Answered8 years ago
How does the retirement visa work for expats in Thailand, including age requirements and financial criteria?
I’m sure it has been asked a thousand times so please I apologise, how does he retirement visa work how do you get it how long is it for what monies do you need etc I’m aware of age and background checks but keen to know how long does it need renewed each year etc I rang the embassy but they weren’t very helpful. I’m in Australia Thank you in advance
Answer summary
The retirement visa in Thailand, commonly referred to as the Non-Immigrant O-A Visa, is available to individuals aged 50 and older. Applicants must have a minimum of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account or sufficient income to meet financial requirements. The visa can be obtained before arriving in Thailand from a Thai embassy or consulate. Upon entering Thailand, holders can generally remain for up to one year, with the possibility of extensions typically based on re-entry into the country. Each year, the visa must be renewed, and compliance with local immigration regulations is essential.
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Tod *********
First off
OR
if you're going to get it from a thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here.
Once you have that decision hashed out then people can advise you what to do for that particular situation.
Just so you know getting the year-long, mulit-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa from a thai consulate in your country is definitely the way to go because it gives you almost 2 years of stay in thailand.
@Ma***
you're going to have to decide whether you're getting this "retirement visa" from the immigration office here in thailand after you arrive OR
if you're going to get it from a thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here.
Once you have that decision hashed out then people can advise you what to do for that particular situation.
Just so you know getting the year-long, mulit-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa from a thai consulate in your country is definitely the way to go because it gives you almost 2 years of stay in thailand.
Joe ***********
There is a lot of misunderstandings on the part of those asking 'How To'? Questions
Joe ***********
You can get a retirement visa in Australia without being retired - only have to be age 50 or over. Then have the Equivalent of 800,000 Baht in an Aussie Bank, plus a medical certification and criminal background check -both actually easy and simple. You go to a Thai Embassy / Consulate in Australia (not Thailand) and get a Non Immigrant O-A Visa
Joe ***********
These medical certificates ask / test only for communicable diseases.
Karen ********
Hi Joe the medical certification do you know if you be able to gain any of the above mentioned if you have Breast Cancer.
Garry *******
You have to send the documents to canberra, but first take them to a lawyer/notary public who will certify them. Note the documents must three sets and in a particular order, see the Thai embassy in Cnaberra site for all details. If tou are in Perth i can give younthe name of the Morley Notary Public is used the beginning of this year.
Robert *******
Many foreigners and even some Thai Immigration officers like to name it a retirement visa because it it easy to understand for both. But the problem is it does not even exist in Thailand. You are applying for a Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age. And nope you don't have to be retired, you have to be 50 years young or older. There is the Single Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age, the Multiple Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age, the Non Immigrant O-A visa, the Non Immigrant O-X visa and the Extension of Stay based on 50 years of age. All called retirement Visa to make it easy for the question but to make it far more difficult to give you advice. Because all mentioned have different rules and requirements. So please read these requirements on Thai Consulate or Embassy website and if you have any questions, feel free to ask with the correct name of what you wish to apply for.
Graeme **********
Good night
Robert *******
Well one of the BIG difference is that most of the visa's allows you to stay only 90 days inside the country and an Extension of Stay allows you to stay 1 year with 90 days reports at Immigration.
Graeme **********
If the it allows you to stay in the kingdom it’s a visa although it doesn’t include the word visa.
Robert *******
Pedantic or not, to give correct advise, we need to know the correct name. I love to call the stamps in my passports just another beer. What kind of stamp do I have? I hope you get the picture without getting upset.
Graeme **********
Yes correct but pedantic. My stamp says Retirement, but it allows me to stay in the kingdom. So in my mind it’s a form of visa.
Robert *******
The stamp in your passport is like this, the text Retirement is why you got this Extension of Stay as mentioned in the first line of text of the stamp, there is no retirement visa but if I'm wrong please show me the stamp saying "retirement visa" :
Graeme **********
I have a visa stamp in my passport that says ‘Retirement Visa’
Valère *************************
Call the Thai Consulate in Perth. They are (or at least were 😁) very friendly and helpfull for me.
Scottish **************
OPLot of hits some relevant some not
Malcolm ********
In another post today, didn’t I read that the long- stay visa is extended by the IO when one re-enters Thailand for a year from the time of that entry?
David ************
Also, I just used he group search function at the top of the page and a lot of hits came up. Maybe you spelled something wrong.
Graeme **********
Just got to Google and type in Thailand retirement visa and the information is all there
Scottish **************
OPI’ve been looking even searched using the function. I’m sure it has been answered but so far can’t find it. I’ll keep scrolling through the plethora of posts
Geoff ******
@Yvonne ********
thank youScottish **************
OPAnd see these are the type of answers one needs that are hard to find in generic info. Cheers
@Yvonne ********
Yvonne *********
@Geoff *****
The Thai consulate in Brisbane don’t handle retirement visas, you have to go through Canberra.
Marty *********
@David ******
Thanks. I’ll look into it.
David *******
@Marty ********
why transfer using bank? I use transferwise and get much better rate and saves £hundreds for large tramsfers compared to banks. I transfer my pay this way also, never use my bank.Geoff ******
Samuel Fila its Australian dollars not thai baht..😁
Marty *********
@Markk ************
I did all this last year. I got my visa in the US and opened a Thai bank account after I got here. A word of advice. Make sure your bank in your home country is experienced in international bank wire transfers. My US bank, Wells Fargo, was awful and caused me big problems initially. I had to go back and change banks.Geoff ******
The 20k in interest would count as income.
Scottish **************
OPSome questions like income per month if I have 700k in bank and makes 20k in interest does that count, how many years can it be renewed does it have a lifespan? Just odd questions like that. Might have to go to Sydney. I did email the embassy but got scant answers
Geoff ******
Markk Horthornnee i thought same. I am going to make appointment with the honorary Thai consulate in Brisbane so I have it all sorted before end of July. The Thai embassy is in Canberra if that helps.
Scottish **************
OPDidn’t answer all my questions. I see the financial requirements but how do you open a bank account in Thailand if in Thailand how do I get documentation showing my income and savings from Australia authorities what happens after a year? I read each time you enter in a 12 mth period on a retirement visa you get stamped for another year (that’s how it read) all a bit vague. Googled it didn’t find in depth answers only Thai law firms offering services
Paul *********
Here's the link to Apr 26 on this subject
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3Geoff ******
I would like to know as well. Scrolled down can not see anything relevant. I also am in Australia.
Nina *********
Todd just answered that in super details earlier today so maybe just scroll down real quick.
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