Answered4 years ago
How can my husband and I stay in Thailand for 6 months as tourists before applying for a retirement visa?
Hello! My hubby and I are wanting to spend 6 months travelling Thailand before returning home to Australia to consider and plan for a retirement visa. I can see we can get a 60 day visa but how would we navigate staying 6 months as tourists? Apologies if this has been previously asked. I cant get any answers on our Thai embassy website. Any advice appreciated.
Answer summary
To spend 6 months in Thailand as tourists, consider obtaining a multiple entry tourist visa, which gives you 60 days per entry, with the possibility of extending for an additional 30 days. You will need to exit the country (e.g., border run) before re-entering for another 60-day period. Alternatively, you might explore the OA retirement visa, which can be obtained from Australia, allowing a longer stay without frequent border runs, as it provides a 12-month stay with financial requirements. Some users suggest the O-X visa, available through the Sydney consulate, which has a longer duration of up to 10 years. This discussion covers various visa strategies and personal experiences related to visa requirements.
56 repliesnewest first
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Stephen *******
A brilliant discussion this one.
Bob **********
You will have to leave Thailand a get a new tourist visa in Laos or Cambodia
Roberto *********
Looking through the comments here, as an Aussie I have to agree with the sentiments of my compatriots. For your situation the OA is far and away the best visa to suit your strategy.
I'm 54, so I don't qualify for the Super Account advantages, although I can access my funds at 55, but these would still be taxed at 15%. As I spend about 3-4 months each year back in Aus working, I'm still able to contribute to my Super Fund, and I'm estimating by the time I'm 60 when I can access it tax-free, it will have grown to around $560,000. Even at a very conservative estimate of 6% return, this would still net me more than enough to support the 65K baht monthly transfers, without even touching the capital amount.
I've been on OA visas since I turned 50, and cannot see the advantage of the non-O which is clunky 90-day visa, requiring a visit immigration to get a year, and put 800K baht in a Thai bank account deal. I've been virtually living in Thailand for almost five years and have yet to visit an immigration office, and I'm happy to keep it that way. I get a new OA each time I'm back in Aus, and on one occasion I did do the border-bounce to get the second free year. At this point I haven't started the 65K baht transfers but this will come within a few years, as I wish to get into the rhythm well before I turn 60.
Some people are frightened of insurance, but I'm a firm believer in it. I've never set one foot outside of Australia without insurance. The cost compared to the potential benefits is negligible.
Good luck with your endeavours!
I'm 54, so I don't qualify for the Super Account advantages, although I can access my funds at 55, but these would still be taxed at 15%. As I spend about 3-4 months each year back in Aus working, I'm still able to contribute to my Super Fund, and I'm estimating by the time I'm 60 when I can access it tax-free, it will have grown to around $560,000. Even at a very conservative estimate of 6% return, this would still net me more than enough to support the 65K baht monthly transfers, without even touching the capital amount.
I've been on OA visas since I turned 50, and cannot see the advantage of the non-O which is clunky 90-day visa, requiring a visit immigration to get a year, and put 800K baht in a Thai bank account deal. I've been virtually living in Thailand for almost five years and have yet to visit an immigration office, and I'm happy to keep it that way. I get a new OA each time I'm back in Aus, and on one occasion I did do the border-bounce to get the second free year. At this point I haven't started the 65K baht transfers but this will come within a few years, as I wish to get into the rhythm well before I turn 60.
Some people are frightened of insurance, but I'm a firm believer in it. I've never set one foot outside of Australia without insurance. The cost compared to the potential benefits is negligible.
Good luck with your endeavours!
Michelle ***********
OPThankyou Roberto for sharing your insights. Great food for thought...
John *********
If you can use Sydney, you can get a 10 year visa (O-X) with proof of funds in Australia. Only at Sydney though.
Bobby ********
@John ********
Correct. This is a super-visa. You get 5+5 years. Sydney is the only consulate in the world which allows money in Australia to be used to meet the criteria. It is by far the best visa for Thailand. Better even than Elite
Craig ********
@Bobby *******
is the (O-X) a multi entry visa?Bobby ********
@Craig *******
Yes it isSteve ********
Get the OA visa for two years. Avoid transferring that 800,000 dead money into a Thai bank account.
Steve ********
@John *********
Yes I transfer 800k over the course of the year, but the point you're missing is that I can spend it as soon as I get it. There is zero requirement to keep any minimum sum in the bank. So it's not horses for courses, it's a totally different process
Michele *********
@Steve *******
sorry if I misunderstood you Steve...I was just responding to your...' and I can spend it as soon as I get it'.Michele *********
@Steve *******
you must keep the 800 000 in your account for 3 months AFTER you renew your visa. They will check. This is the reason immigration ask for the previous years bank statement.Steve ********
@Michele ********
Which is what I already said. Every extension is a separate entity and the conditions of each must be met. Scroll back and you'll find it. And you don't "renew a visa", you actually apply for a new extensionJohn **********
@Steve *******
it's a different process granted, but transferring once a year suits me. For that benefit I'm happy to have 400k just sitting in the bank
James *********
@Steve *******
I thought it's about MC Hammer 😆John **********
@Steve *******
sure. And as I've already said the 800k works for me, and for many others. I'm not fortunate enough to have a regular pension payment that would get anywhere near 65k per month so the lump sum works for meSteve ********
@John *********
Yeah but this whole thread is about retirement visas isn't it? And the requirements?John **********
@Steve *******
I have control of mine too. I can choose to remove it from the bank at any time. Just won't get my next extension 😉Steve ********
@John *********
If it suits you, then it's good for you. I need total control of my money. It's mine and I don't like being told "you can't touch this" 😆Steve ********
@John *********
I transfer the 65k each month, which I can access and spend as soon as I get it. That's what I live on. Why do I need 800k tied up in a friggin Thai bank account earning 0.5% interest which effectively I can't touch?
Steve ********
@Steve *******
My bank is giving me 3.35 % and 3.6% next month. I really dont want to disturb that money but i dont quite get the 65K / month . I may have to do the 800 for a year and then try the combination method .Steve ********
@Steve *******
For both. Financial requirements are identicalSteve ********
@Steve *******
Is that for the OA ? I believe for the O it's just for the first year .Steve ********
@Steve *******
Switching from the 800k to 65k/month is not easy as you have two separate extensions that must still meet the criteriaJohn **********
@Steve *******
horses for courses. You transfer 800k over the course of a year. it's only 400k that's actually tied up. I prefer to transfer 800k every year means sometimes I have 1.2m towards the end I'm getting close to the 400k againJohn **********
@Steve *******
but it's not really dead is it? What are you going to live on without it?Bobby ********
You could just get the OA retirement visa from Australia (using proof of funds in an Aussie bank or Super scheme) which gives you a clear 12 months with no requirement to visit an immigration office or bounce out to another country. Whilst in Thailand you can open a bank account and start the process of transferring
*****
baht each month (which you can immediately withdraw). Keep that up for 12 months and your eventual retirement funding is already in place, negating the need to transfer 800,000 baht as an untouchable lump sum into your account when you do choose to retireSteve ********
@Brook *******
No idea what you're talking about. If the insurance company denies you coverage, you use value of assets in your home country in lieu of insurance. I just prefer to keep my money in Australia earning decent interest.
Brook ********
Dont get the OA. Terrible advice.
Apply for the Non O in country and then apply for an extension based on retirement. You will thank me later.
Apply for the Non O in country and then apply for an extension based on retirement. You will thank me later.
Steve ********
@Brook *******
I won't be thanking you for tying up $33,000 for the rest of my life! I assume you're not a financial advisor? 🤣🤣🤣Brook ********
@Steve *******
See how much you lose when Thai insurance refuses your claim , denies you coverage, or turns down your renewal application.Bobby ********
@Brook *******
Not really. The OA gives you two years without having to transfer the ridiculous 800,000 into a Thai bank account which you effectively kiss goodbye to, as it has to stay there forever. The OA gives the opportunity to build the *****
k/month process. Once you've got the 12 months up, you leave the country and come back on an O visa. Makes perfect senseBobby ********
@Brook *******
Australian Super pays 7-8% interest tax free. You'd have to be brain dead to put 800,000 for the rest of your life into a Thai bank account paying 0.5% interest!Brook ********
@Bobby *******
if you don’t have $21k USD to put in a Thai money market account, or regular pension payment, you probably shouldn’t be thinking about retiring in Thailand anyway.
Stuart *********
@Bobby *******
Also requires the applicant to be over 50. The OP didn’t specify that they were (as yet).Bobby ********
@Stuart ********
True, but someone planning for retirement (which in Aus is usually around the 60-65 mark in order to get full benefits from any Super Scheme they may be in) I'd wager would be 50 or overJohn **********
@Bobby *******
but does require 3m baht insurance cover
Ryan ***********
@John *********
3 million baht not that much I have a 94 million baht international health insurance
Jo **********
@Ryan **********
i have 94.1 millionBobby ********
@John *********
Yeah, you wouldn't want to cover yourself in case of accident or illness would you? 🤣Bobby ********
@John *********
Australia has a fantastic Superannuation set-up. Other nationalities are sometimes perplexed at how good it is. The only drawback is once you have withdrawn funds from a Super account, you cannot put that money back in. It then becomes normal "savings" which are subject to crap interest rates and taxation, which is why I advise Aussies not to use their Super funds to pay the ridiculous 800,000 baht process, but to get the OA visa and build the 65k/month process.John **********
@Bobby *******
no such thing as a tax free pension for usBobby ********
@John *********
It's up to the Fund member how they take it. I take mine at six month intervals. My 65,000 transfer I fund from a separate super fund which is a defined benefit pension. I'm an ex-government employee so I have a healthy pension scheme. This pension is also tax-freeJohn **********
@Bobby *******
I understand the point with the superfund. Does it pay monthlyBobby ********
@John *********
Exactly my point. We've got an Australian OP and I'm giving advice from the Aussie perspective. For me to transfer $33,000 into a useless Thai bank account is financial lunacy, as it would be for any Aussie accessing Super funds to finance their Thailand retirement. The only way to avoid the $33,000 transfer is to get the OA visa for two years with no requirement of transferring the lump sum, and to then start the process of transferring 65k baht each month, and after 12 months of transfers go to a neighbouring embassy and get an O visa, come back and get the extension using the 12 X 65k transfers. And remember the 65k does not have to be kept in the bank.John **********
@Bobby *******
I'm Scottish so I know nothing about Oz retirement funds. Can't get anything like that in ScotlandBobby ********
@John *********
I can only assume you're not Australian? So you wouldn't understand. Aussie Super Funds pay on average around 7-8% interest per annum. In Australia once you reach 60, any interest from Super is tax-free. Your viewpoint might be relevant for UK and USA, but the OP in this case is Australian, so my advice is being given from the Aussie perspective. To withdraw $33,000 from my Super would lose me around $2,500 tax free in interest per annum. If you can't pick up a decent insurance policy for half that, you're doing something wrong. If I put that amount in a Thai bank account, it would gross me $165 per annum, which would be taxed.John **********
@Bobby *******
I'd love to know what sort of account is paying you 7.5%?Bobby ********
@Brook *******
One year insurance to avoid transferring 800,000? If I transferred 800,000 I would lose $2,500 Australian Dollars in tax-free interest. I can pick up an insurance policy for around $1000. It's a no-brainerBrook ********
@Bobby *******
You have to be stupid to limit yourself to 14 Thai insurance companies as opposed to any insurance company anywhere, self insurance or no insurance at all. Get the NonO. Avoid the OA. Preserve your options.Michelle ***********
OP@Bobby *******
great info thankyou!Stuart *********
You could buy the multiple entry tourist visa. It’s valid for 6 months. On entry you get 60 days. You can either extend that entry for 30 days at a local immigration office, or pop across a border to a neighboring country and re enter for your next 60 days.
Time your last entry right and you can get nearly 9 months from that visa.
Time your last entry right and you can get nearly 9 months from that visa.
Michelle ***********
OP@Stuart ********
Thank you so much!🤗John **********
Get a multiple entry tourist visa. You'd still have to bounce out across a border and back but only once if you get 30 day extension on each 60 day entry
Michelle ***********
OP@John *********
thanks so much JohnActivity
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