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What are the best options for applying for a retirement visa in Thailand given my situation and travel plans?

Retirement Visa Thai Immigration Visa Extension Non-O Visa TM30 Registration Expat Travel Financial Requirements for Visa

Dec 14, 2024

4 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I’m considering a retirement visa. Currently in Thailand on a 60 day stamp until Jan 18. I don’t really want to stay in Thailand more than 180 days a year and likely would want to enter and leave 3 - 4 times a year, but also usually leave and return during those stays for a holiday outside of Thailand with my gf. So far I’ve just been getting passport stamps. They have started to ask more questions and hesitate sometimes on the past few entries. I do have $800k in Bangkok Bank for several years. I’m staying with gf now in Tha Bunmi area of Chonburi. We got a TM - 30 filed recently. Unfortunately the address was entered 90 rather than 99 when they registered the place i’m staying. Staying with gf in a room she gets as manager of a factory. Asked them to try and fix the registration address. Flight out of Thailand Feb 17, so would file for a 30 day extension, or should I try to get a Non O retirement visa early next week at Jomtien?  Maybe I won’t really be here long enough to get an actual 1 year retirement visa? Apply for a Non 0 the next time I come to thailand? I get more confused the more i read

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual is currently in Thailand on a 60-day stamp and is considering applying for a retirement visa (Non-O) before their departure. They have expressed concerns about being questioned at entry due to frequent visa exemptions and the need to clarify their residency registration (TM30). Several commenters suggest obtaining a 30-day extension for their current visa, applying for a Non-O visa online from their home country before returning, and securing a one-year extension with a multiple re-entry permit upon arrival to avoid potential entry issues in the future.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

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Us *****

Get a DTV.

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Bob *********

Or apply in UK only have to show proof of £18 k don't have to put it in thai bank

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

That's interesting. I'm from the US, but it would be nice to not keep $25k in Thailand at a fairly low interest rate. 😅

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Bill *********

Non-OA requires insurance and is for 12 months DTV give you five years with maximum of 180 days consecutive. In Oz we have an Non-OX which is also 5 years but is continuous

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

A new option to consider. Thanks!

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Roger *******

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Ellie *******

, you can apply for Non-OA in the US with funds in your home country. If you want to apply for Non-O, you need to apply for 1-year extension in Thailand and it requires you to have funds in Thailand. Check requirements of them on the website of embassy/consulate that you aply for your visa through.

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Ellie *******

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Greg ******

My understanding is that if you want to start the process for a retirement visa, you should have at least 30 days left on your last stamp. Since you’re stamped for

****

, you will either need to initiate the process in the next few days or get the 30 day extension to Feb 17 to give yourself more time. I think it’s smart to obtain the long term visa as you risk denial of entry if you are stringing a lot of exemptions and extensions together.

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Ellie *******

, at most office allow you to apply for an in-country initial visa when you have 15 calendar days minimum remaining with your current stamp. Only a few offices requires 15 working days (21 calendar days usually) or more.

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

If I apply for the initial visa, once I get it, it seems like i still need to be in the country for 45 days or more at least? If I have a plan to leave thailand on feb 17, It doesn't seem like I have enough time. I also probably want to take my gf to Singapore or somewhere in late Jan or maybe leave before my Jan 18 when my 60 day stamp ends.

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Roger *******

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Bob **********

If you got the 800k and you can show it came from outside Thailand just apply for the non-o then extend for a year with a multiple re entry permit

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I moved 800k to thailand probably 8 years ago. I've also got 2 new passbooks for that account including a new one on this visit because I left mine at my home unfortunately. The new passbook fortunately has about 4 months worth of data with the account above 800k but for sure no proof of when the transfer in was. Maybe I need to dig up some old records from 8 years ago to keep with my just incase asked when/how the account was funded?

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Bob **********

you’ll need letters from the bank and they should say it was a FTT Foreign transfer

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Will need to work on that maybe since it was so long ago. Thank you.

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Roger *******

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Wannikea *********

As far as the address for the TM30, was the

*****

error on the TM30 website, or the owners house book? If the TM30 website, have whomever register the correct address, they can add different addresses of properties they own, the system is setup by individual address.

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Tod *********

They could just use the current TM30 address for the 30 day extension it won't matter at all

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Tod *********

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Brad *********

Maybe the DTV is an option for you based upon your description of travel intent.

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Tod *********

Its only a matter of time until they deny you entry flying in on free stamps (this isn't the thailand it was when people got free stamps and no real scrutiny on entry)

I would say

Go get the 30 day extension (just use the current address on the TM30 you have for your extension address)

Then before you come back get a 90 day Non-O visa from your country via the online eVisa website.

That way you are arriving ON a visa (so you won't get pulled aside and asked what you're doing here again on free stamp entries)

Then you can just wait until you have 30 days or less left on that 90 day entry stamp, apply for the one year extension of stay at the immigration office for 1900baht and get a multiple re-entry permit after that for 3800baht

That will let you exit/enter the country all you want for the year the extension is valid for and you won't be asked anything stamping in to the country at all

Don't make it any harder than the process actually is,. get the Non-O before you come back, then get the year extension w/re-entry once you're here

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

So I could get it all done with a 90 day visit arriving on a non o and get the 1 yr extention in the last 30 days? If I arrived on a 90 day non o but wanted to stay 60 days or less, it's not really possible to get the 1 year extention.. Is that right?

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Bad punctuation, I shouldn't have use a ?, ... would have been better. If I arrived on a 90 day non o but wanted to stay 60 days or less, it's not really possible to get the 1 year extention.. Is that right?

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Chris *******

Yep sorry, mighta got previous wrong, 90 days would start on entry to country, you'd probly need to come in twice (with a re-entry permit in between) if you have a 60 day limit. Some Offices allow extension applications 45 days before expiry (eg Chiang Mai), not sure re Chonburi

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Roger *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

All the time limits and strategies are hard to keep track of for planning and booking flights, in my mind at least. 😅 I only want to stay 90 days during the cool weather period Nov - Feb. So it seems like maybe I'll need to wait until my entry in late 2025 to apply for a 1 year extension on 90 day non O. Thank you. 👍

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Roger *******

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