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What are the requirements for UK citizens applying for a retirement visa in Thailand and is having property in Pattaya beneficial?

Feb 16, 2026
2 months ago
Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
This post is for the UK citizens who have made a choice to apply for a retirement visa through the Thailand embassy in the UK. I am aware it costs £1500 and you have to upload all the required documents. Before I start the process, I have 2 questions. 1.Does it make a difference that I have a property in Pattaya? 2. When I get the retirement visa from the Thailand embassy in London, do I still have to open an account in a Thai bank and pay equivalent to £8000 into it? Also, can I just apply for the retirement visa or are there any steps before that? The Thailand embassy in London. The ones who always react with laughing emojis, please scroll on, this group is for advice.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This discussion highlights the process and requirements for UK citizens applying for a retirement visa in Thailand. Key points include the need for a Non-O visa which costs around £60 and the necessity to deposit 800,000 THB (approximately £19,000) into a Thai bank account for at least two months before applying for a one-year extension of stay. Participants clarify the confusion surrounding the costs and prerequisites, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific visa type and its associated documentation.
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.
Osian ********
Where are you getting your figures?

The cost for visa is around £60. The amount you need to deposit in Thai bank account is approx £19,
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,000thb.

I also already owned an apartment in Thailand prior to application, the question isn't asked and it has no bearing on your application
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Ossie *********
The 800k has to be in single bank account in the applicants name if you pop your cloggs for your beneficiaries to get at the money it’s a very long drawn out process you have to employ lawyers who then go to the courts to get approval for the bank to release the money it’s also expensive as they all want a piece of the pie . I’m talking from experience as I was the executor of a deceased friends last will and testament which was written in both English and Thai !!!
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Ossie *********
Come in on a 90 visa and use an agent leave your money in the UK the interest you earn is more than enough to pay the agents fees if you have a property and have the book in your name that should be enough to open a bank account I suggest Kasikorn bank as they are in partnership with Wise
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ossie Cassidy 90 visa is exactly which one? Is it the multi entry one? Shall I apply at the Thai embassy in London?
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Ossie *********
Rudite Al 90 day visa can be transferred to an o visa aaa long as it has 30 days remaining on it contact Grace she is excellent

Thai visa centre.com
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Ossie *********
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John **********
Im not sure about this question. But what you say about the stupid emojis I totally agree. These absolute ignorant useless idiots. Go play games with yourself and give the keyboard a miss. Its all about helping people. Why are some people so low on intelligence that they need to post shite. Hope you get an answer to your question. I learnt answers the other day which actually contradicted all the answers to my questions on here. So take everything with a pinch of salt. Best bet ask the question from the embassy. Best of luck!
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Gregor **********
John Lawrence the embassy will not tell him anything, and most of all they won't give him info on what he needs to do on Immigration. The embassy is under a different ministry, and a Thai embassy does not offer any consultations to people
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John **********
Gregor Huettner Well at least by me answering his question and your reply to mine, the guy got a positive answer on that note. Thanks
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John **********
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Ben *******
The 90 days from the Thai Embassy UK is £60. Depending on what visa agent you use when you get here will determine how much you pay for the next process
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Richard *********
Nowhete near £1500!! 🙄
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Andrew ********
I find the 50 50 method much better for me. Income+deposit.

Minimum 12 monthly deposits. For me,
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thb and
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0thb seasoned for 2 months before applying for an 12 month extension. These add up to over the
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0thb requirement. After the extension is granted one can spend the
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0k but it has to be deposited 2 months prior to the next extension process. Very easy and straightforward. One can spend the
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thb as you wish. You cannot not break the monthly
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deposits however otherwise you have to start from the beginning.

Good luck to everyone trying to decide the best way forward. BTW, very easy to get off the agent route. Cheers. 🌞🌞🌞😎😎😎🍻🍻🍻⚓
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Gregor **********
Andrew Seaton so you say your Immigration allows you that the deposit part is only 300,000 THB ? WOW!
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Andrew ********
Gregor Huettner any IO will accept. It's part of the visa process. As long as the 50 50 amounts to
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0thb they are ok with it. Never had an issue in BK or the Issan where I live now. You can also do the
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thb monthly income route or the
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0thb route. I don't want
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0thb sitting in a dead account. Or you can of course use an agent. Cheers 😎⚓
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Nick ************
Andrew Seaton any io will NOT accept it. Some don't even allow
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baht a month route.
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Andrew ********
Nick Cartwright ok buddy. Can't say I've ever come across a refusal or met anyone who has been refused ..cheers 🍻🍻🌞😎⚓
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Andrew ********
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Nick ************
Andrew Seaton a lot of offices will not allow you to do that. You are lucky.
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Nick ************
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Kevin *******
Agree. I did it over here and much cheaper. Need. Telephone number and letter of residency from immigration ( landlord can do you rent letter and take to immigration) to do letter to open bank acct. 800k baht which is about £18k and certain rules round R Visa touching it
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Gregor **********
Kevin Smith you cannot get a Thai bank account opened any more on a touristic entry, since February 2025. So if you want to apply for the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa inside Thailand, as a Brit you would need an already existing bank account with 800,000 THB minimum already sitting in it
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Kevin *******
Sorry Gregor. I never me tioned a tourist visa as a retirement visa i was explaining. Sorry if i omitted it
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Kate *********
F
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สก็อต *********
Go here
****************************


Apply for the non o 90 day based on retirement . You need to upload 3 months UK bank statements showing more then 1500 pm going in to the account you pdf software to merge the 3 statements into one pdf and other documents needed utility bills etc then pay the £60 wait about 2 weeks (that’s what mine took)

Then once in Thailand go immigration with your tm30 photos and passport copies get a residency certificate to open kasikorn or similar bank . Then go to the bank open the account I transferred my money from my wise direct into my kbank the next day but make sure it’s transferred as money for foreign retirement on the wise app or you can just you the swift code and transfer from your UK bank. I hope that helps you
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Andy ***********
If u own a Thailand property you can get a yellow book / pink card and no more TM30 …worth the effort
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Gregory *********
Don't need a thai bank account for the Non OA. The Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay, 1 year) visa fee for UK citizens is £150 for a multiple-entry visa. Applications must be submitted through the Royal Thai Embassy in London. Applicants must be aged 50 or over, meet financial requirements, and possess required health insurance.

Key Details:

Visa Type: Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay)

Fee: £150

Validity: 1 year (Multiple Entries)

Duration: Up to 1 year stay

Requirement: Must have insurance (outpatient 40,000 Baht, inpatient 400,000 Baht).

Note: For a 5-year Long Stay visa (Non-O-X), the fee is £300.
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Sticks'n ********
Think he may be mixed up with the SRRV in Philippines.
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Rok ********
It is certainly not £1500 ….About £50, £60 pounds - will check how much i paid
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Samuel *********
Agent coast me 80.000 baht and no need even show prove of this 800 k .

Simple
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Doug *********
Rudite Al You can think of retirement in Thailand as a 2-step process. First you get a 90 day non O visa based on retirement/over 50 (in your home country), and then when you are in Thailand you can apply annually for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement/over 50 provided you meet the requirements. It's best to get these requirements from your local (in Thailand) immigration office.
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Doug Carlson this is the most comprehensive answer I have got in this group. 😳
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Rudite ****
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Gregor **********
We are talking about the most common and persisting misunderstandings regarding the rules that come with applying for the “retirement visa” and the subsequent “one-year extension of stay permit based on retirement”. Misunderstandings happen because a “retirement visa” can mean 7 different visas and stay permits

The best way is to show up in Thailand on a 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement/over 50 visa” as it will get you a 90-days stay permit stamped. Within this period you have plenty of time to arrange for the application to the “1-year extended stay permit”

If you have arrived on this 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, you can get a bank account opened on it. You should do this immediately really soon after you have arrived. If you meet incompetent bank staff, don’t keep trying but get the help of an agent. It costs around 5000 THB for the service to get a bank account opened.

You will need the account when you change to the 1-year extension of the stay permit. I have explained it a bit further down

You can theoretically fly on a one-way ticket because this visa allows you to receive a long-term stay in Thailand. Some airlines might not accept this explanation and will ask you for an onward travel proof out of Thailand within these 90 days, that’s why you should contact them by email and see what they say

In order to apply for the “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” through the online E-visa system at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country, you can use the proof of income of a monthly minimum of the equivalent of 65,000 THB, by using your original pension or other income documentation,

Or

You show 3 months of account statements over deposit of a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in your home country currency, or on your home bank account, or on a Thai bank, or just anywhere in the World – as long as the account is in your sole name

However, for the later application inside Thailand, for the “1-year extension of stay permit” out of the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa, if you are a citizen of a country whose embassy in Thailand does not issue the “income affidavit” any more (these are the embassies of USA, UK, Canada, Norway and Australia) you would need a “12 months bank statement”, showing that for the past 12 months, you have been transferring from abroad to your Thai bank account a minimum of 65,000 THB, consecutively month for month, never missing a single month.

If your embassy still issues an affidavit of income, you can use this method for the financial proof, which needs a monthly income or pension of a minimum of 65,000 THB

For all above mentioned citizens, in the first year there is no other way around, than depositing a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account. They will have to use this deposit for the financial proof which is required for the application to the “1-year extension of stay permit based on being over 50/retired”, at least in the first year.

The alternative would be, if you don’t have that kind of money or are not willing to deposit 800,000 THB in a Thai Bank account, paying an agent to “arrange” the requirements and get around the law, which I do not recommend because you will get caught in the agent hamster wheel.

As soon as you have accumulated the 12 consecutive months of 65,000 THB transfers, month for month, you can apply for the next 1-year extension of the stay permit, using the 12-months bank statement, in the second year. After being issued the next extension, you can theoretically take the 800,000 THB out of your bank account.

This application to a 1-Year Extension costs a 1900 THB fee and you can theoretically do it all by yourself, or accept the help of an agent for the simplified legal service.

NOTE: It is income OR deposit.

On the day of application to the 1-year extension, the 800,000 THB need to have “seasoned” in your account for two months, and this has to be proven with the “bank letter of guarantee” (rab roong thanakan). This is why I said in the beginning that it is important to get the bank account opened and the money transferred really soon right after you have entered Thailand, so you can fulfill the 2 months seasoning requirement.

After been issued the “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, the 800K need to remain in the account for 3 more months. After these 3 months, the deposit shall never go under 400,000 THB. Before your application to the next “1-year Extension of Stay”, a minimum of 800,000 THB must have seasoned in the account for two months, again.

On the day you get issued the “1-year extension of stay permit”, you should buy a re-entry permit for it.

A re-entry permit will keep your stay permit alive in case you exit Thailand before the expiry of the 1-year stay permit.

A single re-entry permit is 1000 THB on Immigration. A multi re-entry is 3800 THB. With a multi re-entry permit, you could exit and re-enter as many times as you wish during the whole stay permit period.

Good Luck and a great time in Thailand
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John ***********
Gregor Huettner excellently explained. Thank you .
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Caleb *********
Gregor Huettner superbly explained, thank you just the information I was looking for 👍
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Darren ******
Gregor Huettner Thanks for taking the time to explain things clearly.Really makes a difference
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Darren ******
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Mark ********
Troll for sure!
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mark Taylor are you an idiot? I just want to know what's the first step. Scroll on. You need to be banned from this group
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Mark ********
Rudite Al You are obviously the idiot. The first step is read the information on the Thai embassy website. You should be banned for laziness and stupidity...
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mark Taylor i just read everything and that's why I have these questions
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Mark ********
Rudite Al If you have these questions and from the statements you made you haven't read it at all...
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Mark ********
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PurpleO********
£1500?
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Martyn *********
The cost is minimal unless using an agent you using government site
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I guess the question is where do I start from? Do I apply for non 0 visa and take it from there to get the retirement visa?
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Ron ******
Rudite Al 1 Go to the UK Thai Embassy website and create an account. 2 Read the User Guide. 3 Apply for Non O visa. 4 Upload documents requested. 5 Pay. 6 when email arrives print pdf file...that is your visa.
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Sean **********
Rudite Al happy for 90 day non O visa based on retirement then for 1 year extension of stay.
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for being that kind
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Dave ******
Rudite Al yes. Absolutely. There's an easy online application form on the RTE London website. When it asks for the type on the drop down list click non O 90 day single entry. That's (hopefully) your invitation to the party.

I notice that some people are saying you need
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0thb in a thai bank. You absolutely DO NOT at this stage. You cannot in fact even open a thai bank account yet.
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Ian ********
You get the non o first in uk based on retirement then you get a one year extension in Thailand ,after 90 days
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ian Carman thank you. I thought I should start with the retirement visa which is the ultimate goal
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Ian ********
The retirement visa is the same as non o
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Chris *******
Rudite Al so your confusion is terminology.

The simplest visa path is this:

90 day non immigrant "o" visa based on being over 50. Commonly called " retirement "

This is your visa, when you enter Thailand you have 90 days to arrange your affairs and apply for the 1yr extension of stay.

You are not changing visas, you are applying for a 1yr extension.

You will do this every year after.

The 90 day non-o IS the visa for "retirement".

The is the cheapest and easiest Visa path.
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Lynnette *******
Rudite Al the Non-O is the visa for retirement/over 50. You have 90 days to use it to enter. You'll then be stamped in for 90 days and once arrived, open bank account. Deposit 800,000 tbt. Get list of documents needed by immigration. When money seasoned go to immigration and apply for 12 month extension based on retirement.
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Lynnette *******
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Lynnette *******
Non-O for retirement is not £1500.
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John **********
Having a property in pattaya makes no difference. The 90 day Non-O visa itself costs £60 but you do have to show that you can afford to live in Thailand by showing a monthly income of £1500 per month or a lump sum of £18,000. Once you get to Thailand you will need to open a Thai bank account and place a minimum of 800k baht into it, which must be there for 2 months before you can apply for a 12 month extension of stay.
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Arron *********
@John *********
will my u.k Halifax bank transfer this for me with no issues or charges ect ? I'm looking into things now .

Thanks again
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Simon *******
Arron Doherty most people use Wise to transfer the money into Thailand great exchange rate and cheaper than a bank ,but it will still cost a couple of hundred pounds to transfer 800,000bht.
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Dave ******
Arron Doherty not sure about charges but banks unsurprisingly normally don't give the best rates. I don't bank with Halifax but HSBC is very easy, can't see why your bank should be any different. Good luck
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Dave ******
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John **********
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Andre ***********
@John *********
easy way to get it sorted. Been living here for 25 years
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Andre ***********
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Kevin ***********
@John *********
hi John does the lump sum need to be in UK bank for an amount of time or can it just be shown on your latest statement
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Sean **********
Kevin O'donnell Thai Bank in your name only.
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Sean **********
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Lester *********
Also, you can apply for the extension of stay whilst in Thailand, the criteria is not as stringent as applying from the UK. Having a property in Thailand doesn’t make a difference to the application. You do need a bank account in Thailand with the equivalent of 800k baht in it
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Graham ******
Lester Housley and the 800k needs to be seasoned for 2 months prior to the extension application. This is the only way for someone with a UK passport for the first extension as the Embassy no longer issues the income affidavit.
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Graham ******
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Stuart ***********
Having a property in Thailand is irrelevant. Depends which visa you are applying for, non-O yes you need to deposit 800,000 baht. Non-OA you do not need to deposit 800,000 baht, but you need mandatory insurance and police checks.
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Kevin *******
Stuart Chiverton I've seen adverts for house and condo sales stating if you own property of a certain value you don't need to show income or savings ! I don't believe but I've seen it on TV! Would suit me a treat as I have a 4mil condo in pattaya and a house and land in issan ! I dont trust the thai ring a ringa roses government ! Maybe one day !
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Stuart ***********
Kevin Dunne they will say anything to sell houses!
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Stuart ***********
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Mick **********
😄 you are talking nonsense. It costs £60 for a non o visa and you need the equivalent of 800,000 in the bank. You clearly haven't looked at the London embassy website
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Ossie *********
Mick Schumann use an agent keep your money in the UK the interest you earn pays the agents fees several times over
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Graham ******
Ossie Cassidy better to start the way you plan to continue, i.e, legally ;)
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Mick **********
Ossie Cassidy not that I was even asking. But in response, i think you will find uk interest on £18,000 won't cover agents fees on an initial visa
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Mick **********
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Brad *******
Mick Schumann And its $ 800.000 baht, not pounds.
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Mick **********
Brad Clark where did i say it was £s ???
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Mick **********
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mick Schumann That's for the retirement visa on the website. Can I not apply for this one directly, do I have to apply for a non o visa first?
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Graham ******
Rudite Al link to this rubbish £1500 cost please
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Mick **********
Rudite Al see the reply from John Stanners.Thats everything you need to know in a nutshell.
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Graham ******
Rudite Al The Non-O is your retirement/over 50 visa
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Graham ******
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Paul ***********
Mick Schumann
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Paul ***********
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Steve *******
I think it's £65 for the Non Imm O based on being 50 or over. Not sure where you're getting £1500 from?
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Graham ******
Steve Greir yes, £60 for a Non-O
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Rudite ****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Graham Seal it's on the UK website for acquiring the retirement visa. Si, do I start with non 0- visa before the retirement visa which is the ultimate goal?
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Graham ******
Rudite Al link to this £1500 cost please as the Non-O costs £60, I get one twice a year
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Sean **********
°!)¡
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Sean **********
Rudite Al it's a non O visa based on retirement. This gets you to Thailand. Then you convert it to a 1 year Extension of Stay. (EOS). The EOS keeps you in Thailand
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Steve *******
Rudite Al Yes. The Non Imm O is the 'retirement visa'
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Steve *******
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