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Should we obtain a visa before moving to Thailand for retirement, or is it better to get one upon arrival?

Visa application processRetirement visaThailand immigrationNON-O visaNON-OA visaLong-term Resident VisaBank account openingVisa renewalTrailing spouse visa
Jul 5, 2024
4 months ago
Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
My husband and I are planning on moving to Thailand for retirement. Should we get visas before we come? Or should we wait until we get there?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers on the best approach to obtaining visas for moving to Thailand for retirement. Many commenters advise that it is beneficial to secure a non-O retirement visa before arriving in Thailand for a smoother process in opening bank accounts and facilitating visa extensions. Some suggest starting with a 60-day tourist visa, extending it by 30 days, and then applying for a retirement visa in-country. There is also mention of potential insurance requirements that differ based on the type of visa applied for, and advice on navigating the complexities of applying for retirement visas, including the importance of having sufficient funds in a Thai bank account prior to applying for an extension.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Indo ******************
You can arrive Thailand on VOA or Visa Exemption. If you want Retirement Visa, we can help you out. Please feel free to contact.
4 months ago
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Dhyana ******
Have you been here before? If not I'd do a test run first. The visa extensions and border runs are obnoxious... it's best to get help from reputable agency that willb help you navigate the annoying bureaucracy. You can get visa from thai consulate before you leave. Good luck!
4 months ago
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Max *************
Arrive on a 90 days Non-immigrant O Visa based on retirement. Then during the first 30 days, open a thai bank account, not a joint account, and transfer ฿800k per person. Then after 60 days into those 90, apply for a 1 year extension based on retirement. Those ฿800k must be in the account at least 60 days prior to the day you apply for the 1 year extension.This is non-negotiable at immigration.
4 months ago
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Alan ******
One would hope you've been to Thailand before, like 6 times before.
4 months ago
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William *********
Up to you
4 months ago
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Sharon ************
I applied for and received my one year non-o a retirement visa in my home country hassle-free
4 months ago
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Grant ********
Does anyone know if the
*****
0 THB is per person or per couple?
4 months ago
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Mary ********
@Grant *******
 it is per person. I highly recommend doing this rather than trailing spouse simply because if the main spouse has to leave or god forbid something happens - trailing spouses only have a short period to leave.
4 months ago
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Grant ********
Thanks guys, I had never heard of the 'Trailing Spouse' Visa!!!
4 months ago
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Grant ********
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Graham ******
@Grant *******
 Per person if a "training spouse" Visa is not possible
4 months ago
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Graham ******
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Troy ******
I got mine here in Hua Hin. Immigration was very helpful. I had no problems opening a bank account.
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Troy *****
 did u need a certain amount for the bank account? Could I open a bank account before we move?
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
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Simon ******
I went straight to agent on arrival and everything was done. All options are up to you. But my option was easy for me
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Simon *****
 this is what we thought we would do. Any recommendations?
4 months ago
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Simon ******
@Nanci **************
 hello if you can wait till next Friday I can check and see the name of agent and if still open. It’s been two years since I’ve used them. A couple of females running the business and very good.
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Simon *****
 that would be great. Thanks so much for the help.
4 months ago
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Simon ******
@Nanci **************
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Simon *****
 one more question. It says Chang Mai. Is that where they are? Cuz we are going to Pattaya.
4 months ago
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Simon ******
@Nanci **************
 Haa yes in Chiang Mai. Oh well you will find one there
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Simon *****
 thanks so much, I will give them a call and find out my options.
4 months ago
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Simon ******
@Nanci **************
 this is my one I used
4 months ago
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Simon ******
@Nanci **************
 ok, no problem
4 months ago
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Simon ******
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Ken *****
If you plan on staying .

Get the card, costs 20 k I think.

No border runs. No interruptions. Straight through v.i.p lane.

Last 10 years .

I had a friend , he had one.

Discounts on all sorts.

He was happy.
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ken ****
 20,000usd??
4 months ago
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Ken *****
@Nanci **************
 elite membership.

Something like that amount.
4 months ago
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Ken *****
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Wayne ********
From your profile photo the first question I would ask is are you both over age 50? You both appear to be very young.
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne *******
 awe, that's nice. Yep, both over 50. Just good genes, lol. So ready to get to Thailand.
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
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Jim ********
If you qualify, I recommend the
@LTR **************************
. I got mine in the U.S. with no problem. Filing is straight forward and I didn’t need an agent.
4 months ago
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Henrik *****
First you should make a trialrun if you haven’t stayed long time in Thailand before, at least 60 days touristvisa + 30 day extension, on the budget you will have if you go through with the move.

Everyday life may be quite different from holiday life.

Then you will also have suffient time to sort out the right visa, and find the location to settle down.

Getting a bankaccount may be a difficult hurdly to overcome, unless you are on a long term visa ( not touristvisas )

Go back in the group, and read all the posts about that subject, to know excactly what you are up against.
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
and as another alternative, some people will recommend the "trailing spouse" Non-Imm-O visa for one of you, whilst the other partner goes the normal "retirement visa" route . . . A “dependent” or “trailing spouse” visa?

It's almost impossible to do this now.

Most embassies have stopped offering the non-O dependent based on marriage for retirement and it's impossible to do inside Thailand. For the most part, now both must qualify for their own.

Some embassies are willing to offer the non-O dependent if the primary has a non-OA though.

You will have to email the Thai embassy in your home country and ask them if the still issue a “trailing spouse” Non-imm-O visa for a wife that is under 50 years old
4 months ago
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Dennis *********
@Greg **********
 my visa agent who's been around a very long time told me it's possible inside Thailand, at least as of several months ago
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
@Dennis ********
 it's possible in a "grandfathering" situation, however not for newcomers any more. Restrictions apply, and it's very embassy- and Immigration specific
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
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Terary **********
I am told that the insurance requirements are more favorable if you get your retirement visa in-country.
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
@Terary *********
 there aren't any health insurance requirements for a "90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa" and the "1-year extension" out of it. We only have one vague notice from a Canadian, who claimed that the Embassy in Ottawa and the Consulate in Vancouver want to see a health insurance for the application to a Non-imm-O retirement visa. Which I think, ended on their website by mistake . . as far as it concern US and UK applications, no insurance is needed for a Non-Imm-O visa
4 months ago
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Tony **********
@Terary *********
 that's only for an non-OA visa. The non-o had no insurance requirement.
4 months ago
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Eric ******
@Tony *********
 you can get a non-O in the US? I thought only the non-OA was available on Thaievisa.com. And do they still do the METV or is only the single entry available now? Seems like read a while back they will reject the ME on your application and give you a SE, but no refund of the difference. I’m in the process of applying on line now, arriving July 26th.
4 months ago
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Terary **********
@Eric *****
 I pulled an METV just 2 weeks ago. That is a tourist visa not the non-o visa, just to be clear.
4 months ago
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Eric ******
@Terary *********
 what is the difference? I haven't ruled out retirement visa once I arrive, but getting a non o/a in the states is just too many hoops to jump through.
4 months ago
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Terary **********
@Eric *****
 I haven't ever gotten a retirement visa, so I only know what I have been told. I have a friend that gets retirement visas (normally you just renew but he let his visa lapse). He told me that the insurance requirements were different so it was his preference to apply for the retirement visa in country.

I am not sure of other differences.

Differences between METV and retirement? The list is pretty long but basically METV gets you up to 9 months if you work the system, retirement visa is 1 year, no working the system.

"Working the the system" - stamp-in 60 days, extend 30 days, leave/return stamp in 60 days, etc. You only need to leave for 5 minutes (I go to Cambodia and return same day). Effectively you can get up to 9 months. Usually people will choose this option if no other visa option is available.
4 months ago
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Tony **********
@Eric *****
 I don't know about the ME.
4 months ago
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Tony **********
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Brandon ************
Best to get the visa before traveling. That way you'll have a much easier time opening the bank account in Thailand that you'll need to apply for the 1 year extension.
4 months ago
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Robert *********
Stay at least a year before you even think of buying anything
4 months ago
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Nanci ***************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok. We thght so but there's so many we weren't sure if we should wait and do it there. Thanks for the suggestions.
4 months ago
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John ********
@Robert ********
 they should buy a visa before coming over
4 months ago
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Robert *********
@John *******
 off course ,but so many don't m
4 months ago
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Robert *********
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Tony **********
Get your non-o retirement visa (90 days) from home country. Easier and cheaper.
4 months ago
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Gerald ******
@Tony *********
 need insurance
4 months ago
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John ********
@Gerald *****
 not for an O you are confusing that with a Non OA
4 months ago
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John ********
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Kevin ***********
Get a 60 day extend thirty then get retirement visa
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
alternatively, each of you gets the 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa in your home country. Enter Thailand, open your bank accounts and transfer 800.000.- THB onto the Thai accounts. Then from up to 30 days before the expiry of the 90-days stay permit, as soon as the 800.000 THB have seasoned for two months and you can prove this with the letter statement from the bank, apply for the "1-year extension of stay based on retirement"
4 months ago
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Kevin ***********
@Greg **********
 cheers Greg thanks for explaining better
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
@Kevin **********
 one should not aim for the 30 days extension of the 60-days SETV. The applicant should act quicker
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
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Greg ***********
@Kevin **********
 bad advice, I'd rather get the 60 days Tourist Visa and apply for the 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa straight away as soon as each of them has opened a bank account. Then transfer the 800.000.- THB from abroad, and apply for the change of visa type. There has to be a minimum of 15 workdays left on the initial stay permit in order to be allowed to apply.
4 months ago
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Greg ***********
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