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What is the best visa option for retirees from Denmark moving to Phuket, Thailand?
Retirement VisaMETV (Multi-Entry Tourist Visa)Visa RulesThai ImmigrationWork PermitThailand ExpatPhuketVisa Types
Jul 18, 2022
4 years ago
Claudia ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERHi, my husband and me are both over 50 years old and from Denmark. We have a House in Phuket, and Thai acount 800 k Thb.
We Will travel on 07.09.22 to Phuket until 16.11.22 and again from 02.12.22 until 25.04.23
With visa will be best for us?
If we get retirement visa is it possible later to get workperimt visa later on?
Thanks in advance 🤗
We Will travel on 07.09.22 to Phuket until 16.11.22 and again from 02.12.22 until 25.04.23
With visa will be best for us?
If we get retirement visa is it possible later to get workperimt visa later on?
Thanks in advance 🤗
TLDR : Answer Summary
A couple from Denmark, both over 50, who own a house in Phuket and have the necessary funds in a Thai bank account are inquiring about the best visa options for their upcoming travels to Thailand. They consider applying for a retirement visa but question the possibility of obtaining a work permit afterward. Suggestions include obtaining a METV, which allows multiple entries and stays for extended periods, as an alternative to the retirement visa, which does not allow work.
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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Dave *********
For this situation (and assuming they do it every year), how would the METV approach compare with elite visa? More expensive but less trips to embassy and immigration office??
<if this is judged highjacking, I apologize>
<if this is judged highjacking, I apologize>
Tod *********
@Dave ********
elite is a good idea, but remember even the budget entry level 5 year one is 600K bahtReply to
Tod *********
Reply
Anthony ******
Do they have to have 800k each ?
Tod *********
@Anthony *****
one could get an in country Non-O visa based on retirement, and then a yearly extension the spouse could get a 90 day non-O from a consulate in another country then get a year extension based on "trailing spouse" clause (being married to someone on a long term extension) They just couldn't get that trailing spouse Non-O issued inside the country as it's not issued for that reason
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Kevin ***********
I second Tod’s recommendation. I used the METV for 3 winters. But note the 6 months starts ticking when the visa is issued. You have to balance time to get it versus not wasting days.
Tod *********
nope you cannot work on a retirement visa/extension.
get a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa, from the thai consulate in your country before you come here
You will be able to enter/exit thailand all you want for the 6 months the visa is valid for, each entry will get you stamped in for 60 days and you can extend that by 30 more days for 1900baht at the immigration office
That would meet the times you're going to be here
get a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa, from the thai consulate in your country before you come here
You will be able to enter/exit thailand all you want for the 6 months the visa is valid for, each entry will get you stamped in for 60 days and you can extend that by 30 more days for 1900baht at the immigration office
That would meet the times you're going to be here
Claudia ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for all your answers🤗
Paul *********
@Tod ********
6months would not cover the entirety of their two visits to Thailand though?Siggi ********
@Paul ********
you geht only 60 days when you enter not 90Brandon ************
@Siggi *******
you can extend for 30 days each timeEllie *******
@Brandon ***********
, almost. But I would say it, because depends on immigration office if you really can apply for 30 days extension EVERY timePaul *********
@Ellie ******
so (according to you) a person is not entitled a 30 day extension on each legal visa entry, but is subject to the whim on the Immigration Officer on duty as to whether they get it or not?Brandon ************
@Paul ********
that's the case in every single circumstance with immigration. They hold all the power and make all the decisions.Paul *********
@Brandon ***********
so if someone enters on a legal 60 day visa entry, and is entitled to the 30 day extension, they may well not get it?Ellie *******
@Paul ********
, they surely get at least one (there are still a bit of exception though)What I mean is, some offices MIGHT have the policy of 1 same extension per 1 visa, others have 1 same extension per entry.
If you have a single entry visa, it wouldn't do anything with your extension application. But if you have a multiple entry visa, it MIGHT (or might not) affect your plan.
For example: immigration office A has 1 extension per 1 entry policy. Immigration office B has 1 extension per 1 visa policy. You enter Thailand using a Multiple (<- not single) entry visa. You are staying in office A area at the first, every time you enter Thailand, you apply for an extension with no problem. But at the final entry from your visa, you happened to stay in office B area. Then you try to apply for an extension for the last entry, but from office B's point of view, you already got an extension from that visa, office B wouldn't give you an extension. And it is not easy for everyone to move around inside Thailand to just apply for an exntentiosn.
So just check with the immigration office where you would stay for the last with your multiple entry visa, and make your plan.
Paul *********
@Siggi *******
@Kevin **********
didnt say a 90 day stamp. Merely suggesting each entry is valid for 60 (+30 days @1900bht if needed).Tod *********
@Paul ********
it's the best choice they got 🙁 not a perfect fit but a pretty close oneReply to
Tod *********
Reply
Kevin ***********
@Paul ********
It’s 6 months to enter not the final exit date. BUT their second stay is too long so they would have to exit and enter during it.Paul *********
@Kevin **********
so how long is the METV valid for, from the date of first entry?>Kevin ***********
@Paul ********
It’s valid for 6 months from the day it’s ISSUED. If you get it 1 September you can enter as many times as you like for 60-90 days at a time until about 1 March. If you enter the last day you would have almost 9 months total.Reply to
Kevin ***********
Reply
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