What are the costs and processes involved in obtaining a retirement visa and a non-B visa for New Zealand passport holders in Thailand?

Nov 21, 2024
a month ago
Terri ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi just asking as have had alot of mixed messages.

We are wanting to get a retirement visa and a non b visa. Our lawyer. Quoted us 123000bht for both.

30000each to break current tourist visa and another 30000each for the new retirment and non b visa visas.

We then spoke to an American working here and he said that it was far to high and his cost 15000baht.

We then went to immigration ourselves and got even more confused!! We definitely understand that the lawyer is expensive. But how much does it actually cost?

Sorry forgot to mention we are on new zealand passports.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the costs and processes for obtaining a retirement (Non-O) visa and a business (Non-B) visa in Thailand for individuals with New Zealand passports. A lawyer quoted an excessive fee (123,000 baht) for both visas, leading to concerns about being overcharged. Community responses indicate that the actual costs are significantly lower: 2,000 baht for each visa application and 1,900 baht for visa extensions, with no fees required to break a tourist visa. Comments suggest doing the application independently or finding a trustworthy visa agent for assistance, while emphasizing the importance of having the necessary documentation and funds available.
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.
Peter *********
Contact Thai Visa centre
Andrew ********
Rip off big time.

800k in the bank for 3 month prior to visa application. The actual fee is very small 1900baht I think. Then also re entry stamp if you intend to leave Thailand at any time, multiple entry is best.

Takes about 2 weeks now as things have all changed recently.
Dane ******
get a new lawyer and post his law firm on facebook, dudes a scammer
Cris ******
I don't understand why people go to lawyers. Go to a visa agent.
Mary ********
It might help to list the area you are in so people can recommend a trusted agent - that price is WAY too high but being an attorney you'd be paying for the knowledge and ease of getting through the process.

It does depend on a lot of things though - do you have the required 800,000 baht each to deposit in a Thai bank? If the agent has to do that for you the price is higher.

Do you both match the age requirements? For a non O if you tick all the boxes and have all the required documentation and meet all the criteria it only costs 1900 baht to do it yourself, so pricing is based on what they have to work around and fix.
Achanster ******
Ask Immigration Office for a list of all the requirements, they usually have one
Achanster ******
Your lawyer is crazily greedy
Greg ***********
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Tony ******
*****
0 baht each in a thai bank wait
*****
days let someone correct me lol then apply cost 1900 baht as stated before
Bob **********
25,000 for a non-o and a year extension re entry is extra and they take care of everything
Olivier ************
My solicitor charges me 8k .

I have all paperwork / money in the bank / tambien ban and so on .

I Send it her all , she check with her contact at immigration that it s all there and make an appointment for us .

I just pop in , sign countless pieces of paper , take a picture and am done .

Yes I could pay 2k instead of 8k doing it all by myself but the 6k extra is worth it to have it all streamlined and building a good relationship with a local solicitor who can make things a lot easier with various administration when needed .
Martyn ***********
Your getting ripped big time... First Retirement with no money is 23ish each.
Nigel **********
Email Hua Hin visa services, they did mine no problem:

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093-698-2969

Soi 94
Toby ******
The visa is 1900 baht.
Bart **************
The non-B is normally done by your employer. The retirement one you could do by yourself for 2,000 baht, but if you're the spouse of a non-B visa holder you may as well get the spouse visa. The employer takes care of that as well.
Gary **********
Easy way go to a agent or if you have funds to put in a bank as stated ..then it's also easy. The cost of your retirement visa will be 1,900 bht. You are being wel over charged ..
David *******
60 days visa exemption on arrival FREE....border bounce for another 60 days to Cambodia...all-inclusive 3300baht...repeat every two months. Send them 120k to me lol
Sue ********
I’m came on a NZ passport as a tourist and had no problem getting retirement visa and bank account through paying an agent in Soi 94. Not as much as you’ve been quoted but it was done and dusted in a day. The women at Anna’s take care of everything. So worth it. Get a quote. There’s two agents pretty well next door to each other.
Steve *******
Non imm visas from Immigration Offices are 2000bt a pop.
Zac ********
A non b visa is a business visa this is the visa you need to get a work permit.

A non o visa is a retirement visa.

These are completely different types of visa and the costs involved getting them are different.

With a non b visa if you are setting up your own company that you will be working for you will need a lawyer to set up the company, you will need to employ at least 4 Thai staff and pay their social security insurance you also need all the relevant licenses for your business. It's a massive ball ache and at least for the first time better to use an agent.

If you are working for a company they should do all the paperwork for your non b and work permit, you don't need a lawyer if this is the case.

For a non o the process is much easier if you have all your paperwork in order and the money sat in a Thai bank account you can do it yourself.
Paul *******
do it yourself.

I used an agent in year 1 and paid around 55,000 baht.

Year 2, I did it myself for 1,900 baht.
Todd *********
@Paul ******
you overpaid by 20k at least. And doing if it yourself means leaving 800k doing nothing in the bank it actually cost you at least 40k in lost interest. And all the wasted time at bank and immigration. Not the smartest move really
Paul *******
@Todd ********
the 800k in my Thai bank is not "costing" me 40k in interest.

If you are organized the time in the immigration office should be under 1 hour.
Todd *********
@Paul ******
it sure is costing you 40k.. that’s what the world calls ‘opportunity cost’. I actually made 8% on my fixed term investments. 64k annually. Easily covers the 18k agent fee. Would be nothing short of foolish to leave 800k in the bank

And you forgot about your time wasted in the bank and commuting to bank and immigration. For some, their time isn’t worth much. For others, it’s worth a lot
Paul *******
@Todd ********
so, are you doing the 65k per month "income" method?
Todd *********
@Paul ******
Canadian so we don’t even need to do the banking of 65k. Our consulate provides the letter of affidavit still.
Paul *******
@Todd ********
I really don't mind the drive out to immigration.

They are much friendlier here compared to the Phuket office.
Todd *********
@Paul ******
agreed! Some offices make it easy and friendly ! Others more of a hassle for people
Jacobus **************
Contact Thai Visa Centre. They arranged very well for us. Price very reasonable.
Mark *********
All comments are valid. A solicitor is not the place to go. What do we do anywhere in the world - avoid solicitors as much as possible because of inflated pricing and, yes, Thailand is the same. Doing it yourself the cost is virtually nothing. I was concerned, though around agent costs because they vary substantially according to where we are talking about - and we don't know! Simply, the THB 15K sounds wildly optimistic if we are talking about Bangkok. The only way to find out is by asking around for your location.
Tom ********
You need 800,000 baht each in a bank account or an income of 65K baht per month and in your account for 3 months, if you are on a 'tourist visa' you can switch from that to Non O and then retirement, do it yourself, take your time and work with the immigration office who are there to help you.
Greg ***********
the fee for the "change" to the initial visa, is 2000.- THB. the fee for the 1-year extension of stay, is 1900.- THB. you must hold a rental contract, and you must be able to prove the financial requirements
Rene ********
Do it yourself
Greg ***********
For what you need to do (hopefully it is not already too late as you need a minimum of 15 workdays on your current stay permit left in order to apply)

Ckeck the requirements for your intended visa change, on this Immigration website

*** For the “change” from the tourist entry to the Non-Imm-B, cklick number one or number two

*** For the “change” from the tourist entry to the Non-imm-O Retirement visa, click number nine

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Peter **********
nothing except the 1900 baht fee, if you do it yourself
Pete *******
In country retirement visa 3 months 2000 baht. 1 year extension of your 3 month retirement visa 1900 baht. Ignore lawyers and agents, get some research in and do it yourself.
Richard ******
Your lawyer is ripping you off.
Brandon ************
There is no price to "break" a tourist visa. That's not even a thing.

You just apply for whatever you need to apply for. All visas are 2000 baht paid directly to immigration, and all extensions are 1900 baht paid directly to immigration.

So for a retirement visa you would need to have at least 14-21 days left on your entry stamp in order to account for the under consideration period, and then you would just apply with all of the requirements and pay 2000 baht to immigration.

For business visa you would likely need a whole lot more paperwork, but the price would be the same 2000 baht paid directly to immigration.

If you don't meet all the requirements, that's where the "lawyer" comes into play in order to bribe the immigration officers to ignore that you are missing things or don't qualify for things.

But once again there's no such thing as a fee to "break" a tourist visa except to take money from gullible people.
Sylvia ********
Do you have funds? Or want visa agent? Which city are you in?
Lion *****************************
Way too expensive.. Have you gone and asked Immigration.?
Lion *****************************
oops sorry .didnt read the full post.

Try another Visa Service. Not lawyers.or

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