What are my options to avoid yearly immigration visits on a retirement visa in Thailand?

@Ronnie ******

The pensioner LTR doesn’t require investment but it does require $80,000 passive income and insurance.

@Ronnie ******

When I was getting 1 year extensions on my OA visa at Bangkok immigration I arrived at 8:30am and was out before noon. It’s once per year and not that difficult to extend DIY

@Ronnie ******

you can make appointment using immigration website..i did mine last week at bkk CW appt at 10am reach there 9.45 show them my appt code and they refer me to counter L-30 after checking my documents by a junior staff it was pass to the next available officer.....by 10.30 I'm already waiting at counter C2 waiting to apply for re entry permit with my new extension stamp

@Ronnie ******

yes i realise it can take longer especially in places like Bangkok and Pattaya. Hopefully they have more staff to get through the applicants. I usually go at a day/time that is less busy, but there's no guarantees. Having said that I always find the immigration officers to be very efficient and helpful. Good luck with whatever you decide.

@Ronnie ******

the LTR does not require investments but it requires 50,000 US dollars in insurance coverage, or 50k in the bank. It also requires you are receiving either 80k if working or 80k passive income. The amount of income can be reduced to 40k if you have a masters degree. In both cases it needs to be in a job not competition with Thai workers (digital/remote).

Also the company (if still working and not passive income( has to be public, above a certain size and generate a minimum revenue per year so small companies are almost a non starter

Also, there is no issue with taxes

@Ronnie ******

It does require health insurance although this can be waived if you can show a bank balance of USD$100,000 or more. They quote USD so presumably this can be in a foreign account on an interest bearing deposit. You're probably better off just getting the insurance if you can but nice to know you have an option.

@Ronnie ******

yes health insurance, yes 80,000 usd passive income or 40,000 plus 250,000 investment.

@Ronnie ******

DIY is 1900 baht. Familiarise yourself with the system, be compliant and it is easy to DIY.

@Ronnie ******

Once on the “agent train” it will be difficult for you to get off it as immigration will know you used an agent and will probably require you to do so again.

You can jump off that train by leaving and entering on a “clean stamp” or new visa and DIY your extensions.

Depends on what the agent is charging you as to whether you’d want to keep using them. 14k per year (for some agents) isn’t an excessive amount to charge based on they do everything for you and save X number of visits to immigration and the time taken for those visits.

Many here will advocate DIY because it’s only 1,900 to do so. Your call really.

@Ronnie ******

why don’t you do it yourself it’s 1900 baht I doubt you’ll get the whole 5 years out of a cooking class you may have to book new classes for each 180 day stay and you’ll need 500k in the bank