Do my wife and I each need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account to retire in Thailand?

Mar 4, 2024
8 months ago
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
For my wife and I to retire in Thailand do we need 800,000 baht in bank for each of us?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
For a retirement visa in Thailand, generally each person must maintain 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account, although couples can sometimes use one spouse's funds for extensions. If married, it's typically sufficient for one spouse to have the required amount after the initial visa application. The process varies based on embassies and personal circumstances, with options for income affidavits or confirming monthly income as alternatives. It's advisable to confirm specifics with the local Thai embassy.
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Giorgio ******
visa is uninominal , anywhere in the world .

so of course every individual has to comply individualy .
Steve *******
According ChatGPT its $108,700 per person filing jointly for 2024
Steve **********
Andrea ******************
Si
Yorgos **************
You are 2 people, aren't you?
Mikael *****************************
40.000 B /Month if married to Thai woman,then no need for 400.000 on the Bank!!!!
Shane ************
use
@THAI *****************************
and you need 0 in the bank
Bart **************
@Shane ***********
why would you.
Shane ************
@Bart *************
easy and i can afford it
Bart **************
@Shane ***********
good luck then when they crack down on that nonsense.
Shane ************
they aren't cracking down on anything
Daniel *******
Yes absolutely 👍
Frank **********
Too many people in here either giving out incorrect information or incomplete answers.
Ger *******
@Frank *********
The Dunning-Kruger effect
Dick **********
So many different opinions. Suggest you try your local Thai embassy website.
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dick *********
yes this is good advice. We do still have some time to get all of our affairs settled over the next couple of years. Just want to be as prepared as possible and really don't want to use an agent. Luckily my wife although from Loas speaks and reads Thai. So this ay even help us get the bank account started without an agent. I'm hearing that can be theist difficult part
Ken ********
Yes unless she piggy backs of your retirement visa then she has to have about ½ that so I've read
Greg *********
Of coarse
Tullio *******
For the yearly extension you only need 800k in your bank and she will piggyback on yours, for the initial visa issuance I am not sure as it varies country to country Depends what you are requiring, initial visa or yearly extension.
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tullio ******
so first year we should each have the 800,000 (total 1,600,000). Then we will only need 800,000 total for both of us each year after?

Also can we do all of this on one joint account or do we need separate accounts? One joint account would sure seem easier
Nigel ********
@Vincent ********
no still 1,600,000 if you are both over 50 unless your married to a thai
Damo ***********
@Vincent ********
have you thought about getting all these 'answers' validated by an Immiigration office before you go off half-cocked? 🤷‍♂️
Tullio *******
Correct advice from
@Damo **********
yes obviously once you are here go to you nearest immigration and get all the information for your extension of stay, what works with some of us doesn’t necessarily work for all…. While it may sound absurd it is like this here in Thailand.
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Damo **********
no not yet. Of course once we get closer to making the move that will definitely be the plan though. We are thinking of doing this in two more years. Hell it may be totally different by then 😆. We have some things we are waiting to get settled here in the US before we go.
Jan ******************
@Vincent ********
I guess you know, but after the first year you can just use our income and bank statements if one of you or both can meet the requirements of 65 thb in bank every month.
Nigel ********
@Jan *****************
you will still need to show exactly 65k for 12 month consecutive each going in to the bank to renew or you have to start the process all over again
Jan ******************
@Nigel *******
yes, but that’s how most retirement extensions are done in Thailand after the first year if your embassy doesn’t provide verification of your income for the first year.
Nigel ********
@Jan *****************
easier to put 800k each in the bank and forget about it made are renews easy
Jan ******************
@Nigel *******
Yes up to you, but this is the three options you have; 65K/800K or a combination 800K in total, unless you’re embassy gives you a letter each year.
Nigel ********
@Jan *****************
I'm from the UK and the embassy stopped the letter a few year ago so we only have 2 choices now 😡
Jan ******************
@Nigel *******
yes sad for you, it should be no problem for them to just sign a letter on your pension/income as several other-including our norwegian- easily does.
Tullio *******
@Vincent ********
for getting your initial visa non imm o based on retirement valid for 90 days you should check with the embassy where you apply. Once in country when your apply for your 1 year extension of stay one of you only needs the 800k in an account in his/her name (no joint account) once the primary extension is done. The trailing spouse can apply for his/her extension without the financial requirement.
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I should have mentioned that we are both over 50, retirement visas are what we will be applying for. There are soany different options with Thailand visas. We will be able to leave the funds in an account to cover the requirements
Tullio *******
@Vincent ********
important note that the 800k have to be in a Thai bank account for your extension of stay.
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tullio ******
Ok cool. This is great information. Thanks to all who chimed in to help me.
Don-Laura *******
@Tullio ******
Right, trailing/dependent spouse, 800K in one account with only that spouse's name on that account. That's what we do. There are pros & cons to having it under one spouse versus each having their own extension with their own 800K in the bank. Biggest risk may be that life can be come tough quickly for the dependent spouse if something happens to the primary spouse with the money in their name.
Steve *******
800k a piece. Don’t mess around with any other dodgy approaches. You never know when the government is going to crack down.
Phil *********
Unless you have
*****
B per month income each.
Keith ********
@Phil ********
this is much easer than opening two bank accounts in Thailand and putting 800 K in each
Phil *********
@Keith *******
prefer to do that though. Just write off the 800k as dead money.
John **********
@Phil ********
no good for those whose embassies want provide income affidavit for the initial visa or the first extension
Darren ******
If married it's 400,000b a couple
Onne ***********
@Darren *****
with thai woman

Not farang
Darren ******
@Onne **********
another one who doesn't read comments 😂🤣 read and U will see it has already been said.

And the women here is not a falang , she is from Lao
Ruth *******
@Darren *****
which is why your comment was ridiculous and why you’re getting so many responses. A Thai woman doesn’t need a retirement visa at all.
Darren ******
@Ruth ******
typical American know it all. And an American women not wanted in this country.. no wars here , what U doing here.
Darren ******
@Ruth ******
where did I say a Thai needed a visa 😂

I said a couple Thai falang is 400k and a western couple I didn't know but the OP has a Lao wife so non Thai and are delbt with separately therefore 800k each.

U can't even work out a multi entry visa 😂 and U laugh at others.

I've been in Thailand 17 years , I don't claim to know about visas at all but I know how my visa works.
Ruth *******
@Darren *****
“if married it’s 400,000b a couple” does not equal “Thai falang is 400k”. The OP clearly stated that he and his wife needed retirement visas. By definition, that meant the wife was not Thai. Thais don’t need visas. You didn’t need to know where she was from. If she needs a retirement visa, she’s not Thai.

Meanwhile, if you’re going to stalk old posts to criticize me for something completely unrelated, you should at least get your facts right. I don’t have a multiple-entry visa. Details matter. They’re how you put your foot in your mouth in the first place.
Darren ******
@Ruth ******
an American talking about details 😂😂😂.
Nigel ********
@Darren *****
only to a Thai
Darren ******
@Nigel *******
read above
Bart **************
Darren ******
@Bart *************
yes it is if Thai / falang ...
Bart **************
@Darren *****
the question was clear.

By the way, even with a Thai/farang couple, the required money in the bank for a retirement visa remains 800,000.
Darren ******
@Bart *************
pls learn to read.. I posted from the gov site 400k for Thai falang cpl and 800k each for non Thai cpl.

It's not a competition , so calm down
Bart **************
@Darren *****
who needs to learn to read? 🤔
Darren ******
@Bart *************
U as obv I already posted it , now move on , and be a Karen else where 😂🤣😂
Bart **************
@Darren *****
well your reply is still there replying as if the man is married to a Thai and not going for a retirement but for a marriage visa, which wasn't his question. Whatever you write elsewhere I don't read. If you don't want corrective replies, perhaps remove the faulty one. It'll delete everything written below too.
Darren ******
Frank **********
@Darren *****
that is only if you are married to a Thai.
Darren ******
@Frank *********
another one who needs to read above.
Frank **********
@Darren *****
yeah I seen that after I already posted. If you would have mentioned it first I wouldn't have needed to reply. Lolol
Darren ******
@Frank *********
I did mention it that why U can see I posted it before Ur comment 😂🤣
Buriram ******
@Darren *****
met een thaise ja
Buriram ******
3years of 5 years?
Darren ******
@Buriram *****
read above ...
Darren ******
Non Thai couples wanting retirement visa are seen as individuals , wow didn't know that and both over 50 and both have 800k each.
Peter *********
@Darren *****
this sums it up perfectly
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren *****
Ok cool. Things are clearing up. 😆. Looks like 800k each and renewable every year.
Ruth *******
@Vincent ********
correct. Otherwise, you can use the monthly income method after the first year. Starting immediately, you each need to transfer 65K/mo, so you have 12 months of consistent transfers. That is an alternative way to qualify.
Darren ******
@Vincent ********
I'm on a retirement visa and new rules say , when U take Ur bank book to do Ur visa or visa renewal , the 800k HAS to be visible in ur bank 2-3 prior and 2-3 after , any other time it doesnt need to be there but i did hear it cant go below 400k so u need to check on that.

This stops the agents depositing the cash for u then 5 mins later returning it.. cos they are trying to by pass it.

Thailand don't want the poor in and they see 800k a year as acceptable.
Bernard *****
@Darren *****
no, 400,000 if married to a Thai woman
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bernard ****
Ok. My wife is Lao but has her American citizenship. So both of us are considered American. So it would be 800,000 each.
Nigel **************
Bernard *****
Darren ******
@Vincent ********
ah she is Lao that's only for Thais
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Darren *****
so are you saying 200,000 each to total 400,000?
Jan **********
no.
Brandon ************
Generally yes. It's become very difficult to use a trailing spouse visa where only one of you has the money in the bank. If might be possible but depends on the Thai embassy in your home country as it can't be done anywhere else now.
John **********
@Brandon ***********
much easier to get if the principal visa is a non-oa
Vincent *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Ok cool thank you.
Onne ***********
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