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What advice is available for an Australian seeking a retirement visa in Thailand after staying on a tourist visa?

Nov 21, 2020
5 years ago
Simon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any advice for retirement visa for aussie..ive been in thailand since march on tourist visa
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An Australian currently in Thailand on a tourist visa seeks advice on obtaining a retirement visa. Key points discussed include the requirement to maintain 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for at least three months, potential costs associated with using visa agents, the necessity of health insurance (with varying opinions about its requirement depending on visa type), and recommendations for reliable visa agencies in Thailand. The dialogue emphasizes both self-application and the utilization of agents based on individual financial circumstances and personal preferences.
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.
Jeff **********
Don't go to an agent in a different city, or you will have to go to that City or pay the agent again when you do your first 90 day report
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Lee *********
It's an english term for a deadbeat
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Jim **********
Anything positive to say Richard?
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Richard ******
Most of you are dead beat losers with no money and have nothing in youre own country
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Carsten *********
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Simon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard *****
interesting opinion... I earn top 1% in aust.. and just choose to work and travel in thailand
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Richard ******
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Richard ******
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Richard ******
No good deadbeats
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Lee *********
@Richard *****
what's a no good dead beat you muppet!?
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Richard ******
@Lee *********
what's a Muppet
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Richard ******
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Nicholas *********
@Richard *****
the chip on your shoulder is obviously very heavy
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Lee *********
Not you nicholas lol poor richie
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Lee *********
@Nicholas ********
massive makes me think your a massive downer loosing dead beat kind of guy that is loosing massively like really badly loosing and your very bitter down inside depressed but dont show it on the outside in real life just in your facebook. Chin up Richard your not a deadbeat you've achieved a lot and your better than everyone else just keep trying to put people down that will work. Just remember are all dead beats and you are better hahah
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Richard ******
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Richard ******
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Richard ******
@Nicholas ********
no mate just telling the truth sorry if you don't like it
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Richard ******
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Richard ******
Go home
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John *********
Should be sorted before now .
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Lurcho ********
Get a Thai National to go with you to the immigration centre . Let her do the talking .

Smile and be polite .
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Mick **********
Send your query to Thai visa center.

REMINDER:

All Immigration will be CLOSED on November 19th, and November 20th due to public holiday.

Please take this into consideration if you wish to apply in the coming week.

As always if you need any visa assistance, or know anyone that may need help please share our contact information - tvc.in.th/LINE.

Stay Safe 🙏

.
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Tod *********
There is any number of reasons why people use agents to get the visas/extensions they're after. Most of the time it's because the person doesn't meet the financial requirements for the visa/extension they're wanting (because IF you did meet the requirements you could "push your own paper", I mean after all it's not brain science or rocket surgery).

Now sometimes people who do meet the requirements are just too shit lazy to actually go get their own extension and use an agent to do it, but that's rare..

Another thing you need to understand, there's a HUGE difference between using an agency to get a visa/extension for you because you don't meet the requirements AND when a person does meet the requirements but uses a company that acts as a 'shepherd' <- making sure your paperwork is correct, getting you to the immigration office, into the correct queue, and escorting you thru the process. Those companies (which might fall under the agent/agency label) are not doing anything other than making sure you have your shit together and don't fuck yourself off the rails by showing up unprepared for what you're doing.

End of self-opinionated rant :P
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Rob ******
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Oliver *************
@Tod ********
Good Rant
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Sam *****
@Oliver ************
haha... And its brain surgery /rocket science 🤣😂🚀
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Tod *********
@Sam ****
i mis-spelled it on porpoise you goof-ball :P
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Sam *****
@Tod ********
ahuh.. Well goof ball, when you're making a point, you dont goof around with phrases... Just to be clear!
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Tod *********
@S**
I also use the word porpoise for purpose.. Did you catch that too? What yanked your chain today?
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Sam *****
@Tod ********
LOL.. all good bro.. ;)
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Sam *****
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Mark ***********
apparently my advice was wrong I apologize as your inside Thailand and its different
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Tod *********
The BIG question is

do you meet the financial requirements to GET first a 90 day non-O visa and then a yearly extension based on retirement on your own at the immigration office

By that I mean did you transfer 800K baht into a thai bank account from overseas and is it in the account for 2 months?

If the answer to that question (can you meet the proof of funds) is NO, then your option is to contact an agency that pushes paper for people so they can get the visa and extension for you
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Andy ***********
Simon - account in your name not joint ... and must not dip below 800 or start again
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Simon *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes tfr lot more than 800k bath but used most to buy land and start building house...does the bank account need to be in my name or ok in wifes name
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Simon *********
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Jack ******
I found everything I needed to do it myself by reading recent posts in this group. If that's too much work, well, I guess agents gotta eat, too.
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Garrett ***********
That's the whole reason this group exists. I'm glad to hear it's helped at least 1 person the way it was intended to.
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Garrett ***********
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Johan ********
Talk to Mots in Pattaya.
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David ********
Three months then another twelve.
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David ********
Thai visa center 34,000 baht in total for a three then a year retirement visa and you don't have to show cash or insurance. I've used it before and will again.
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Oliver *************
@David *******
Agree I only Dealt with them Once to Go From Married Visa to Retirement after Divorce and The Service Was Excellent
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Franz *****
Only
*****
baht
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Tod *********
@Franz ****
You're confusing STARTING the process where you need to get the 90 day Non-O visa and then a yearly extension (which is indeed the price that David quoted) with just getting a year extension ;)
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Franz *****
Ok Tanks
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Franz *****
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David ********
@Franz ****
for the first three months 18,000 then a further 16,000 to get the one year retirement visa.

Costs a bit more to get reentry permit. Look on their website Franz
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David ********
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Ken ******
need health insurance after age 50, expensive
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Bobby ********
@Ken *****
. Costs me 7700 per annum. That's 150 baht a week. If that's expensive I feel sorry for the bars you frequent! 🤣🤣🤣
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Peter *********
@Ken *****
why this question you not read original post you nugget
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Tod *********
@Ken *****
no health insurance is required to get a 90 day Non-O visa OR a yearly extension from an immigration office INSIDE the country, you are confused :/
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Steve *******
@Ken *****
Not for a Non Imm O visa.
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Robert ********
@Ken *****
isn’t that just for O-A at the moment and O-X. ?
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Paul *******
@Robert *******
health insurance is not needed for 'O' visa
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Robert ********
@Paul ******
that’s what I thought too.
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Robert ********
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Neil **********
Pattaya visa agent will sort it for you 25k baht per year
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Stan *******
@Neil *********
A BKK agent will do it for 14k. 25k is a diddle, and that agent is Nissan who I have used in the past. It's 14k a year after the first year. I don't know what his initial setup cost is, but maybe it's that 25k.
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Neil **********
@Stan ******
that 25 k was the initial set up cost of opening a back account in your name depositing 800,000tb and the visa the following year will be less around 12-15,000tb
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Stan *******
@Neil *********
Yes, that's it.
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Stan *******
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Steve *******
@Stan ******
14k is a diddle. Get it for 1900bt 🤪
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Todd *********
@Steve ******
1900 is a diddle. But great for small thinkers with lotsa time on their hands and empty pockets
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Stan *******
@Steve ******
Sadly, some people, who are well settled here with a family and so on, don't have the money and need to go the agent route. So 1,250 a month or so is not a problem, but the 800,000 baht is.
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Steve *******
@Stan ******
I get it but technically you're not legal. The visa and extention of stay is fraudulently obtained. Chances of having problems maybe low. It's chance some people have to take.
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Steve *******
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Ken ******
@Neil *********
any good agent?
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Yuzni ********
@Ken *****
22k for 1 year.
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Neil **********
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Neil **********
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Nicholas *********
Best way
*****
0.00 in thai bank for 3 months. Simple after that
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Philip **********
@Nicholas ********
I didn’t need that. I make more than 65k a month Thai Bhat. Did not need 800 k just proof of my pension verified by Canadian Embassy.
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Todd *********
@Nicholas ********
at 4% 800k produces 32k baht annually if you keep it at home. Pay the agent 14k annually and save the headaches.
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Antonio ***********
@Todd ********
where 4 %🤔
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Garrett ***********
@Ant****
invested
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Antonio ***********
@Garrett **********
cannot do for visa use 😁
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Garrett ***********
@Ant****
That's his point, pay 15k baht for a visa agent to produce a fraudulent bank statement. Then you keep your money and make 2x on the interest.
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Todd *********
@Garrett **********
in essence yes. Although bank statement (fraudulent or otherwise) is not required. The 800k or 65k thresholds are so low anyway, if anyone doesn't have them, maybe retirement is not their best option. There are no nations on earth that do not have 'back door' visa entry of some sort. And the thresholds are much higher dollar amounts than the low cost here. If, as people seem keen to assume, the visa agents make it work with tea money, why would they need to bother supplying a bank statement of any sort?
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Garrett ***********
@To**
From my understanding, most of the agents who facilitate the retirement visa extensions have an associate bank manager that deposits money in an account, prints a bank statement, certifies that its been there for 2 months, then closes the account.

The agent uses that bank statement and certification to process the extension. That's why retirement extensions don't have to come from an immigration office in Issan like the volunteer ones do.
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Todd *********
@Gar****
interesting! Certainly sounds at least plausible.... thx! I'm guessing it is something i will never know for sure.
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Antonio ***********
@Garrett **********
I do 1,5% I don't pay anyone, and I am sure, same result. If they find you you go back to Covid-19 in your country🔙😂
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Antonio ***********
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John ***********
Lmaooooo on that thread
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John *********
Carlo Ruggiero 40baht =£ . Work on it .
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กะลาสี *****
Carlo Ruggiero 800K Thai Bhat. Just ask Google to convert it for you, or download a currency conversion app.
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Johnstone *******
กะลาสี หมา
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กะลาสี *****
Johnstone James as the old proverb goes: Give a man a fish...
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Johnstone *******
กะลาสี หมา he’s not got a fish or a Calculator 🙄
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กะลาสี *****
Johnstone James way to miss the point.
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กะลาสี *****
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James *******
Yes, don't take advice from people like me.
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Mark ***********
What you want to know I've just completed mine
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Mark ***********
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Pip ************
@Mark **********
So what needs to be done Mark?
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Tod *********
@Mark **********
i think you need to read the post, the O/P is NOT outside the country and so the hoops you jumped thru have NOTHING to do with his situation at all :/
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Tod *********
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