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What are the visa options for a 57-year-old expat living in Krabi, Thailand with a small pension?

Thailand Visa Long-term Visa Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Visa Requirements Visa Agencies in Krabi Expat Advice Income Affidavit Financial Requirements for Visa ED Visa Options

May 21, 2025

a year ago

Lotti ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello 

I am new here in the Group. 

Can someone help me maybe?

I am 57 yrs old from germany. 

I live in Krabi province southailand. 

I need a seriously visa agency in the near from me.

I have only a small pension don't have 800 k for the warranty on a bankaccound in Thailand for can get a long-term visa.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A 57-year-old German expat living in Krabi seeks advice on obtaining a long-term visa in Thailand with a small pension, noting that they cannot meet the 800,000 THB bank requirement. Community members suggest alternatives like the monthly income method (65,000 THB) or the combined method (35,000 THB plus 400,000 THB in the bank). Some mention using accredited visa agencies, although costs can be high, while others caution about the financial viability of long-term residency without adequate funds.

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.

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Henrik *****

If you can’t fullfill the basic requirements, you can not apply, and has to find a visa which requirements you can fullfill.

See the website of a Thai Embassy, which visa’s are avaiable, and if you cant find a visa there, Thailand is not the place for you to stay.

a year ago

Jack *****

Lotti Grab the same here.

From the Netherlands and a agency in Bangkok arranged it for me already the third year. Send my passport and Bangkok by ems to Bangkok and after a small week get everything back.

Do my extensions week ago, and last Monday i get everything back.

You can trust them 100 %.

Can not send you a PB.

a year ago

Ronny *****

Pay an agent to do everything for you. First year it will cost 25-30k then 15k for extension every year.

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Lotti *****

. . if you only receive a small pension and have no financial backup, you should not settle down in Thailand permanently. . . Thai Immigration demanding either 800,000 THB in a bank account or a minimum income of 65,000 THB got introduced on a good reason - It is the minimum budget that would ensure you have enough funds to support yourself in case of need . . . . . . . Do you have any health insurance? I have seen many westerners fall into poverty and despair after getting sick and needing hospital care.

a year ago

Tim **********

@Nongnuch *******

thank you for saying what few say.

So many people are trying to retire to Thailand cause they don’t have enough money to live in their home country comfortably

So they come to Thailand cause they hear they can live on $1,500 US a month.

You need at least 65,000 and 100,000 is better

Sad that so many come here without the means necessary; I hope they raise that monthly rate.

a year ago

Jesper *******

@Nongnuch *******

does the 65k method need to have affidavit from the embassy? I already have the 800k in thai bank acct for 2yrs and now collecting my 12 mths statements for my next extension will be doing my extension at bkk chaeng wattana TIA (my embassy does not provide affidavit) I can only show 12mths of foreign deposit into thai bank acct

a year ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jesper ******

applicants whose embassies don't issue any income affidavits, are allowed to use the 12-month bank statement method for their application. A statement from the bank for 12 consecutive months, for incoming from abroad a minimum of 65,000 THB, uninterrupted, month for month, will suffice. And you need to update the bankbook on the day of application

a year ago

Jesper *******

@Nongnuch *******

thanks

a year ago

Reply to

Jesper *******

John **********

What passport do you hold? If your embassy in Thailand provides an income affidavit/certificate then you can use that if you meet their income requirements from a pension in your home country. Failing that your only option is to use an agent but you then get stuck using them each year going forward so best avoided if you can

a year ago

Roberto *********

Get a DTV. Best visa ever

a year ago

Jan ******************

@Lotti *****

Do you have a monthly income/pension of minimum equal to 65K baht (€1755)? If so your embassy/consulate in Thailand offers to provide you an affidavit letter you can use at the immigration and apply for a Non O based on retirement in country with monthly income. Otherwise there’s no legal way around the financial requirement for long stay in Thailand.

a year ago

Dany ********

You could do the monthly income method of 65,000 baht per month comming into your account for 12 months. Some offices also accept a combined method of 35,000 baht per month plus about 400,000 in the bank.

If you want to go the agency route then be ready to pay 25-50k baht every year. i personally dont know an agent here in Krabi that does it. but there is probably some…

alternatively you can get ED visa for a few years and go from there. it gives you plenty of time to figure out things. i recommend ALS language school in Ao Nang.

what did you do for visa now as you say you live here allready???

a year ago

Michael ********

I believe the owners of this group (thai visa) can assist country wide

a year ago

Reply to

Michael ********

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