I am a UK national currently in London and want to get back to Thailand to be with my Thai wife. I will be 80 next month which effectively rules out any sort of visa that requires health insurance since the only quote I have been able to get would cost more than getting an Elite visa. I think there are two possible routes and I hope someone can confirm that I have understood the health and financial requirements properly.
1. Get an O visa from the London Embassy that would require only that I have the relevant income/funds in my UK bank account and the $100,000 Covid cover (90 days) and other requirements for the COE (with no other medical or police check required for the visa). When I get to Thailand I immediately open an account at Bangkok Bank in my name only and transfer in 400k THB using Transferwise. After it has been there two months I apply at my local Immigration office for a 12 month extension of stay based on marriage. At this stage no insurance is required, not even Covid. Our home is in Samut Prakan so presumably I apply there. Before I get the visa I start regular transfers of 40k THB a month so that I can make the next renewal using income.
2. Apply for an Elite visa, for which no insurance is required other than the Covid cover for the COE. I would have the choice of getting the visa affixed in my passport in London or of travelling to Thailand with a TR visa (no insurance required) and getting the visa affixed at Changwattana (again no insurance). An added advantage of the Elite would be their assistance in organising driving licence, yellow house book and 90 day reporting. If I followed this route, I would only need 60 days Covid cover but I would need an onward ticket out of Thailand (or would it be better to go for an O visa instead of TR). Could I apply for a marriage extension at the end of the 5 year Elite visa (assuming I am still alive, in Thailand and the rules haven’t changed!)?
I’m sorry for such a long post but I have done a lot of research on this and other forums and want to be sure I have understood it all properly before starting the process. Any advice greatly appreciated.
[And please no more trolls telling me that at my age I should just stay at home and forget Thailand.]
TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK national seeks advice on obtaining a visa to return to Thailand to reunite with their Thai wife. They consider two options: obtaining a Non-O visa from the London Embassy or applying for an Elite visa. They clarify health insurance requirements and financial stability, exploring options for transitioning to a marriage-based extension of stay after the Elite visa term. Community responses offer various insights and alternatives, emphasizing the importance of understanding different visa categories and requirements.
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.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
