Hi team, I am brand new to the group. Appreciate you allowing me to join.
I retired in the UK recently at 60 and came over here on the visa on arrival. I already have a house with my Thai wife in Bang Saray. I now need to apply for my retirement visa.
I have had a Thai bank account for a few years and can show I have enough funds. We have taken some pictures together in different rooms in our house, the garden and in front of the house number. I believe I also need a pinned google map showing the house location. That’s as far as I have got.
Can I please ask what else I need ?
Cheers,
Paul
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Paul, a new expat in Thailand, is seeking guidance on the requirements for applying for a retirement visa after entering the country on a visa-exempt stamp. He currently resides with his Thai wife and has sufficient funds in a Thai bank account. Comments from other users provide insights into the differences between applying for a retirement visa and a marriage-based visa, emphasizing the paperwork required for each and suggesting that the retirement visa might be a simpler option if he meets the financial requirements.
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.
Paul, you can apply for either non O based on retirement or based on having a Thai wife. The retirement one requires double the funds the Thai wife does, 800k vs 400k but the retirement one requires less paperwork. I suggest you go to your local IO and get the requirements handout for both options and pick the one that suits you better. I easily qualify for the retirement option but I've always chosen to use the Thai wife option because that suits me better.
mate , a marriage visa is a bitch of a thing to get, sooo many hoops to jump through. If you can put 800,000 in your bank account or have at least 65,00 baht a month paid into your bank account, get the retirement visa soo much easier.
First off you didn't come here on a visa on arrival because there isn't one issued for your nationality. You showed up here without having bought a visa from a thai consulate before hand and were stamped in free for 60 days on what's called a 'visa exempt' entry <- it's not a visa on arrival, not a visa at all, just a free stamp entry
You and your wife need to go to your immigration office and get the hand out listing the requirements to get the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai for 2000baht.
Most offices require you have a minimum of 15 days left on your current stamp to apply (because of the two week review period before you go back to get the Non-O visa and 90 day stamp inked in.
The whole process (simplified) is like this
1 - go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht
***wait the 2 weeks under review
2 - go back get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in
***wait until you have 30 days or less left on that 90 day stamp
3 - go apply for the year extension for 1900baht get a 30 day under consideration stamp
***wait until that stamp runs out
4 - go back on that date to get the year extension inked in
5 - buy a re-entry permit if you are going to travel in/out the rest of the year
Obviously for the initial 90 day Non-O visa and the year extension you need copies, photos, bank book, bank letter, marriage documents, wife's documents etc <- that's why I said GO to your immigration office and get the hand out listing the requirements at that specific office
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