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Do immigration offices in Thailand require a lease for a 1-year retirement extension?
Aug 16, 2024
2 years ago
Edward ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi I hope this is allowed if not I understand my question.
Anyone know an immigration office that doesn't require a lease to apply for 1 year retirement extension? Thank you
Anyone know an immigration office that doesn't require a lease to apply for 1 year retirement extension? Thank you
TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster inquired about immigration offices in Thailand that do not require a lease for a 1-year retirement extension. Community responses indicated that most immigration offices require some form of address, typically a lease, except potentially in some cases like long-stay agreements at hotels or using a friend's address. Specific mention was made of Bangkok's requirements, which include providing the lease and three months of rent receipts. Clarity was also provided on the need to report to immigration (TM30) when traveling.
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- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Keith *******
If you have a Thai friend with a property, you can ask to use their address.
John **********
You need to have a "permanent" address about everywhere. Permanent can be a hotel where you have a long stay agreement
Edward ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thank you. This long stay agreement mentioned, once I have it, can I freely visit as much or as little of Thailand I want?John **********
@Edward *******
yes of course but depending on your immigration office you may need to report (tm30) when you return to itReply to
John **********
Reply
Andy ************
Bangkok requires the lease, plus the last three months rent receipts. I thought this was standard for retirement extension?
Steve *******
@Andy ***********
Nope, never needed a lease only proof of addressAndy ************
@Steve ******
Every immigration office has its own policies. The generic conditions are clear, but every office is able to set their own standardsSteve *******
@Andy ***********
It's far from standard, the vast majority don't need a lease, only proof of address.Andy ************
@Steve ******
That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. Each immigration office makes its own rules. I'm merely showing what the generic requirement is. I've only used Bangkok immigration, so I can't speak for the rest. You say "the vast majority" so you must have used dozens of immigration offices in your timeSteve *******
@Andy ***********
Try reading my original reply. You thought it was a "standard requirement".It's NOT!
Andy ************
@Steve ******
Yes I thought that because of the generic requirement and because of my own experience in Bangkok. I further commented after that each immigration office can set its own policy. What's your problem with that?Steve *******
@Andy ***********
Who said there was a problem? It's NOT a generic requirement to have a lease. What's your problem with that?Andy ************
@Steve ******
According to the attached document provided by immigration it is. Each immigration office operates its own policy. The OP is looking for an office which doesn't require this. I'm only familiar with Bangkok, which is the biggest immigration office. I'd assumed it was standard across the country which is why I asked the question.Steve *******
@Andy ***********
It's definitely NOT standard to provide a lease at the vast majority of Immigration Offices, you do need to provide proof of an address but it doesn't have to be a lease.Andy ************
@Steve ******
You keep talking about the "vast majority". What? In shithouse little immigration offices in that shithole called Isaan? Jesus wept! Get into the real worldSteve *******
@Andy ***********
PrickReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Marty *********
@Andy ***********
I extended my OA 5x at Bangkok. I always brought my lease but was never ask for it.Andy ************
@Marty ********
I'm on non-O. Different speciesMarty *********
@Andy ***********
except for the requirement of an insurance certificate the 1 year extension of an O and OA are identical. Same requirement and rules.Andy ************
@Marty ********
When I was on OA I was never asked to show lease, when I switched to O, they started asking me. Different approachMarty *********
@Andy ***********
🍧You are extending your O as married or retired?Andy ************
@Marty ********
RetiredMarty *********
@Andy ***********
Interesting. I have an LTR now. My last OA extension was Oct 2022. Like I said, always brought, it never asked. I’ve never heard the requirements to be different.Marty *********
@Andy ***********
I'm assuming that is from a list of required documents for a 1 year extension? I never got one of those. I started extending in November, 2018. I learned what to bring from the Thai visa advice FB group. I did submit a hand drawn map but I'm not sure what a receipt would be. I paid my monthly condo rent with a transfer from my Thai bank. The bank statement would be my evidence.
Whatever . . . if they are different then they are different. I stand corrected.
Andy ************
@Marty ********
Thai Visa Advice group told me I can't go from an OA to an O without putting 800k in a Thai Bank Account. They got that wrong too! 😂. I get my advice from the immigration office I'm dealing with. I find generally they have a better idea than a Facebook group!Marty *********
@Andy ***********
Well congratulations. I always got good advice from Tod Daniels. I never had a problem at CW. I’m done with all that now that I have an LTR.Andy ************
@Marty ********
It was Tod who said you can't go from OA to O without the 800k in the bank even though I had a history of 65k bank transfers. I went to the immigration office and enquired about this, and they indicated I could do that by leaving and re-entering. I've also never experienced problems with CW. I'm switching to DTV next year so I can also skip the immigration office routeAndy ************
@Marty ********
Definitely are for non-O at Bangkok. Lease and last three months rent receiptsReply to
Andy ************
Reply
Pascal ********
@Andy ***********
not standard at all.Pascal ********
@Andy ***********
do you think Thailand stop at the Bangkok border?Jim ********
@Pascal *******
The list I got is generic. Perhaps not all immigration offices enforce it, but it is a requirement. Perhaps some in that Godforsaken toilet called Isaan probably don't bother 😂Reply to
Jim ********
Reply
Andy ************
@Pascal *******
Always has been at BangkokReply to
Andy ************
Reply
Steve *******
Which Office is it a requirement at?
Most Offices dont require it.
Most Offices dont require it.
Jim ********
@Steve ******
I don't know which one the OP is referring to, but when I stayed in Khon Kaen for a while and extended there they wanted to see my lease. It was only a six month lease, but they accepted it. Some offices are more anal than others. A buddy of mine was staying long term at a hotel and they accepted a letter from the hotel detailing the arrangementSteve *******
@Jim *******
Yeah, they just want to see proof of an address, it doesn't have to be a leaseJim ********
@Steve ******
Khon Kaen wanted to see the leaseReply to
Jim ********
Reply
Peter *********
Every immigration office needs an address of were you staying in Thailand
Reply to
Peter *********
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