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What is the best visa option for retirees planning to stay in Thailand for six months?

Visa options NON-O visa Retirement visa Trailing spouse visa Medical insurance Elite visa Re-entry permit Thailand immigration Expat life in Thailand

Apr 29, 2023

2 years ago

Julie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Morning everyone. I hope you can help me today. We are leaving Thailand next Tuesday, having been here since the end of January. We arrived on a tourist 60day visa and extended it once. We have now got 7 days to leave, which is fine for us. However,we have just signed a 6 month lease from the beginning of November, for 6 months. Which visa is best for us to achieve this longer stay? We are both over 60. Do we start the process when we get back home to the UK? And if my husband applies for the retirement visa should I also do the same,or just be a trailing spouse ? We want to get this right. I'm aware of the different types of visas available but just not sure what is best for our circumstances. We will want to make at least one trip out of Thailand whilst there; does this have any bearing on what we should apply for? Thank you for reading this and any help that may be offered.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is looking for advice on the best visa options for a longer stay in Thailand after arriving on a 60-day tourist visa. They plan to sign a six-month lease and are considering a retirement visa or applying as a trailing spouse. Suggestions include applying for a NON-O visa based on age, combining accounts for financial requirements, considering an Elite visa for long-term stays, and ensuring they understand the re-entry permit rules if they wish to leave Thailand temporarily.

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.

Mark ********

Thaivisacentre.com

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Bill ************

Sent you a PM

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Linz ************

Julie, I don’t think it has been mentioned yet so depending on your financial circumstances, consider the Elite Visa,

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Julie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Linz ***********

thank you for the information. I will look into it, thank you very much.🤗

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Linz ************

@Julie *********

look at it from a long term perspective, yes it costs money but break that down over

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/20 years and look at what you do not have to do as a result, we are in a similar situation to you, we are also planning on retiring in Thailand at the end of the year, a lot of people have (understandably so) tried to move us away from the elite visa based on being over 55 and they are all correct BUT read between the lines, look at the long term benefits, for us we are 90% certain we will go for an initial 1 year stay using whatever option is available to us and then once settled move to the elite visa for added security and peace of mind

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Julie **********

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@Linz ***********

Thank sound advice. I like that idea!🤔🤗

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Julie **********

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Julie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you so much for all your help so far. I'm still not sure which visa we will actually need for entering initially -60day TV again or is there something different we should be doing? Thank you.

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Stuart *********

@Julie *********

You can enter with a tourist visa and convert but the trailing spouse won’t be able to “trail” until the main applicant is on a yearly extension. You also won’t be able to get a non O on country so you’d need to apply for one at a nearby consulate.

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Julie **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

if we do decide to do that, what would I need to do in the meantime?

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Stuart *********

@Julie *********

border bounce

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Julie **********

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@Stuart ********

thank you. I was thinking that I might have to do that. You've been very helpful 😊

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Julie **********

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Stuart *********

Alternatively you can look on to whether the Non OA visa would work. You don’t need to transfer funds to Thailand for it but you do need medical insurance and a police check.

Timing things right you can get almost two years out of that visa. The first year is multiple entry. For the second you’d need re entry permits. Many return home after the two years and rinse and repeat.

At 60 the medical insurance may not be an issue but it tends to become one when approaching or over 70.

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Stuart *********

You could both apply for a non O based on being over 50. However when it comes to getting the year extension you’ll both have to show 800k in an individual bank account. 2 separate amounts in two accounts. Some offices may allow a joint account of 1.6m but you’d have to check yours.

Alternatively he applies for a non O based on being over 50 and you apply for a non O based on being a trailing spouse (dependant). When it’s time for the year extension only he has to show funds. And as you already have a non O they’ll issue your year extension to match his at the same time.

Should you wish to leave within the year you’d need to buy a re-entry permit to keep your “allowed to stay” date alive. 1,000 baht for a single entry or 3,800 for multiple entries.

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Ang *****

@Stuart ********

We/I have joint account set up and now looking at this option rather than start fund process again. Can Wife can be the lead applicant?

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John **********

be aware that some immigration offices won't accept a joint account at all and others will require you have double the required amount of money in it. Best to have individual accounts

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Stuart *********

Sure. Doesn’t matter which way around.

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Stuart *********

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