What is the best visa option for an Australian retiree looking to stay in Thailand for 3-6 months?

Keep your money in your bank…

I would get a 6 month multi entry visa. Its always best to keep the tourist visa and do the 6 months as living is very different to holidays. Then can decide on living here after a good long stay or two.

Multi Entry tourist Visa

Apply from Thai Embassy Website in Oz

It’s $300 aud

Just don't complain about foreigners in your own country, cos you'd be a ruddy foreigner in Thailand. Also, if you're of British descent, then your ancestors were a bunch of British criminals

Thai Visa Centre will put you on the right track.

One stop shop.

You've probably used up your visa exempt quota for now, and that probably also rules out a tourist visa as well. Look at the various retirement options that are available to you at the Thai consulate that serves the area you live in. The most popular is a 90 day Non-O visa which you then extend for 12 months inside Thailand but there's a few options Non-O, Non-OA, Non-OX, LTR Wealthy Pensioner are all worth a look

Extend 60 day another 30 days. Then go for 90 day non O retirement visa and open Thai bank account. Then next is 1 year non O retirement visa extension.

"on 60 days pass now looking at 3-6 month stay with girlfriend with intention of retiring"

I read this as you are IN Thailand right now and want to retire,,,,,, now,,,,,, yes ?

So you're currently there on a visa-exempt entry ? Not sure if you can convert to a Non-O visa while being there visa-exempt, but, if you can, that would be how to work it, or at least get it started, at the moment.

Easy to prepare the Visa online before arriving. Stay in the Ao Nang area and everything will be easy.

We are here.

The Sea condo Ao Nang

Just get an agent to do it

Mick, as an Aussie, check the website of the Thailand Consulate responsible for your state (eg. For NSW it is the Consulate General in Sydney). The associated website will show you each of the visas available, validity, general and specific requirements and the links to then apply.

I suggest starting with a NON-O Retirement then you can extend stay from this. But before you decide, check each visa type on the website and make sure you have more than enough documentation to satisfy what is requested before application.

Take the advice Australia gives Thais in visa applications to look twice act once!

Just go straight to retirement visa make sure you get get a multi entry visa with it otherwise when you leave you will lose it

6 months multiple entry visa for now..

Retirement visa once you decide to make a permanent move..

Non O then extension based on retirement

Non-O over 50 (retirement) visa before you arrive [Edit : being an Aussie also look at the Non-OX}

Have a chat with Thai Visa Centre 😀