What do I need to do to get a retirement visa when I don't meet the money requirements..... Anyone?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Many expats looking to secure a retirement visa in Thailand find the financial requirements challenging, particularly the need to have 800,000 THB (or the equivalent in pension income). Comments suggest various options including getting the necessary funds via a visa agent, marrying a Thai national (which reduces the financial requirement to 400,000 THB), or considering other visa types like student visas or non-O visas based on marriage. While agents are an option, their use raises concerns about legality and accountability. Discussions also cover the importance of holding the funds in a Thai bank account or a foreign account, and the importance of long-term financial planning for living in Thailand.
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.
You mean Visa Exempt 30 day entry which can be extended just once for 1900B at the Immigration Office serving the area where you are and have a TM30 registered.
just once? I thought twice if by land border and unlimited if by airports. (Although IO not thrilled to see too many border runs in order to get another extension) but did that change? Just one now?
Registration of a foreigner staying - completed by the hotel or landlord
Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Joe ******
Don't use an agent if you want to stay in Thailand seriously. If any law changes or agents are abolished you will not be able to renew, and will have to leave. Best to just save up and have peace of mind if you really want to live in Thailand.
Alma ***************
Joe Mann best advice !
David ********
Joe Mann I use an agent have way over 800k Thai baht in Thai bank account get over £6k a month from uk plus’s uk savings property etc etc
the reason I do is it’s so easy no waiting outside immigration for hours all loaded in like cattle it’s quick visit to bank for statement in immigration mins residents cert 90 day n renewal visa and multi entry stamp it’s all about time 🤙
The marriage visa gives you twelve months the same as the retirement visa extension. Both are non immigrant 'O' visa, but one is based on marriage, the other one retirement.
Johnny *********
If you are retired and get pension then you can get visa if you get
*****
0 year after tax. You need confirm from your ambassador. As long account and pension together is. 800 it’s enough
Surprising Johnny how many are unaware that you can use a combination of Net pension plus money in Thai bank account together as you point out that come to 800k.
you can find it under information from thai government but it must be payment to your Thai account after tax and you must have your ambassador to confirm and translated of course
“from what [you] you have been told…”? I have lived and worked here since 1998, and since that time I’ve seen many foreigners who were scammed or extorted by visa agents and unscrupulous local lawyers. Just finished a trial against one.Naïve to think there’s no risk in using these people. It’s highly risky.
Reply to
Doug *********
Reply
Doug *********
Stay compliant in Thailand. Foreigners often get into serious trouble then they try to use "short cuts" with dodgy agents and local lawyers. Can't complain to anyone when that happens. Play it straight.
depending on your luck or the immi officer's mood. After a few times, Malaysia immigration might just give 7 days or even less or deny entry. A German buddy is facing that at each visa run.
has your answers. You don’t need to do anything but pay the fee
Malcolm *******
Agent is your only option mate .
Don *********
If THB800k or THB65k per month is an issue I suggest you would struggle to find a decent quality of life here…
Jim ***********
Pay agent 40k
Sue **********
you cannot stay in Thailand then for more than 60 days like a tourist. Either apply for tourist visa 60 days and extend it at immigration or with a 30 day visa exempt and extend it 30 days.
BioNycc *****
I have the 800k baht and I’m retired and I’m only 41.
There’s no way around it other than do border runs for 9 years?!😂😂😂
no age restriction. I got one as moved here in my 40's and wasn't married so it was the best practical option. The price has more than doubled though now for them compared to what I paid 4.5 years ago
You use an agency, that in this case technically acts as a loan shark, loaning you the money at an interest rate. Loan sharks are legal, and that is what agencies that do this fall under.
yes, as long as their interest charge does not exceed the legal limit. Think about the interest charged by a credit card as the max, about 28+%. Loan sharking is big business.
absolutely 100% GFM candidate. Most likely can not afford insurance, nor will attempt to take it out. The time he will realise he should have taken out insurance is when he is all banged up in hospital, and the doctor's are more concerned with him being able to pay before looking at or trying to heal his busted body... hence the GFM.. which I will take note of his name, so I can ignore it.
I know exactly what the agent can do... and at least one of these options is clearly illegal... the other one halfways. But looks like Graham don't see any risk in this... that's why I want him to think about ("...what do you think..."). I'm stupid, but not that stupid... 😎😏😀🤣
"What do I need to do to get a retirement visa when I don't meet the money requirements".....it was a joke. Don't get so old that you lose your sense of humour.
That excellent woman in the pic with you will keep you healthy for a goodly number of years. I'm counting on my Thai woman to do same for me.
Reply to
Bryce *******
Reply
Why****
NO NO NO... do not do this, it makes the situation worse because she is well educated and well informed and well connected, you will enhance the headache 🤦
Either in country or abroad, some kind of bank account.
If abroad, you follow the guidelines for an O-A retirement visa...having those funds in your account in the US or the UK or Australia or Germany or wherever.
If within the country, the funds will need to be in a Thai bank account.
Or if you are married to a Thai, then the money is half the 800K baht or 400k and you do the visa for that status.
Am I correct that for O-A the 800k in a bank account in the applicant’s home country only needs to be there for a specific length of time prior to the visa application and can be withdrawn after the visa is issued? OP could borrow and return the money???
I see a variety of guidances on this. If applying in the home country, can the bank account with the money be in the home country, or does it have to be in a thai bank account? The info on the Embassy site in Washing DC is not clear at all.
I used the OA Retirement Visa using funds in my IRA in America. There are many additional requirements for the OA, some hoops to jump through, including insurance, health forms, bank statements and letter from the bank, and FBI fingerprint and background clearance. Once I moved to Thailand, I opened two bank accounts and since moving back to America, I'm sending money into those accounts fairly regularly. I'll be able to use the Thailand banks statements when I move back to Thailand in a few years
Just Clarifing your Advice,if you are Married to a Thai National,you only require 400,000 baht in your Thai Bank Account,for a Retirement Visa,.Is this what you are Informing us,cheers
No that is for a marriage visa. If you want a retirement visa extension you need either 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account in your name. Or 65,000 a month pension paid into your Thai bank and proof it's a pension. Or a combination of pension plus money in your Thai bank account that is equal to 800,000 per annum. So if you have 400,000 pension, then you only need 400,000 thb in your Thai bank and proof for any of these scenarios that the money comes from outside Thailand. Other than this, as some have suggested as long as your over 50 and have some sort of income then agents can sort it for you.
. You can work on a spouse visa( with permit). You can't on a retirement visa. Also need to be 50+ for retirement visa. Good luck finding work here as a 50+ foreigner nowadays.
No... then it's not Non-O "based on retirement" anymore, then it's Non-O "based on marriage". Different kind of visa, different requirements. For a "retirement" you will always need the 800k or the 65k/month.