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How can I switch from the banked money method to the monthly income method for my retirement extension in Thailand?

Jan 21, 2026
3 months ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Switching from banked money method to monthly income method on 'retirement' extensions

This gets asked a LOT so I thought I'd take a minute and go over

Let's supposed you are currently on a yearly extension of stay based on 'retirement' using banked money method <- that you got on your own by banking your own funds :)

AND

You want to switch over to monthly income method as proof of funds, but you come from a country whose embassy no longer issues the affidavit of income from abroad notary letter (US/UK, Australia and many others)

What you need to do is;

You have to continue to meet the seasoning requirements for the current yearly extension you're on using banked money method <- keep the 800K baht in the bank account for 3 months after your extension was granted and then you can't let the balance go below 400k baht the rest of the year

AND

While doing that you also need to transfer in to a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht per month, each month, every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for the NEXT yearly extension..

You need to follow the rules for the extension you're currently on where you used banked money method and the one you will be applying for in a year using monthly income method.

It is not brain science or rocket surgery, you need to realize you have to meet both sets of requirements..

couple more things, just so everyone is clear,

If you come from a country whose embassy here doesn't issue the income affidavit notary letter you cannot use monthly income method to get either the initial 90 day Non-O visa from the immigration office here or the first yearly extension from a Non-O visa <- because you need 12 months of incoming overseas transfers to use monthly income method by transfer..

Hope that was clear enough, if you have questions ask away on this thread (y)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To switch from a banked money method to a monthly income method for your retirement extension in Thailand, you must maintain the seasoning requirements of your current extension while also meeting the new requirements for the monthly income method. This involves keeping at least 800,000 THB in your bank account for the first 3 months, then reducing it to a minimum of 400,000 THB for the rest of the year. Additionally, you need to deposit at least 65,000 THB per month into a Thai bank account over the last 12 months before applying for the next extension. If your country does not provide an affidavit of income, you'll need to prove income through these monthly transfers. It's crucial to ensure that you meet both sets of requirements to qualify for the extension.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Giuseppe ***********
I understood that it wasn't mandatory to deposit money from abroad into the Thai account every month, but that the affidavit of income letter from the embassy was sufficient as proof. Apparently, I had misunderstood. ๐Ÿ˜”
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Giuseppe **********
if you're Embassy issues the affidavit of income letter you can use that and you don't have to transfer any money into the country.

If you're Embassy doesn't issue that letter you have to transfer the money in from an international account to a Thai bank account in your name only each month, every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for an extension.

That's how that works unless you're on a marriage extension and you legally work inside Thailand with the work permit, because then you can use salary to meet the financial requirements per month.
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Giuseppe ***********
@Tod ********
ok, I understood correctly during our last texting chat. I'm glad, I thought to be wrong. Always thanks! ๐Ÿ˜Š
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Giuseppe ***********
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Walter *******
So, after 3 months you can lower your banked money to 400.000 THB. And another 9 months later, on the day after your new extension based on the income method, you can take all the money out (as long as the monthly 65.000 keeps flowing in)?
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Walter ******
correct, you keep the 400k banked until you get the next yearly extension using monthly income by transfer, once that's inked in you can use it.
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Tod *********
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Alan *********
Great post and i followed your advice for the last 13 months and made the switch to monthly deposits in Hua Hin drama free ๐Ÿค— .

The only thing you could have added to this was Ellie's table that he posted back in 3 Jan 2025 .... for those of us that need visuals to understand these things!
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Vin *********
You missed one point Todd. You must also bring the 400k back up to 800k as usual, 2 months, before applying for the extension based on 65k. (You said remain at 400k.)
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Pedro **********
So just to play back, Extension granted based on 800K. Then START transferring 65K from Day
***
st month of new extension while 800K in bank and continuing monthly transfers. So really two threads.. 1. 800K--> 400K. 2. Monthly transfer starting from 1st month.
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pedro *********
correct, meet the seasoning requirement for the extension you're on using banked money (800k for 3 months, then 400k the rest of the year) and transfer in the minimum required amount, each month, every month, for next 12 months until you apply for your following yearly extension.
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Vin ********
as ellie correctly stated there is NO requirement to bring the 400K back up to anything because you're not using banked money to get the next extension you're using the previous 12 months of incoming transfers.
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Ellie *******
@Vin ********
, that is not required. You don't have to have 800k baht for the extension application using monthly income/international transfers as financial proof.
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Ellie *******
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Matthew *********
It's good info, but it sucks making two requirement for a whole year with no interest to speak of. Ouch
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Bob **********
@Matthew ********
in the big picture itโ€™s not that much to worry about when living in a foreign country
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Andy ********
@Matthew ********
for the vast majority of us the 65k is our monthly spending money, so preperation for the second year's extension is already happening.
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John **********
@Matthew ********
the 65k transfers from overseas per month you can spend as soon as it hits your bank account
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John **********
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Wayne ********
One. thing many US type do wrong is using direct deposit for this, as you may get 2 deposits in 1 month, and an empty month. Fact, and fails to meet the law. Be careful.
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne *******
yep, that can happen (especially if you have deposits that hit at the end of the month) and it will run you right off the rails ๐Ÿ™

The rules are clearly spelled out; you need 12 months of transfers at the minimum require threshold, can't miss a month and double up the following one.. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
sorry that post was long ๐Ÿ˜•
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Geoff ********
@Tod ********
what about the Thai tax issues on transferring money from overseas into Thailand ?
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Blaine ******
@Tod ********
im switching from a retirement visa to a marriage visa my immigration office in Chachoendsao explai i dont a letter from embassy verifying my income im putting 45,000 in my bank account every month that will prove my income
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
i would wager you come from a country whose embassy here no longer issues the affidavit of income letter and you are meeting the requirements for a marriage extension based on monthly income by transfer (a minimum of 40K baht per month, each month every month for the previous 12 months)
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Tod *********
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Andy ********
@Tod ********
thank you for such a succinct answer to something that many of us want to do.
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Giovanni **********
@Tod ********
Only because it contained clearly outlined and useful information ... how it should be ๐Ÿ™‚
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Mikael **********
@Tod ********
Yes but a good one Tod!
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Wayne ********
@Mikael *********
as always ๐Ÿ’ฏ
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Wayne ********
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