Is it worth it to hire an agent for a retirement visa in Thailand, or can I do it myself?

Glenn ********

That’s cheap. I was quoted a lot more

Phil ******

Nope

฿

*****

for visa and ฿7000 for Extension. If you need bank account and want them to put in ฿800,000 then another ฿15,000.

Phil ******

Not for me to clarify. Up to people to talk with Mots Services. I just pointed them into the direction

9 hours ago

Cris ************

Yes, but it's important to clarify that for the first-year visa extension, the 7000 baht includes the 1900 baht immigration fee, so it comes to 5100 baht for the agent. 😉

Harry ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

*****

0 of their money?

James ******

sorry...for whom to put 800k in bank account, the agent? Tia

Phil ******

@James *****

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

Phil ******

Reply to

Phil ******

Harry ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I can't have a retirement visa without putting

*****

0 in a bank account

Phil ******

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

Phil ******

agent can do sorry

Reply to

Phil ******

Ian ********

when did you last go through the filter?

Reply to

Ian ********

Charles ********

Whereabouts are you in Thailand?

Calum ***********

I paid 65,000

They done all the paperwork picked us up took us to the bank and opened the account , they put the

*****

0 Bht in to open it then removed it the same day ,bank account open , thai mobile phone contract or sim contract .

Same day they drove us to Bangkok and ushered us through the system same day 90 day visa, 10 days later passport came back with a 15month visa .

No stress all done for you

Calum ***********

Correct

Look at it as a leg up.

If you have the 800k they will assist you lodge your funds of course, which will stay in

12 hours ago

Harry ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I don't understand. They opened the bank account with

*****

0 then took it out? I thought it had to stay in for a set period?

James *******

after they remove their 800k, you can then deposit "your" 800k which will be "seasoned" long enough by the time you need to renew.

12 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@James ******

no. You won't be able to do the next extension by yourself. Because you violated the requirement to keep the 800,000 THB in the account for three months after being issued the extension. You are caught in the agent hamster wheel

Zbigniew *********

@James ******

So, you no longer need to show the last 3 bank statements at the renewal time?

Ant ***********

@Zbigniew ********

For a retirement Renewal , Yes you do

7 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@Zbigniew ********

he cannot do it by himself. He is caught inside the agent hamster wheel

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Sylvia ********

it should but that is why it costs, for this service

14 hours ago

Reply to

Sylvia ********

James ******

@Calum **********

nice. Can you share what agent you used?

Calum ***********

@James *****

rainbow agency , Jomtien

Reply to

Calum ***********

Ant ***********

Do you have a Thai bank account ?

If not , using an agent to get that + Non-O and using Agents money would be 40K + is

What Visa are you on now ?

Ian ********

@Ant **********

add in a rent certificate and the 12 month extension....

a mate just paid 60k but that also included a residency certificate to purchase a vehicle and ended up with a bank account with 500 baht .

Michael *******

@Ian *******

residency cert is free as is opening a bank account (legally)

Sue **********

@Michael ******

It can be free if you say that you can wait >1 week for it. But in 99% of the case you need the CoR same day and then its not illegal to pay for this express handling.

Graham ******

Got my CoR is Sa Kaeo province in 25 minutes, no cost, it took that long because they'd never seen the online PDF TM30 before ;)

5 hours ago

Michael *******

try getting a receipt 🫤they used to make you wait 10 mins, but when Phuket News published a story a few years ago saying it was free people started pushing back and delay went from minutes, to hours, days and now a week- I just plan ahead it’s not the money it’s the principle 😒

Reply to

Michael *******

Ray ********

I paid 16,000 what are they doing for you to pay so much

Nongnuch ********

@Ray *******

*** that’s the price nowadays for circumvening many requirements:

*** you can’t get a Thai bank account opened on a tourist visa.

The agent can!

*** you can’t apply for the “change of visa type” without 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account

The agent can!

*** you can’t apply for the 12-months Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement without own funds in your Thai bank account

The agent can!

Thus, 49,000 THB is a good price for all those services that require a bribe under the table. I guess it includes a multi re-entry per mit for the 12-months extended stay permit.

I know agents that take from 60,000 up to 90,000 for this service

***the 16,000 you mentioned, is probably the price for the service to obtain the next year 12-months extension

*** keep in mind: you are caught inside the agent hamster wheel unless you exit Thailand, let everything expire, start again on a 90 days Non-Imm-O Visa and have your own funds

Mma *******

@Ray *******

sounds like the extension at that price…

Jack *****

@Ray *******

you paid for a 12 month extension. Not a Non O +

Reply to

Jack *****

Marty *********

If you don’t already have a Thai bank account then you are going to have to apply for your O visa outside Thailand. That’s your first bit of stress.

Russell ***********

just do it yourself, it's very straight forward ... using an agent is expensive, not always legal & you're stuck with them the following year

Sue **********

No you‘re not stuck, why should you be. The normal agents just help reducing waiting hours and/or finding a bank who opens an account for you. We had our non-O retirement 90 days we had to go to immi for CoR and getting the bank letter we had to go in person sothe agent just helped us with all those documents needed for the first time only and went to immigration. As we had all docs required there was no problem opening a bankacc.

The following year I did it all by myself. Never co tacted the agent since then.

Marty *********

If you deposit your own money with the help of an agent then you are not stuck. If the agent fronts the money for you then it can be a problem.

Sue **********

@Marty ********

but isn‘t this illegal anyway?

Marty *********

It is a common practice accepted by Immigration offices. I’ve never used an agent and don’t recommend it

Reply to

Marty *********

Harry ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am beginning to see that. I don't know how they arrive at their fees, as all they do is hold your hand to make sure you have the right documents. Luckily I have a Thai lady friend who I am sure will come to the bank with me, and also the immigration. So I feel I now know more about what the procedure is and what to do. I design and manage websites and run a YouTube channel, so working online is no problem

Nongnuch ********

did you arrive with a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa you obtained in your home country before you flew to Thailand? On this visa, you can get a bank account opened (it would cost 5000 THB to an agent service for getting a bank account opened for you) . . . And do you have the minimum of 800,000 THB you can transfer to your Thai bank account ? Then it costs 1900 THB on Immigration to get the 1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement

Todd ********

depends on which bank you use. Bangkok bkk apparently is more complicated hence higher fees

Russell ***********

it really is no problem, people only have problems for instance when they don't update their telephone number with the bank, move to a different Province after paying an agent, not having £18k to their name ...

Harry ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

As I read more about people's experience I get that feeling. I plan to get health and travel insurance but do I need it to get my retirement visa?

Russell ***********

no, only if you apply for a Non OA … the Retirement is easy, 4 things, passport page, a selfie ( i scanned a passport photo that they do not accept ), UK bank statement showing excess £18k, & Utility bill showing your address … it was back in 5 working days

Jesper *******

there's no requirement of insurance if u are getting nonO retirement...only nonOA needs insurance ....most will get nonO and after arriving in thailand get themselves a local insurance

Reply to

Jesper *******

Russell ***********

@Marty ********

applying for Non-O took 10mins, simple & easy, £60

Len *****