposits for the next one.
They will need proof that you followed the rules for the first extension before allowing you to switch to the transfer method.
They will need proof that you followed the rules for the first extension before allowing you to switch to the transfer method.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Jay ***********
@Stuart ********
which of course is ILLEGAL !Stuart *********
A very grey area here in Thailand. On paper it’s illegal but so is not wearing a helmet on a motorcycle. Whether the police or immigration office enforce a law is up to them.
Jay ***********
@Stuart ********
and people want to know why bank accounts are being frozen ! CORRUPT “ AGENTS “Stuart *********
Believe that if you want.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Frank **********
It depends. Did you bank your own 800k baht or did the Agent use their money.
Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Frank *********
i will have my own moneyJohn **********
@Paul *******
but did you have your own money last time or did the agent front the money at that time? Also is your stamp from the immigration office that serves your local area?Paul ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
i have not done anything yet im just asking for later on when i do retire next yearJohn **********
@Paul *******
in that case I highly recommend you just do it yourself, it's pretty straightforward. Get the 90 day Non-O visa before you travel to Thailand. Get here and open a bank account in the first couple of weeks (you may need a residence certificate from immigration to do so) and transfer a minimum of 800k baht into it so it is there for 2 full calendar months before you need to apply for the 12 months extension of stayPaul ********
ORIGINAL POSTERJohn Stanner cheers mate for the advice
Reply to
Paul ********
Reply
Tom ********
@Paul *******
If you used your own money then do it yourself, it's not hard once you have all the requirements and you save a good chunk of money.Wannikea *********
@Paul *******
then you aren't locked inReply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
Brad *******
Thats their plan.
Reply to
Brad *******
Reply
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