What are the best visa options for retiring in Hua Hin, Thailand for New Zealanders?

I am also from NZ been in Thailand 15 years Apply for what is "called" a retirement visa from the zthai embassy in Wellington Web site is good explains it all but u need apart from passports

1 Police report get from NN justice depart on line application no issue but takes a few weeks

2 Medical form signed by your GP suggest get first form done but not dated GP will advise Then in future just copy last form and date.

3 Financial info from bank or eg.Milford finance showing available funds

4 If you have friends or family in Thailand Intro letter from them like s character ref.

5 Ticket to Thailand can be just itinery re travel doesn't have to be paid for at application time

The visa section in WLG very helpful they will respond with advice and info via e mail..Fee is around 300$/person and visa from embassy is always multi entry unlike when applying in Thailand thru an agent when it cost 4000b extra for multi entry.

Or just use a agent in Thailand at a cost of about b which includes opening a Thai bank account.

I can recommend a very very good agent, been using for years.pm me. Please remember don't spend any money in Thailand that you can't afford to loose or run away from....

We are NZers doing the same. Firstly do you know you can apply for your super to be paid to you whilst living abroad? Contact NZ Supers international dept. Secondly we will be using an agent in the first instance to sort out which is the most appropriate visa for us. We'd rather pay to get this done professionally. Our extensive research has told us not to buy a place in Pattaya, rather rent and then only a years lease to start. How to rent, we will be using Airbnb situations then approaching the owners to pay month by month for a year. This takes away someone wanting 2 months in advance and us possibly never seeing that money again. From this stance, after living there for a year we can make a more informed decision going forward. I hope this helps.

Pm you

@Jo ********

Oh also inform bank of your stay and possible ATM use in Thailand check expiry on bank cards and license. Pension office and voting need to know update eye glasses before coming. After your here and get your phone number you will need to let bank know for there records for any large withdrawals inform inform bank frayd squad as they can stop payment if they think it is a scam.

Ps have international medical insurance bring as much meds as you can and organise someone to get your mail

Come on 60 day visa go to visa agent they will get you extra 30 days and extra 3 months then your 12 months visa open a bank account for you all in 1 month all you need is passport open wise account in NZ for money transfers. So easy but agent will need to keep your visa till completed so get a laminated copy take photo and make sure you have as many years on it also get international driver's license so you can easily get the a thai license for extra id.

It’s going to cost you $800 per person to get a Non O visa in NZ or $2,000 per person for a Non OA. Absolute madness.

Save that money and arrive visa exempt. Spend a few thousand baht with an agent to open a bank account (you will find it incredibly difficult to do yourself).

Once you have the bank accounts then put in 800k in each account and apply for a in country Non O for 2,000 baht. When that’s winding down apply for the year extension for 1,900 baht.

get an O visa to start from the embassy and open a bank account here as soon as you can. then extend it to retirement at immigration. that's what I did and have been extending for 4 years now. also from nz. you will find it hard to open an account here if at all if you are on tourist visa. also you cannot open a Thai bank account from outside Thailand.

Okay let's make this simple there is NO retirement visa.

You cannot apply for an OA in Thailand, can only obtain from an embassy.

If applying Thailand you can only apply for a 90 day non-o visa BASED on being over 50 (retirement).

You then do a 1yr extension off of that visa.

You can also apply for the non-o (not OA) from your home embassy and makes it easier for bank account and getting setup.

** OA is a 1yr visa that requires health insurance, medical and criminal background checks.

@Jo ********

there are about 4 different visas that are all referred to as retirement visas. Plus the 12 months extension of stay is also often referred to as a retirement visa. The 2 main options people use are

Non-0 visa based on being over 50. You can get inside Thailand or elsewhere. Gives you 90 days of stay which you then extend for 12 months. Requires money in a Thai bank but doesn't require insurance

Non-OA visa based on being over 50 which you can ONLY get in your home country, gives you 12 months of stay with multiple entry, requires insurance but doesn't require money in a Thai bank.

Does your use of "we" imply you are a married couple? If so the 2nd option might suit better as the second person may be able to get a Non-O visa based on being a dependent of the first with no additional requirements.

The other 2 options are the Non-OX visa and the LTR Wealthy Pensioner visa, you can research them yourself

My advice is speak to an agent. They will smooth over the process.

@Nicky **********

can help

You should apply for 3 months visa BEFORE you travel and then start the process for getting bank account set up and retirement visa application

Do some research h on retirement visas easy to follow