Answered9 years ago
Do my husband and I need separate bank accounts and combined amounts for our retirement visa in Thailand?
Just after some info please. My husband and I at the moment are on TR visas from Australia and are going for our Retirement visas at the end of this month. We are both 50+ years, have a Thai bank account (this is in joint names) with the required amount + more, has been since early last year, will get a letter from the bank a couple of days before hand (to take with us), have the signed rental agreement on the rented apartment, copies of passports, copies TM.6 cards, copies of passports entry, stamps photos of each, required Baht and the completed Application For Change Of Visa paperwork. Do we have to show separate bank accounts? ( I hope not). Do we have to have the required amount of 800,00Baht each or is it a combined total of 1.6m Baht for both, or is it just 800,000Baht for both(A little confused on that one as I am reading conflicting info)? Do I need to have something from the Australian Embassy at all? Is this all I am needing (besides patience at the immigration office) for the retirement visas for both of us. TIA.
Answer summary
The original poster is inquiring about the requirements for transitioning from Tourist visas to Retirement visas in Thailand, specifically regarding bank account requirements, financial amounts needed, and any additional documentation needed from the Australian Embassy. Conflicting information is presented about whether they need separate bank accounts, how much money is required per person, and the necessity of an income letter from the embassy. Responses provide varying insights, with some suggesting that joint accounts may be acceptable if they hold double the minimum amount, while others advise on the necessity of maintaining separate accounts or having a mix of funds and income documented.
52 repliesnewest first
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Tod *********
@Ant****
, just checking to see how the trip to immigrations went for you guyz..
Antonia *********
OP@Tod ********
well I am glad I kept copies of everything I took out with me on my first trip.Tod *********
Antonia, to meet the financial requirements you either bank 800K in a thai bank OR you use the embassy letter to show 65K baht in income from abroad or you can use a combination of the two that equals 800K for the year.
Most people use either all banked money (which does require a new letter from the bank) or the embassy letter.
The embassy notary will be accepted at face value in section L without any support documentation. You can just go get new stat-decs from the Oz embassy. Although those letters ain' the 650 baht they once were, your consulate jacked up the price sky high for them :/
Just so you know if you are using banked money your money needs to be seasoned in the account for 60 days prior to your application for the yearly extension.
Most people use either all banked money (which does require a new letter from the bank) or the embassy letter.
The embassy notary will be accepted at face value in section L without any support documentation. You can just go get new stat-decs from the Oz embassy. Although those letters ain' the 650 baht they once were, your consulate jacked up the price sky high for them :/
Just so you know if you are using banked money your money needs to be seasoned in the account for 60 days prior to your application for the yearly extension.
Antonia *********
OP@Tod ********
so you re telling me that I have to get the bank to to get them to print out another guarantor letter (and pay them again for the letter) and proof of income from overseas. Shite though I had enough trouble just getting the darn letters for the first time but looks like I have to do it again.Tod *********
@Antonia ********
you will use the exact same documentation when you go back to section L as you did when you went to section C-1. Unlike at section C-1 where your application goes under consideration for 14 days and you go back to get the 90 day Non-O and the new 90 day admitted until stamp in section L when you apply for the yearly extension of stay you will get it right then. You apply sitting at the desk of one officer (if she prints the receipt and takes your 1900baht you will be approved), then you take the paperwork to her supervisor who sits in the corner of the section, she reviews it and tells you to go sit down back in the waiting area and they bring the passport out to you once the extension is stamped into it.
Once you get the extension IF you need a re-entry permit you can by it in section C-2 1000baht for a single and 3800 baht for a multiple.
Antonia *********
OPTod Daniels thank you for all your helpful information. We got our Non O Retirement Visas. If I had a copy of my marriage certificate then they would have accepted the joint Thai Bank Account. Just wondering Is there any paperwork that has to be completed to get the yearly extension (after waiting the required 45 days or less). The information that the office wrote down for me was that “I was to submit 1 year visa at Counter L”. This was a little confusing as she did not say whether or not I had to complete more paperwork. The yearly extension visa we want as a multi entry visa.
Tod *********
One other thing. Some immigration offices will accept a joint account with double the financial requirement in it. BUT some will not. I'd go to the immigration office and check.
The good news is, IF you need to break the account into two separate ones the money doesn't need to be seasoned to apply for the 90 day Non-O. It only needs to be seasoned the 60 days when you apply for the yearly extension of stay. Good Luck (y)
The good news is, IF you need to break the account into two separate ones the money doesn't need to be seasoned to apply for the 90 day Non-O. It only needs to be seasoned the 60 days when you apply for the yearly extension of stay. Good Luck (y)
Tod *********
@Ant****
, IF you already hold a valid tourist visa you use form TM.86 Application for Change of Visa. You can down load the form here
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Antonia *********
OPTod, just wondering what form it is that we have to complete. Is it the Application to Change of VISA paperwork. I just want to have everything completed before going out there.
Tod *********
okay, let's see if we can't get some clarity.
Sorry this is long :/
The O/P and their spouse can go from a 30 day visa exempt stamp (or a 60 day tourist visa stamp) to a 90 day Non-O visa and then a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement), BUT they can't do it all in one day or at one time.
In Bangkok (and other areas that issue Non-O visas in country) you apply for the 90 day Non-O when you have 15 days or more left on your current admitted until stamp. That is because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the 90 day Non-O visa and a new 90 day admitted until stamp in your passport.
When you apply for the 90 day Non-O in country using banked money in a thai account the money does NOT need to be seasoned (like it does for a yearly extension) BUT you must prove it came from overseas. If you are using income from abroad with the letter from your consulate you must also show documentation that the amount on the letter is backed up by something, pension statement, bank account deposits etc. This is ONLY when you apply for the 90 day Non-O inside the country.
After you apply and pay the 2000baht you wait the two weeks then go back and get the visa stamped into your passport.
You then wait until you have 45 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp until you go apply for the yearly extension. This is the time if you are using banked money that the money must be seasoned for the 60 days. They issue the yearly extension right on the spot.
It takes three trips to the immigration office. There is no way to get everything done at one time unless you use an agent to grease the wheels and break the time line..
I've accompanied easily over a hundred of people thru the process and that's 100% how it works.
Sorry this is long :/
The O/P and their spouse can go from a 30 day visa exempt stamp (or a 60 day tourist visa stamp) to a 90 day Non-O visa and then a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement), BUT they can't do it all in one day or at one time.
In Bangkok (and other areas that issue Non-O visas in country) you apply for the 90 day Non-O when you have 15 days or more left on your current admitted until stamp. That is because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the 90 day Non-O visa and a new 90 day admitted until stamp in your passport.
When you apply for the 90 day Non-O in country using banked money in a thai account the money does NOT need to be seasoned (like it does for a yearly extension) BUT you must prove it came from overseas. If you are using income from abroad with the letter from your consulate you must also show documentation that the amount on the letter is backed up by something, pension statement, bank account deposits etc. This is ONLY when you apply for the 90 day Non-O inside the country.
After you apply and pay the 2000baht you wait the two weeks then go back and get the visa stamped into your passport.
You then wait until you have 45 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp until you go apply for the yearly extension. This is the time if you are using banked money that the money must be seasoned for the 60 days. They issue the yearly extension right on the spot.
It takes three trips to the immigration office. There is no way to get everything done at one time unless you use an agent to grease the wheels and break the time line..
I've accompanied easily over a hundred of people thru the process and that's 100% how it works.
Karen ***********
Hi Tod- thanks for all this info. Hope you can handle question. Im moving to Thailand next summer and will eventually apply for a retirement visa. I’ll be there in January for a few weeks vacation. Should I open my bank account in January? I understand the money needs to be in the bank a while before you apply. Or, is there plenty of time once I move since I have to do the three step process? TIA!
Tod *********
@Ant****
, Good Luck, can you report back and let is know how it goes? FWIW: Out at Chaengwattana Immigration's you will go to section C-1. If they accept your application, take the 2000baht and give you a receipt that says go back in two weeks, you will be approved and get the 90 day Non-O visa. I have never seen someone's application accepted, and then denied.
Antonia *********
OP@Tod ********
thank you. That clears it all up.Tod *********
@Antonia ********
, yep, you still do three trips,1 - to apply to change the visa from a tourist visa to a Non-O
2 - to go back in 14 days and get the Non-O stamped into your passport
3 - final trip to get the yearly extension of stay when you have 45 days or less left on the new 90 day stamp you got .
Whether you had a visa exempt entry or a tourist visa doesn't change the fact that you need to do three trips to pull it off :/ As long as you have 15 days or more left on your current stamp you can apply for the 90 day Non-O
Antonia *********
OPTod we already have a TR VISA and got that in Australia. Can we just go out to Lak Si and apply for our retirement visa with only 15 days left on our visa. Or do we have do the 3 trips?
Antonia *********
OPThank you Tod.
Joe ***********
Must go from Tourist Visa to Non Imm O Visa then to Extension of Stay for being 50 years age or over / Retirement
Joe ***********
Check Tod Daniel's two long comments on this main thread. My statements here are in line with Tod's explanation of the two stage process with three visits to the immigration office. Go take a read.
Joe ***********
The time frame is the issue
Mark ********
I have read reports that this can now be done at other immigration offices (e.g Jomtien and Chiang MaI although the application still has to be approved by BKK central office)
Joe ***********
One applies for Non Imm O visa, at the Central Bkk Immigration Office - then has to wait until the last 45 days of the 90 days to apply for the Extension of Stay
Joe ***********
It used to be done several years ago by Agents skirting the law
Mark ********
I wasn't disagreeing with you, just seeking a clarification
Mark ********
Respectfully, I was not conflating two different points. I was just making a clarification
Joe ***********
No it is not done at the same time
Mark ********
@JD ******
have you done this? my understanding was that the conversion to non-imm and extension of stay based on retirement was done at the same time (the first trip to immigration to get the apply for the conversion, and the second trip to get the extension based on the conversion)Joe ***********
Yes you are correct BUT a person still had to be processed to obtain a Non Imm O... I did not say it had to be out of Thailand. You are conflating two different points
Mark ********
This can be done in Thailand though without any need to go for new non-imm in a neighbouring country. You will need sufficient remaining time on your TV though
Robert *******
More easy is to open 1 bank account on one name, put the minimum of 800.00 Thb on it, that person apply for the Non O based on retirement and the other one can apply for the Non O based on dependent.
Reiner *********
For the amount of money , yes every person, but may be a bank account from your home country or a pension or an income is enough, with a letter from you pr ambassador
Jim *******
@Antonia ********
. Having the required amount of Baht is all you need. No income letter at all. Nothing to stop you using that money in between your extensions of stay.
Peter ********
Mark Barrons post above about having the money in a special account with no other transactions is bs. Regular transaction savings account is fine - just need to keep the balance up above the minimum in the final 2 months(for 1st application and final 3 mths for renewals).
Mark ********
@Antonia ********
just to clarify, you can use a mix of income and funds (should all add up to 800k). So if your bank funds were only 600k, you would need income of at least 200k per annum to cover. It isn't an either funds or income situation.Mark ********
Most banks have specific accounts for foreigners to use for this purpose which maybe you should look into for future years. Generally speaking, it is recommend that this account be separate from anything else and not used for anything. Most people end up in a mess because they have not followed this simple rule. It is a pain to have this amount locked up in an account, but there we are. You can hold the amount in Aus$ in a Thai bank account (BKK offer foreign currency accounts for example), but you may need to fiddle with the amounts if there are significant currency variations. It's better to just have the account in THB and dedicated for that purpose. If you need two accounts (I don't know the dependent rules), it would be better to have an account each rather than a joint account
Mark ********
@Antonia ********
That is correct. I was just clarifying a (confusing) postAntonia *********
OP@Mark *******
do I really need the letter of income from the Australian Embassy if we have the required amount of Baht plus more in our Thai bank account for us both. I only need this if I do not have the required amount of funds in my Thai bank account.Mark ********
If in Thailand the money will need to be in a Thai bank account but needn't be in baht
Mark ********
The Australia embassy or local consulate can do the income letter
Mark ********
Your post is confused. You can use home bank only for first application out of country. You can use income instead or in conjunction with savings with a proof of income from your home embassy if not applying in your home country
Robert *******
Minimum 1.6 M on the bank, this because Thailand rules that on a joint account the money is equal divided by the persons, so in your case
*****
Antonia *********
OPThat is what we have.
Frank ********
You will need to show transactions on your bank accounts on the day you apply. Simply make a small deposit using your bank pass book
Antonia *********
OPWe have transactions going in and out of our Thai account all the time. This should suffice.
Reiner *********
And you will need a NON -O visa first ...
Joe ***********
Yes - an in country conversion can be done - But not a non imm O and an Extension of Stay at the same time - on the same day at the same office - as was stated up the thread.
Jim *******
Can definitely do an in country conversion.
Joe ***********
Mark - no cannot do
Jonathan *************
TR? tourist? didn't use to be able?
Mark ********
Not correct....you can convert TR to retirement extension in-country
Reiner *********
Please open a bank account for each of you.
Joe ***********
I do not believe the account in two names will be accepted
Antonia *********
OPWe do not have enough time to open a bank account in each name. We are getting our visas at the end of this month so it will have to stay as a joint Thai bank account with a letter from the bank.
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