What are the best options and steps for retirees to obtain a visa for living in Thailand?

with thai elite as mentioned if u can afford it takes all the hassle out

1 no bank deposit in yr case 1.6 mill that must be maintained minimum periods

2 don’t need to visit immigration TE will do

or leave and comeback and it resets for a further 12 month

3 no going to bank to get bank statements etc

4 no filling out forms and told when you go to immigration because officer is being difficult today wrong paper or you forgot something or your photo no good

5 these people love to love the goals posts regularly this take slot of the hassle out of staying here

6 depending which TE visa period u buy u get some benefits like limo transfers to and from airport also VIP transit through airports on departure when departing and arriving.

good luck i took TE best think but it’s not for everyone because of the cost

Whatever you are told today will be different on Wednesday and again on Friday. Things are fast changing so an accurate answer will be difficult before November.

Let’s talk about this in a few years then. It will be worst for sure

Buy an elite visa retirement visa is a huge hassle

I’ve found this baffling too, I begin to understand then they change. This is one reason why I joined the group

Really no need to use an agent. Come here on a tourist visa, a single entry tourist visa is probably best, as that gives you 60 days stay with the option of extending at an Immigration office for a further 30 days without leaving the country. This should give you plenty of time to set up a Thai bank account, get an address sorted and visit immigration to get a hand out of the requirements for your particular immigration branch. Get a Thai Bank account set up quickly, deposit your money so that it can season and so that you have sufficient time left on your tourist visa to apply for a non immigrant O visa. Some areas require at least 21 days remaining on your tourist visa at the time you apply. Or you could do this through an agent for about 28-30K baht each. The agency staff will do the photocopying for you and in some instances drive you to immigration on the day you apply. However you will have to do all the rest of the running around yourself like getting the letter from your bank, the statement from your bank showing all of your transactions and the copies of your landlords ID, house book etc. Really, unless you are visually impaired, mobility impaired or can't read English there is no need to spend that sort of money. Doing it yourself will cost around 5,000 baht each. It is not rocket science, just follow the list on the hand out and visit one of the many places you can do photocopies

Ask embassies

There is a "Thailand Visa - for dummies" site. You found it. Welcome to Thailand Visa Advice.

There is no such thing as a "non-b" visa. It stands for "Non immigrant 'B', visa". That's is one of the more confusing things. "Non B" actually means "B" visa -- welcome to Thailand.

People here will be helpful. Some (a few) are dopes. You are right to be confused, it's confusing.

Another bit of advice. People on this site and most everywhere else will give advice. But not always will they give you advice applicable to your situation. Rules are different for different nationalities. Rules are different for different visas. This is Thailand and rules are different just for the sake of it. I think that's why we're here Thailand.

Before you consider advice, know the source.. Are they speaking from experience, or what they heard. Are they US nationals and therefore similar situation.

I love it here, I think you will too. Best of luck.

I have lived in Thailand for 15 years and I am now back in the US thinking that I may not return. Many, many changes over those 15 years and there will still be more once they open up the country again. I believe that immigration will now require health certificates and health insurance for everyone that is not a Thai national. Pile that on top of all the visa requirements that existed before the epidemic and I am out. Vietnam, Cambodia or Malaysia would be a better choice now for long term visas and more inexpensive than Thailand. If you like being harassed and jumping through endless hoops, go ahead and retire or visit Thailand.

Mine is with regency

I will move to Vietnam before I come to Thailand..

immigration and visas are way much better, especially the nature, beaches people,foods and has a stable government.

seems non O visa is best after browsing through the answers here as it does not require health insurance for renewal? Health insurance excluding pre-condition is just an expense, not providing much protection. It also begs the question about rising insurance premium based on age and health condition

if u can afford it but Thai Elite a family visa for 5 yrs is 800,000 and u don’t need to jump through hoops and see them every year u won’t need a bank account with 1.6 million thb in it for 5 yrs but obviously this is only if u can afford it as it’s not for everyone but there are benefits look up ThaiElite website

Jennifer, don't be discouraged. Do what you have to do. I currently have a retirement status, Garrett info is pretty much what I have been here since 2013. Pretty straight forward. Good luck. Anything else just msg.

Things change each week so best be doing all this when you guys are ready to move

There’s no shortcut education, because there are many possible routes, and road maps are often changed.

Currently there are three distinct options. In your home country, you can apply for an OA retirement visa. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but it’s good for two years. Then you start over again.

If you’re rich, you can apply for an elite visa. It’s a lot more expensive, but much less paperwork, and good for five years.

The easier path for most is to come to Thailand on a tourist visa or waiver, and then start the process of applying for a non-O visa. It can be extended year-by-year, indefinitely.

The requirements for each type of visa can be found on the government website.

Marry a Thai

Here's a good starting point for learning how to proceed.

go for the thai elite visa . no hassles .

Just find a decent agent and you do nothing ... they do it all for you ...don't listen to all the scaremongering!

Hello Julie, visa requirements change frequently so there isn't a book "there might be, but it will be out dated) that you can read from. Retirement visas depend on where you are applying for them at (your home country? which country?).

Basically, there are 3 main categories of visas: Tourists, Non-B and Non-O

Retirement visas are Non-immigrant O visas, issued from most embassies, and are valid for 90 days. Once you've arrived in Thailand, you take your passport along with the paperwork supporting it and apply for a 1 year extension. You must re-apply for an extension once a year. Current requirements, among others, requires 800k baht (~$25k usd) in a Thai bank account for 60 days prior to apply for the extension.

All its very easy.....thailand US the best Place to stay in the golden age.....and the Visa is NO Problem...... ....as i Do Not Know witch nationality you are.....just go to the next thai consulate to ask for the papers you need.....it's very easy ....yes as normal you need a health insurance but with 65 you have already, but the nice consulates will tell you. You will need a money deposit of 800.000 thb....not on a shared account....but this can be done later....first you get a non ( immigrant ) visa O ( others ) try to get this...if they not do you will get the OA as for retired usual.....there are different possibilities for the money, as you can get it monthly to your Thai Bank account .....every month from abroad needs 65.000 ...but as described all easy....it's a Paradise

The biggest problem to some is the mandatory health insurance because it can cost a fortune and when you are 65 and over you may not get coverage . this is what will stop many people from retirement in Thailand . don't think you can move here and live your days out in the sun cos it won't happen .as soon as you can't get medical insurance you will have to leave .it doesn't matter if you are very rich it won't help . please look into it for your own sake ....

thai emabassy, or have 500l baht for the elite visa.

then again ive been here for 4 years, managed to survive with various means :)

You need 1,600,000 mill in the Bank ?? Better your next Holiday check out Agents my mate pays Bt a year Chok Dee