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What are the current requirements for extending a Non-Immigrant O 'Retirement' Visa at Saraburi Immigration?
Non-Immigrant O VisaRetirement VisaVisa ExtensionSaraburi Immigration OfficeIncome RequirementThai Bank AccountImmigration RegulationsDocuments RequiredExpat Experiences
Oct 21, 2025
6 months ago
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTERToday we went to Saraburi Immigration Office to apply for my 1 year extension of stay on a Non-Immigrant O " Retirement" Visa as being over 50 years old in the bottom.
Their handouts about the requirements I asked about before did not quite add up to the ones we got when we came there.
Believe me we were prepared, my income letter from Swedish Embassy was worthless proving more income/pension than 65 000 baht per month , officer told me to instead open a bank account and start transfer 65k every month to get my extension.
Officer asked us to come back on 14th November and to get an update on my account and bank book and also to bring a certificate from the bank the day before.
The officer also asked about copies of my girlfriends rental agreement, we was prepared for that, but they also put like a postal stamp on it and told us to get copies of it, which our Immigration office do not offer so need go to fix nearby.
We brought everything from the landlord that was requested on the handouts in the first place, with copies.
Well it's only to do what the officer say so we head down to Kasikorn Bank to open an account.
Was no problem, they needed my passport, a letter from Immigration that I need a bank account (not an ordinary residence certificate document) for my extension and that I have a Thai phone number (sim card) connected to my passport, which we did before go to the bank, plus documents from girlfriends landlord that they owe the building we rent our apartment in.
OBS, this is only Saraburi offices rules of today.
Sorry for a long one.
Their handouts about the requirements I asked about before did not quite add up to the ones we got when we came there.
Believe me we were prepared, my income letter from Swedish Embassy was worthless proving more income/pension than 65 000 baht per month , officer told me to instead open a bank account and start transfer 65k every month to get my extension.
Officer asked us to come back on 14th November and to get an update on my account and bank book and also to bring a certificate from the bank the day before.
The officer also asked about copies of my girlfriends rental agreement, we was prepared for that, but they also put like a postal stamp on it and told us to get copies of it, which our Immigration office do not offer so need go to fix nearby.
We brought everything from the landlord that was requested on the handouts in the first place, with copies.
Well it's only to do what the officer say so we head down to Kasikorn Bank to open an account.
Was no problem, they needed my passport, a letter from Immigration that I need a bank account (not an ordinary residence certificate document) for my extension and that I have a Thai phone number (sim card) connected to my passport, which we did before go to the bank, plus documents from girlfriends landlord that they owe the building we rent our apartment in.
OBS, this is only Saraburi offices rules of today.
Sorry for a long one.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post describes a recent experience at Saraburi Immigration Office related to applying for a one-year extension of stay on a Non-Immigrant O "Retirement" Visa. The author details discrepancies in the requirements provided by the office, specifically concerning income verification, which shifted from needing an income letter from the Swedish Embassy to requiring a monthly transfer of 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account. Additional documentation, such as a bank certificate and copies of rental agreements with official stamps, was also requested. The conversation reflects on broader frustrations and inconsistencies in immigration processes and documentation acceptance across different offices.
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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James ********
Wonder why they make it hard. You are here. You are genuine . You've got a thai squeeze. You spend bucket loads of money here which helps the thai economy. How do these shady Indian, North African, and Middle Eastern people slip through then harass everyone at their shady trading outlets in the major tourist centres.?centre's.?? Got me stumped.
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@James *******
Good questions but I know Saraburi Immigration is tough about extensions at least last years.Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
Tim ******
Is there a note on the passport extension stamp indicating whether the extension is based on the embassy certificate, 800k, or 65k? I want to use the certificate, but I also have 800k.
I would like to withdraw the 800k after the extension.
However, I need to be sure that I received the extension based on the certificate.
I would like to withdraw the 800k after the extension.
However, I need to be sure that I received the extension based on the certificate.
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tim *****
Don't know how the stamp will look but my guess is that it do not indicate what method it's based on?Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
Udo *********
every office has its own rules
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Udo ********
Yes they do and that is why I posted this one about Saraburi Immigration office, maybe it can help someone.Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
Patrick *********
Very helpful.
Nongnuch ********
so Saraburi Immigration actually doesn't follow their very own rule, dvmb witted people at work, don't know the meaning of "either . . or"
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
Exactly what my Thai girlfriend told the officer, that "or", but did not listen at all to her.Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
Ralf **********
For the past three years, I've only needed a pension certificate certified by the embassy to show my pension, which is over 65,000 per month. I hope it stays that way in the future.
I hope nothing has changed with immigration in Hua Hin.
I hope nothing has changed with immigration in Hua Hin.
Hans *************
@Ralf *********
I also hope so in BangkokGreg ***********
@Ralf *********
Hua Hin immigration already has told a lady who commented in my visa advice group, that her income affidavit of the German Embassy is NOT enough, and that she needs to show a bankbook proving monthly transfers from abroad over a minimum of 65,000 THB. . . If I was in your shoes, I would visit Hua Hin Immigration and make sure what it is they wantMikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ralf *********
I guess we need to change our address to Hua Hin, love that destination..!Greg ***********
@Mikael *********
don't. Read my reply!Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
David ********
I love that it's in Thai.
Google lens did a surprisingly good job with this one though, so no worries.
Google lens did a surprisingly good job with this one though, so no worries.
Wannikea *********
Last year's list is last year's list, always get the latest handout well before extension. Some offices just refuse to deal with monthly income method. Dunno why they'd affix a tax stamp to a rental agreement.
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
I asked about their handout like 10 days ago.Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
Greg ***********
I am the admin of another visa advice group, and we just received complaints about similar incidents
*** Immigrations obviously started to distrust embassy issued income affidavits
Something shady must have happened along the road – maybe people had tricked their embassies into issuing affidavits, by using faked income evidence.
We remember when many years ago Immigration told the US embassy they would not accept their income affidavits anymore, because of apparent abuse of this process. U.S. citizens could get their income certified by just putting their hand onto the Bible and say “I swear that I earn 2800 U.S. Dollars a month” . . and bingo, their income affidavit was done.
Are now citizens of nationalities whose embassies take utter care to check income or pension documents thoroughly, victims of another wave of distrust?
*** on some Immigrations, people who are doing the financial proof with embassy certified income or pension letters, are told to show proof by the bank book that they transfer a minimum of 65,000 THB onto their Thai bank accounts, from abroad, month for month
Which is a real hard proof – however nothing in the relevant police order points to such a rule.
*** in my visa advice group, this topic has already lead to hot tempered discussions
*** Immigrations obviously started to distrust embassy issued income affidavits
Something shady must have happened along the road – maybe people had tricked their embassies into issuing affidavits, by using faked income evidence.
We remember when many years ago Immigration told the US embassy they would not accept their income affidavits anymore, because of apparent abuse of this process. U.S. citizens could get their income certified by just putting their hand onto the Bible and say “I swear that I earn 2800 U.S. Dollars a month” . . and bingo, their income affidavit was done.
Are now citizens of nationalities whose embassies take utter care to check income or pension documents thoroughly, victims of another wave of distrust?
*** on some Immigrations, people who are doing the financial proof with embassy certified income or pension letters, are told to show proof by the bank book that they transfer a minimum of 65,000 THB onto their Thai bank accounts, from abroad, month for month
Which is a real hard proof – however nothing in the relevant police order points to such a rule.
*** in my visa advice group, this topic has already lead to hot tempered discussions
Johan ********
Jobbigt och konstigt att intygen från svenska ambassaden inte godkänns😢
Hans *************
This is crazy. I don't want to transfer 65,000 baht every month. O MY GOD
I'm only in Thailand in the winter.
I'm only in Thailand in the winter.
Ry *****
@Hans ************
You can use the monthly transfer of 65,000 baht as proof of regular income. This document is required when renewing your visa. Request a 12-month transfer letter from the bank for visa renewal, as it’s one of the requirements if you cannot maintain 800,000 baht in your account.Hans *************
@Ry ****
I hope it will still possible in 3 month in Bangkok, same since 12 years already. But last year they told me in Bangkok MAY BE they will change and only accept Bank Account... MAY BE...I will know in 3 month... In Thailand nothing is sure 100 %...
Reply to
Hans *************
Reply
Graham ******
I heard that Norway is stopping the income affidavit around April next year. Is Sweden doing the same or was the IO confused?
Mikael **********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes I heard about the Norwegian Embassy but have not heard that our Swedish will do the same, nothing about it on the Embassy website.
Reply to
Mikael **********
Reply
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