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Answereda year ago

Do I need to transfer my income to a Thai bank account for a retirement visa in Thailand if my embassy no longer confirms income?

Steve *********
asked May 26, 2025
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Hi guys, I plan on retiring to Thailand next year, I'm married to a Thai and was planning on going down the income route rather than dumping a lump sum in my Thai bank account. The British embassy no longer confirms income so do they accept a statement from a UK bank ?
Answer summary
The original poster is inquiring about the possibility of using a UK bank statement to prove income for a retirement visa in Thailand. Commenters share their experiences, indicating that direct monthly transfers into a Thai bank account may be necessary since many embassies no longer provide income verification letters. They emphasize that to apply for extensions of the retirement visa, it is crucial to have a consistent monthly income transferred to a Thai account over the previous year. Alternatives like the DTV visa are suggested as being simpler to maintain.
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Mike ******
Mike ******
I have married to Thai visa, my monthly income 40,000 (married to Thai) comes from Uk directly into my Thai bank, and they supply me with confirmation each month with a print out. Just a note, this system is long and complicated, much paperwork, and you have to supply 2 copies of everything.
David ********
David ********
Apply for DTV visa in your country before you move to Thailand. This visa is much easier to maintain and it's 5 year multi entry. Retirement visa is so complicated and you must keep funds in your account in Thailand.
Steve ***********
Steve ***********
Go to the local branch of your Thai bank that deals with International transactions for all branches in your area.

They can provide a printout of international transfers to your account.

For example for KBank in Chiang Mai it is the Tha Pae Rd branch.

Chiang Mai Immigration accept this printout as monthly proof of funds
Johnny ********
Johnny ********
Johnny ********
Johnny ********
The information I got and am doing when Canada stopped issuing letters was to open a bank account in a Thai Bank which was very dificult and do an international transfer of a minimum of 65,000 baht each and every month for 12 months prior ot applying for my next retirement visa. I am not allowed to miss any months and make it up the next month. If I use wise it will not show up as an international transfer so I have to transfer it directly from my Canadian bank into the Bangkok bank. We will see what happens next year. I have had a retirement visa for at least 10 years.
Nick ************
Nick ************
@Johnny *******
I use Wise to make monthly payments for Visa purposes. I use Bangkok Bank and funds for long term stay in Thailand as reason for transfer. I also asked Wise to Tag My Account. The transfers always show as international and have done for 16 months. It us also a lot cheaper for me than SWIFT transfers.
Daryl *******
Daryl *******
@Johnny *******
Wise does show as an international transaction when you select the last option in the reason drop down. I do this to Bangkok Bank myself.
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Johnny *******
seeing as you are already ON a yearly extension of stay there should be no issue at all as long as you can show incoming 65K baht a month, each month, every month for the previous 12 months to a thai bank account in your name only from abroad.

There's no issue changing from "embassy letter" to monthly income method for the following year.

You just have to make sure you don't skip a month, that will run you off the rails for sure 🙂
Johnny ********
Johnny ********
thanks I am doing that. It was very dificult to open a Thai bank account
Graham ******
Graham ******
Many Immigration Offices will not accept 40k transfers for marriage extensions, only Embassy affidavits or monthly salary of 40k in Thailand.
Graeme *******
Graeme *******
@Graham *****
So why did certain embassy's stop the income letter. Isn't it the function of embassy's to help their citizens while abroad.
Edward ********
Edward ********
@Graeme ******
- The short answer is No, it isn't, but it's a quaint idea. Only in the movies.
Tod *********
Tod *********
@Graham *****
good point, (y)
Tod *********
Tod *********
You can show monthly income to get the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage at the embassy in your country before you wing your way bere BUT

You will not be able to use monthly income method to get the first yearly extension on that 90 day entry after you get here..

The US/UK/Aussie embassies all stopped affidavit of income from abroad letters back at the end of 2018 (so this isn't a new thing by any means)

What that means for people from those countries is IF they want to use monthly income method to meet proof of funds for visa/extensions they have to transfer in to a thai bank account in their name only the required minimum (for marriage 40kbaht a month), each month, every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for the extension <- you see how that rules out using monthly income by transfer for the first year extension 😕
John **********
John **********
@Tod ********
If someone did manage to open an account, and has been transferring the required sum to the account before filing for the non-o visa for a period in excess of 12 months, would it then be possible to use to monthly income method, or is it strictly not allowed? Asking because that will be my situation in a few months.
Tod *********
Tod *********
you're out nothing by trying it
@John *********
but it appears that it doesn't work, several people have tried it and were told you have to be on a visa/extension of the same type for the previous 12 months before you can use monthly income. <- meaning just becuase you transferred the funds in for the previous year, IF you weren't on the "marriage visa" while doing it they won't accept it as proof of funds

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