Answereda year ago
Is it worth it to hire an agent for a retirement visa in Thailand, or can I do it myself?
I have just been quoted 49000thb for arranging a retirement visa!!!!
Having read peoples experiences DIY I might just give it a go (as long as it's not stressful!!)
Having read peoples experiences DIY I might just give it a go (as long as it's not stressful!!)
Answer summary
A user mentions being quoted 49,000 THB for arranging a retirement visa in Thailand, prompting discussion about the costs and experiences associated with visa applications. Comments reveal a range of experiences regarding visa fees—from 16,000 THB to 65,000 THB—along with advice on navigating the process, including obtaining a Thai bank account and managing paperwork. Some users suggest DIY as a feasible option if the user is looking to save money, while others affirm the stress and time savings that using an agent can provide.
73 repliesnewest first
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James *********
You already sound stressed man, just pay up and be done with it 😃😉
Todd ********
Using an agent for the first processing is more than reoccurring extensions. Doing it yourself for the first time is daunting for all that say it’s not. Go at it …wait in long lines and/or get the wrong form. Then the banks 😵. Ill pay for the convenience of not having to face anyone. 5 min to take digital photo in immigration . Done.
*****
with multi reentry
NeL *****
*****
THB Multi Entry visa for how many months ?
Lou ********
@Todd *******
who did you use please have you a link
Glenn ********
That’s cheap. I was quoted a lot more
Phil ******
Nope
@Harry *******
฿*****
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
Cris ************
@Phil *****
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 ********
OP@Phil *****
*****
0 of their money?
Jim *******
@Harry *******
Has to be some way between the agencies and the banks that we do not know about and will never know.
James ******
@Phil *****
sorry...for whom to put 800k in bank account, the agent? TiaPhil ******
@James *****
********************************************
Phil ******
Harry ********
OP@Phil *****
I can't have a retirement visa without putting *****
0 in a bank accountPhil ******
@Harry *******
********************************************
Phil ******
@Harry *******
agent can do sorry
Charles ********
@Phil *****
I’d love to see the one year of bank statements ( I have to produce) annually when renewing!And the map, and the Immigration visit to my house…
One day, it will all collapse and you’ll be running for the border!
Ian ********
@Phil *****
when did you last go through the filter?Charles ********
Whereabouts are you in Thailand?
Harry ********
OP@Charles *******
nowhere yet, but will live in Chiang Mai December 26
Rich ****
For Chiang Mai, try
Gold & Tree Visa Service and Law Firm
Gold & Tree Visa Service and Law Firm
**************************************
Charles ********
@Harry *******
just a thought…if you had lived near me, I would have assisted you.
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
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
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
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
Harry ********
OPI 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 *******
@Harry *******
after they remove their 800k, you can then deposit "your" 800k which will be "seasoned" long enough by the time you need to renew.Jim *******
@James ******
Agencies have some other way with bank account opened for you.When I wanted to deposit 500 THB into that account and update my Bank book (it took a clerk to activate that function, one -off) the bank book update did not show any money history other than my 500 THB.
Before that, I got my 1 year extension of stay based on Non O.
Ant ***********
@Zbigniew ********
For a retirement Renewal , Yes you doNongnuch ********
@Zbigniew ********
he cannot do it by himself. He is caught inside the agent hamster wheelNongnuch ********
@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?
Sylvia ********
@Harry *******
it should but that is why it costs, for this serviceJames ******
@Calum **********
nice. Can you share what agent you used?Calum ***********
@James *****
rainbow agency , JomtienAnt ***********
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 ?
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)
Graham ******
@Sue *********
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 ;)Michael *******
@Sue *********
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 😒
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.
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
Articulat**********
@Nongnuch *******
what agent will open a bank account for a tourist eg DTV?Nongnuch ********
ArticulateSloth6363 none. . . As I said, you can only get the bank account opened on a tourist visa or exempt entry, if you buy the complete "retirement" package. You will be on a tourist entry, but the agent brokers a deal between Immigration and the bank - ensuring that he gets your bank account opened on the much needed 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa from Immigration. And from there on you get the 1-year extension issued, beginning 90 days later
Alan **********
@Nongnuch *******
And if YOU get caught doing all of this, YOU get deported and are likely to never get back in again, not the agent.
Mma *******
@Ray *******
sounds like the extension at that price…
Jack *****
@Ray *******
you paid for a 12 month extension. Not a Non O +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 **********
@Russell **********
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 *********
@Sue *********
It is a common practice accepted by Immigration offices. I’ve never used an agent and don’t recommend itSue **********
@Marty ********
but isn‘t this illegal anyway?Marty *********
@Sue *********
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.Harry ********
OP@Russell **********
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 problemNongnuch ********
@Harry *******
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 RetirementRussell ***********
@Harry *******
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 daysTodd ********
@Harry *******
depends on which bank you use. Bangkok bkk apparently is more complicated hence higher fees
Jesper *******
@Harry *******
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 insuranceHarry ********
OP@Russell **********
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 ***********
@Harry *******
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 ...Russell ***********
@Marty ********
applying for Non-O took 10mins, simple & easy, £60
Len *****
@Russell **********
what about the cost of all the forms that you have to getMarty *********
@Russell **********
My advice was to get the non O outside Thailand before you arrive in Thailand.
Greg *********
That's expensive unless prices increased since the visa changes Thailand made
Michael ********
@Greg ********
more issue with bank accountsSylvia ********
@Greg ********
average price, big problems opening bank account nowHarry ********
OP@Sylvia *******
my friend who lives there says the same. Why don't they want our money? And why can an agent do it more easily? (Assuming they can)Sylvia ********
@Harry *******
many do it themselves BUT maybe need to go to several banks, different requirements in different areas. Also ensure you register your sim numberHarry ********
OP@Sylvia *******
my friend can help with lease agreements and I don't see how an agent can do it any faster than me. I will deposit the money asap for 2 months. If the IO and banks only work with visa agencies (obviously a scam) then I will have to pay. What is important is that this is my big chance to live a new life, and if it costs money and gets done, that's what I have to do.Sylvia ********
@Harry *******
paperwork required by the bank 90 day O visa, certificate of residence, lease agreement etc etc alot of running about. One can do it themselves if you have sufficient funds and they've been in the bank min 2 months. But because of the queuing and requirements many find it easier to pay, regardless of the price
Peter ***************
That sounds about right.
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