Hi all,
Some advice needed please. We are a UK couple aged 46 & 47 and retired. We wish to spend 6-7 months in Thailand starting November or December 2019 (not yet finalised plans). Our intention is to stay for 6-9 month every year until we can get a retirement visa at 50 (earliest May 2022).
We entered Thailand 30th November 2018 on a Single Entry Tourist Visa obtained in Liverpool, UK. This was extended in Krabi 21 Jan to 27th Feb 2019. We left Thailand 27th Feb 2019 to Ho Chi Minh where we applied for a Single Entry Tourist Visa and returned back to Thailand 3rd March. Extended this in Nakhon Si Thammarat 30th April to 31st May. We left Thailand back to the UK on 26th May where we have been since.
Neither of us have prior history of visiting Thailand within last 20 years.
We want to stay in Khanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat province and realise our options are probably only Single Entry, Multiple Entry or Ed Visas. Obviously, Elite Visa but we don't want to go down that route at present as we do not think we will get sufficient value for money. Moving to another area is not negotiable.
With regards criteria for ME visa, we do not have an employer but we have sufficient funds. This would suit us best as we have friends in other Asian countries we would like to visit for short holidays and the ability to stay nearly 9 months if required.
For Ed Visa, the only official schools we can find are on Koh Samui which would mean travelling to Samui and staying 1 or 2 nights per week, that's IF we can find a school that does a course which is 1 day a week. Possibly the same in Krabi but we haven't researched that yet. We do actually want to learn Thai properly (hence why we do not think Elite Visa is value for us). I am about to email some schools for lesson schedules etc.
We have been members of this forum for a few months, so we are realistic. We are seeking advice on likely/best options for us to remain for 6-9 months and if there is a way around ME employer requirements.
Thanks in Advance!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses a UK couple aged 46 and 47 looking to stay in Thailand for 6-9 months annually before qualifying for a retirement visa. They outline their previous visa history and current residency plans in Khanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat. They are evaluating their options primarily between a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) and an Education (ED) Visa, noting challenges in meeting visa requirements without an employer and expressing a desire to study the Thai language. Community members provide advice regarding visa applications and the importance of contacting the embassy for specific requirements related to their situation.
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.
