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What are the best visa options for UK retirees planning to stay in Thailand for 6-9 months?
Multiple Entry Tourist VisaSingle Entry Tourist VisaEducation VisaVisa RulesRetirement VisaExpat LifeThailand Immigration
Aug 20, 2019
7 years ago
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi 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!
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.
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Tod *********
@John ********
and I think you have most of the suggestions that are viable. Your reticence to contact the consulate is your biggest stumbling block to you finding out IF you can get a 6 month METV or not.Believe me you're far from the first foreigner who wanted an METV but was either self-employed or un-employed.
Your choices are
continue on SETV's until you get a red stamp and can't get them anymore
go down the ED visa route
go back to your country and get a 6 month METV
OR
you go to the closest thai consulate on this side of the world (Perth Australia) and get a 6 month METV from them.
CONTACT the consulates :)
Good Luck (y)
Paul ********
I applied successfully for a METV and provided my Self Assessment Tax Form instead of a letter from an Employer. Otherwise I'm sure some creative writing would get round the issue.
Ron *******
@John ********
unfortunately, nobody can tell what the reaction is likely to be at immigration on any given day. IMO, with your history, you won't have a problem BUT it's not me stamping you in 😀John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ron ******
That's the plan as we got our SE there last time and they are super friendly. I'm going to call them now. We are just worried about being denied entry on a SE or ME visa due to our previous 6 months in Thailand.Ron *******
You could take a drive to Liverpool from Ulveston and apply for the METV at the Thai consulate their.
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James ********
@Ron ******
thank you 😉Ron *******
As a middle aged couple looking to live here, I'm certain you could show the required £5000 for the previous 6 month's each in a UK bank account? I'm also certain, the Thai Embassy, in your circumstances, would let the employment letter slide.
Give them a call on the numbers and times in the enclosed link
Give them a call on the numbers and times in the enclosed link
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2/John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks. This is an option but most of our money is held in investments that do not have to be declared on Self Assessment. I will speak to our accountant and the consulate for advice on requirements.
Reply to
John *********
Reply
Ellie *******
Why don't you try to contact to embassy to ask the requirements of METV for unemployed person? Some other embassy also doesn't mention about it in web site but they have specific requirements for those are not employed or not self-employed.
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThis is the plan but we wanted to seek advice first in case we have to reveal our cards to the embassy and shoot ourselves in the foot so to speak. As we have friends who are business owners who if necessary, would be willing to employ us as permanent part-time consultants.
Reply to
John *********
Reply
James ********
@Ron ******
will UK issue METV to this retired couple who are under age 50? With proof of income? Tax returns? Letter of explanation?James ********
A METV for 6 months, if still offered in the UK would suit your needs well. With planning will give you up to 9 months stay in Thailand.
Robert *******
The best option is the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa but as you mentioned without an employer this could be difficult to get. Only alternative is than the Single Entry Tourist visa as you did last time. Trying to find a language school for a few hours a week to obtain a Non Immigrant ED Visa is possible, but how to answer a question from Immigration when you visit them for an Extension of Stay? If you want to learn Thai visit a proper school and study, see it as an investment in your future, not a waste of holiday time.
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ******
We want to stay in Khanom when we arrive in November, we are currently in the UK.Robert *******
i get confused, you wish to start in Nov or Dec 2019 a long stay inside Thailand but you already live in Khanom, so problems to find a school?
John *********
ORIGINAL POSTERWe do want to learn the language and are happy to invest our time studying. The problem we face is there are no official schools in our locality to obtain an Ed Visa from - so essentially we would be paying to live in Khanom plus paying to stay on Samui. 1 or 2 nights isn't a problem but anything more is not feasible financially, logistically but more importantly Samui is not where we want to spend our time. The ME visa is probably the best option for us so we can learn at our pace with a private tutor. I will call the consulate for a chat, seems the best option. We are just worried about being denied entry on the SE or ME visa.
Reply to
John *********
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