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How do agents manipulate the retirement visa process with the 800k bank requirement in Thailand?

Retirement Visa Thailand Visa Rules Thai Immigration Financial Requirements for Visa Bribery and Legitimacy Expat Issues in Thailand Non-O Visa Non-OA Visa Visa Agents in Thailand

Jun 5, 2025

24 days ago

Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

How do the agents for a retirement visa magic 800k in your bank account and provide the visa !?  Do they bribe immigration officers is it legit?   I understand you could I invest the 800k making good intrest rather than it sat there doing zip.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion centers around the process of obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand, specifically the commonly cited method of showing ฿800,000 in a bank account. Several commenters share differing opinions on the legitimacy of this process. There are claims that agents help expedite the process by temporarily depositing the required amount, then withdrawing it, while allegedly bribing immigration officials to bypass regulations. Some suggest that while the method is widely practiced and results in a valid visa, it operates in a legal gray area and poses risks such as deportation if discovered. Alternatives, such as monthly income transfers, are also discussed as potentially more prudent.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Marty ******

Don't rock the boat , bugger all bank interest return on yer $800k , easier than jumping thru hoops if you do it yourself and get it wrong , especially you get the wrong immigration officer having a bad day

22 days ago

Donnie **********

The last time I checked..the "B" word was not used for any reason at all ever period..Ya jus roll with the flow..no questions

23 days ago

Kook ******

To qualify for a Thai retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O or OA), you need to show financial means. One option is to have ฿800,000 in a Thai bank account (held there for at least 2 months before applying, and 3 months after approval). Alternatively, a combination of income and savings that total ฿800k can work too.

23 days ago

Dave ************

I cannot understand why you don't put 800k in an account and leave it there.

I know the intrest is virtually non existant, but if you pay an agent to deposit 800k in your account, and bribe others to claim it has been there for a period of time. The money you pay the agent is a fair bit more than the interest you would get if you had the money somewhere else.

23 days ago

Lawrie *******

No wonder it is the land of the smiles..."Hello Falang...have I got a good deal for you?" 😁😁😁

23 days ago

Paul *********

A friend of mine just paid £800 takes 2 weeks then half that yearly for a retirement visa in pattaya 😃 so £400 per year a drop in the ocean, keep your money in your home country earning interest and transfer monthly needs as it's very difficult to transfer the out of thailand if your circumstances ever chang.

I plan to do this route next month as will be moving to the jomtien area

23 days ago

Jay ********

I get the impression Immo

Prefer we use agents ??

Tea ☕️ anyone?

23 days ago

Eric ***************

The 800,000 sits on a bank with no interest

23 days ago

Graham ******

@Eric **************

for just over 5 moths if you plan it correctly ;)

23 days ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Tosh *****************

It’s normal procedure here ,

23 days ago

Nigel **************

100% Legit with Immigration receits, majority of commenters here are totally Ignorant

23 days ago

John ******

Not only the required 800K (in and out the bank account within 5 minutes) but the agent can also provide an address for you if needed.

And all this for a 20K fee.

Carsten ************

12k

Brandon ************

except more than double that to start

23 days ago

John ******

@Brandon ***********

No. 20K my friend paid for non-o + retirement, 15 months visa.

23 days ago

Paul *******

I can certainly understand why some people would not want to leave 800k Baht hanging around in a Thai bank when in the UK the money coup be earning. £18,250 at 4.3% interest is £809 per annum and to use an agent to get annual visa renewals according to 3 agents who contacted me is only £329. Therefore leaving the £18,250 in the UK makes you £500 a year (2.74% interest)

23 days ago

Paul *******

@John *****

. I have had 3 agents give me a price for getting me a retirement visa and 2 quoted 55k and the 3rd 42k , all 3 for a 15 month stay and then 14k a year thereafter

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@John *****

and how long ago was that?

23 days ago

John ******

@Brandon ***********

Exactly 2 weeks, tomorrow back for the stamps in passport

23 days ago

Bailey *******

@John *****

Do you know which agent your friend used? Just curious 🤔

23 days ago

John ******

@Bailey ******

No I can't, it was an insider of the IO.

23 days ago

Reply to

John ******

Sujy *********

A lot of misinformation being spread by some people who are regular commenter, which is quite disappointing. If you don't know the meaning of the word "legit", please do not comment non sense, it just make you look stupid.

To answer OP, yes, it's completely legit. The 12 months extension you get is a real one done by a real officer, but obtained with a bribe. It doesn't make this not legit since it's the same stamp as everyone else who got the extension without an agent.

And no, you are not stuck with that agent, again more misinformation. All you have to do is cancel your Non O visa right before leaving Thailand. You won't be bound to an agent if you do that.

23 days ago

Mark ********

@Sujy ********

If the visa/extension has been obtained through fraudulent methods, it most definitely can be cancelled back to when it was issued, meaning the foreigner is automatically on overstay. Don't kid yourself that it's a "legit" visa - it most definitely isn't!

22 days ago

Sujy *********

A lot of confusion, once again. If you pay an agent and get the visa or extension, it's legit. If you pay and get nothing or get a fake stamp, its not legit. If you buy a lotto ticket on the black market in Thailand and get paid if you win, it's legit, if you win and they tell you to ++++ off, its not. It's not more complicated then that. Do you get what you pay for? Yes. Are you in the system like everyone else? Yes. Can you DIY the next year? You can't extend by yourself the 2nd time if you used agent the 1st time, but you can cancel the visa, and restart with a fresh Non O. This is what Michael above is referring to.

23 days ago

Michael *******

It’s done in a different province to the one in which you live, many Phuket residents who use an agent get their visas issued in Pattaya - so they have to hand their passport over to a third party for their 90 day - if you try to renew anywhere else other than Pattaya (or wherever agent obtains the visa) you will be denied - and sent to that province - stuck in a hamster wheel effectively but everyone to their own.I know many folks who take this route fine until something goes wrong as it occasionally does.

23 days ago

Pete *******

@Sujy ********

so you are arguing that fraudulently obtaining an extension is legit? In what reality do you live?

23 days ago

Graham ******

@Pete ******

The reality of misinformation

23 days ago

Ron ********

@Pete ******

Third world reality.

23 days ago

Reply to

Ron ********

Jean-Claude *********

@Sujy ********

obtained with a bribe... and legit doesn't go well together. Yes, your visa can't be differentiated from a legit one at first look, but that doesn't make it legit as a legal term. You're clearly far beyond the grey zone in this case.

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@Sujy ********

no one says you're stuck with THAT agent. But you are stuck using agents. And the entire point is to not have to leave and start over.

23 days ago

Sujy *********

@Brandon ***********

You are only stuck with agent if you don't cancel your visa.

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@Sujy ********

You can't cancel a visa. And you don't have to "cancel" a retirement extension, you just leave. But the point is that's what people are trying to avoid. So this "solution" is completely irrelevant to this post.

23 days ago

Sujy *********

@Brandon ***********

Yes, you can cancel :). I did it a few times. The first was when there was a crackdown on volunteer visa, had to cancel before leaving the country. Did it another time since because I had the $ for Non O extension. If you don't cancel you won't be able to DIY.

23 days ago

Brandon ************

@Sujy ********

You CANNOT cancel a visa. A VISA is issued by an embassy and cannot be cancelled. You can cancel an extension issued by immigration. If you want to be pedantic, I can be too

23 days ago

Sujy *********

@Brandon ***********

You said that you don't have to cancel the retirement extension, so you knew what I was referring to. In which you are factually incorrect. If you don't cancel the 12 months extension or wtv it's call, leave the country and come back, you will not be able to do it on your own without using an agent again.

23 days ago

Reply to

Sujy *********

Paul *******

I can tell you from experience that it can be a REAL PIA in the future if you decide to apply for subsequent visas on your own without an agent.

24 days ago

Doug *******

@Paul ******

If you “can tell from experience” then please do so.

24 days ago

Paul *******

@Doug ******

used an agent for my first year in Phuket, I even had my own funds.

When trying to renew the second year on my own I was told, rather strongly, that I had to drive 5 hours to the province where the agent had setup my initial visa.

After a 5 hour drive I was told by that immigration office that I had to drive BACK to Phuket and do it there.

24 days ago

Doug *******

@Paul ******

Okay thanks for the info.

24 days ago

Paul *******

@Doug ******

yeah, that wasn't fun.

24 days ago

Reply to

Paul *******

Gerg **********

I’d be afraid there would be a crackdown and my agent would get caught up in the scandal and me along with it, possibly getting me deported and blacklisted.

24 days ago

Don *********

@Gerg *********

exactly

24 days ago

Reply to

Don *********

Hoffman ******

It’s like how does a plane take off

Who cares as long as it doesn’t crash let the pilot worry how the plane flys

24 days ago

Steve *******

"Is it legit?" Are you for real!

Of course it ain't legit.

Bill *******

The visa is legit

Richard ******

until you get caught and deported. 😂

23 days ago

Liam ***********

@Richard *****

if they (who is they) find out will you get deported?

I don’t think so because if one goes then everyone involved is in doghouse

This can’t possibly be a secret,everyone is aware from bottom to top

22 days ago

Reply to

Liam ***********

Steve *******

@Bill ******

Nope. Fraudulently obtained, as are all visas/extentions if you don't have your own funds.

23 days ago

Reply to

Steve *******

Dror *********

And some agents now also take care of those 500,000 bht for DTV great country 🫶

24 days ago

Mark ********

Of course it's not legit! The money you pay to the agent is also passed on to the bank manager and the immigration officer. Yes it's a bribe, no matter how much people will try to say it's not. Just get yourself onto the 65k monthly transfers. Makes a lot more sense

24 days ago

Mark *******

@Mark *******

land of smiles & bribes! You new here?

22 days ago

Mark ********

@Mark ******

No, but I think you are! 😆😆😆

22 days ago

Mark *******

@Mark *******

you must be the only delusional farang 🤣🤣🤣

22 days ago

Mark ********

@Mark ******

I answered the question. You think paying bribes to government officials is "legit" 😂😂😂

22 days ago

Reply to

Mark ********

Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Mark *******

why not use the agent though invest the 800k which covers the fees and you have money left over so win win.

24 days ago

Mark ********

@Stephen *******

I don't use the 800k method. I transfer 65k each month - which is my money to live on. Why would I pay an agent? Seems a dumb waste of money, but to each their own!

23 days ago

Pete *******

@Stephen *******

your math is off. You will lose money by paying an agent.

24 days ago

Rick *********

@Pete ******

not by much. My high interest savings earns 4.25% so $425 per year on every 10k invested. So that interest easily pays an agent to avoid all the bs involved with doing it yourself. I am retired to AVOID hassles and not waste my time. 😎🙏😎

24 days ago

Mark ********

@Rick ********

But what do you actually live on? 4.25% is pretty poor return for a retiree

23 days ago

Reply to

Mark ********

Mary **********

@Mark *******

is it 65k per person?

Mark ********

Yes

Mary **********

that is almost 4k USD/mo....eek. dont need that much money every year. Need to think about that.

Sam *********

. No. Not 4k

Rick *********

it’s about 2k USD, not 4k.

24 days ago

Kjetil **********

@Mary *********

Are you drunk ? 65.000 baht is around 2.100-2.200 USD 😅🤣

24 days ago

Rick *********

@Kjetil *********

I was just about to say this. Thanks

24 days ago

Kjetil **********

@Rick ********

Good 😁😆😅

24 days ago

Michelle *****************

@Mary *********

exactly my issue that amount of money being drawn out of the super fund each month to pay into the bank account is ridiculous

24 days ago

Graham ******

@Michelle ****************

you have no monthly expenses when in Thailand?

23 days ago

Michelle *****************

@Graham *****

not that much expense

23 days ago

Graham ******

@Michelle ****************

so recycle the 65k

23 days ago

Michelle *****************

@Graham *****

tell me more about that please

22 days ago

Rick *********

@Michelle ****************

it’s not 4k. It’s about half that somewhere around 2k USD.

24 days ago

Michelle *****************

@Rick ********

each person

23 days ago

Mary **********

@Rick ********

for 2 people it is 4k

23 days ago

Rick *********

@Mary *********

yes it it I didn’t realize you were talking about 2 people. 🙏😎🙏

23 days ago

Graham ******

@Mary *********

The 65k can be recycled if you wish

24 days ago

Mark ********

@Mary *********

I'm solo in Thailand (well, many nights I am 😆). I transfer 70,000 each month which covers all my Thailand expenses and also pays for a return flight to Australia once a year. But I didn't move here to count the pennies - I came for a better standard of living! 👍

24 days ago

James ********

@Mark *******

Please explain how you didn't come here to count pennies but for a better standard of living ? Better standard of living ?

24 days ago

Mark ********

@James *******

It means I get to spend MY money on enjoyable activities I choose rather than paying it in taxation and inflated prices in my home country. Got it now? 😂😂

23 days ago

James ********

@Mark *******

oh yes got it but....you said " better standard of living " , not the same as your stupid reply.

23 days ago

Mark ********

@James *******

So your English comprehension is not the best obviously!

23 days ago

James ********

@Mark *******

it is a bit off at times...tell me ( humor me ) , which visa do you live in thailand under please ?

23 days ago

Mark ********

@James *******

non-O retirement at this point. Thinking of switching to DTV next year

23 days ago

Gregg *******

@James *******

freedom from Western opression is a good place to start.

24 days ago

Mary **********

@Mark *******

love the most nights comment.

24 days ago

Reply to

Mary **********

Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Mark *******

but that’s Thailand everything like this if you get stopped on a motorbike no insurance or helmet pay a fine and on you go. That’s why we love it.

24 days ago

Mark ********

@Stephen *******

I love it for other reasons than continually dipping into my wallet to pay bribes! But it's each to their own! I wonder why you even asked the question! 😂

24 days ago

Reply to

Mark ********

Dror *********

@Mark *******

its legit the IO took the money lol

24 days ago

Reply to

Dror *********

Simon ******

You’re at the mercy of the agent if they pay and they can raise their prices yearly and your trapped

24 days ago

Simon *******

@Simon *****

800,000 bht can earn me £800-£1000 in the UK, which is about 40,000 bht they will need to increase the fee a lot for it not to be worthwhile.

23 days ago

Simon ******

@Simon ******

everyone has different financial circumstances. My old friend got into trouble with agent paying his retirement visa because the fee increased by 10,000 baht and he didn’t have money to pay.

23 days ago

Reply to

Simon ******

Mma *******

@Simon *****

your not trapped, at the end of your visa you can simply leave and come back in and reboot the whole process alone or with another agent.

24 days ago

Reply to

Mma *******

Brandon ************

There's no magic. They take you to the bank, they deposit 800,000 in your bank account, they get the bank staff to print a statement, they take the money out of your bank account. Then at the immigration office they bribe the officers to ignore the fact that the money was not in the account for required amount of time.

24 days ago

Uwe ****

It is normal all over Asia that "agents" make your life easier. Farang bureaucrats might tell you that it's illegal - but considering that the Thai government changes policies every few months, it's your decision who you want to follow.

24 days ago

Uwe ****

I haven’t stepped into a Thai immigration office in over five years. For me, it’s been worth it to invest a little more for peace of mind. Everyone has their reasons, and I get that some prefer to follow every rule to the letter—but personally, I value ease and flexibility over saving a few bucks or sticking strictly to a system that goes through constant changes.

24 days ago

Roberto *********

@Uwe ***

The retirement visa hasn't changed in years. Personally I prefer to pay 1900 baht each year rather than pay an agent up to 25,000 baht, but I use the

*****

baht international transfer method. I mean, you need money to live on, don't you?

24 days ago

Reply to

Roberto *********

Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Uwe ***