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

Retirement VisaVisa ExtensionNon-O VisaTM30 RegistrationImmigration ProcessTravel PlansBank Requirements for VisaEntry Denial Risks
Dec 14, 2024
a month ago
Roger *******
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 user is seeking advice on obtaining a retirement visa while currently on a 60-day stamp in Thailand, ending January 18. They prefer to limit their stays to 180 days a year and leave Thailand multiple times for holidays. Issues include getting passport stamps, potential entry denials, and a TM30 address registration error. Comments recommend applying for a 30-day extension immediately, followed by a Non-O visa from their home country to ensure proper entry. Additionally, they suggest obtaining a one-year extension with a multiple re-entry permit once back in Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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Us *****
Get a DTV.
a month ago
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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
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob ********
 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. 😅
a month ago
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Bill *********
@Roger ******
 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
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bill ********
@Ellie ******
 A new option to consider. Thanks!
a month ago
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Roger *******
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Ellie *******
@Roger ******
, 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.
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Ellie *******
@Greg *****
, 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.
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 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.
a month ago
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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
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
 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?
a month ago
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Bob **********
@Roger ******
 you’ll need letters from the bank and they should say it was a FTT Foreign transfer
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
 Will need to work on that maybe since it was so long ago. Thank you.
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Tod *********
They could just use the current TM30 address for the 30 day extension it won't matter at all
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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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
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 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?
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
 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?
a month ago
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Chris *******
@Ro***
 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
a month ago
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Roger *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
 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. 👍
a month ago
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Roger *******
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