This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
What are the exact requirements for demonstrating pension income to lower the bank balance needed for a retirement visa in Thailand?
Retirement VisaNON-O VisaPension IncomeThai Immigration RequirementsFinancial Requirements for VisaAffidavit of IncomeThai Bank AccountImmigration Documentation
Oct 12, 2021
5 years ago
Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTERI have read on this forum that one of the requirements for the approval/extension of the "retirement visa" (non immigrant O-A) is to have 800K baht in a Thai bank account. However, I have also read on the Thai consulate site the following requirement:
A bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (original copy) indicating a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht. Alternatively, applicants can make a deposit and provide an income certificate indicating a total income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year. All financial statement must have the signature of the bank officer and stamped. Any bank statements require a letter of guarantee from the bank (original copy) as well.
What I understand from the above is that if someone has a pension income of, for example, 40000 baht then the amount you would need to "season" in the bank is 320000 baht (instead of 800000), because the pension income of 480000 makes up for the difference.
Has anyone been successful in having pension income considered so that the amount in the bank can be less than 800000 baht? If so, what document is required in order to demonstrate this income for Visa purposes? The above is requirement is referring to a bank statement, but I have read on other sites that you must get an "affidavit for proof of income" and that this affidavit must be obtained from my country's embassy in Thailand.
So, its not exactly clear to me what the requirements are and what documents are required to demonstrate proof of pension income. Is it just the bank statement, or do you also need an affidavit from your embassy?
Thanks for your help!
References: [members only]/
A bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (original copy) indicating a monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht. Alternatively, applicants can make a deposit and provide an income certificate indicating a total income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year. All financial statement must have the signature of the bank officer and stamped. Any bank statements require a letter of guarantee from the bank (original copy) as well.
What I understand from the above is that if someone has a pension income of, for example, 40000 baht then the amount you would need to "season" in the bank is 320000 baht (instead of 800000), because the pension income of 480000 makes up for the difference.
Has anyone been successful in having pension income considered so that the amount in the bank can be less than 800000 baht? If so, what document is required in order to demonstrate this income for Visa purposes? The above is requirement is referring to a bank statement, but I have read on other sites that you must get an "affidavit for proof of income" and that this affidavit must be obtained from my country's embassy in Thailand.
So, its not exactly clear to me what the requirements are and what documents are required to demonstrate proof of pension income. Is it just the bank statement, or do you also need an affidavit from your embassy?
Thanks for your help!
References: [members only]/
TLDR : Answer Summary
To qualify for a retirement visa (NON-O) extension in Thailand, the applicant must demonstrate financial stability through either having 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account or proof of a monthly income of at least 65,000 Baht. If using pension income to meet these requirements, a combination method can be employed where the bank balance needed is reduced based on documented pension income. An affidavit from an embassy may be necessary to validate the income, alongside a Thai bank statement. Some users advise caution and suggest finding reliable information directly from immigration offices or using consular resources for accurate documentation needs.
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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Philip **********
@Piero ***********
Join the Canadian’s in Thailand fb group. Here’s my post. Hi all. Just wanna give you some advice if you ever have to go to the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok.
Go at the very latest, 15 minutes before your appointment. I went today. First you have to check in with the front desk. Show them your appointment verification number. It has to be written down not on your electronic device. Then I filled out a health Canada form. Basically saying I haven’t been sick. Then they give you a visitors badge. After that you go to a metal detector. If you’re wearing a Fitbit or Apple Watch you have to put it in a locker. Then you go up to the 15th floor where you check in with security there. You have to leave your cell phone with them.
All of that basically took 15 minutes. Once I was inside I had to fill out an affidavit form. Pay for the service of having my pension payments verified.
They told me to come back in two hours to pick it up from reception. I actually went back 90 minutes later and it was ready.
By the way. I never saw a “Canadian Embassy” sign.
Philip **********
@Piero ***********
Yes I showed them my pension statements.Philip **********
@Piero ***********
Great！ see you there.Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Philip *********
: Did you have to supply a document to the Canadian embassy (e.g. bank statement, statement from your pension fund, ...)? Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Philip *********
: Thanks for the info regarding the Canadians in Thailand FB group. I joined! Great resource for Canadian expats. Reply to
Piero ************
Reply
Philip **********
@Piero ***********
Go online to the Canadian Embassy. You’ll make an appointment. Go 15 minutes before your appointment. You have to go through security twice. Bring a copy of your pension statement. A credit card and your passport. You will fill out an affidavit. Swear to it. Pay the $50.00 come back in 90 minutes and pick it up at reception in lobby. I wrote a post about it in December. Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Philip *********
: Thank you do much! Reply to
Piero ************
Reply
John-Paul ******
Find an agent! Let them do the work for you. That way you can spend your time enjoying retirement?
John-Paul ******
@Philip *********
well ... just your opinion. To me $150 to get someone else to do it and be able to sit and relax and not get stressed with making arrangements or spending time finding all the ducks to get into order... to me it worth the extra fundsMake it a simple life when retirement kicks in... right?
Ian *********
@John-Paul *****
many agents will tell you you don't NEED money in Thai account YES YOU DO yes they can get you visa without,the visa is legal BUT how you have got the visa is not,if your caught your in the Sxxt Bobby ********
Philip Houghton. 5000? And the rest!! How's this one charging 9800 for a covid extension which you can get yourself for 1900? They somehow filter out the stupid brain-dead farangs and spot the real stupid ones! 🤣
Bobby ********
Jarkko Takamaa. No argument from me on that one! Expats will pay agents 20,000 baht and more for an agent and then will whine and cry about 500 baht entry tax!!
Philip **********
@John-Paul *****
That’s the worst advice ever!!! It costs $50 Canadian to get the letter. An agent will charge what? 5,000?!! Andrew ********
@John-Paul *****
just do what it says and the whole thing takes no time flat and costs very little.Tod *********
@John-Paul *****
said no one with a lick of sense who met the requirements on their own :P Bobby ********
John-Paul Riva. Yeah. Pay an agent thousands of baht to save yourself a couple of hours legwork once a year! Makes perfect sense 🤣🤣🤣
Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Tod *********
Here's how it works
You can meet the proof of funds THREE ways (and none of those ways can ever be less than 800K baht total)
1 - Banked Money Method: you bank 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the yearly extension, you keep that money in there for 3 months after you get the extension granted and then you can't let the balance go below 400K baht the rest of the year
2 - Monthly Income Method: you use an affidavit of income from abroad from your consulate here (IF they issue it) and state you have a minimum of 65K baht a month in income from abroad
OR
If your consulate doesn't issue the income affidavit, you transfer in to the country from abroad into a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht a month, each month, every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for an extension.
3 - Combination Method; you use part banked money and part monthly income to show that you have a total of 800K baht per year.
Example your pension is 40K baht a month, you transfer that in each month every month for the previous 12 months (12X40K=480K) AND 2 months before you apply for an extension you bank at LEAST 320K baht, the 320K has to stay in the account for 3 months after you get the extension granted AND then the balance could never go below 50% of that amount (160K baht) the rest of the year
Those are the ONLY three ways to meet the proof of funds.
You can meet the proof of funds THREE ways (and none of those ways can ever be less than 800K baht total)
1 - Banked Money Method: you bank 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the yearly extension, you keep that money in there for 3 months after you get the extension granted and then you can't let the balance go below 400K baht the rest of the year
2 - Monthly Income Method: you use an affidavit of income from abroad from your consulate here (IF they issue it) and state you have a minimum of 65K baht a month in income from abroad
OR
If your consulate doesn't issue the income affidavit, you transfer in to the country from abroad into a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht a month, each month, every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for an extension.
3 - Combination Method; you use part banked money and part monthly income to show that you have a total of 800K baht per year.
Example your pension is 40K baht a month, you transfer that in each month every month for the previous 12 months (12X40K=480K) AND 2 months before you apply for an extension you bank at LEAST 320K baht, the 320K has to stay in the account for 3 months after you get the extension granted AND then the balance could never go below 50% of that amount (160K baht) the rest of the year
Those are the ONLY three ways to meet the proof of funds.
Justin *****
Good and clear answer!👍👍👍
Nick ************
@Tod ********
thankyouTod *********
It is a super short letter, just your name, your account number (sometimes your passport number) and it says the balance in the account on the date you got the letter.
Tod *********
@Nick ***********
for the first yearly extension you just need the bank book, and the bank letter from the bank. In bangkok the bank letter can be up to 7 days old but the bank book has to be updated the date you go apply for the extension.
For every yearly extension after that you need a print out of a year detail transaction record (and that takes some banks a week to get)
This is what the bank letter looks like
Nick ************
@Tod ********
my question is what will immigration accept as proof of funds ie. *****
0 baht in the bank for two months? The bank book? A printed statement? A certificate of some sort obtained from the bank? Obviously these would have to be obtained on the day the extension was applied for. Something else?Tod *********
@Piero ***********
****************************************************************************************
Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
: Great to know. I will check with them to know what proof/document they need from Canada in order to issue the Affidavit. I guess they will need a letter from my employer or pension fund manager? Tod *********
@Piero ***********
they do require proof you get the money you say you get every month and they will write the letter for you. Once you get that embassy letter is is valid for 6 months to use at the immigration office
Tod *********
@Phil *********
correct, I edited my post to reflect that THANX for catching it 🙂 Tod *********
@Piero ***********
the canadian embassy here in Bangkok CAN issue you an affidavit of income from abroad notary letter without any issues at all Phil **********
@Tod ********
The amount after 3 months is 400k until the 2 months prior to 12 mnts extension isn't it?Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
: Thank you so much Tod. It's very clear now! I will check with the Canadian Embassy in BKK to see if they can issue the affidavit.Reply to
Piero ************
Reply
Bobby ********
What country are you from?
Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
: Thank you. I will definitely check with them! Bobby ********
Piero Colagrosso. To the best of my knowledge, Canadian embassies still issue the affidavit to verify your pension income in your home country. It is only USA, UK and Australia which have stopped and which require actual transfer of funds (65k per month minimum) to a Thai bank account, so your first port of call should be the Canadian embassy
Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
: I'm Canadian. 🇨🇦Reply to
Piero ************
Reply
Tod *********
here's a pro tip
NEVER EVER Trust anything from an embassy employee or on a thai embassy website in another country about getting a year extension inside the country at the immigration office
AND
NEVER EVER trust anything from a thai immigration officer on a thai immigration website inside the country about getting a visa from an embassy outside the country
NEVER EVER Trust anything from an embassy employee or on a thai embassy website in another country about getting a year extension inside the country at the immigration office
AND
NEVER EVER trust anything from a thai immigration officer on a thai immigration website inside the country about getting a visa from an embassy outside the country
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
66 comments
2 years ago
49 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
10 comments
3 years ago
10 comments
3 years ago
20 comments
3 years ago
21 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
3 years ago
87 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
4 years ago
38 comments
4 years ago
41 comments
4 years ago
8 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
5 years ago
88 comments
6 years ago
9 comments
6 years ago
15 comments
8 years ago
16 comments
8 years ago
15 comments
8 years ago
17 comments
8 years ago
31 comments
8 years ago
43 comments
8 years ago
14 comments
8 years ago
48 comments
8 years ago
13 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.