What is the best visa option for a retired couple wanting to spend 3-4 months in Thailand?

Question

Good day folks. I wanted to seek some collective wisdom and guidance from this group. We are a 50+ couple who live in Europe and Dubai for most of the year but would like to add Thailand to our itinerary for 3-4 months a year. We are not seeking work in Thailand…we are retired and what little work we do is remote. Looking for a visa that helps us spend 3-4 months in Thailand with as little restrictions as possible. 
I spoke to an agent who suggested Elite Access Privilege - 10 years, about 55K US$ for the two of us. An Aussie colleague mentioned the retirement visa (OA) which for NZ Passport holders is for one year. Then finally, I read there are new retiree visas being introduced by the government. Public information and my research didn’t provide a great level of clarity between these three options. Hence my reach out here to see if folks here might have thoughts and recommendations of which direction is best to pursue based on your experiences. And any pointers to agents for firms that are reliable and can help us with navigating the journey?

Ask Thailand · Answer

A retired couple seeking to spend 3-4 months in Thailand has multiple visa options to consider. The community predominantly recommends starting with a tourist visa, which provides 60 days and is extendable by an additional 30 days, totaling 90 days. Some suggestions advocate for applying for a Non-O visa, which starts with 90 days and allows for a year extension based on retirement. The Thai Elite visa, while discussed, is considered overly expensive for short stays. Many commenters caution against using agents and recommend self-managing the visa application process for straightforward options.

George ************* · Answer

As others have said a 60 day tourist visa with a 30 day extension of stay for tourism is best to start.

Depending on your nationality, you may qualify for easy retirement extensions based on embassy certification of pension of 65k baht per month.  Don't even need a Thai bank account for this.  Only one of you needs this other can get dependent visa.  If go down this path get your Non-O visas outside Thailand (dependent following spouse visas aren't issued in Thailand.  Get your Non-O visas from Thai embassy or Consulate in your home country. Americans, Brits, and Australians can't do this because their embassies unilaterally stopped providing the income letter.

Agree you don't need elite visa and don't need an agent.

Helen ******** · Answer

The easiest is as people mention the tourist visa which is 60 days, plus one 30 day extension. if you really enjoy it a more permanent option, you could look at a Non O, get 90 days to start. Then get a year extension based on retirement. Check to see if your country does an income verification letter which means you don't have to open an account.

Shaun ********* · Answer

Avoid this agent they see you as a cash cow, would be crazy to go down that route.

Daniel ********** · Answer

Tourist visa. Avoid agents!!!!!

Michael ******** · Answer

Agree with others get the tourist visa for now.

Chris ******* · Answer

Tourist visa will easily get you 90 days. 60 plus 30 day extension.

Currently the STV gets you 90 days and can be renewed 2x equally 9 months.

However it cannot to modified to another visa or extended any longer. You have to leave when it is done. Extensions are straight forward for visas,  1900b lots of photo copied stuff, no need for an agent.

Jessie ****************** · Answer

[mention redacted]

Peter ************ · Answer

Try the 60 days tourist visa which you can extend to 90 days……once in thailand you can then decide whether you like thailand and what options you have…..things change all the time,as do the rules and regulations

Nigel ********* · Answer

Keep it simple. 60 day tourist visa extendable once for 30 days. If you really wanted the last month just bounce out to Cambodia or Vietnam or something like that for a romantic weekend ( once borders reopen) that gives you another 30 days (extendable once) . Your agent is nuts.

Wayne ******** · Answer

little or no work take the Thai Elite 5 years but if you are married you take the family TE worth 800K if you take a retirement visa you need to jump through hoops opening a bank account and depositing and maintaining 1.6 mill thb for 2 persons. the TE visa resets for 12 months everytime you enter and is hassle free so it would only cost you about 25,000 for 2 persons under family TE visa believe me it’s worth having my wife and i are from australia and had for 10 yrs now and if any hassles you ask TE to help

Pauline ******* · Answer

A tourist visa would give you 90 days. It's easy to apply for from your country's embassy. In UK you can do it all on line and it's £30, not sure about other countries embassies. The suggestion of elite visa is crazy and expensive if you're only staying 3/4 months.

What is the best visa option for a retired couple wanting to spend 3-4 months in Thailand?

Activity

Related

Resources