What advice can you give to an Australian about applying for a retirement visa in Thailand without ever visiting?

Dec 15, 2021
3 years ago
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Group.

I am an Australian who is about to retire hopefully to Thailand. I have never been to Thailand before. Applying for Retirement visa. My goal is to stay there for about a year until other countries start opening up again. Maybe then visit Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

I have downloaded the application form which is pretty straight forward except for 17. Proposed address in Thailand. and 18. 19. Name, address of contact details of Local Guarantor.

What I did in the Philippines was stayed in short term accommodation, so I could see as much of the country as possible. Went to Cebu city, Bantayan Island, Panglou, and Bohol.

That is what I was planning on doing in Thailand until I find a place I like, and look for somewhere to rent.

I don't know anyone in Thailand so there is no Guarantor.

Any advice you can give would be welcome.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An Australian expat seeking to retire in Thailand shares his concerns about applying for a retirement visa without prior experience in the country. He seeks guidance on completing the visa application, particularly regarding the proposed address and local guarantor sections. The community offers various suggestions, including using hotel details as a temporary address, starting with a tourist visa before applying for a non-O visa, and recommendations on moving funds to a local bank as part of the visa requirements. There are discussions about the importance of visiting Thailand before committing to retirement, along with practical tips and warnings about dangers in the country.
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.
Hughie ***********
In the event of you moving back to your own country how easy is it to retrieve your original deposit from your Thai bank account heard of people had problems.
Ken ******
and important, live away from high risk flood area, and not too near river/beach
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/map-of-flood-risk-areas-in-bangkok/
Ken ******
seems thailand keep on raising requirements for retirement with policy surprise
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David ***********
The best options are:

1. OA visa (from Australia) ... but the mandatory health insurance is a pain, plus you have to get a medical certificate and a Federal police clearance certificate.

2. Arrive on a 30-day visa exemption or a 60-day tourist visa and apply for a 90-day O-visa here, then extend it for 12 months at a cost of 1900 baht.

And check on the hoops you have to jump through before you are allowed to leave. I think it is OK now, but check on what visa options they will accept.
Dianne *****
Applying for a retirement visa (multiple entry non immigrant OA visa) in your home country was once the best option for those aged 50 and over. Now with the mandatory insurance requirements that follow you at every yearly extension, the inability to travel easily to nearby countries with borders still mostly shut and the difficulty in getting a 2nd year on this visa free by exiting and re-entering just before the expiry date, difficult and costly, it doesn't represent the value that it did a few years ago. I would reccommend getting a single entry tourist visa which gives you 60 days in Thailand, you can extend this by 30 days. During this 90 day period you can apply for a non immigrant O visa inside Thailand based on being over 50 years old. You will have time to set up a Thai bank account and move the requisite funds into a Thai bank so that you qualify for a 12 month extension of stay ie 15 months (non O visa= 3 months plus 12 months extension of stay) ability to stay in Thailand for about 4,000 baht in fees. If you need further advice on how to apply for a non O visa (aka retirement visa) based on being over 50. You can ask questions in the Thai Visa Advice Facebook group or read the saved posts in that group that relate to this visa
David ***********
Re "move the requisite funds into a Thai bank so that you qualify for a 12 month extension" ... actually, he has to move the funds into a Thai bak before he can apply for the O-visa.
Duncanc **********
Don’t retire to a country you have never been to before! 🤯
Joe ***********
@Ruth ******
like alot of aussie I ve seen the get drunk and end up with a katoey
Dave ****
Joe Canadians get the katoeys before they start drinking 🤣🤣🤣
Andy *******
Joe Chartrand "blind" drunk... 😂🤣😂
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Joe **********
What happens in Thailand, stays in Thailand.
Karim ***************
Can I recommend you at least watch the YouTube chanel Thailand bound. At least give yourself a heads up to what may lay in wait. It’s an amazing country and you will love it but, just like anywhere, dangers lurk. Enjoy your retirement and keep control…
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karim **************
I have been watching youtube videos on Thailand. That channel looks interesting. thanks.
Brian *******
Haydn, mate, fer crise sake, visit first! It's not for everyone!
Ruth *******
@Brian ******
what’s the worst that can happen?
Brian *******
@Ruth ******
You've never had your dreams dashed? Maybe you never had a dream...
Ruth *******
@Brian ******
So, because you’ve had dreams dashed, you need to stomp on his…makes sense.
Brian *******
@Ruth ******
He could find out that his entire dream was stupid. That'd be bad.
Ruth *******
@Brian ******
and he would move on to the next. Meanwhile, stupid for whom?
Richard *****
@Ruth ******
could fall from a balcony 😂😂🤣
Karim ***************
@Ruth ******
Isaan is going to get a new house built soon lol.
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ******
It will be fine.
Richard *****
Wanting to retire in thailand without ever being here wow thats one hell of a way of doing things good luck
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
:)
Mick *********
Get a TR Visa first for 60days then extend for 30 days. That will give you plenty of time to establish yourself here. Then apply for a non-o visa.
Kim ***********
Hey Haydn, another Australian here. Don't want to spoil your plan but you have never been to Thailand before, how do you know you will like it?
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was going to start off in Phuket. and then travel after a week or two.
Ruth *******
@Haydn *******
the problem is that it is difficult to just travel around on a long-term visa due to the 90-day checkins and the TM30. I’m like you. I had been bouncing around before the pandemic. I was scheduled to go to Phuket on
****
/20, but a personal medical emergency stopped me, then the pandemic. I’ve been to Thailand 3 times but never the islands. Anyway, I don’t think the type of travel we like is easy on a long-term visa. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s even possible without an Elite Visa.
David ***********
@Ruth ******
"I don’t think the type of travel we like is easy on a long-term visa." Huh? A long term visa makes it *easier* not more difficult.
Dianne *****
@Ruth ******
you can do your 90 day report at another immigration office to the one that you previously lodged one at. As long as your new accommodation provider lodges a TM30 for you. Airbnb hosts are notorious for not doing this, partly because Airbnb is technically illegal if you are leasing the premises for under a month. Some landlords don't want to do it as they are not declaring their rental income for tax avoidance and fear they will be found out . If you know you are going to be somewhere when your 90 day report is due perhaps ensure that the person you are going to be leasing from will submit a TM30 for you before you agree to stay there. Most condos have reception staff that do this automatically for you as do hotels and guesthouses. This is why they take a copy of your passport on check in. A way to work around it if you know that your landlord hasn't submitted the details for your TM30, is to stay the night before you go to immigration in a cheap hotel. Use the hotel name and address on your 90 day report and take your hotel receipt with you to immigration just in case they ask for proof in the absence of a rental contract. These days too with the ease of doing your 90 day report online you could submit it as though you were at your usual address, if you have a home base, so long as you hadn't stayed in a hotel or anywhere else that might have submitted a TM30 on your behalf during the period between your last 90 day report and the next 90 day report. People freely travel around the country staying for short or longer periods in a province, the TM30 and 90 day reporting is not a hindrance to this type of travel
David ***********
@Kim **********
and what part off Thailand
Kim ***********
@David **********
I have been visiting and long staying for over 16 years, I have made a decision to semi retire there, simply can't be bothered jumping through the retirement hoops. I also don't want to be tied there, as I love Cambodia and Laos as well, so will split time between all countries and home. I love the north, particularly Lampang, through to CM, CR and beyond.
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kim **********
I've been to the Philippines and loved it I want to experience different cultures. If I don't like it then I just jump on a plane to somewhere else. simple.
Nigel ********
@Haydn *******
, IMHO Thailand is very different from Philippines on almost all levels, such as culture, language, infrastructure, food
Kim ***********
@Haydn *******
Fair enough. Best wishes, might see you over there when we can get out!
Wayne ********
if u over 50 take the retirement visa you don’t need all this info but u need a bank account with 800,000 in it u can do this visa in australia at embassy or consulate
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes. I'm 55, the money is no problem.
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was under the impression that if you apply in Australia, then you show an Australian bank account with the money. Once you are in Thailand, then you must show a Thailand bank account.
Bobby ********
Haydn Walker. Get the OX visa through the Sydney consulate. Gives you give years which can be extended another five years.
David ***********
@Bobby *******
A big unnecessary expense for someone who just wants to try the place out for a year.
Wayne **********
@Bobby *******
that the one I’m looking at doing, OX appears to 5 + 5 years, not sure how you get the additional 5 years though, does that mean a return to Sydney where the visa will hopefully obtained? Not a problem as we can alway coordinate trips back to family etc. We are happy with the whole health insurance thing so I feel this is our route out 😎
David ***********
@Wayne *********
You just apply for an extension inside Thailand. Visa Fee: 10,000 baht. Extension Fee: 1,900 baht.
Bobby ********
Daffyd Braidfute. The fee for visa inside Thailand is 2,000baht not 10,000! 😆
Wayne **********
@Daffyd **********
okay, sounds simple enough 😎
Bobby ********
Wayne Simmonds. Fee for extension in-country is 1,900 baht, but you must transfer 800,000 baht into a Thai bank account at least two months before applying.
Wayne ********
@Haydn *******
then do it in australia but your

problem will be how to deposit money into a thai bank other option is buy Thai Elite it’s

more

expensive for 5 yrs about 500,000 thb but gets you through all the bullshit and hassle and you can get here set up accounts and then later stay with Thai Elite or change to retirement as you will

already have bank account set up
Garrett ***********
Just use the hotel you're staying at.
Trevor ********
go for it mate,you only live once!
Haydn ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Awesome.
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