Answered5 years ago

What are the best visa options for retiring in Thailand with young twins?

Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Visa Application Process Long-term Stay Visa for Children Thailand Immigration

Brett ************

asked Mar 1, 2022

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OK, don't laugh....but we're retiring in Phuket next month, with 6mth old twins (relaxing eh?!).  I'm Kiwi over 50 & my wife is Czech & under 50.  We established a Thai business several years ago, in order to buy a villa freehold & have had required funds sitting with Bangkok Bank for 2yrs.  Some initial advice/recommendations please:  (1)  Is it 'easier' for us to apply for visas overseas (we're in Dubai), or enter as tourists & then convert?; (2) if the latter, how long does it usually take, as we need to go back to CZ in Aug for a fortnight; (3) do kids need visas to stay long term? (I seem to recall reading that anyone <15 can't be fined for overstaying).  Many thanks in advance for questions most likely asked numerous times before!!

Answer summary

The user, who is retiring in Phuket with their spouse and young twins, seeks advice on the best visa options. Recommendations suggest applying for the Non-O retirement visa for themselves while their twins should apply for Non-O trailing family visas outside Thailand. It is indicated that applying for visas before entering Thailand may be the most efficient choice and that all foreign children, regardless of age, require a visa for long-term stays.

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Ellie *******

You are saying 'retiring', do you mean you are seeking to get a retirement visa for yourself?

You can apply for Non-O based on retirement/ being over 50 for yourself and your wife and babies can apply for Non-O trailing family as a dependant to you.

1) While you can apply for in-country Non-O retirement once you enter Thailand on SETV or visa-exempt, your family HAVE TO apply for their Non-O trailing family at the Royal Thai Embassy / Consulate outside Thailand. So the best is you all apply for non-O for all of you for each reason before you fly in Thailand.

2) all single entry Non-O is valid (<- means the period that you can enter using that visa) for 90days from the issuing date, and you will be stamped for 90days at the airport upon entry into Thailand.

3) every single foreigner needs a visa/extension from 1day old baby to 200 years old baby. As you read, under 15 yo wouldn't be fined if they are on overstay. It doesn't mean they are staying in Thailand legally. It's just the penalty is waved but you will have the record of overstaying. How you want to do with them is you as parents/guardians' decision.

5 years ago

Brett ************

PPS....we already have a joint account with Bangkok Bank for the last 2-3yrs, with >THB1.6M sitting in it, earning virtually nothing & also own a villa freehold in Phuket.

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@Brett ***********

that means, you can get a bank letter and transaction history from a bank and get yourself TM30 once you are in Thailand no problem. Don't have to worry about step 2.

5 years ago

Brett ************

Thanks Ellie, we really appreciate the time/effort that you've taken to provide advice. So you're saying that although my Czech wife can apply in Dubai for the Non-O visa (& therefore allow our household items to be shipped....they won't ship unless she has a visa), that she actually needs to get the visa AFTER me, to obtain the trailing dependent one. PS...I've asked the Thai embassy in NZ whether we can apply thru them, though as we aren't residents there either, it may not be an option.

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@Brett ***********

right, She cannot meet her requirement to apply for Non-O dependant until you get your Non-O retirement.

(That you don’t have Non-O retirement yet means she doesn’t have “someone who is/can be staying legally in Thailand” whom she can depend to.)

Or you may want to search the Thai Embassy/Consulate that allows you to apply for single entry Non-O being over 50 without residency there in Middle East or Europe.

Sorry but how you can ship your items is out of scope of this group

5 years ago

Brett ************

Unfortunately, as our twins & I don't hold a UAE residence visa, we were advised by the Thai embassy here that they can't accept our applications. Would the feasible Plan B, be to enter Phuket on tourist visa on arrival & then apply in-country? As my wife can apply here (as she holds a residence visa), she will apply, which will also allow our household effects to be shipped there.

5 years ago

Ellie *******

Or you by yourself come here first to apply for your in-country Non-O retirement (No.1-4). Then your wife would do No 5-6 in her home country or where she is now.

* (added) she cannot apply for Non-O dependant to you anywhere until you get Non-O retirement.

5 years ago

Ellie *******

@Brett ***********

, in that case, you may need to follow these steps.

1. Get you two Single Entry Tourist Visas if possible, or at least for your wife.

2. Once in Thailand open a Thai bank account in your name only and transfer your funds (one bank account is enough). Settle in an address. Get all necessary papers, prepare your Non-O retirement in-country ASAP

3. Apply for it before you still have

*****

days (depends on your address in Thailand) in your stamp. it will be issued and inked into your passport after that

*****

days

4. Once you get your in-country Non-O retirement visa, your wife goes to one of the countries around where she can enter and Thai Embassy there would issue a Non-immigrant visa to Czechs

5. Apply for her single entry Non-O based on trailing family (dependant) to your Non-O retirement there

6. She would come back on Non-O trailing family

7. You will apply for 1-year extension based on retirement when your stamp is remaining less than

*****

days (depends on your address again)

8. Your wife will apply for 1-year extension based on being trailing family to you when her stamp is remaining less than

*****

days

(If you can plan travel appropriately, 7 & 8 can be in the same window, so you can do them at once

As I mentioned about the children, they can do the same way as your wife, or you can decide to let them overstay for a while

5 years ago

Brett ************

@Ellie ******

Thanks so much for this advice, hopefully we can sort out within the next 6 weeks before we arrive then

5 years ago