Answereda year ago
What are the options for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand without the required funds?
Hi all, I would appreciate any advise on any agents that can help me get a retirement visa. I don't have the required 800, 000 THB but can pay agency fees , thank you
Answer summary
The post discusses options for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand, particularly for those unable to meet the financial requirement of 800,000 THB. Several comments recommend using an agency, while others express concerns about the costs and potential problems, highlighting mixed experiences with agents. Some users suggest legal approaches to manage visa applications without agents and emphasize the importance of understanding the process and avoiding corruption. The conversation also touches on the rising cost of living in Thailand and alternative visa options like the DTV visa.
89 repliesnewest first
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Paul *******
Simon **********
Where are you located?
Barry *******
OP@Simon *********
I'm in PatongSimon **********
@Barry ******
that is pertinent to where you can find an agent.
Jim ********
Many retirees now opting for DTV, very easy to get. Best option for those that still want to travel a bit. Cost is only 10,000 baht for FIVE YEARS. You use proof of funds in your home country bank or superannuation account. Best thing if all - no requirement to visit an immigration office for FIVE YEARS!!
Sammy *****
Stay home. Don't come!!!
Robin *******
Just do it properly
Jeff *********
Question. Can my Thai spouse be on my Thai bank account with the 25K? I ask that is case something unexpected happens to me so she can assess the funds in a emergency
Yu-Li ****
Tiktok in Jomtien.
Peter ***************
M Thai Visa
Michael *************
Truthfully.....you should stay where you are, based on your request for information. Living in Thailand is not as cheap as you probably have been lead to believe.
Glyn **********
@Michael ************
it's a fraction of the cost of living in the West. I live *****
and my bank account grows when I'm in Asia, not so much when I'm home in Canada. We can also still use the letter from our Embassy.Michael *************
@Glyn *********
, the inflation rate in Thailand prior to 2022 was fairly steady at 1.02%. After 2022 up to now, the inflation rate is about 6.08%. That is a a hefty increase. I'm suggesting that westerners who are living on the margins in their home country stay there because Thailand is not that cheap anymore. Many other factors to consider....transportation, healthcare, housing, and the cost of basic needs from markets.
Ron ********
Agency from
*****
B, and 10-12b evry year.
Ling *****
@Ron *******
this is what my mates are telling me also.
Johnie *********
Those who depend on agencies to slide their discrepancies through the system have a rude awakening coming.
Immigration is training all new college grads by the book to take over supervision positions. Greasing the wheel will be a thing of the past for all immigration offices in the very near future.
I have already seen it in Samut Prakan. By the book. Every detail verified and checked twice. It will catch agencies helping you when you're short on your bank account or don't have a good address or whatever discrepancies you might have. They checked my balance weekly for the year. I had to make sure I deposited the 65,000 baht a month for income, as I was unable to get the certified letter like I used originally 3 years ago, from Social Security. The previous 2 years I made the deposits regularly knowing I couldn't get the letter.
It supposedly is going to clean up some of the foreigner rift raft.
Thailand is know for implementing changes and then backing down. I think this change is going to stick.
Good luck if you're unable to dot all of your i's and cross all of your t's. Because the young lady supervisor my window immigration agent had to prove everything to wore an extremely tight belt last month. I had never seen so much highlighting of dates, dollar amounts, etc... Even my original application to Thai immigration in Washington DC in America went smoother.
I will say, I have handled all of my immigration paperwork all alone. It's a jailable offense to lie on your application.
I've never been to jail. And I damn sure don't want to start in Thailand.
Immigration is training all new college grads by the book to take over supervision positions. Greasing the wheel will be a thing of the past for all immigration offices in the very near future.
I have already seen it in Samut Prakan. By the book. Every detail verified and checked twice. It will catch agencies helping you when you're short on your bank account or don't have a good address or whatever discrepancies you might have. They checked my balance weekly for the year. I had to make sure I deposited the 65,000 baht a month for income, as I was unable to get the certified letter like I used originally 3 years ago, from Social Security. The previous 2 years I made the deposits regularly knowing I couldn't get the letter.
It supposedly is going to clean up some of the foreigner rift raft.
Thailand is know for implementing changes and then backing down. I think this change is going to stick.
Good luck if you're unable to dot all of your i's and cross all of your t's. Because the young lady supervisor my window immigration agent had to prove everything to wore an extremely tight belt last month. I had never seen so much highlighting of dates, dollar amounts, etc... Even my original application to Thai immigration in Washington DC in America went smoother.
I will say, I have handled all of my immigration paperwork all alone. It's a jailable offense to lie on your application.
I've never been to jail. And I damn sure don't want to start in Thailand.
James ********
@Johnie ********
So thailand is going to come down on retirees who spend all their money here and are not a drain on society , just when the tourist numbers are dropping . Yeah right...believe it when I see it. Scaremongering on a grand scale.
Henrik *****
Do not support corruption in any way.
Joe **********
@Henrik ****
Hahaha are you kidding? This is Thailand home of corruption!Michael *******
@Joe *********
takes two to tango, feed the beast and it’s sure to return
Jeremy ********
If you don’t have the minimum for the retirement visa and you use an agent which will give an eye popping rate to season the money in the bank acct…what are you going to do in year 2 when they will want to see that bank acct again…you will be in perpetual debt living a skint life in a ฿3k a month apartment with only a fan
Todd *********
Just send a message to
@THAI *****************************
.
Jon ********
MOTS….far less then 37K……that is way way overpriced
Greg ***********
@Jon *******
yes, Mot's is 32,000 THB. But I think it depends if it includes a multi re-entry permit or just a single re-entry permit. It is a 2800 THB difference. And it depends if the process included the opening of the bank accountJon ********
@Greg **********
you should contact them as that sounds high to me.Greg ***********
@Jon *******
you spread doubt over my advice, so here my knowledge got confirmed by a third party. I am member of visa advice groups since 25 years and I even got my own FB Thai visa advice group. I said Mot's is 32,000 THB up and you said, no way. So now you just keep scrolling on and don't ever doubt advice coming from an expert, again. Flight control, Greg Alexander, copied & over😉Jon ********
@Greg **********
why are you asking if you are an expert? You can send emails as wellGreg ***********
@Jon *******
so somebody was able to confirm what I knew about being the "normal" price of Mot'sGreg ***********
@Kenneth ******
thank you for confirming what I knew . .
Kenneth *******
@Jon *******
oh they over charged me then 4 weeks ago ? There all around 32 or *****
thb with multiple entryGreg ***********
@Jon *******
so it is rather more costly now than 2 years ago 😉 why don't YOU give them a call? I am a deaf guy, cannot talk and understand on the phone. "Bank account opening and first 15 months retirement visa without own funds, how much?" is the easy question and their reply will be a surprise (or rather a shock) for you, I promise 🙂Jon ********
@Greg **********
2 years ago….not currentGreg ***********
@Jon *******
a guy I know contacted them 2 years ago, and 32,000 was the price Mot's quoted for the first 15 months without own funds
Ken ******
No idea, no money, no hope
Todd *******
@Ken *****
always hope if you have money he said had money for agent it's 39k in pattaya
Shin *******
I know some who did it w/o the Thai funds, she is disabled, just need a good lawyer she has been here for 15 years. The Attorney is the key.
Ralphy *****
O Visa for 3 months from your country then extend retirement visa 12 months Thailand. Extension agent will be about
*****
baht multiple entryGreg ***********
@Ralphy ****
you forgot to mention that this is the price if you got your own funds. No own funds and agent needed to front you - it's 32,000 THB upward for the first 15 monthsGary ********
@Greg **********
OMG. Ur also wrong. I get 24k 15 months single entry. How many times are u going to leave the country. If I leave once I'm covered. If I leave twice I pay 1000 at immigration. You people make things so complicatedGreg ***********
@Gary *******
then you pay way to much for those further extensions. If you had started with another agent, the renewals without own funds would cost between 12-15,000 THB. If you are fine with being charged 24,000 THB every year, so be itGary ********
@Greg **********
I've used the same agent since before covid. Price has gone up 1000 over 6 years. I'm ok with thatGreg ***********
@Gary *******
32,000 THB and up I was talking about the first 15 months. All further renewals of the yearly Extensions of Stay are something like 12,000 - 15,000 THB without having to show own fundsGreg ***********
@Gary *******
then you got lucky for being able to get the 90-days visa and the 12 months extension, and a single re-entry included, without having to prove own funds, for 24,000 THB. I know people that got quoted 75,000 THB from visa agents in Bangkok. . . . you read about this in the groups from time to time. About Pattaya agents, all I know is the price for the first time 15 months is 32,000 THB and up (and well yes, that might include a multi re-entry permit that might show as being unnecessary, so you could theoretically deduct 2800 THB to reduce it to a single re-entry permit). The 24,000 THB you pay are a real bargain
แหลม *******
If you are staying in Bangkok I can help you with your retirement visa. It can be done in one day for a 15 month visa.
Jim ********
@แหลม ******
Sounds like a scam to me! Why get involved in bribery when the OP can get a 100% legitimate DTV?Greg ***********
@แหลม ******
there is nothing such as a "15-months visa". . . . . . . . . The process includes a 90-days stay permit from out of a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa, which is followed by a "1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement"แหลม *******
@Greg **********
The first time, stamp non-o for 90 days. If you do it with an agent, you can also stamp the second time for 1 year, totaling 15 months.Greg ***********
@แหลม ******
yes but that doesn't make it a "15-months visa". The second stamp is just an "extended stay permit", it is nothing such as a visa. That first stamp gives you a 90 days stay permit, and the second stamp gives you a "12-months stay permit", You do not have a "visa" any more
Lna ******
Go to pataya to eny agences the will find you the solution to your problem.😉
Rees *********
Thia visa centre
Greg ***********
@Rees ********
yep, 37,000 is their fee if you have no own fundsGary ********
@Greg **********
and ur being robbed blind. Cos it says Elite doesn't make it better than one for 10k lessGreg ***********
@Gary *******
I am not getting robbed blind. I do my yearly extensions based on retirement since 16 years. I pay 200 Baht on the bank, then drive up the 75 klicks to Immigration, pay up 1900 Baht for the "1-year extension of the stay permit" and another 1000.- Baht for a single re-entry permit. 20 minutes on the bank and maybe 20-25 minutes on ImmigrationGary ********
Greg Alexaead . Not talking elite visa. Talking retirement. I said to someone who posted about Thai Elite visa as a place to go get ur Retirement visa
Greg ***********
@Gary *******
cheapest ELITE visa is 900,000 THB for 5 years (they just had a promotion "Bronze Elite" 5 years for 600,000 THB
John **********
What passport do you hold
@Barry ******
? If it's an Irish passport you can get an income certificate from the Irish embassy in bangkok ******************************************************************************
Barry *******
OP@John *********
thank you so much I'll check it out
Matt ************
Many of the folks on this site are very anti-agency. I have had nothing but good experiences with the one I use.
Michael *******
That’s exactly what immig want - less hassle for them and the wheels greased - once you are trapped , expensive to escape their clutches, and if something goes wrong you are in rhe brown stuff and on the way to the airport.
James ********
@Michael ******
Out of interest , how many people do you know of or have " heard of " that this has happened to please .Michael *******
@James *******
2 and one of them got a 2 year ban after a night in a cell at the airport , agent turned him over big time……..was in the days of the education visas but principle is the same ……..Greg ***********
@Michael ******
just ask around how much the guy has to pay for becoming the boss of the Jomtien Immigration (hint: it's a two figures million Baht stake)Michael *******
Personal friend is he, or did you pluck that number out of the air - it will continue whilst we keep feeding the trough
Lynnette *******
@Michael ******
it's not a really difficult process for retirement extension. Not like the one for married folk.
Andrew ********
@Matt ***********
cause they have the "i can do it for free myself" yes you can but they also do not understand Asian culture doing buinsess I figured that out in 6 days. Immigrant coming to live here find an agent .. agency or freelancer it will go alot smoother
Lynnette *******
@Andrew *******
it's not difficult to do retirement extension. Many people use agents mostly because they want to live here but can't afford to do so. Therefore they use an agent who "has connections" and loans the person the money.Gary ********
@Matt ***********
exactly. I'm sure some of them are still living with mommy and never been here or if they have they are being robbed blind.
Jordi ********
@Matt ***********
The problem with it is, at least my experience, that they seem to make it extra hard if you dont use one. Try to push you into the direction of an agent they know. They love for you to use one, for obvious reasons. I rather take the hard route. It gets easier over the years and at least you know what is going on with the paperwork.Greg ***********
@Matt ***********
I am not anti-agent, I just don't need them to bribe Immigration. I do my yearly extensions all by myself, 1900 THB fee plus 1000 THB for the single re-entry permit. Easy Peasy. In and out of my bank by the morning within 20 minutes, and in and out of my Immigration within 25 minutes
Stuart ***********
@Greg **********
I am exactly the same, so easy to do and takes an hour or so once a year.
Graham *****
@Matt ***********
Same here no faffing around when you get to immigration In & out in 40 minutes
If you look around example Pattaya & the amount of Agency's advertising
To me is it really illegal to get a agent
Immigration seem happy with it & I use Bangkok Zone 1
Ray ********
@Graham ****
I'll be using an agent when I get to Thailand and using their money . All the agents do that. What keep 1.6 M baht in a Thai bank earning next to nothing interest where I keep the money at home and earning 5 to 6 % and use the income from the interst to pay the agent , we all winRay ********
I'll be applying for a non o visa back home and get the 1 yr extension for B14,000
Stuart ***********
@Graham ****
it's not illegal to use an agent, but it is illegal to circumvent the rules (things like using the agents 800,000 baht instead of your own money).Stuart ***********
@Graham ****
yes it should be cheaper. It's really easy to do yourself, but up to you.I asked how much when I arrived and they wanted something like 30,000. I did it myself for 1,900.
Graham *****
@Stuart **********
thanks for the adviceI should imagine if I use my
*****
0 instead of agentThen it should be cheaper agent wise
Martyn ***********
Where are you located?
Barry *******
OP@Martyn **********
in Patong
Da***
I used an agent with very good connections (judging from my ... Challenges), I'm not sure if they can help you but if any agency can, I bet they could.
Barry *******
OP@Da***
thank you, can you give me their contact detailsLynnette *******
@Da***
"good connections" suggests he bribes someone.Da***
@Lynnette ******
didn't ask. Didn't want to know. Just happy with my outcome 😄Da***
@Lynnette ******
Yeah, I get it. My renewals are 4.5x the Government fees if I do it myself, I just value my time more. Never been patient for bureaucracy!Lynnette *******
@Da***
up to you. Not everyone wants to be locked in forever with agents "holding all the cards".Greg ***********
if you can afford like 37,000 THB for the agent for greasing the wheels for the first 15 months, and accept that you will be caught in the agent's hamster wheel on all future yearly extensions, then you are free to risk it. Otherwise I would say, if you ain't got a minimum backup of 25,000 US Dollars, or earn a minimum of monthly 1500 USD up, you should not move to and live in Thailand at all
Paul *******
@Greg **********
yep. It can be a real PIA when you want to exit the hamster wheel.The Phuket IO sent me on a 5 hour drive to another province. When I got there the other province didn't want to help and told me to go back to Phuket. 😳😳😳😳
Rene ********
@Paul ******
it depends where you are some places it's dead easy and no one raises an eyebrowRene ********
@Paul ******
no idea never been there in the 15 years or so that Thailand's been my basePaul *******
@Rene *******
I always found Phuket Town immigration a little difficultActivity
43 joined43
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