How can I switch from an ED education visa to a retirement visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Tim Dollar Please update us when you find out.

I personally have never EVER seen it happen although I have seen many people try. :( In theory what you do is, take paperwork from your school to the immigration office to cancel your extension of stay based on education, and then immediately after that you turn in all your documentation to apply for a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).

That's how it can allegedly work out.

However I couldn't do it 8 years ago :/ I had a friend just a few months ago who was enrolled in a real university here in thailand. When he received his degree he tried to switch from an ED extension over to one based on being over 50 and he couldn't do it either.

You can go check with the immigration office out at Chaengwattana to be sure. BUT if I was a betting man, I'd bet they're gonna say no. They're gonna tell you to go to get single-entry, 90 day, Non-O visa outside the country them come back and apply for the yearly extension of stay.

Good luck, report back if you go to Chaengwattana to scope it out.