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What are the current financial requirements for a retirement visa in Thailand?
Apr 25, 2023
3 years ago
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHey, I’m sure this has been asked before,but I can’t find it. So here goes again, hoping not to sound stupid.
It has to do with the financial portion of the retirement visa. It changes so often, I’m not sure where we’re at now
I will be applying for my retirement visa 1 year extension. I just bought a new house, so I don’t have the 800k. I do however have Bangkok Bank statements going back over 8 years showing I receive direct deposit from the US government at over 130k every month. At one point, that was sufficient, then they wanted a combination of the two. I don’t know where they are now.
Anyone got any useful up to date info ?
Thanks in advance
It has to do with the financial portion of the retirement visa. It changes so often, I’m not sure where we’re at now
I will be applying for my retirement visa 1 year extension. I just bought a new house, so I don’t have the 800k. I do however have Bangkok Bank statements going back over 8 years showing I receive direct deposit from the US government at over 130k every month. At one point, that was sufficient, then they wanted a combination of the two. I don’t know where they are now.
Anyone got any useful up to date info ?
Thanks in advance
TLDR : Answer Summary
The financial requirements for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand have remained stable for several years. To qualify for a one-year extension based on retirement, applicants typically need to prove they have 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account or show that they transfer a minimum of 65,000 THB per month through international transfers. For those who have received regular monthly deposits from overseas, such as from the U.S. government, this could satisfy the financial criteria as long as the transfers are documented properly.
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 ***********
Nothing has changed in at least the last 7 years? If your deposits are marked international transfer you will be fine.
Bill ************
Sent you a PM
David *********
Sounds like no problem to me , it's 65k per month , international transfer , EVERY month , minimum, you have done double that and it's an International transfer .
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ********
correct. And for the past 10 years actuallyReply to
Terry ********
Reply
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWell I have one more 90 day report and need to do my new address change, I will ask immigration when I go in for that
Kool *******
@Terry *******
you've got a much different problem, as you stated you gave the bt800,000 back to the agent the next day. That bt800,000 was supposed to stay in your account for three months after you got your one year extension stamp, then was not supposed to drop below bt400,000 for the rest of the year. When immigration sees your bank book, and this requirement was not followed, they can void your current extension and make you start over, not considering any of your monthly deposits for the last year, and require bt800,000 in your account for at least two full months before you apply. It's little things like this as to why it's bad to use an agent to meet your financial requirement. This is a little more serious than you suspect, and will all come to a head when immigration wants to see your bank book, and they will. With giving the bt800,000 back the next day, you didn't meet the financial requirement for your retirement extension. Also, the requirements haven't changed in 8 years.Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
I didn’t even give it back the next day, I gave it back after about 10 minutes of them transferring into my account. So immigration saw that there was no 400k before or after and that 800k was in my account for all of 10 minutes. Hmph, go figure, they didn’t give a crapReply to
Terry ********
Reply
Brandon ************
@Terry *******
It will really be your best option. Obviously don't say you used an agent last year, just say you're moving and want to submit your extension at the new office and ask how to do so and if it's okay. They should give you a checklist, and hopefully take a look at your passport and give you the okay.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Steve ********
You actually have to transfer a minimum of
*****
baht per month from overseas into a Thai bank account. That will cover the financial criteriaSteve ********
@Terry *******
Yeah, I couldn't get involved in that stuff. Handing your passport over to an unknown person who requires no registration or licence. I keep my passport with me always and stay legal as it's so easy. But I always say, it's each to their own. *****************************************************************************************************************************
*******
/28/dozens-of-foreigners-in-phuket-allegedly-defrauded-by-visa-agency-police-investigating/Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
so I’m double that monthly. I had a retirement visa 3 years ago before I went to China. When I returned last year, I used an agent to get me the new retirement visa 1 year extension. ( they put the 800k in my account and I gave back to them the same day )I guess my best bet is to call immigration directly and ask them.
Thanks bud
Warren ******
@Terry *******
I didn't notice if your monthly 130K deposits were into a local Thai bank -- if so Monthly deposits are cool. if not -- monthly allotments from your retirement or pension are cool -- the bank will provide the statements annually.Warren ******
PS -- personally not a fan of agents -- but the best advise is always from your local immigration officer. Discuss with them -- establish rapport -- the process itself is easy if you have the deposits -- no need to waste money on agent.
Reply to
Warren ******
Reply
Steve ********
@Terry *******
If you're happy paying a bribe to an immigration officer (a government official), the agent route is the way to go. Just be aware if a busybody IO takes an interest in your situation, you could find yourself deported and banned. My preference is the 65k/month route as you have access to the cash as soon as it hits your bank account, and has the extra bonus of being completely legal. Choice is yours of course!Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI’m moving from Phetchaburi to Minburi Bangkok. Same agent won’t do it unless I’m in the same province, I already asked them.
In the past, I’ve done it myself, but that was back when you could get a notary from the embassy ( American )
In the past, I’ve done it myself, but that was back when you could get a notary from the embassy ( American )
Brandon ************
@Terry *******
is the extension you got last year from the province you live in, or did you give your passport to the agent and they got you a stamp from a different province?If the same province you can probably do it yourself.
If a different province then the only way you can get an extension is with the same agent.
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
well, it was given to Phetchaburi immigration and they sent it to Bangkok for the stampBrandon ************
@Terry *******
It basically comes down to if the agent did it legitimately with only a little bit of help, or if they sent your passport off to a completely corrupt agent/office to just stamp you for a year.If the first one then you are fine to do it yourself this year.
If the 2nd one, no immigration office will touch your passport and you would need to leave Thailand and re-enter and start the process over on a "clean" stamp. The problem with that though is you cannot get a non-O visa or the first yearly extension with the 65,000 baht per month method.
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
well, I may misunderstand, the first one was a 3 month non-o and then the one year extension ? Maybe ?? So this would be my 2nd extension ?? Anyways, thanks for the good info so farTerry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I trust them very much. They are a farang-Thai law office and have given me very good advice in the past. Just out of their province this time and they have no branch in Bangkok. Only in Hua Hin.Reply to
Terry ********
Reply
Brandon ************
It hasn't changed in a long time.
Are you trying to get the non-O 90 day visa?
Are you trying to get your first 1 year extension based on being over 50?
Are you trying to get another 1 year extension because your previous 1 year extension is running out?
Which scenario it is makes a difference because you can only use proof of funds transfer for previous 12 months if you're doing the 3rd scenario.
The other 2 require 800,000 in an account.
Are you trying to get the non-O 90 day visa?
Are you trying to get your first 1 year extension based on being over 50?
Are you trying to get another 1 year extension because your previous 1 year extension is running out?
Which scenario it is makes a difference because you can only use proof of funds transfer for previous 12 months if you're doing the 3rd scenario.
The other 2 require 800,000 in an account.
Jackie ***********
@Brandon ***********
scenario 2 you describe, first 1-year extension, can be done with 12 monthly transfers. I just did it. I had the 12 monthly transfers. They approved it. Non-O, first 1-year extension after the initial 90 day visa. I also had the 800k, but I told them I wanted the monthly transfer method. They didn't tell me to come back in with my bank book in 3 months to show I still had the money.
Admittedly, having the 800k might have been the reason why I was approved. Do you have any documentation to support your assertion that it isn't allowed ?
Brandon ************
@Jackie **********
there's only one office in Thailand that asks you to come back in in 3 months to check if you do have the money, and that's Jomtien. Every other office will check when you apply next year and bring them 12 months of bank statements
Jackie ***********
@Brandon ***********
i did mine in jomtienReply to
Jackie ***********
Reply
Terry ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I’m in the 3rd scenario.Brandon ************
@Terry *******
see my answer to the other comment belowReply to
Brandon ************
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