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What do I need to legally retire in Thailand?

Apr 6, 2025
2 days ago
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi new here wondering what I need to do to legally retire here?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To legally retire in Thailand, you generally need to be over 50 years old and maintain a bank account with a minimum of 800,000 THB. You can apply for a Non-O or OA visa at a local Thai immigration office. It's advised to consult resources such as the Thai government visa website or the Thai Visa center for detailed options. Additionally, avoid using agents who circumvent financial requirements. Make sure to have health insurance and understand the implications of bringing money into Thailand, particularly regarding taxes.
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.
Armando **********
Basically you have to be rich to move to Thailand.
Peter *********
Easy way is get a. Visa agent to do it all cost is minimal no hassle they do it all and more
Rene ******
STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND

(Must be over age 50):

i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa.

ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must promptly open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds).

iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days).

Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"),

Must be Over Age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht).

Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service.

iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration).

v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension.

Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning.

Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office).

vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again.

(IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.

By Robert B. Morton

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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene *****
Thank You so much, I really appreciate the time you took explaining everything it to a old newbie like me!
Rene ******
@Jeff ************
I just copied and pasted, source at bottom
Jacqui *********
@Rene *****
Thankyou very much, I've just copied all of that for when I move to Thailand, hopefully this year, once my house has sold. Many thanks šŸ˜„
Kristie *******
@Jacqui ********
me to šŸ˜‰
Brook ********
I would seek a full understanding of the amount of toxic air pollution first.

Also, the import duties, fees and taxes.
David *********
first thing dont tell them your American or Indian lol tell them your from Canada or Australia lol
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ********
won't the passport give it away
David *********
@Jeff ************
lol yes but when your in the country hotels and taxis fare are now 39% more expensive itā€™s called the Trump tax for Americans lol
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ********
I get it lol
Billy ******
What is the Thai embassy phone number thailand Bangkok
Lucas **********
Be old and rich
Alan **********
And remember if you retire hear from uk the state pension Will be frozen,itā€™s best if you have health insurance,make shore you have enough money to last you out ,there are people trapped hear no health insurance and no money to go back and no home in uk to go back to travel with caution
Kevin ********
@Alan *********
is that right your state pension is frozen ? Just Iā€™ve never heard that from some of my friends in Thailand
Alan **********
@Kevin *******
yes if you live in thailand
Kevin ********
@Alan *********
well Iā€™ll be ok then as Iā€™ll be coming and going every 3 months
Alan **********
@Kevin *******
yes thatā€™s ok but will spend more in air fairs lol
Kevin ********
@Alan *********
Iā€™m still working on contracts now and than
Jonathan ******
Money age and a visa
Mike *******
Youā€™re well on the way. Now that you have joined the group today, next you should go to this groupā€™s landing page, and type ā€œretirementā€ into the search field (magnifying glass icon at the top of the page), hit enter, then spend a few hours of your time reading the thousands of helpful previous posts and comments. You should also thoroughly review the official Thai government visa website (links available in the above mentioned posts/comments). Good luck.
Ben *********
Yes, I used an agent who circumvented the financial requirements so i have to use an agent again or cop some sort of fine. In dealing with the agent I was unable to have a understandable conversation so I was unaware of what they were doing for me. That was in Phuket
Kool *******
Basically you need money to retire here
Wannikea *********
You can bring all the money you want untaxable as long as you don't stay at 180 days in this tax year and then the following year you can stay as long as you want.
Chang ******
Nothing
Kristie *******
Graeme ***********
A lot of money to cover tax on ALL money brought into Thailand from overseas and health insurance etc
Sasha ***********
@Graeme **********
All I want to know and canā€™t obtain the answer is tax and since you mentioned itā€¦ Iā€™d like to ask you if that okay..

If I transfer a pension every month from my home country to a Thai Bank account in order to live, then do I pay tax on that remittance (transfer amount)? OR does the Australian/Thailand Double Tax Agreement negate this? Canā€™t seem to find a straight answer šŸ¤·
Graeme ***********
@Sasha **********
you are obliged to pay tax on ALL money you bring into Thailand from overseas and if you want to challenge the law you will need a tax lawyer in Australia and another tax lawyer in Thailand and who knows what the outcome will be. That's why after 11 great years in Thailand I am now back in Australia to spend the rest of my retirement years
Sasha ***********
@Graeme **********
I donā€™t wish to challenge itā€¦ just simply want to know if we pay it or not as this topic is divisive. 100 say yes and 100 say no. Iā€™ll read between lines of your response. Cheers.
Frank **********
Yes, do not use an Agent. They circumvent the financial requirements which is basically fraud.
Ken ********
Money and lots
Peter *********
Contact someone like Thai Visa centre in Bangkok. They will ask some details, and provide genuine options. They were great with me.

Just retired.
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ********
Thank You
Peter *********
@Jeff ************
welcome Jeff .. also they will help with the 800 thousand Thb requirement. They were great with me.
Paul *******
Be over 50 years of age, have 800.000 thb in the bank. Apply.
Kristie *******
@Paul ******
my question is I have seen so much conflicting information on how you open a Thai bank account - how hard it is - you can thru an agent - donā€™t go thru an agent - do it yourself - depends what bank - depends what branch of a bank etc
Paul *******
@Kristie ******
You should be able to open a bank account yourself, even if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. All banks have different requirements. All branches have different requirements. Even within a branch two staff members may give very different answers. Find a branch of the bank you want (I use Bangkok Bank in Doi Saket), in an area with lots of foreigners. Go to the bank with your passport and a friend who holds an account at that branch. Have 100,000 thb to deposit. Should work but many banks/branches will also require a certificate of residence from Immigration. But instead, you could offer a letter from your hotel/ hostel/ Airbnb/ friends house stating that you stay there. Doi Saket Bangkok will work with that.

.

You will need -

Long term visa, if its a new e-visa, make copies, they wont do it for you ( no exceptions )

Certificate of Residency ( no exceptions ) they except a copy as long as you bring the original with you.

Copy of your lease ( sometimes they ask, if they ask and you dont have it, you will have to come back )

3 forms of government ID ( no exceptions ) 1 must be your passport, make copies of your photo page and latest visa stamp to save time

should be in english or thai drivers licence

Thai phone number ( no exceptions ) must be your thai number as they will send you verification codes during the process. If you dont have your phone or cant get the codes, youl have to come back.

You will need to download the SCB app and let them help you activate it or youll have to come back )

A sponsor ( someone with an account at that branch, thai or farang ) to make an introduction helps a lot. I have had an account at this branch for 7 years. Never a problem. Always great service. And if you are polite and respectful, they remember you, which always helps.

Remember folks, you are a guest here. The culture is different. Act properly, dress properly and respect the rules and things will always be easier, especially when you want something and its easy for them to say no...........
Kristie *******
@Paul ******
can you reuse that money each year or do they like to see it out and in and out and in etc ?
Paul *******
@Kristie ******
I leave the 800,000 permanently in the bank but it is a little flexible but must not drop below 400,000 and be back at 800,000 three months before renewal time.
Kristie *******
@Paul ******
thank you once again ! Owe you a drink one day
Kristie *******
@Paul ******
thank you so so much

Really appreciated all that -
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ******
Thank You
James ******
Probably 1000 post explaining it just do a search or wait there will be two more of this day
Andi ***********
Your local Thai Embassy site has all the options for retirement, Non O or OA
Nongnuch ********
@Andi **********
There is not much info on the Thai embassy website. They only post the requirements for the visa.

There is ZERO info on requirements on how to obtain the extension.

They totally lack of info for the steps you need to undertake on Immigration in Thailand (because it is a different ministry with their own rules)

So before you tell people to look on the Thai embassy website, you should also tell them that they will not find much info
Andi ***********
@Nongnuch *******
The OP is not asking about an extension, he is asking about what he needs to retire in Thailand. You can see others have given him advice about how to get a retirement visa. The application for the retirement options is via the Thai embassy website. Making an extension in Thailand is totally different which is why i never mentioned it.
Nongnuch ********
@Andi **********
the application for the extension is the crucial part of the retirement in Thailand. The 90-days visa itself only grants him a 90-days holiday šŸ˜‰
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