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What are the steps to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand for a UK expat married to a Thai citizen?

Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Visa Application Thailand Immigration Expat Advice Financial Requirements Tourist Visa Marriage Visa

Feb 19, 2022

3 years ago

Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Could someone please give me some guidance.

I am 63 I lived in Thailand many years ago, I have been married to a Thai for 20 years and  we have been living in the UK, I am planning on retiring next year, but my pension is not due for another 3 years, I do have fund in my account in the UK, and also in Thailand, also my wife has an income in Thailand as she owns a farm. I have looked into a retirment visa here, which you have to apply on line, and it is really difficult. Could I come over on a 30 day and apply for a retirment visa there. Could someone please advise.

Many thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user seeks guidance on obtaining a retirement visa for Thailand, emphasizing challenges with online applications from the UK. They consider applying for a tourist visa initially due to the pension not being available for three years. Comments from the community suggest applying for a Non-O visa with specific financial requirements: either a bank balance of 800,000 THB or a monthly income of 65,000 THB. Some users recommend visiting Thailand on a tourist visa to then apply for the retirement visa, while others suggest applying directly for a Non-O visa from the UK to secure the status beforehand.

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.

Ken ******

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for OA retire visa applied abroad

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Neil *********

Hi Stephen yes you can do that no problem at all. Also I can help with your retirement planning, things like have you fully maximised your NI contributions? How important is it to take your state pension at 65 or can you afford to put it off for few years?

Also what about generating an income from your other funds? Plus how much do you actually need to live on here.

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Gary **********

If you wait until in Thailand, (I am only repeating what I have heard online), you have no guarantee of success. Better to lock in your status while still in UK.

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Shaun ********

Come on a marraige visa then you only have to show 40,000 bht per month going into your account, You can even top money up from savings in a UK account,if your pension is under the amount,and nothing to stop you recycling the money back to the UK after its came to your Thai account

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Shayne **********

Very simple. Get a tourist visa and then get sorted out when you get here.

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Steve *******

@Shayne *********

Why not get the Non Imm O if you're applying for a visa? Why bother with a Tourist visa?

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Steve *******

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Mohsin ************

I would not panic. What is important is that you must keep 800k in a thai bank account for min 6 months (it may have changed). Go to Thailand on a tourist visa (you can get 2 months at the embassy, at the airport you will get 30 days). Once in Thailand goto any of the immigration offices, unlike the home office here, they will give you all the information and advice you need.

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George *************

@Mohsin ***********

400k for marriage

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Ken ********

@George ************

or 40k a month retirement is 800k or 62k a month from memory of I'm wrong I'm sure 30 people will correct this

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George *************

Retirement is 65k a month.

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George *************

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Steve *******

It's so easy to apply for the Non Imm O visa in the UK. It's evisa, all online, dont even have to get up or leave the house 😂

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Ken ********

I'd come on a visa exempt 30 Day stay and sort my non o visa out here this way you'll only need a month's health insurance

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry just one more thing, can you tell what DBS check you need to submit when applying for the visa on line.

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Lisa ********************

@Stephen *******

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lisa *******************

Hi Lisa, is this the DBS check that they need, I ask this question because there is a Basic,Standard,and Advanced.

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Lisa ********************

@Stephen *******

basic is fine. I got my 12 month visa with the basic.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lisa *******************

Thank you very much, could you also tell me what insurance company you used for your medical policy, most of the ones they recommend are so expensive.

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Lisa ********************

yes they are expensive. I used a broker

Email:

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. She found the cheapest policy for me. And will help you if you need to claim.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Lisa *******************

Many thanks Lisa.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry Lisa, just a couple of things Thai embassy London, are also asking for Medical Report, and also what did you do about the return date on your ticket.

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Stephen ********

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ok many thanks for the advice.

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Steve *******

@Stephen *******

Upload the insurance policy doc showing the coverage details.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Please see the latest online application attached, not that easy.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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Steve *******

@Stephen *******

Bank statement, passport details, insurance cover. Screenshot the docs and upload them.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Steve,as you can already see I have started uploading the documents, 1,2,3 I have no problem with the bank statement , police reports, i will also have No 9, but what do you do about No 8 & 10.

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Stephen ********

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Hans ******

Yes

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Stuart *********

You can come over on a visa exempt and then apply for a non O visa in country. Timing is everything. You’d need 400k in your bank account (in your name only). Many offices will require at least 15 days on a valid stamp to process (21 in Chiang Mai). Once you’ve got the non O then you can apply for the year extension as it’s winding down.

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Craig **********

@Stuart ********

you must apply 45 days before the non o expires

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Peter *********

@Stuart ********

what you mean it's winding down?

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Tony *********

@Peter ********

These are the steps I took. I came in on a 30 day exemption and then applied for a non-O. I then seeded the 800k for 2 months and then converted the visa into a one year stay based on the retirement.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Tony, is it not 800k for three months? And also if you put 800k in 2 months later, your visa was only for 30 days, so surly you had overstayed

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Peter *********

same

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Peter *********

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Tony *********

@Peter ********

he means before the expiry of the non O (winding down) you apply for a one-year extension based on retirement.

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Tony *********

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

i would like to get a 3 month visa, but it is such a hassle applying to the Thai Embassy London, I understand when you say timing is everything, would it be better using an agent, would you know of a good agent in BKK if this is a better way to process a visa, also many thanks for giving me advice

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Philip **********

@Stephen *******

i got a 60 day visa with some advice on here which i found easy to apply for online, if you do that then when you get here i think you can apply for a 30day extension at the local immigration office. The more experienced in the group maybe able to offer you more advice on that route though...

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Bobby ********

Stephen Morris. Beware using an agent. If you are using an agent to get around having to meet certain criteria it means a bribe is being paid which means you can't get off the agent merry-go-round and you will have to use an agent every time you extend your stay. If you are using an agent simply to fill in forms and guide you through immigration then it's no problem, but as

@Brandon ***********

has said, it's easy to do it yourself. The criteria for "married to a Thai" visa is to simply transfer 40,000 baht into Thailand each month.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Bobby, can you not just leave 400k permanently in your Thai bank account, then you do not have to transfer 40k per month

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Michael ********

@Stephen *******

yes can leave money there

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Michael ********

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Mark **********

@Stephen *******

Here’s our article we just published on this. Feel free to reach out if you want our assistance.

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Brandon ************

@Stephen *******

What's such a hassle about it? Thousands do it every year.

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Stephen ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Brandon, I don’t know if you have been on the website lately for the Thai Embassy in London, the visa application part, you have to meet so many requirements, and show so much proof, of insurance, medical from doctor, bills showing your proof of address, and quite a few more. They are also asking for two different types of medical insurance. If you do not download them in the application it will not send until every question has been answered.

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Stephen ********

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