Answered4 years ago

What are the steps and requirements for obtaining a Thai retirement visa for a couple from the UK?

Thai retirement visa NON-O visa Visa process Expat advice Bank account in Thailand Financial requirements for visa

Kim *******

asked Dec 13, 2022

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Hi we are a couple from UK , my husband is 65 I am 56 we are hoping to get the Thai retirement visa. I have read lots of information but some I think is not current and some conflicting. 

Our understanding is we would

 1. apply for 3 month visa first. 

2.Secure a rental to have an address 

3. Arrange a Thai bank account

4. Put 800,000 baht in

5.apply for retirement visa

Have I missed anything out?

Is it 800,000 for both of us or x2?

How long does the money have to be there before applying?

I realise it’s not going to be straightforward getting the bank account etc

Any advice or personal experience gratefully received

Many thanks

Answer summary

A UK couple planning to apply for a Thai retirement visa needs to follow several steps. First, they should apply for a 3-month NON-O visa. They will need to secure a rental for their address and open a Thai bank account, depositing 800,000 baht (which is for one applicant, not both). The couple needs to ensure the funds are in the bank for at least 2 months before applying for the retirement visa extension after entering Thailand. It's essential to do the steps in the correct order once they arrive in Thailand.

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James ********

4 years ago

James ********

4 years ago

Tod *********

If you are going to do the process in thailand you have some of the steps out of order

You get here,

- open the bank account,

- get the 800K baht transferred in

- go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht

**wait for the review period to run down (between 2 and 3 weeks depending)

- go back get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in

**wait until the funds are seasoned in the bank 2 months and you have less than 30 days left on your 90 day stamp

- apply for the year extension for 2000baht

- apply for a re-entry permit so you can exit/re-enter for the year and not lose your stamp

4 years ago

Tod *********

Sadly this group is the visa advice group not the how can I open a bank account in thailand one 😮 Post on a group related to where you will live in thailand and ask for advice about opening a bank account there. You will get good recommendations

4 years ago

Tod *********

if you both are applying for a retirement visa you need double the funds (1.6 million)

4 years ago

Kim *******

@Tod ********

thank you for clarifying, I wasn’t sure if I could be attached to my husbands visa as a dependent or spouse

Kim *******

thank you so much

Tod *********

at this time only ONE immigration office will issue the 90 day Non-O visa based on being the 'trailing spouse" of a retirement visa holder and that is Phuket.

Before that there wasn't an immigration office in the country that would issue the 90 day Non-O visa for that reason.

So you wanna get a 'piggy back' visa as the trailing spouse of a retirement visa holder you do it there or you go out of the country to get one after your husband has his non-o visa and then the year extension.

4 years ago

Tod *********

And are you INSIDE thailand now or still in the UK?

4 years ago

Kim *******

@Tod ********

we are in Vietnam at present travelling

4 years ago

Kim *******

We will come to Thailand

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Kim ******

, and will you be going back to the UK before you come to thailand ? I'm trying to see if you can apply for the 90 day Non-O visa in the UK (which you have to be there to do) or if you're going to come here and apply for it inside thailand at the immigration office in the area where you will live

4 years ago