What are the steps to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand while currently in the country?

@Pertti ************

the cheapest agent to get a Thai bank account opened (it requires you are on a valid longterm visa, like the Non-Imm-O visa) is 5000 Thai Baht. For 1000 Thai Baht, an agent won't even get up from his office chair

@Pertti ************

We are now in the 21st century mate. 1000 baht might have cut it in the 90's.

@Pertti ************

seeing as how the going rate for a bank account is now over 10,000 baht, and that's for the few agents that still even offer it as a standalone services, yes lots of worries.

@Mark *****

You can't get a Thai bank account opened any more on a touristic entry since February 2025.

Only a handful of agents offer help, if you buy the whole package (bank account, 90-days Non-O visa, 12-months Extension). It costs up from 60,000 THB using your own funds, and up to 90,000 THB if you have no own funds.

Without 800,000 THB sitting in an already existing Thai bank account in your name, you can't apply for the "change of visa type" from the touristic entry to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, and from there to the 1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement.

So, entering on a tourist visa is a dead-end street, except if you are willing to pay the above mentioned money to an agent for the whole package.

You need to enter on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa obtained abroad or in your home country, to be able to get a bank account opened and transfer the 800,000 THB, as soon as you have entered Thailand, so the money has seasoned in your account for 2 months on the day you apply on Immigration for the 1-year extension of the stay permit

@Steve ********

how long ago? You can't get a Thai bank account opened any more on a touristic entry since Februaray 2025. (only a handful of agent will help if you buy the whole package for 60,000 to 90,000 Thai Baht). Without 800,000 THB on an already existing THai bank account in your name, you can't get the "change of visa type" from the touristic entry to the initial 90-days Non-O visa, and from there to the 1-year extension of stay. So entering on a tourist visa is a dead-end street. You need to enter on a 90-days Non-O Visa, to be able to get a bank account opened and transfer the 800,000 THB, so they have been sitting in your account for 2 months before you can apply for the extension

@Steve ********

how much did it cost Steve?

@John *********

has your answer here Mark.