Answered6 months ago
Does the 800,000 baht for the retirement visa extension need to come from abroad or can it be from another Thai bank account?
I am due to apply for my first 12 month retirement extension having arrived from the UK on a non-o visa 2 months ago. I am looking for a definitive answer as to whether the 800000 baht deposited in my Thai bank account 2 months ago has to come from abroad or is it acceptable to come from another Thai bank account.Thanks.
Answer summary
The requirement for the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a retirement visa extension does not consistently necessitate that the funds come from abroad. While many users shared experiences indicating that some immigration offices may require proof of origin, others have noted that deposits can be made from Thai accounts as long as the amount has been maintained in the bank for at least two months. The exact requirements can vary by immigration office, meaning that it is advisable to check with the local office to clarify specific expectations.
90 repliesnewest first
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Stewart *******
Just want to point out that I did my 1st extension last week and they require money to be in account for 60 days ... I got caught out because of short month in Feb....
Chloe ********
No it can come from deposited cash too. Withdraw from ATM in Thailand with your UK debit card and deposit at Thai bank. Or fly with cash.
Breathtaki***********
Pop into your local immigration office and ask them what they need. Each has their own idiosyncrasies therefore no one on here can answer definitively regarding your situation.
Selwyn *******
Every immigration office has its own set of rules and can be very awkward to deal with some want twelve months bank statements so be very careful
Rod *******
In Bangkok, the immigration office required a proof of international money transfer from the Thai bank (explicitly listed on their required document checklist).
Brandon ************
Rod Tayag that's only when converting from tourist to a 90-day non-O from immigration. The annual extension doesn't require proof of international transfer for Bangkok.
Terence **********
When I did my 3 year ago the money came from my wife thai bank account
Michael ********
In my 15 years of experience, I've noticed that immigration authorities couldn't care less about the origin of the money. Only the amount and the timing are of interest.
Gary *********
The money is ok, I’m reading many different story’s here, but one thing is for sure, it depends on the immigration office, please tell us.
Ian ******
NO it doesn't!!
Colin ********
Check out Thai Visa Centre
Barath *******
I saw another post, 'Can I hand carry foreign cash into Thailand for the Non-O visa extension?
Answer many provided: amount has to reflect money was transferred from a foreign bank.
Answer many provided: amount has to reflect money was transferred from a foreign bank.
Malcolm *********
my 500k matured in Kasikorn bank, when I applied for my extension to stay, it was a simple transaction and letter from the bank, in Pattaya, they generally know what is required. Once you have your letter from the bank, usually same day, then go to your IO with your completed forms, and it should go OK.
Mark ********
If you are doing it yourself immigration won't allow it as they will say either 3 or 4 months and require 12 months statements. Every immigration is different and so is every immigration officer depending on what they had for lunch. Be interesting to see how you got on and at what immigration centre. First one generally takes 3 weeks so you might even need to extend before you apply if your at the end of your 2 months visa. Let us know.
Stuart ***********
A lot of misinformation here. Read and believe the replies from the moderators like Brandon and John Stanners.
Terry ***************
The official requirement is that you transfer the 800K baht equivalent from your home country bank account to your Thai bank account, the currency exchange has to be done by the Thai bank, similar rules when transferring money into Thailand to buy property. Whether your local immigration office accepts that you have 800K balance or needs proof of 800K transferred from is anyone’s guess I suppose but yeah the official narrative is must be transferred and exchanged by your Thai bank
Paul *******
Terry Bill McGinty doesnt have to come from home country.
Terry ***************
@Paul ******
needs to come from outside ThailandTerry ***************
Paul Franklin that’s good to know
Paul **********
Terry Bill McGinty no it doesn't, perhaps the 65k monthly payments, but the 800k isn't checked. I know this from my personal experience.
Bryan ***********
Terry Bill McGinty no it doesn't
Klaus ******
You arrived 2 months ago and already need an extension?
A bank statement was all I needed.
A bank statement was all I needed.
Gary *********
OPKlaus Zelm Yes I arrived 2 months ago on a 90 day Non-O Visa from the UK, this visa allows me time to open a Thai bank account deposit 800k baht allowing it to mature for 2 months before applying for a 12 month extension for retirement purpose. I have no idea what you got that only required a bank statement.
Klaus ******
Gary Mcauley I believe I misunderstood your use of "extension".
Simon **********
The 800,000 can come from any account...but has to remain for 3 months...before extension is accepted.
Stuart ***********
Simon McCleery *2 months
Mark ********
Stuart Chiverton not at jomtien they have quoted 3 months mostly but also heard one guy was told 4 months.
Simon **********
James Mitchell It's been 12 month statement for a while now
James **********
Mark Wright they actually ask for a 12 month statement now, whether this is for all IO, I presume it was to crack down on the agent depositing the funds
Gabor *********
That's what often happens in Thailand; nobody knows anything at all.
Richie *******
Gabor Janszki Ain't that right, least of all the Thai Immigration
Stephen ********
For the 800k they really don’t care where it came from. If however you ever decide to go with the 65k per month method, you had better be able to show where it came from and that it was in fact pension income.
Jonathan *************
Stephen Kading doesn't have to be pension income
Angelo ***********
Stephen Kading Does not need to be pension income.
Does not need to be either pension nor income.
It is utterly fine if you transfer from your funds abroad.
Or if some friend or family transfers from abroad ...
Or if it is from go fund me ...
Does not need to be either pension nor income.
It is utterly fine if you transfer from your funds abroad.
Or if some friend or family transfers from abroad ...
Or if it is from go fund me ...
Jörg ********
Stephen Kading sorry but i don't think so. As far as i know you have to proof that it came from abroad
Joe ******
I got mine last time from a agent only took 1 week 33
000 baht
000 baht
Henry ******
Joe Kane Mine took 1 hour and cost 1900 baht
Angelo ***********
Joe Kane Perhaps you are bad in math.
This is about 1000 Dollars,
Why pay 1000 dollars to a parasite?
This is about 1000 Dollars,
Why pay 1000 dollars to a parasite?
James **********
Angelo Schneider because an agent can make the process smoother. Immigration can be a lot more strict when dealing with people directly. You pay for a service, where do you think the money the goes?
ฟาร์มนกปักธงชัย **********
James Mitchell Immigration make it easy if you can show them the money in your bank account.
1900 bath to pay. Easy!!!
But some people never learned it.
Pay a lot of money for a black market visa
1900 bath to pay. Easy!!!
But some people never learned it.
Pay a lot of money for a black market visa
Trevor ***********
You have already proven that you have the money, by being granted the non o visa in your own country, you are only extending
Russell ***********
Trevor Ratcliffe 800,000 tb has to be in a Thai bank account 2 months before & 3 months after, & never drop below 400,000 throughout
Mark ********
@Russell **********
not at jomtien I know a guy that was told by immigration there it's 4 months. I also know a guy that was told 3 months.James **********
@Russell **********
no its doesn't, have you done a retirement visa?Russell ***********
Mark Wright doesn't make sense, there is absolutely no consistency ...
Trevor ***********
@Russell **********
he was asking if he had to prove if it came from overseas , not the terms and conditions of the maturing of the moneyRussell ***********
Trevor Ratcliffe sorry, the Extension needs the International Transfer of Funds abbreviation in the Thai Statement book
John **********
Bit late asking this question given the funds have to be in place for 2 months before you can apply for an extension. For an extension there should be no need to show the funds originated from overseas but best to check with the immigration office you will use
James **********
@John *********
the questions, and answers are getting ridiculous of late. Perhaps a few pinned post of certain rules might be an idea. Its quite frustrating reading the same things repeated multiple times per dayJohn **********
@James *********
the problem with that is there are no definitive answers to many questions. Using the above as an example my immigration office requires the funds are in place for 2 months for the 1st extension but 3 months for subsequent extensions, even though the official police order states 2 months for all extensions.Ken ************
Just get an Agent and it will be quick easy and no stress
Angelo ***********
Ken Hutchinson Thanx for being one of the nice guys who give stupid comments to a question: instead of either
- answering the question
- or just scrolling on if they do not know the answer
- answering the question
- or just scrolling on if they do not know the answer
Ken ************
Angelo Schneider What was stupid about what I said
Larry *************
Ken Hutchinson I just did mine -1900 baht and some headache. I’m leaning away from agents. Many are just money grabbers. I got quoted 14, 24 and 80k for my latest. If you can get the bank statement do it yourself. It’s worth the savings.
The answer is it doesn’t matter. Agents deposit the money, often just the day before your appointment and immigration overlooks that.
The answer is it doesn’t matter. Agents deposit the money, often just the day before your appointment and immigration overlooks that.
Mark ********
@Larry ************
which immigration and how long did they say the money needs to be in the bank for, also how many months bank statements did they request from you ?Larry *************
Mark Wright Chon Buri in Jomtien. 5 months total. 2 months prior, and 3 months after. 12 months bank statements, but they only want to see the incoming deposits if using the 65k (option 2) method.
Paul **********
Mark Wright it has to be minimum of 60 days.
Ken ************
@Larry ************
Your choice as is mineLarry *************
James Mitchell I said that. So it’s 1900 baht doing it on your own… or even at the minimum you noted 20,100 baht or $616 US difference. Your worst example is 43,100 baht or $1322 in my pocket savings.
James **********
@Larry ************
its not 80k though is it, that's worst case when I enquired it was told 45, 36 and 22, so the prices vary.Larry *************
Ken Hutchinson 💯. 1900 baht on your own or 80,000 baht for an agent to take your money.
James **********
Ken Hutchinson and get ripped off
Ken ************
@James *********
You only get ripped off if you did not get what you want and it was worth the cost. You are delusionalJames **********
@James *********
an agent can get round certain documents, and can quickly let you know if anything is needed, doing yourself can be quite a mission if you're not computer savvy, have a printer, understand the forms. The rules change from officer to officer.Larry *************
James Mitchell so which is it in your opinion. I think you just made the argument for not using an agent, when the one above it makes the argument to use one.
James **********
Ken Williams no you don't, you can use the agent whenever you like. If you're confident you can get all the documents in order, then you can do it yourself.
Larry *************
Ken Williams this is the biggest issue right here! You get caught up in the 800k in the bank loop and paying absurd fees.
And frankly, some of the banks are just as bad as the agents. I was told they no longer would provide me a statement/letter of 65k transfers… but after talking to bank manager and a few angry words being exchanged with each other, got the letter.
And frankly, some of the banks are just as bad as the agents. I was told they no longer would provide me a statement/letter of 65k transfers… but after talking to bank manager and a few angry words being exchanged with each other, got the letter.
Ken ************
Ken Williams why is that a problem
Ken **********
James Mitchell plus you then have to use the agent every year for renewals.
Brandon ************
The "definitive" answer is from your immigration office.
It's not a normal requirement to be able to show the funds came from an international transfer for the extension. But each immigration office sets their own requirements.
It's not a normal requirement to be able to show the funds came from an international transfer for the extension. But each immigration office sets their own requirements.
James **********
@Brandon ***********
that's the best answer really, they can all be different.Gary *********
OP@Brandon ***********
When I was at Jomtien Immigration to get a residence certificate at the beginning of March I did get a handout detailing the required documents needed but there was nothing specific regarding where the 800k needed to come from.Back at the end of January in̈the UK I had read that it did not matter where the 800k came from so because the exchange rate on Wise was favourable I decided to transfer the 800k to my Thai wifes bank account and she then tranferred it to my new Thai bank account at the beginning of March.Today I was on Pattaya ex pats website reading an article that said categorically that the 800k had to be an International transaction which prompted my question this evening.
Jonny *********
Gary Mcauley why don’t you get a marriage non o visa. As you are married and it’s 400,000 baht you need to show.
Brandon ************
@Gary ********
If you try to convert from tourist to non-O inside of Thailand, you must be able to show the 800,000 in your Thai bank account was an international transfer. For the 1-year extension, that is not a normal requirement.
Graham ******
Gary Mcauley the international transfer is for the initial Non-O Visa not the extension but many people incorrectly call it a visa
Gary *********
OPGraham Seal Evisa from British Embassy in London.
Graham ******
Gary Mcauley You got it from an Embassy/Consulate I assume
Gary *********
OPGraham Seal I am confused now,there was now transferring of money involved in getting my non-o visa.
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