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What are the challenges in extending a retirement visa in Thailand based on personal experiences?
Retirement VisaVisa ExtensionImmigration ProcessThailandVisa RequirementsExpat ChallengesBanking IssuesDocumentation for VisaTM30 FormLandlord Verification
Jan 29, 2026
3 months ago
Rae ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi, thought I would briefly post my experience of visa extension, retirement visa. I went with a friend who was applying for their extension. Bank took two days. Then ended up freezing account for 4 months. Has to be done. In case my elderly and frail friend is a Cambodian scammer or operating mule accounts. Then back to immigration. 12 folders. Then told TM 30 and rental contract and payment slips not enough. Even with every other detail and proof.
Go back and get a signed copy of their ID. Several large photographs of my friend in front of and inside their rental house. Large colour print out of the location from google earth.
Ok. Did that, back to immigration. No. Now you need the rental contract to be a year. And when you do that, if we grant retirement visa, you will be visited every month by the police. Given that my friend already owns several condos elsewhere.1200 k away, that seems somewhat harsh. So essentially they have to leave in the middle of their extended holiday. Fly back to their nearest airport, take a taxi some 150k go to an immigration office there and hope they dont come up with another set of rules. Then taxi back, another flight all to extend a retirement visa. They dont like us. They dont want us here. Thailand for Thai's. I should add the banks cheery assertion that document given out by them would be good for 24 hours for bank book and four or five days for statements was met with refusal by immigration. ''Go back and get them today.'' And no I wont name the provincial office. My friend still has to deal with it.
Go back and get a signed copy of their ID. Several large photographs of my friend in front of and inside their rental house. Large colour print out of the location from google earth.
Ok. Did that, back to immigration. No. Now you need the rental contract to be a year. And when you do that, if we grant retirement visa, you will be visited every month by the police. Given that my friend already owns several condos elsewhere.1200 k away, that seems somewhat harsh. So essentially they have to leave in the middle of their extended holiday. Fly back to their nearest airport, take a taxi some 150k go to an immigration office there and hope they dont come up with another set of rules. Then taxi back, another flight all to extend a retirement visa. They dont like us. They dont want us here. Thailand for Thai's. I should add the banks cheery assertion that document given out by them would be good for 24 hours for bank book and four or five days for statements was met with refusal by immigration. ''Go back and get them today.'' And no I wont name the provincial office. My friend still has to deal with it.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post details the author's frustrating experience with the visa extension process for a retirement visa in Thailand. Key points include difficulties with banking documentation, additional demands from immigration officers, and the problem of requiring a year-long rental contract. The author highlights systemic issues like bureaucratic complexity and the strain on expats, expressing concern over the treatment of foreigners in Thailand. Comments echo similar experiences, with some suggesting the use of lawyers or agencies to navigate the process more smoothly.
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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Martyn ***********
I think that office was trying to piss you off so you'd pay 'tea money'...
Nick ************
Got my extension last week. It took about 1.5 hours and I did not need to go to my bank for anything.
David ********
Nick Cartwright what’s paperwork do you need to do it yourself .
Nick ************
David Rooney ask for the list if requirements at your local immigration office as they vary from place to place. I needed
12 months Thai bank statements showing transfers ftt. 12 months UK bank statements. House owners id card copy. House blue book copy. Map of house location (Google maps). Tm7. Tm2. 2 photos. Passport copy. Passport. Tm30. Babk book up to date and copy. I think that was it.
12 months Thai bank statements showing transfers ftt. 12 months UK bank statements. House owners id card copy. House blue book copy. Map of house location (Google maps). Tm7. Tm2. 2 photos. Passport copy. Passport. Tm30. Babk book up to date and copy. I think that was it.
Reply to
Nick ************
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Christopher *******
Use an agency
John *******
Many people pay a lawyer or agency to handle the process. Makes it smoother. Also, why schedule a holiday when you know you need to complete essential paperwork that for most people requires several visits to offices?
Braulio *********
hmmmmm interesting comment about "They don't want us here." need to ponder that....
Ian **********
I changed to a DTV and now have minimal contact with immigration. I have to leave every 6 months, but as I live near the border, it is just a day out for lunch in Vientiane. For 5 years, I can come and go as I please. It does cost me $40 for the VoA in Laos, which is a pain, but nothing compared to the merry-go-round hoop jumping for an extension, and I don't have to keep any funds in Thailand.
Mma *******
Ian Morrison can u get a DTV for over 50 year olds?
Reply to
Mma *******
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John *********
A Zipcode lottery as to your local Immigration Office. Mine is Khon Kaen. Efficient and super helpful. My extension took 60 minutes with a multi entry stamp including form filling and copying.
Bank: You need to take the view of doing it all that day. First thing,Update your book. Take your form and pay your 200. Next stop immigration.
I have a Thai Company and two properties. Within 2 hours Bangkok Bank froze my account. Local Manager could not of been nicer. My Branch happened to be an infamous one in Pattaya Klang. I was obliged to produce Company documents, Tabian Baan’s. Singapore and U.K. Bank Statements as well as an affidavit from my U.K. Solicitor regarding funds from the sale of a property. Three weeks later it was unfrozen. This is Bank protocols, not Thai Immogration. Then You start planning for the next one. This is the way it is now sadly. Roll with it, everything will be fine, In time ☹️
Bank: You need to take the view of doing it all that day. First thing,Update your book. Take your form and pay your 200. Next stop immigration.
I have a Thai Company and two properties. Within 2 hours Bangkok Bank froze my account. Local Manager could not of been nicer. My Branch happened to be an infamous one in Pattaya Klang. I was obliged to produce Company documents, Tabian Baan’s. Singapore and U.K. Bank Statements as well as an affidavit from my U.K. Solicitor regarding funds from the sale of a property. Three weeks later it was unfrozen. This is Bank protocols, not Thai Immogration. Then You start planning for the next one. This is the way it is now sadly. Roll with it, everything will be fine, In time ☹️
Matty ****
You could always just pay a lawyer that will make sure that it goes smoothly. That's how we did the LTR.
Yes Thailand is the land of stamps. But if you move to another country you've got to be willing to accept these things.
Yes Thailand is the land of stamps. But if you move to another country you've got to be willing to accept these things.
Bob **********
Matty BK you don’t pay a lawyer for a non-o extension
Barb ******
I'm just looking into moving, totally 😵💫.. did lawyer speak Thai, or do you? Thanks
Matty ****
Barb Macy there are many law firms that have English speaking consultants along with Thai lawyers to handle everything..
Depending on location there's always a good option
They know exactly how the things go. And exactly how to deal with immigration if you have something that is not up to standard.
Paying a small fee to save yourself the headache is well worth it.
Depending on location there's always a good option
They know exactly how the things go. And exactly how to deal with immigration if you have something that is not up to standard.
Paying a small fee to save yourself the headache is well worth it.
Reply to
Matty ****
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Night *******
If they don't like you, just leave. Apparently your home country has already abandoned you; hence, you have to come to Thailand for refuge.
Yo***
Night Rider it is rather a tragedy. The author is a cambodian. Yes we know what is going on between Thailand and Cambodia. Thai people do not like Cambodians. However, this is political, not personal. Just because someone is born in Cambodia, that is never chosen by anyone, is discriminated in Thailand? That is non sense. Not all Cambodians are involving in their bad politics. Even, they hate Hunsen in Cambodia, who is dictator and ruined his country. He is the head of this all disaster between Thailand and Cambodia. And one or few cambodians can not do anything with this. What shall they do? This non sense can happen to everyone here. That is really sad.
Jay ********
Young curious why you think the poster is Cambodian
She was just referring to the fact her friend had there account frozen as he could of been a Cambodian scammer
I think it was mentioned tongue in cheek
She was just referring to the fact her friend had there account frozen as he could of been a Cambodian scammer
I think it was mentioned tongue in cheek
Rae ******
ORIGINAL POSTERJay Cutler I have several times recently been accused of running a scam centre because a. I paid cash for two expensive cars. I already have two other cars. So I am laundering money. b. I put machine translated adverts for staff on Thai websites... Which lead to multiple accusations of being from southern china. Even though I live nowhere near any border. I am Caucasian. The hysteria in the Thai population is mirrored by the banks freezing accounts for fear of mule accounts or scammers. Despite no evidence.
Reply to
Rae ******
Reply
Dave **********
People will go elsewhere, I got no dog in this hunt,but People won't put up with this level of beaurocracy,other places in S.E Asia make it much cheaper and easier.
Rae ******
ORIGINAL POSTERDave Marriott that's very true. There does not seem to be a recognition that ease of use is a factor in determining where people settle. And of course massive over supply of accommodation means a bubble getting ready to burst. Huge levels of personal debt with people merely servicing interest with no realistic expectation of clearing the debt is endemic. The gap between interest charged and interest earned means the banking system is a cartel with not enough competition. Indeed t he only real competition bseems to be who can piss of the consumer the most. With Bangkok bank winning at the moment
Reply to
Rae ******
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John **********
The critical point in your post is that your friend was on holiday. Long term extensions need to be done at the immigration office that serves the area where the person applying lives.
Ian ********
You obviously didn’t get a copy of the requirements before you going to extend and assumed what was required
Rae ******
ORIGINAL POSTERIan Carman there were lots of folders. I even had a Thai person check in advance. There was the rental contract
Owners ID, copy of payment slips for four month rental. TM 30. My Thai friend phoned immigration
They only raised need for map and photos inside and out after a couple of hours of submitting the docs. Then when we got those. They then said 4 month contract was too short. That was after they had inspected and approved earlier. The trouble was two different officers. Who took different views on what was needed.
Owners ID, copy of payment slips for four month rental. TM 30. My Thai friend phoned immigration
They only raised need for map and photos inside and out after a couple of hours of submitting the docs. Then when we got those. They then said 4 month contract was too short. That was after they had inspected and approved earlier. The trouble was two different officers. Who took different views on what was needed.
Ian ********
My IO has a printed leaflet in Thai and English of the requirements
Reply to
Ian ********
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