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What are the considerations for maintaining the 800,000 baht requirement for a retirement visa in Thailand?
Thai retirement visaVisa extension processFinancial requirementsUsing agents for visasManaging funds in Thai bank accounts
Mar 19, 2026
a month ago
Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone, Just thought I would throw this one out there to counteract they ney sayers regarding the 800,000 baht needed to be retained in a Thai bank account for a retirement visa as everyone is under the assumption it's better to keep the money in an overseas account because you get bugger all interest in a Thai bank account, but here's another logic to contend with..... If you use an agent let's say the price would be is 18,000, and doing by yourself is 2,000 assuming you have the 800k in the bank, the difference is a saving of 16k which equals 2% + if you get 1% interest from your Thai account that's 3% ! But the important thing is that by doing it yourself you are fully compliant within the immigration regulations and not so using an agent as they remove deposited funds immediately they have a bank statement thus leaving you open and deemed to be an overstayer.
If you have limited funds then I guess you have limited options, as I've already said, just food for thought.
If you have limited funds then I guess you have limited options, as I've already said, just food for thought.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the necessity of keeping 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a retirement visa. The original poster suggests that handling visa processes personally may save money and ensure compliance with immigration regulations, as opposed to using agents who might manipulate funds. Some commenters share their experiences, debating the efficacy of agents, alternate banking options like government bond accounts, and the implications for managing finances while living in Thailand. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding visa rules, as well as the differing perspectives on what constitutes 'doing it right' financially.
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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Christer ****************
Please dont ask about visa and money transfers on this site you get so so many stupid answers,if you are not sure contact a visa agency and its not illegal to go true a agency, they give you a good advise,if you have unlimited funds it probably 10 different ways to get a visa,please google your oppsions,Good luck
Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERChrister Livsey-svedman and this is another one giving bad advise. Why not go onto the countries official government embassy/immigration website and get the precise answers to all the questions instead of taking the lazy, easy route and being mislead by someone else's interpretation.....
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Grahame *********
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Gary ***********
I want to stay on the legal side to reduce rush so put 800k in, reduce to 400k after month 3 , reduce to zero after 2nd extension, meanwhile I pay 65k a month on ( you need that for living costs at very minimum) and use that for renewals going forward, so I've only lost interest on 800k for a short whilst and 400k for another 9 months
Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERNelson Chan Maybe a lot of long term thinkers will take the hit and still stay here resting assured they're legit..... For every down there's an up.....
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Grahame *********
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Incognia **********
but thai baht is gaining not losing value.
Mary ********
We tend to keep our account at the 800K each year round and rarely dip under that because we planned well in advance for our move here and saved enough to be able to do that as per the requirements listed. By watching the exchange rate and moving our money at the right times it negates the lower interest rate of the account and by completing the visa requirements on our own and paying only the 1900 baht each we save as well. End of the day, who cares what others do, as long as it meets the requirements of the country, each to their own.
Andy **********
Mary Gerber The naysayers and fraudsters say their version is ok but it is only ok until someone pulls the plug, like they did on back to back border bounces and their lives go to shit in an instant as they have nowhere to go back to, no property back home and now they cannot pass Thai immigration rules.
On the day that happens, don't go outside near any tall buildings.
On the day that happens, don't go outside near any tall buildings.
Mary ********
Andy Johnston Yeah, border bouncing always was risky as it set outside the requirements. The only change there is they are enforcing the rules now. I won't be surprised if they decide one day to enforce the 800K rules but in saying that the agencies that provide the service are big business so raise revenue for the country, so it may be they are happy with that side of things. End of the day each of us is responsible for our own approach to how we manage this and the consequence is that you may be caught and then excluded from entering. I am a firm believer in following immigration law, so to do different to what I do would make me a hypocrite. I value my ability to stay here long term so follow the letter of the law.
Andy **********
Mary Gerber The long term writing is on the wall anyway as the demographic changes.
The poor pensioners now can basically eke out a life skirting the rules but relying heavily on the old fashioned (and now defunct) final salary pension schemes and the sale of the family home.
The younger ones, the wannabee influencers etc., have no assets, no pension, no job and flit around on the back of family allowances and some temporary youtube video income.
When they get older, there is no final salary or money purchase pension scheme and no house to sell, only debt.
As in the west, the next generation are going to be worse off and without an inheritance, their time in Thailand will be curtailed long before they get old.
My guess is the Bt800k will move, as it was once Bt400k, before than Bt200k and I have even heard talk of a once annual Bt100k way back before my time but as you say, money talks in Thailand and Bt1900 doesn't leave as much to kick upstairs as Bt
The poor pensioners now can basically eke out a life skirting the rules but relying heavily on the old fashioned (and now defunct) final salary pension schemes and the sale of the family home.
The younger ones, the wannabee influencers etc., have no assets, no pension, no job and flit around on the back of family allowances and some temporary youtube video income.
When they get older, there is no final salary or money purchase pension scheme and no house to sell, only debt.
As in the west, the next generation are going to be worse off and without an inheritance, their time in Thailand will be curtailed long before they get old.
My guess is the Bt800k will move, as it was once Bt400k, before than Bt200k and I have even heard talk of a once annual Bt100k way back before my time but as you say, money talks in Thailand and Bt1900 doesn't leave as much to kick upstairs as Bt
*****
k+Reply to
Andy **********
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Harry ********
When I come in June, I see this move as a massive thing to do in my life at 72, and I ask myself, "do I need stress getting this over the line?". No is my answer. . yes I think a legal representative is quite expensive, but I need to get this right. I have even booked a SECIND flight from the UK just in case my Emirates flight gets cancelled. Money spent making this move is worth spending.
Osian ********
Harry Harris there's causious and then there's Harry Harris 🤣🤣🤣.
No I get you my friend, its worrying times crossing the middle east. I'm booked to go home, worrying will my flight cancel, will they double the price last minute, and now (as it drags on) will i get a reasonably priced flight to get back here 😱🫣.
But to swing some politics in there, cos I likes a bit of drama, Trump needed to stop the regime, they had chance after chance at the negotiating table, and every president b4 him has talked this action but just didn't have the balls to go through with it. INCOMING! 🤣🤣🤣🫣
No I get you my friend, its worrying times crossing the middle east. I'm booked to go home, worrying will my flight cancel, will they double the price last minute, and now (as it drags on) will i get a reasonably priced flight to get back here 😱🫣.
But to swing some politics in there, cos I likes a bit of drama, Trump needed to stop the regime, they had chance after chance at the negotiating table, and every president b4 him has talked this action but just didn't have the balls to go through with it. INCOMING! 🤣🤣🤣🫣
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Osian ********
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Rok ********
Absolutely- knowing my application is 100% 💯 legit is well worth of the interest lost.
David **********
Food for thought. What does a Thai Person need to come to live in Europe?
Thailand has Visa rules to stop the abuse from wasters that would be a liability to the Kingdom, and there are many.
Thailand has Visa rules to stop the abuse from wasters that would be a liability to the Kingdom, and there are many.
Andrew *********
Just leave it in the account. I'm no interested in making money on intrest .
Yo***
I am really curious and find this very funny. Why you care how others do the visa or extension?? it does matter to you if they use agent and pay one million Thb? or whatever?? is that your money? or you have to pay that for them?? or the agent come to you to do something bad to you? or what is actually problem with you?? Why you care about it so much?? When you see foreigners, you care how they did their visa here? using agent? or putting money or not? You think? How others do their life and visa or whatever does not matter at all to your life. You just live as you do on your responsibility, yes they also do their way on their own responsibility too. Legal or illegal, you are not able to judge it at all. Thai police and judge will decide it fully on their own ways. That is nothing to do with you at all. everyone lives on choice and responsibility. No one can live someone's life and responsibility. It is really funny for me that so many foreigners look to really care how others do a visa with agent or without it. 😂😂
Osian ********
Young not true, for example, its the LAW BREAKERS that caused immigration to change the law and insist we deposit 800k for a whole 5 months out of the year, 20yrs ago you just had to show it there. So it does effect the legal beagles in quite a big way. The legal way also makes us now show our full 12 months statements, it never used to be like this. Who knows what new rules will come into effect over the next 10yrs all in an attempt to weed out the LAW BREAKERS. The stupid part is, the biggest law breakers and tea leafs are the corrupt immigration officials, weed them out and keep them out, then there would be no cause to keep applying more and more strict rules to the good guys
Yo***
Osian Ledger I do not agree with you. Actually the retirees themselves have no big effect on changing the rules and tightening the rules. Visa itself is not the main too. The main reason of this changing and tightening is firstly, too many farangs, secondly, too many stupid farangs. Even they have right visa and permit, here 800K thb or
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Thb monthly income, some of them behave are bad and many Thai people are not happy with them at all. Also, time to time, more and more thai people are unhappy with so many stupid farangs. This is normal when a country changed laws and rules for foreigners who behave bad and too many come to Thailand. simply speaking, Thai people love foreigners money. The best for them is, short stayer foreigners with big spending power. And they go back home in weeks. The second best for them is, even they are staying for long, they spend a lot of money in Thailand. Money talks a lot in Thailand. Regardless of their visa statues, thai people love them. They do not harm Thai peoples life. Be honestly, 800K thb is not enough for living in Thailand a year. Let me ask you, which one do you think thai people prefer? A foreign retiree, with millions USD, and spend *****
0 USD every year, without putting 800K thb in thai bank, or a foreign retiree, who put 800K thb into thai bank account, and live with *****
Thb every month in Thailand. For normal Thai people, whether they put 800K thb into account or not, it is not important at all. Their interest is only how much a foreigner pays now for Thai people. The main reason of changing the laws and rules in Thailand for foreign retirees is not putting 800K thb but there are more cheap charlies who just put 800K thb in Thai account but no money to spend in Thailand, cheap charlies. In Thailand, money or Thai lives are above any law. That is also what Thai Kings and Queens have been always cared of.Reply to
Yo***
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Marty *********
How many decades does this have to be debated? 🙄 Bottom line - do what you can afford and what gives you peace of mind.
John *********
Every man and his dog think they can “Game” the system. Most will sadly learn the hard way. There are financial protocols for a reason, which happen to be the bare minimum you need to live on. That’s before you factor in health care. Come here to live not exist.
Richard **********
My question is on wise and the problem of transferring money to your Thai bank account and it not being recorded as a foreign transaction. I’ve been advised that if you transfer from you wise do it in in your native currency not Baht, let the Thai bank do the conversion and this forces it to be recorded as a foreign transaction (FET). So ChatGPT tells me.
Ian ********
Best to make a separate post about this
Richard **********
Ian Carman Yes sorry you’re right. 🤪
Ian ********
I know the answer but it would get lost on here so probably good idea to start a new thread
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Ian ********
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Alan *****
Richard Morcombe wise have a new option about that they give you the choice of saying it’s an international transfer. Also I’m pretty sure that it makes no difference as to where the money came from regarding immigration, just as long as it’s been there for the specified time
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Alan *****
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Bill *********
You are absolutely incorrect regarding a blanket statement that all agents remove the funds. My agent did not. Everything was done purely by the book. So you should post a retraction to that statement you make because it is grossly incorrect. And since you're incorrect about that I don't trust anything else that you have to say.
Rob **********
@Bill ********
so your agent deposits the 800,000 baht into your account 2 months before your extension and leaves it there for 3 months after the extension and then maintains your account in between these times with 400,000 baht as the rules dictate, wow you certainly have the best agent in Thailand.Bill *********
Rob Hua Hin That sounds like a lot of work! No it's even easier. Used my agent's money for about 10 minutes when my bank account was first set up a few years ago. Then I wired my own B800k (actually 850k for a little buffer) and then my agent exited the situation. I maintain that balance in my account and replenish as needed since I use it for my daily expenses. When it comes times for the Visa extension, my agent gets my call. She has no trouble verifying the balance of my account since it's been maintained over the year. Repeat again the following year. Works perfectly with no worries or concerns.
Ant ***********
Rob Hua Hin
Supposedly They will put in the 800K for one day , take a statement , withdraw the money - they keep your passport for 30 days
, do the same again : therefore showing 800K in the clients bank for 2 consecutive months 😳🫣🤔
Supposedly They will put in the 800K for one day , take a statement , withdraw the money - they keep your passport for 30 days
, do the same again : therefore showing 800K in the clients bank for 2 consecutive months 😳🫣🤔
Yo***
Ant W Tailor supposedly? 😂😂😂😂😂
Rob **********
Ant W Tailor yep but a bit dodgy, never let your passport out of your sight, but the way Bill Strayer explained it they deposited the money into his bank account and then left it there, as you said to numerous commenters, the money is still there, pure fantasy 😂😂😂
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Rob **********
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Peter **********
RUBBISH
…..”as THEY remove deposited funds immediately they have a bank account”
Some may do that, but NOT all.
…..”as THEY remove deposited funds immediately they have a bank account”
Some may do that, but NOT all.
Steve *******
Peter H Bates NO agent leaves 800k of his own money in your bank account for the full duration. Get real!
Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERAt the end of the day guys arguing over a couple of % intrest seems somewhat insignificant as if the shit ever hit the fan and you have a wife, girlfriend, property, car or motorcycle not to mention the lifestyle and were busted as an overstayer it would pale into insignificance.
Whatever your choice please give it some thought, let's all enjoy our hard earned retirement and enjoy 😉
Whatever your choice please give it some thought, let's all enjoy our hard earned retirement and enjoy 😉
Bill *********
Peter H Bates You're absolutely correct. My agent did not remove any funds as described. My money was placed in the bank on day one and is still there today.
Nick ************
@Bill ********
why would an agent remove your money. They remove their money. If you had the money then why use an agent at all?Bill *********
Nick Cartwright Easy... I place a high value on my time. Outsourcing tasks to others with the expertise and experience is just good business. I get no satisfaction from doing the Visa process myself.
Nick ************
@Bill ********
that's fine but no agent is going to leave *****
0 baht of their money in your account for more than a few hours at the most. Think about it, if they did that for 10 clients that's *****
00 baht tied up which could be stolen. Not a very good business model. Outsourcing and making a profit out of it is good business. Personally I enjoy the challenge and the knowledge that my extension is 100% legit. Now I have the experience and knowledge and it takes about an hour of my time. That's good business as it saves me a lot of money. If you can't be bothered to learn that's up to you.Reply to
Nick ************
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Ian ********
Your money not the agents money ?
Graham ******
Ian Carman obviously so not relevant to this discussion
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Graham ******
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Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bill ********
may i be as bold as to say your agent may be an exception in this situation and you are very lucky.Nick ************
Grahame Brindle he is not lucky at all just confused.
Graham ******
Grahame Brindle not lucky he used his own money
Ian ********
I think he’s getting confused
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Ian ********
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Graham ******
Peter H Bates they all do in the situation that the OP is describing
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Graham ******
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Chris ******
If you already have a non O immigrant visa get an agent to do the extension 14-18K , only in Pattaya tho.
Ant ***********
I think many come to Thailand hearing about and seeing bright lights & a supposed cheap lifestyle with no plan & Sadly have very little savings & not understand the long term requirements and end up with a “ go here they will help you Visa “
Or end up in Vietnam , Cambodia or the Philippines where they have minimal requirements.
Or end up in Vietnam , Cambodia or the Philippines where they have minimal requirements.
Yo***
Ant W Tailor Vietnam is good for retirees. Really not bad at all. Vietnam is a rising star. But, Vietnam has not a right visa for retirees. You have to have visa run every three months. that is really hassle. Cambodia is not bad but still not better than thailand to live. Visa is much easier than Thailand. The philippines, not bad for retirees and there is retirement visa, it is PR, but if you are not USA retired army, you have to put
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USD or *****
USD in philppines bank and can not touch it at all. I do not think this condition is minimal requirement. Malaysia is personally not recommended, because Malaysia islamic police country. so period.Ian ********
Young Agree. Unless the rules have been updated
if you have a Filipina wife you automatically get a year Balikbayan stamp if you enter the Philippines with her and show proof of marriage. No payment required. Whereas Thailand with a Thai wife you must deposit 400k baht into a Thai bank and it must stay there permanently.
if you have a Filipina wife you automatically get a year Balikbayan stamp if you enter the Philippines with her and show proof of marriage. No payment required. Whereas Thailand with a Thai wife you must deposit 400k baht into a Thai bank and it must stay there permanently.
Reply to
Ian ********
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GreenPa*******
I often wonder what the obsession that seems to plague a lot of people on who and who does not have the requested 800,000, or monthly transfers, or who does and does not use an agent.
People should just be happy that they can, which ever method they choose to use, be here in Thailand for a years extention.
People should just be happy that they can, which ever method they choose to use, be here in Thailand for a years extention.
Miyamoto *********
GreenPapaya279 You are assuming everybody wants to be happy. A lot of farangs on here only reach their happiness when they are complaining about their life and annoying others with their persistent negativity. Im fucked if I know why they moved to Thailand if they are so unhappy with their life in Paradise!!!!!!!!!
GreenPa*******
Miyamoto Musashi may as well stay in your home country if you are not pursuing happiness
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GreenPa*******
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Yo***
GreenPapaya279 yes agreed. I really do not understand why people care so much about how others do the visa or extension? some use agents or some do it by themselves. or mixed, or whatever, they choose what is good for them, and go on with their choice. When people here see a foreigner, people wonder how he or she lives in thailand, what visa or through agent or with or without 800K THB in thai bank?? How they live in Thailand really matters to them??? Just really curious, why they care about it so much?? Do they pay the agent for them?🤣🤣
Robert *********
GreenPapaya279 agreed. Thems the rules so just pay up or perhaps pay a dodgy agent that can maybe maybe circumvent them for you. Gen Tragic and Gen Old Git equally always hoping for some kind for hack…
Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERGreenPapaya279 Because it's a group that was set up to discuss the topic and I think most people's veiws are valid depending on available funds.
Reply to
Grahame *********
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Julian *******
Put it in the government savings bank bond account and you get entered in the monthly draw. Last year I won 800 baht on 9 of the 12 months. That’s better interest than you get anywhere from a bank account and immigration like gsb as it’s the government bank.
Justin **********
Julian Lewis Do immigration accept it if it's in a bond account though? I was told by immigration it can't be in a fixed deposit saving account, which I appreciate is not the same thing as to what you're referring to.
Will have a look into this as I'm getting my non-O extension next month and also want to open another account.
Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Will have a look into this as I'm getting my non-O extension next month and also want to open another account.
Thanks for the tip. 🙂
Julian *******
Justin Hollebon phang Nga immigration accept it , I get my passbook updated monthly and gsb write the letter. But every province immigration office makes their own rules.
Reply to
Julian *******
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Grahame *********
ORIGINAL POSTERJulian Lewis what a good idea, 👍 Thanks.
Reply to
Grahame *********
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