thailand
Ask question

What are the new requirements for retirement visa extensions in Thailand following the 2019 changes?

Retirement VisaThailand Immigration RulesVisa ExtensionFinancial RequirementsBank BalanceMonthly IncomeImmigration Documents
Feb 12, 2019
6 years ago
John **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I did the one year extension for my retirement visa at Chiang Mai immigration. There are a number of new documents to be signed now regarding penalties for infractions of immigration laws. One document is in Thai and I can only read Thai very slowly.

I had more than 800,000 Baht in my account, so no problem this year. I asked two immigration officers and a visa service employee about the new rules and all three agreed: After March 1st, 2019 you must keep 400,000 Baht in your account at all times. At a minimum of 90 days before you do your next extension you must have a minimum of 800,000 Baht in your account. You cannot use an aggregate of monthly income and bank balance. Only the money in your account counts.

If the rules as I have stated above are not correct, let me know.
2,274
views
4
likes
58
all likes
31
replies
0
images
10
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion focuses on the new immigration rules for retirement visa extensions in Thailand, effective from March 1st, 2019. Key points include the necessity for a minimum bank balance of 400,000 Baht at all times and a requirement of 800,000 Baht at least 90 days before applying for a visa extension. The combination of bank balance and monthly income is still valid under certain conditions, and there is some debate on interpretation and implementation of these new policies across different immigration offices. Users share personal experiences and clarifications regarding the documents and requirements.
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.
Tod *********
I think AFTER these changes take effect on the 1st of March things will become clear as more and more people use the new rules AND as more and more immigration officers become familiar with interpreting them and implementing them.

I can't see much good in keeping this open. There are hundreds of pages about these changes on forums related to thailand and we're just re-hashing what we think might happen.

I will also say that even IF you talked to your immigration officer, given Most officers less than hard core grasp of english and most foreigners abysmal grasp of thai there could be a LOT of lost in translation going on.

We'll know a LOT more in 17 days, until then we're done..

Thanx all for the contributions.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Carl ***********
There's my condo out the window I wanted use the £10.000 to put towards bit now has to stay bank for 12 months! So now have to rent which is dead money so all of its dead money! Lol Thailand
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
AFAIK: ONLY the seasoning requirement (money in the bank 2 months BEFORE you apply and for 3 months AFTER you apply) is carried over to the banked money IF you are using the combination method of some banked money and some monthly transfers. BUT I'm sure after March 1st we'll find out exactly how the overly vague and extremely poorly written rule will be interpreted. At this time there seems to be NO consistency with any of the offices
6 years ago
Like
Reply
David **********
@Tod ********
 agreed
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
David **********
Reply
John **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you everybody for the information. I don't wish to seem dense, but as a for-instance, if I recieve 50,000 baht every month and have 300,000 baht in the bank at all times, I am good. Yes?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Carl ***********
yes I think thats correct I think its just the ruling of having the 400.000 in bank all year, trying to stop fake 1 year visas, but really cannot see how this will work to stop them?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Carl ***********
Reply
Tod *********
Next year IF you're using monthly income method (and can't get the affidavit notary anymore) you'd need to transfer a minimum of 65K baht in from abroad each and every month for the previous 12 months BEFORE you're application for extension.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Carl ***********
is this reduced if you already have capital in the bank? say you have 400,000 in account then you need half of the
*****
? so rules same as before but you have to keep 400,000 in account all year?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Carl ***********
Reply
Tod *********
They are incorrect as far as saying you can't use the combination method.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Mike *******
Yes imm officer confirmed with me on friday after renewing ext of stay.in chaing mai.
*****
0 for 2 months before applying.3 months after.and
*****
0 remainder of year.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
You CAN use the combination method.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
David **********
It's interesting, we really need 1m bhat in the bank now, 40k a month living,

They say 400k to be kept in the bank, does that mean they recognise that a single person can actually live on 400k or less, the mind boggles
6 years ago
Like
Reply
David **********
@Patricia *********
 I built My house last year, if the new rules were in effect then, I wouldn't have been able to.

Such is life, onwards and upwards
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Patricia **********
@David *********
 depending on your rent/where you live totally doable...
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Patricia **********
Reply
Tod *********
@John *********
, IF you got your extension already you are NOT affected by the new rules until NEXT year.

The new rule state that IF you're using banked money you need the money in the account for 2 months before you apply for your extension, AND for 3 months AFTER you applied for it. AND your balance cannot go below 400K baht during the rest of the year.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Carl ***********
So can it still be a combination of income and money in bank?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
yes you can use the combination method BUT your banked money needs to be seasoned the same amount of time as if you were using all banked money.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Richard *******
I thought the new ruling was 60 days before and 90 days after for the 800,000 banked money ??
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Richard *******
@Tod ********
 Correct.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
The new rule comes into effect on March 1st.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Robert *******
The police order coming into effect 1 march 2019 mention: OR 60 days prior application date till 90 days after application date a minimum of 800.000 Thb in your Thai bank and the rest of the year not less than 400.000 Thb. OR a monthly foreign deposit of 65.000 Thb into your Thai bank account for the last 12 months. OR monthly deposits into your Thai bank of where the smallest deposit during the last 12 months is multiplied by 12 together with your banked money, 60 days before till 90 days after of where the combination is minimum 800.000 Thb. But we have to see how different Immigration Offices are going to implement this.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Patricia **********
@John *********
 WOW makes no sense!
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
@John *********
 the ONLY document you can provide the immigration office to show you get monthly income is the affidavit of income from abroad notary from your consulate here in thailand.

IF you are from one of the 4 consulates that stopped issuing them (or were from a consulate that never issued them) the ONLY avenue you have if you want to use monthly income as the method of funds for your yearly extension is the 65K baht per month international transfers in to your thai bank account from abroad every month for the next 12 months.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
John **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My consulate recognizes it, but no affidavit.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Patricia **********
@John *********
 so you get an official government document and your embassy does not recognize it?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Tod *********
@John *********
 Your social security statement is worthless here. You need either 800K baht banked OR international transfers from abroad into a thai bank account in excess of 65K baht a month EACH month for a full year before you apply for your next extension
6 years ago
Like
Reply
John **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
By what you have outlined above, the 12 months of deposits in the bank book is as good as the affidavit. I showed my U.S. Social Security statement, which is an official government document showing what the monthly income is, the officer kept a copy and said she would discuss it with her superiors.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Robert *******
@Daniel ***********
 I believe with you, for all those others the income affidavit is enough as proof of income. We have to wait and see.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
George *************
Only four: UK, US, Australia, and Denmark, unless you know of another.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Daniel ************
@Robert ******
 some consulates still issue affidavit of monthly income (only consulates of 5 countries have stopped doing so). In that case, I believe you do not need to show your bank book or any bank letter. Do you agree?
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Daniel ************
Reply
Robert *******
The three "new" documents you can find in the Files section of this group named 3forms.pdf, if you want to read them again. It is not new but not all Immigration Offices let everybody sign these in the past.
6 years ago
Like
Reply
Reply to
Robert *******
Reply
Thai Visa Advice
... members · 40% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice
What are the current financial requirements for expats on a Thai marriage visa or retirement visa?
81 comments
6 months ago
What are the current bank balance requirements for renewing a retirement visa in Thailand?
78 comments
7 months ago
Is the retirement visa extension rule regarding the Thai bank balance still valid?
10 comments
9 months ago
What are the latest requirements and options for extending a retirement visa in Thailand?
32 comments
a year ago
What are the current financial requirements for obtaining a one-year visa in Thailand?
21 comments
a year ago
What are the requirements for maintaining a retirement extension visa in Thailand concerning bank balance and timing?
33 comments
2 years ago
What are the current financial requirements for renewing a retirement extension visa in Thailand for Australian retirees?
4 comments
3 years ago
What are the current requirements for maintaining a retirement visa in Thailand, specifically regarding the 800,000 THB financial rule?
46 comments
3 years ago
What are the current rules for maintaining the 800,000 baht balance after a retirement visa extension in Thailand?
13 comments
3 years ago
What are the current rules for extending stay in Thailand based on marriage regarding bank balance requirements?
9 comments
4 years ago
What Are the Current Bank Balance Requirements for Retirement Visa Extensions in Thailand?
3 comments
5 years ago
What Are the Current Rules for Retirement Visa Extension in Thailand?
10 comments
5 years ago
What are the latest financial requirements for extending a retirement visa in Thailand?
5 comments
5 years ago
How do I prove the required balance of 400,000 THB for my retirement visa extension in Thailand?
10 comments
6 years ago
What are the new requirements for a one-year retirement extension of stay in Phetchaburi, Thailand?
8 comments
6 years ago
What are the current requirements for maintaining a retirement visa in Thailand regarding bank balance?
4 comments
6 years ago
What are the new rules for banked money extensions in Thailand based on retirement?
0 comments
6 years ago
What are the new rules for the Non-O retirement visa regarding bank balance and documentation in Thailand?
0 comments
6 years ago
What are the latest requirements for obtaining a Non-O retirement visa in Chiang Mai?
23 comments
6 years ago
What are the new requirements for the retirement visa in Thailand after March 1st?
45 comments
6 years ago
What are the recent changes to immigration rules for visa extensions in Thailand?
0 comments
6 years ago
What are the new requirements for Thai visa extension for individuals over 50 years of age?
0 comments
6 years ago
What are the new requirements for retirement visa extensions in Thailand regarding bank balance?
0 comments
6 years ago
What are the requirements for extending a retirement visa in Thailand with a bank balance of 800,000 baht?
17 comments
6 years ago
What are the requirements for the retirement visa extension deadlines in Thailand?
18 comments
6 years ago
Data protection policyTerms and conditionsDisclaimerPrivacy policyRefund policy
The asq: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.