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What are the requirements for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand after a gap in status?
Retirement VisaNON-O VisaVisa RulesThai Bank Account RequirementsLong-term Stay in ThailandExpats in ThailandVisa Agent vs. Self-applicationDTV VisaLaos Visa Options
Aug 29, 2024
2 years ago
John **********
ORIGINAL POSTERAny advice appreciated. Last time in Thailand, an agent got me a retirement visa fore 32,000 baht. unfortunately, I didn't return in time to renew. Now, I'm returning after depositing 70000 baht in my Bangkok bank account for the last 3 months. Does that help me get a new retirement visa without an agent?
TLDR : Answer Summary
To qualify for a new retirement visa in Thailand, you must have either 800,000 baht in your Thai bank account or an income verification letter from your embassy. Simply having 70,000 baht in your account will not suffice for a retirement visa application. Additionally, some comments suggest exploring other countries with less stringent requirements, like Cambodia or Vietnam, but emphasize that engaging with the proper visa rules is essential.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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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Stephen ********
You can get the retirement visa without paying anything on the government website so don't waste your time and money with agents mate
Lena *******
@Stephen *******
How does that work? It all seems so complicated.Reply to
Lena *******
Reply
Shannon ********
Laos 1 yr visa is an option too.. quite sleepy of a place compared to Thailand
Tore *********
You may want to research if you are eligible for the new DTV.
Paul ********
Cambodia one-year visa is $290/year. No financial requirements, no 90 day reporting, multiple re-entry.
If you can't make the money thing work in Thailand, maybe Siem Reap is worth considering?
If you can't make the money thing work in Thailand, maybe Siem Reap is worth considering?
Carlos *********
@Paul *******
Vietnam is good too.Paul ********
@Carlos ********
What's the retirement visa /longterm stay situation in Vietnam right now?Carlos *********
@Paul *******
it's all online. They are more receptive and don't change bank and entrance rules at the drop of a hat and you future is more stable than..... maybe we'll adf a 35% tax.... maybe we won't...... maybe we'll lock down....maybe....Reply to
Carlos *********
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Patrick ********
@Paul *******
still have to do 90 day report 🙄Paul ********
@Patrick *******
Citation / documentation please? I could find no mention of a 90-day reporting requirement or mechanism for a 1-year Cambodian retirement visa.
Patrick ********
@Paul *******
I've been doing it for 15 yearsPaul ********
@Patrick *******
Yes, but you are in Thailand. Not Cambodia?Patrick ********
@Paul *******
oops you are rightReply to
Patrick ********
Reply
Robert **********
@Paul *******
......Siem Reap is a shithole. It gets hotter than any other place on earth. Electricity is expensive. Food is expensive. Fuel is expensive. The dust pollution is horrendous. The mosquito's will drive you nuts. And the closest beach is not much closer than the moon. It truly is the worst place on the planet to live.Paul ********
@Robert *********
Don't hold back. . .Obviously, I prefer Thailand myself. But we all have to choose from what is available to us, not just what we want.
I'd move to Cambodia in a heartbeat before returning to the USA.
Robert **********
@Paul *******
.......I spent covid in Siem Reap except for a short stint in Mondulkiri. Death Valley would be a far better option.Paul ********
@Robert *********
Do you feel the same about the entire country?Robert **********
@Paul *******
.......Nah.....Cambodia is ok. There are far worse places to be. Australia is one. I spent a long time in Cambodia. Quite happy in Thailand these days. Kampot or Phnom Penh would be my choice if I had to go back, or even Koh Kong.Craig ********
@Robert *********
Kampot is pretty dope. Reminds me of New Orleans.Reply to
Craig ********
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Andi ***********
@Robert *********
" The closest beach is not much closer than than the 🌙" 😂 classicReply to
Andi ***********
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Andy ************
You need 12 months of 65k transfers to qualify
Ken ***********
@Andy ***********
12 months of 65k transfers is not accepted for a new Non O. (Including Bangkok / Chaengwattana). It is accepted only for extensions.Andy ************
@Ken **********
I switched from OA which didn't require 800k in Thailand, but during the second "free" year of the OA I did the 65k transfers so I was able to get the 90-day visa in Bangkok and the subsequent 12-month extension. Seems to be the best way to avoid the 800k lump sumKen ***********
@Andy ***********
yes. But then you have to buy Thai insurance which has questionable value.Andy ************
@Ken **********
When I did the OA there was no insurance. Used to be able to get a useless policy for 7700 baht which satisfied the OA requirement, I don't know if it's still available. Sure beats tying up 800k for a year or moreKen ***********
@Andy ***********
for extension of Non O with THB 65,000 for 12 months, no mandatory insurance and no THB 800,000 required.Andy ************
@Ken **********
Yeah not quite sure why you're telling me this, but I'm sure you've got it covered ! 😂😂😂Reply to
Andy ************
Reply
Brandon ************
It won't matter at all. If you don't have a retirement visa already, there are only 2 ways to qualify for a new one.
1) 800,000 Thai baht in your thai bank account
2) A letter of income verification from your embassy
The same goes for the first 1-year extension. Even if you have monthly transfers into your Thai bank account for 10 years, it doesn't matter. Those are the ONLY 2 ways to qualify for a non-O visa conversion and the first 1-year extension of stay.
After you've been in Thailand for 15 months on retirement visa and extension, your second annual extension can be applied for be using TWELVE (12) months of international transfers of at least 65,000 baht into your Thai bank account. If you miss a single month, even by 1 day, you cannot use that method.
1) 800,000 Thai baht in your thai bank account
2) A letter of income verification from your embassy
The same goes for the first 1-year extension. Even if you have monthly transfers into your Thai bank account for 10 years, it doesn't matter. Those are the ONLY 2 ways to qualify for a non-O visa conversion and the first 1-year extension of stay.
After you've been in Thailand for 15 months on retirement visa and extension, your second annual extension can be applied for be using TWELVE (12) months of international transfers of at least 65,000 baht into your Thai bank account. If you miss a single month, even by 1 day, you cannot use that method.
Peter **********
@Brandon ***********
So either he uses some shady agent business or he does a border run, get a tourist visa, drops 800k seasoning in the bank and then tries to get a non-o while in Thailand? are these his options?Brandon ************
@Peter *********
sounds like he's outside of Thailand now so no border run needed. Either use an agent or put your own money in the bank to apply for visa.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Bernie *************
@Brandon ***********
do you still need to show income varification, if you have money in the bank already 10 £million say?Brandon ************
@Bernie ************
It's 1 OR 2. But the money has to be in your Thai bank account, and I doubt you have 10 million British Pounds sitting in a Thai bank account.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Mike *********
@Brandon ***********
All said here is correct but you can also use an agent to post the 800,000 bah for the retirement visa.Tore *********
@Mike ********
no idea, good point i guess. If interest is less than 10% it may still be worth it though. But I haven’t looked at in depth yet.Danny *******
@Mike ********
Maybe but definitely illegal!Brandon ************
@Mike ********
That's not an official nor legal way to get a non-OTore *********
@Brandon ***********
I may be wrong in this, but you sure about the legality? Technically its a loan, don’t think immigrant care about the source? I know people doing this, as parking 800k is a net loss vs keeping the 800k in the market. Unless the risk is high, this was my plan when i reach 50.
But still a while, and if i can still get DTV the it’s probably a better option anyway.
Tony ********
@Tore ********
but you also have to consider in the worst case scenario, that if you get a remittence of 800k from an agent in the year you become a tax resident, you are liable for the tax on that for the next 5 years.Frank **********
@Tore ********
it is actually fraud as number 1, that money is supposed to be yours transferred from your country. Number 2 it has to be in your account for a certain amount of months and not drop below 400k. Number 3 it is most likely obtained by a bribe to the IO. The visa stamp will be real but the way it was obtained was fraudulent.Jack ********
@Tore ********
what the agents do is move the money to your account, get the bank statements and passbook and then move the money out. It doesn’t cover the seasoning requirements which is overlooked as part of the fraud being committed by you and the agentsTore *********
@Jack *******
if thats how they do it, then definitely not for me.Jack ********
@Tore ********
while 800K has an opportunity cost of sitting there doing nothing with regards to a ROI I do like having the money there in case of emergencyTore *********
@Jack *******
I can understand that. Hopefully in 5 years i can get another DTV though, but my gut feeling tells me it’s unlikely (at least as easy as now)Jack ********
@Tore ********
I would prefer the DTV as well. I would have gone that route if it was available at the time. I am sure it pissed off a lot of Thai Elite visa peopleDanny *******
@Tore ********
It can be a loan but remember is has to be there for the two months before the extension and the three months after, and not drop below 400,000 the other months. Is the agent going to loan it to you for that long? 🤔Reply to
Danny *******
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