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How do I apply for a retirement visa in Thailand as an American citizen nearing the end of a visa exempt stay?

Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Visa Extension Thai Bank Account Immigration Process Expat Advice Chiang Mai Immigration Visa Compliance Financial Requirements for Visa

Sep 29, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

56 year old American citizen entered on visa exempt. Has already extended 30 days and will expire on October 18th. Will be applying for retirement visa. Wondering how the process works? Should we go to Chiang Mai Immigration and first get the 90 day Non-O, then open a bank account and deposit the 800,000 for 2 months before applying for the 1 year retirement visa? Need advice on what documents we need as well as the appropriate process. Thank you

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An American citizen, aged 56, is seeking guidance on applying for a retirement visa in Thailand after entering on a visa exemption. They have extended their stay for an additional 30 days, which expires on October 18th. Key steps include first applying for a 90-day Non-O visa, which requires proof of 800,000 THB deposited in a Thai bank account. It's advised to open a bank account and deposit the necessary funds before applying for the Non-O visa. Additionally, they need to ensure they have enough days remaining on their current visa to apply; in some cases, they may need to leave and re-enter Thailand. The discussion also touches on supporting documents and financial verification for the retirement visa.

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Abby ********

Please can someone clarify - for the retirement visa you have to prove 800k in Thai bank OR (not and) 65k income. Can you prove 65k income from rental properties in the UK 🙏🏼

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Ronald *********

Assist Thai Visa

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Graham ******

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Graham ******

Are you married to a Thai or have a Thai child? If so you can get the 60 day extension to visit Thai family to buy you the time you need to season your retirement funds.

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John **********

In Chiang Mai I believe you need a minimum of 21 days left on your stamp to apply for the in-country Non-O visa. So you will likely need to do a border bounce before you can apply.

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Lyndon ************

For most offices you need 15+ days remaining on your stamp to be able to submit your non-o application. Otherwise, you will have to leave and come back.

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Terary **********

Bank accounts are a real pain. I recommend that you start asking for recommendations. I think in most cases once you choose a bank branch you are married to it... When i need bank statements I need to go to the same branch where I opened the account.

The rules for opening a bank account vary from bank to bank. And like immigration it really just matters which branch you go to. So you will want to find a bank with a friendly bank manager.

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

You need to have the 800,000 in a Thai bank account already in order to apply for the initial non-O visa. You also need to have a minimum number of days left on your current stay in order to apply, which varies by office, but you're getting quite close to the point where you don't have enough time to do it. You may need to leave and return to Thailand in order to reset the clock.

You should go to your immigration office and ask them for the handout on what the requirements are to apply for a conversion to non-O visa based on being over 50.

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Ang *****

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

thank you for posting, Brandon. Am I correct in thinking that during this process one cannot leave Thailand until the extension is given?

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

you can leave, you just need to make sure you purchase a re-entry permit. It's also generally not advised to leave during an "under consideration" period if one applies, but it's not forbidden either.

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John **********

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

if you leave during the time when applying for a 90 day Non-O visa and waiting to get it stamped into your passport you won't get it and will have to start over

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Ang *****

@John *********

thanks - clearly failed my due diligence - as I hadn’t planned on a 6 month stay.

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John **********

sorry. Just to clarify it is only the

*****

day window between applying for the in country Non-O and actually getting it stamped into your passport that you can't leave. Once you have that stamp you can leave as long as you have a re-entry permit and will return before the stamp expires

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Ang *****

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

thank you - my process once completed will be 180 days.

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Ang *****

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Wylie *******

You have no choice. You have to get the 90 day non-o first before you can get the 1 year extension. As far as opening the bank account, you need to do that before applying for the initial 90 days.

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David *********

no you don’t need the bank account before the non o and most banks won’t give you an account without a long stay visa

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Wylie *******

@David ********

The only way to avoid needing it in the bank is if using the letter from your embassy guaranteeing 65,000 baht per month income for the initial non-o is allowed or not. I'm not positive on that. Considering many countries embassy won't issue that letter then they need the 800k in a bank account with their name only prior to applying. That is unless you pay 20,000 plus or so for an agent to exchange some brown envelopes.

As far as most banks won't let you. Unfortunately that is mostly true, but it doesn't mean it's not a requirement or cant be done. One just has to shop around to different banks and branches.

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จอนห์ *******

exactly, at least it will take the best route without all the strain of hoops and barriers of the time window.

Do the 20 grande and sit back an relax.

Then just do the 365 day renewals independently, with the run up required criteria.

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Wylie *******

@จอนห์ ******

I'm not recommending that route st all. Once you use an agent you will likely need to keep using them or start over since the agent most likely gets your approval from some other immigration office. To each there own though if they don't mind paying that every year. Who knows when they'll start cracking down on those like they have for other visas where agents circumvent the requirement. Doing it yourself and meeting the requirements really isn't that hard.

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Wylie *******

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Phil ******

post the link where you got this document please

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Wylie *******

don't have a link to the one I posted becasue it is a picture of a physical handout you can get at immigration. However, I did find a link to a document that lists the same things on the Bangkok immigration website. Number 9 is for applying for the initial 90 day non-o for retirement.

It's always best to go to the specific office you are going to and ask for a list of the requirements since many may have slightly different or additional requirements. The financial requirement is pretty set though and Ive never heard of it not being required outside of using an agent.

***********************************************************************

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Phil ******

thank you

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Phil ******

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