I'm reaching out because I'm growing weary of the constant cycle of 30- and 90-day visas. I'm seeking advice on long-term residency options. I'm fortunate to have sufficient financial resources and a retirement account.
I'm hoping to connect with fellow expats who have successfully navigated the process of obtaining a one-year visa or residency permit. Any insights, tips, or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Wishing you all a joyous holiday season filled with peace, love, and prosperity.
3,714
views
15
likes
79
all likes
29
replies
0
images
21
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat is seeking advice on long-term residency options in Thailand due to dissatisfaction with short-term visas. Community members share their personal experiences and insights on obtaining various visas, including the NON-O retirement visa, DTV visa, and options for Thai Elite visas. Suggestions include consulting immigration agents, exploring financial qualifications, and noting the challenges of establishing local bank accounts as part of the visa application process.
You will have to explore the nuances of each option. I am currently getting my Non-O retirement visa while here on a tourist visa. I tried the "wealthy pensioner" route but the Thai Board of Investment doesn't acknowledge IRA withdrawals as passive income. strike 1. I have sufficient Social Security income to qualify for the Non-O but the U.S. Embassy here no longer will validate that income source. strike 2. Tried to open a Thai savings account with tourist visa. strike 3. Started looking for visa attorneys to assist and found Thai Visa Centre in Bangkok. They charge a decent amount but know how to work the system. I had to go to Bangkok from Koh Samui but it only took one day and I had my bank account and visa. They will also handle the "retirement" extension to add the 12 months to my current 3 month Non-O. Totally worth it for my situation. YMMD.
Thailand is requested to relax these silly 90 days reporting. Yes, it has every right to control and vets who gets admitted into its territory , but once they legally do, stop these reporting. The country needs desperately legit expats as it has over 50 billion dollars parked in empty real estate.
You think Thailand;s requirements are stupid. Take a look at Australia's bio metric requirements. Thailand should start charging a biometric data collection fee to match Australia/ Australia's requirements are TOTALLY unnecessary, Corruption?
precisely π... The OP is talking about retirement savings etc, no intention of working etc by the looks of it.. That's why I said a 20 TE if he has the cash π
I think Elite and DTV are not compatible to each other, DTV cost less in THB for 5 years than Elite in USD for one year, but to say what is more value, you have to calculate what the privileges are worth.
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.