At Phuket Town Immigration today officials telling retirement visa applicants that there has been a rule change regarding having minimum 800,000 bht in the bank. They were saying the new rule requires the money to be in the account for 12 months and they were asking for statements to that effect. A number of people were caught out by this and not a little upset.
Has any member of the group heard about this?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Recent discussions among expats indicate confusion regarding the requirement for maintaining a retirement visa in Thailand, specifically the financial rule concerning 800,000 THB. Many claim that this rule has not changed and has always required the funds to be held for a specific duration. Typically, 800,000 THB needs to be in the account for at least two months prior to application and maintained for three months after. Further, throughout the rest of the year, the balance should not dip below 400,000 THB. Some individuals reported encountering immigration officials who insisted on new requirements, leading to misunderstandings, while others affirmed that the existing rules have been in place for some time. It appears that consistent proof through bank statements is essential, and potential miscommunications may occur due to varying interpretations by immigration officers.
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.