Answered4 months ago
Is it feasible to apply for a Thai ED visa while saving for a retirement visa or a DTV visa?
A quick check if this plan sounds feasible:
I came to Thailand 25 years ago, when getting visas was easy :) In the last few years, I've been working in Myanmar, and passing through Don Muang several times per year, on my way to my 'home base' in Cambodia. I never had any problems with Thai immigration, because I always had an onward ticket from Bangkok to Siem Reap, with just a day or 2 in Bangkok to go shopping etc.
But now I've just retired from teaching in Myanmar, and I prefer to stay in Thailand, because I have a Thai son etc. I'm British and 67 years old, but do not have 800,000 baht for a 'retirement' O visa. I do not want to use an agent!
I have an overseas online business that pulls in about $2,000 USD/month, and I also have $1,000 USD from my UK state pension. So a regular monthly income of about 100,000 baht.
I could live in Cambodia (I have an annual ER visa, but that's plan B). So I need to save up funds for either the retirement visa or (because I have a provable online business/steady income etc), a DTV visa which only needs me to save 500,000 baht.
But how to stay in Thailand while I'm saving up this money? I'm here now on a 60-day visa-free entry, and I could extend that for another 30 days.
'Dr Google' suggests that I register for a 10-month advanced Thai language course, and obtain an ED visa. I already speak Thai very well, and my local language school says that they can obtain a 10-month ED visa for me to learn/read advanced Thai etc, studying 3 hours/week for 40 weeks. I'm happy to genuinely attend such a course :)
Does this sound like a good plan? I will have saved up at least 600,000 baht in my UK bank account by the end of the ED course, and can hop over to Hanoi to apply for the DTV for my online job.
I came to Thailand 25 years ago, when getting visas was easy :) In the last few years, I've been working in Myanmar, and passing through Don Muang several times per year, on my way to my 'home base' in Cambodia. I never had any problems with Thai immigration, because I always had an onward ticket from Bangkok to Siem Reap, with just a day or 2 in Bangkok to go shopping etc.
But now I've just retired from teaching in Myanmar, and I prefer to stay in Thailand, because I have a Thai son etc. I'm British and 67 years old, but do not have 800,000 baht for a 'retirement' O visa. I do not want to use an agent!
I have an overseas online business that pulls in about $2,000 USD/month, and I also have $1,000 USD from my UK state pension. So a regular monthly income of about 100,000 baht.
I could live in Cambodia (I have an annual ER visa, but that's plan B). So I need to save up funds for either the retirement visa or (because I have a provable online business/steady income etc), a DTV visa which only needs me to save 500,000 baht.
But how to stay in Thailand while I'm saving up this money? I'm here now on a 60-day visa-free entry, and I could extend that for another 30 days.
'Dr Google' suggests that I register for a 10-month advanced Thai language course, and obtain an ED visa. I already speak Thai very well, and my local language school says that they can obtain a 10-month ED visa for me to learn/read advanced Thai etc, studying 3 hours/week for 40 weeks. I'm happy to genuinely attend such a course :)
Does this sound like a good plan? I will have saved up at least 600,000 baht in my UK bank account by the end of the ED course, and can hop over to Hanoi to apply for the DTV for my online job.
Answer summary
The individual seeks advice on staying in Thailand while saving for a 'retirement' O visa or a DTV visa. They consider enrolling in a 10-month Thai language course to obtain an ED visa, allowing them time to save the necessary funds. They possess a steady income from an online business and a pension but lack the required capital for the retirement visa. Comments provide various insights into visa requirements, financial thresholds for different visas, and alternative options for staying in Thailand.
43 repliesnewest first
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Dave ******
You could get the visa for those staying with family. That's 400,000tbh required.
Simon **********
OPDave Owen The thought of living with my Thai ex-wife would lead me to an early death :) My Thai son is at university, so no living with him. But I support him financially (I just paid his 15,000 baht term fees).
Jeannette *******
Have you looked into having your Thai citizen son sponsor an O visa for you and then extending your residence every 90 days? (Or perhaps changing to a retiree visa once finances are clarified. I assume he is an adult and you are over 50.). Hard to believe the Thai government wouldn’t be pretty family-friendly, but I don’t see a family category of long-term visa.
Erika ************
Ya do the language 🌺today they want everyone to have the
*****
0 baht💯we are saving up hereSimon **********
OPErika Swartzkopf Yes when I was in Siem Reap a few months ago, I got my annual ER retirement visa in a few days for $350, and no bank financials needed... Thailand certainly makes it hard!
Erika ************
I am going with my Thai attorney’s advice🔥😎
Benjamin *******
Goodness sake.
*****
baht only to use agent
Graham ******
Benjamin Peter it used to be ;)
Natalie *****************
I understood if you had an income of a about $2000 a month and we’re 50 years old you could avoid having to put up that deposit in a Thai bank. That was my understanding and I need to clarify that because I’m planning on coming to Thailand and applying for retirement visa in December and I don’t have that $20,000 saved up, but I do have the income limit a little more than the income limits so somebody please clarify that for me, I thought it was either a deposit in the time or an income limit
Brandon ************
@Natalie ****************
looks like you're American, so you can't use the income method because the US embassy in Thailand doesn't do income verification. You can use income to get the initial 90-day visa from the embassy, but once you're in Thailand you can't use it for the annual extension. That means you have to show 800,000 in a Thai bank, or use an agent to get around that.
Simon **********
OPIt depends on your nationality! I'm British, and the UK embassy no longer provides cettificates of monthly income. So for retirement visa, I need to put 800,000 thb in a Thai bank account. For the DTV, I can keep the 500,000 thb in my UK bank account.
Natalie *****************
Simon Luttrell can I open up a Thai bank account while I’m still in the United States like right now could I open up a Thai bank account and contribute to it over the summer and then by next summer December 2026 is when I would want to move back to Thailand on a permanent basis, depending on all the requirements that I met show could I open up the Thai bank account through one of my banks in the states and just contribute to it on a regular basis would that be possible or do you know?
Brenton ******
Natalie Holloway-Hirsch that is the answer. You can google it for yourself. When I opened my Thai bank account a few years ago I did it on a 60 day visa exempt. Things have changed and what
@Brandon ***********
is saying is correct. You could try finding a visa agent who can get around this for a fee. There are a few agents who will put up the 800,000 baht if you don't have it, they possibly will also help you get a bank account on a visa exempt 60 days. On a different topic, why would you sell your home to move to a country you haven't lived long term in? I was going to do that and was talked out of it. Four years later I'm glad I didn't sell it, I collect rent and it's risen in value....now I'm back living in it for a time before moving back to Thailand again. What works for me is the income as well as having a place in my country that I know I can move back to. You might think you know what you want now, but in reality you don't, that is because you haven't lived long term in Thailand yet and living here is totally different from visiting. I would keep it for at least 5 years then decide with some experience of living in Thailand.Brandon ************
@Natalie ****************
You purchase a non-O visa from the embassy. Then you travel to Thailand and open a Thai bank account using the non-immigrant visa. Then you transfer your funds into that account.Natalie *****************
@Brandon ***********
so how do you get the 25,000 in a Thai bank. Wait until you get to Thailand im totally confused. Someone please straighten me outBrandon ************
@Natalie ****************
You can't do anything online when it comes to Thailand. They require in-person for everything. You also cannot open a bank account unless you have a non-immigrant visa, as they will not allow tourists to open a bank accounts. So unless you get the visa from your Thai embassy before you travel, you're not getting a bank account.Natalie *****************
Simon Luttrell ok so how do i open a thai bank account and deposit 25,000 while im here in the states
James *********
Natalie Holloway-Hirsch so,,,,, probably best to start a New post of your own, asking your questions
Natalie *****************
Graham Seal ok so now I’m totally confused again I have a passport I want to come to Thailand as a tourist in December. Stay my 90 days come back to America if I decide I want to retire in Thailand, I will sell my place over the summer of 2026 and prepare to come back to Thailand on a permanent basis I would apply for a retirement visa at that time so how do I put the $25,000 into the Thai bank account while I’m still in the United States
Graham ******
Natalie Holloway-Hirsch It is without a Non-Immigrant visa
Natalie *****************
I heard it was difficult to open a Thai bank account
Acr *********
I understood -if you have a dependant (Thai son) the required amount is 400k?
I am sure my neighbour noted this point albeit some time past.
Found it:
Support of a Thai Child Extension (Non-Immigrant O): Because you have a Thai child, you can apply for a visa based on family support. This requires a lower financial threshold of ฿400,000 in a Thai bank account for two months prior, but it does require that the child is yours legally and that your name is on their birth certificate.
So how old is your son?
I am sure my neighbour noted this point albeit some time past.
Found it:
Support of a Thai Child Extension (Non-Immigrant O): Because you have a Thai child, you can apply for a visa based on family support. This requires a lower financial threshold of ฿400,000 in a Thai bank account for two months prior, but it does require that the child is yours legally and that your name is on their birth certificate.
So how old is your son?
Simon **********
OPAcr Pattaya 20, so just outside the age requirement :(
Braulio *********
Your numbers don't make sense. $2100/ month is roughly 68,400 THB not 100,000
Todd *******
Braulio Escobar bro, 2100 plus 1000 from
Pension. Devils in the details
Pension. Devils in the details
Nita **********
Braulio Escobar he said he has another $1000 from his pension , total of $3k .. about 96k Thai baht
Roger *********
Braulio Escobar rad the script, he said he's also getting a $1000 per month from his UK pension!
Simon **********
OPRoger Scarlet In fairness, I corrected my typo!
Paddy *****
Braulio Escobar he gets another $1000 from an online job.
Simon **********
OPBraulio Escobar $2,100 online income + $1,100 state pension! sorry for the typo :)
Simon *****
Braulio Escobar I believe that’s a typo, $1,000 USD, not $100 USD
Collywobble **********
you can pay an agent then do not need 800 k but that is potentialy dodgy but at moment the authorities prefer to restrict visa exemption and border runs....why?
Simon **********
OPCollywobble Thomason Not interested in using an agent, been there done that before...
Octo *******
I hear you. I didn’t want to use one, either.
But it made it extremely easy. I now have 15 month visa (initial 90 day non-o + 1 year extension)
I have started monthly deposits of 65k baht into my newly acquired Thai bank account (from a foreign account) so that in 2027, when it’s time to renew, I can use the monthly deposit method.
Feel free to contact me for details.
But it made it extremely easy. I now have 15 month visa (initial 90 day non-o + 1 year extension)
I have started monthly deposits of 65k baht into my newly acquired Thai bank account (from a foreign account) so that in 2027, when it’s time to renew, I can use the monthly deposit method.
Feel free to contact me for details.
Ron ******
Octo Adven If you used an agent, when you apply to extend next year immigration will see that you failed to maintain the 800k in your bank account for the required 3 months following the extension being approved. Your options are to exit without a re-entry permit and re-start the process with a new Non-O visa or use the agent again.
Collywobble **********
Simon Luttrell I was not suggesting that you do that...was making a general observation
John **********
If you want to work remotely from Thailand then the DTV based on Workation is your only option to do so legally. While you could get a 90 day ED visa and attend school extensions will depend on your attendance record and you won't legally be able to work remotely.
Simon **********
OP@John *********
I don't work remotely - I have a passive income business external to Thailand that generates $2,100 USD/month. My attendance record is irrelevant since I'll attend every lesson - I want to improve my Thai reading ability :)John **********
@Simon *********
if you are totally hands of in the business then fair enough, it doesn't seem relevant to even mention it in that caseSimon **********
OP@John *********
It's relevant because I need that income to save up the 500,000 baht for the DTV :)
Dca *****
How old is your Thai Citizen son now?
Simon **********
OPDca Dca 20 a few weeks ago, so that option is out!
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