How do I transition from a work visa to a retirement visa in Thailand?

Nov 16, 2021
3 years ago
Craig ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have been reading everyone’s post for quite a while and now the time has come for me to seek some advice .

I have a work permit expiring in August 2022, and a non- IMM B visa that expires in the 4th December 2021. The company employing me can no longer meet the requirements to enable them to renew my visa.

As I understand it now I need to cancel the work permit and the current visa and apply for a new visa for retirement . I really do not know how I can do all of this in one day.

How long do they give you between cancelling a work permit and being able to arrange a new visa ?

I have enough money in my savings account to meet the visa requirements and the balance has been over a million baht for about 6 months.( but cannot prove it all comes from outside the country)

Am worried I am running out of options. Any suggestions
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat seeks guidance on transitioning from an expiring work permit and non-IMM B visa to a retirement visa in Thailand. With the current employer unable to renew the visa, the enquirer is unsure about the process, especially regarding the timeline for canceling the work permit and obtaining a retirement visa. Community responses clarify that they can cancel the work permit in advance, and that they do not need to prove the source of funds for the retirement visa, only maintaining the required amount in a Thai bank account for two months.
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.
Ellie *******
Just a bit of additional info. You are going to the Immigration office that your current extension (based on employment) was issued to cancel that one. Then go to the immigration office that serves your address on your TM30 to apply for the new extension based on retirement. Those immigration offices are the same for most people but not always.
Tod *********
okay you're fine (y) there's some "lost in translation" things going on

First you can take the termination paperwork from your employer to the immigration office a week or more ahead of the actual date. They'll cancel that extension and then stamp you in until the date on the termination paperwork.

There is no requirement you show the money came from outside the country because you're not applying for ANY visa inside the country.

You are only changing the reason for your extension, from one based on employment to one based on being over 50 (retirement) and that requires only that you have at least 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the extension.

SO

go cancel your current extension a week or 10 days early, get the documentation together that you need to apply for the yearly extension based on retirement, get the bank letter, update your bank book and go apply for the new extension based on retirement for 1900baht before that cancellation stamp runs out.
Tod *********
Look in your passport
@Craig *******
and make sure that the current stamp you're on now (the one that expires on Dec 4th 2021) says "extension of stay permitted until".

If it does follow my earlier instructions (and SOON) because you have 18 days until your current stamp runs out so need to get your ducks in a row and quacking in time pretty quickly.
Peter ********
@Tod ********
Your amazing Tod. All the help and free advice you give to so many people........you really deserve a medal 🏅
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