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Should I select LTR (P) while applying for my E-visa to retire in Thailand?
E-visaLTR VisaRetirement VisaThailand Visa TypesNon-O VisaO-A VisaBoard of InvestmentImmigration Rules
Jul 8, 2024
2 years ago
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI’m filling out my E-visa. I want to retire in Thailand. Do I check the LTR (P) ?
TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a retirement-related visa in Thailand, it is advised not to select the LTR (P) option on your E-visa application. The LTR Visa requires prior approval from the Board of Investment before you can apply through the embassy. As alternatives, you could consider the 90-day Non-immigrant O Visa or the O-A Longstay Retirement Visa, the latter of which can only be applied for from your home country and requires health insurance and a medical check.
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Max *************
No, you don't. You have 2 choices, the 90 days Non-immigrant O Visa based on retirement OR the O-A Longstay Retirement Visa which you can only apply for back home. But you need a quite expensive mandatory health insurance plus a medical check.
Frank-Steven ***********
No, you don't, if you have to ask. For the LTR Visa, you need to go through a rigorous pre-approval process, first. Don't just apply for it on the E-Visa system - you risk losing all that money.
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Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you. I’ll give it a try.
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI may break down and hire a professional. I got a quote for about $1,000.
I have to get through this.
I have to get through this.
Eric ******
@Dennis ********
Ouch. $1000??? I’m almost done with the application. It wasn’t too bad. 🤞 Hope it goes through…Chris *******
@Dennis ********
the mistake you are making is looking at long stay. What you want is a 90 day non-o visa based on being over 50.
As the initial visa is only 90 days it is not considered "long stay".
You will not require health insurance or criminal check etc.
Once you enter Thailand then you will be able to extend for 1 year increments.
You will need to deposit 800k into Thai bank account in your name only.
Your income doesn't qualify without embassy endorsement( For the first year anyway.)
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Reply to
Chris *******
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Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Eric *****
TexasEric ******
@Dennis ********
what state are you applying from? I’m in Florida and the O-A is an awful lot of hoops to jump through. I finally gave up.Reply to
Eric ******
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI get around $2,700 monthly retirement. The yearly extension sounds easy enough. Since I’m 71 insurance is a crazy $1000 a month or more if I’m not mistaken. Then I guess I need to find a hotel that will do my TM-30 before renting a condo. Am I close to being right?
Frank-Steven ***********
@Dennis ********
Gotcha. Best start by informing yourself good about the different ways to go. In a nutshell: You can go different routes: 1) Simple Non-O visa, from a consulate abroad for 90 days. Upon arrival in Thailand, you open a bank account and put 800k THB into it. Then you can do yearly expensions in Thailand. 2) You go for an OA or OX visa - here you don't need to transfer your money into Thailand, but will get a visa for 2 respectively 10 years. Down side: More requirements, like health insurance (which in my opinion everyone should have anyways). 3) LTR Visa: Comes with many perks, but you would need an above averagy pension / or passive income.Reply to
Frank-Steven ***********
Reply
Frank-Steven ***********
For "normal" retirement, go with a Non-O visa.
Frank-Steven ***********
For LTR, if you are eligable, go this route:
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Reply to
Frank-Steven ***********
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Brandon ************
You cannot apply for the LTR until you've been approved by the Board of Investment. You must apply with them first and get approval, and after that you can apply at the embassy.
Otherwise you'll be looking at the 90 day non-O visa or the 1-year OA visa.
Otherwise you'll be looking at the 90 day non-O visa or the 1-year OA visa.
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERAnd I suppose that 800,000 stays put forever or until I relocate to another country?
Eric ******
@Dennis ********
I think after a year of confirmed pension deposits, you can use that instead of keeping the 800k in the account. I think you can finagle the amount through out the year but it has to be that amount 2 months prior to renewal and 3 months after, or vice versa. Brandon can answer that better though.Reply to
Eric ******
Reply
Eric ******
@Brandon ***********
ok, this one…bypassing the O-X AND O-A. And I actually do receive a pension, but that does me no good until after a year of proof of deposits correct?Brandon ************
@Eric *****
that's right. You would need 800,000 in the bank to get you first yearEric ******
@Brandon ***********
The 800k is the easy part, finding a bank to put in though…Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I get enough retirement to make the cut if that’s still in play.Brandon ************
@Dennis ********
you can only use income for the first 1-year extension if your embassy provides income verification. If you're American, the US embassy does not provide this, so it's not an option. Only the 800,000 in a Thai bank is accepted in that case.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERIs this to get my foot in the door? Then apply for a long term or yearly?
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you sooo much.
Brandon ************
@Dennis ********
yes. It will give you a 90 day entry stamp. You then have 30 days to open your bank account and get your money transferred into it. Because when you apply for the 1-year extension you must have already had the money in your account for 2 full months, so you only have 30 days to get it all done and still have time to season the funds for the 2 months.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERIf I come on a 90 day tourist visa can I finish the retirement visa while there?
Brandon ************
@Dennis ********
it will be impossible to open a bank account on a tourist visa. You need the money in the bank already to convert to the non-O visa. So your only option will be to pay an agent to get a bank account. If you come on the 90 day non-O visa you should be able to open the bank account yourself.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
oh oh I need an address. Will a hotel work?Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERAnd can I open a bank acct? I tried when I was there on a 30 day an was turned down by the bank. Which bank is best overall??
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThis choice?
Brandon ************
@Dennis ********
yesBrandon ************
@Dennis ********
as I said in my other reply an hour ago, if you want the 90 day non-O visa you have to select the pensioner option.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
it’s showing “long stay for foreigners age over 50 (O-A). This one? I’m 71Brandon ************
@Dennis ********
the OA means you don't have to show money in Thailand but you have to have health insurance, a background check and a health check.Most people go for the non-O which is called the pensioner visa on the evisa system. This one will require you to open a bank account in Thailand and keep 800,000 baht in it for your annual extensions, but it doesn't require health insurance or much of anything for the visa itself.
Barry ********
@Brandon ***********
Brandon I put in my paperwork today for my O visa extension had to go for a medical certificate from the hospital.Brandon ************
@Barry *******
never heard of that for a non-O 1-year extension from immigrationEric ******
@Brandon ***********
Is this for the O-A? Applying now and thought to get an O you had to be in Thailand, is that correct? I was going for the METV unless you know the f a better choice. Thanks.Brandon ************
@Eric *****
you do not have to be in Thailand to get the O visa. If you want the O visa for being over 50 choose non-immigrant visa and select the 90 day pensioner optionReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Dennis *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thanks!!Reply to
Dennis *********
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