Answered5 months ago
What is the best visa option for retirees who want to spend six months a year in Thailand?
I have visited Thailand a couple of times on a 60 day tourist visa and on my last visit I was advised by the embassy in London to get a METV as I wanted to come to Thailand in Mid October and return home to the UK for Xmas and then return to Thailand beginning of January and use the 60 days plus a 30 day extension to beginning of April. I am 63 yrs olde and retired and I have recently purchased a condo in Foreign name but do not have a Thai bank account. Which Visa would suit me best as I only want to spend six months of the year in Thailand.
Answer summary
The best visa option for a retired expat wanting to spend six months per year in Thailand could be obtaining a Non-O visa, which allows for a 90-day stay with the possibility of a 1-year extension. Additional options discussed include the METV or multiple entries on a tourist visa. However, owning a condo may necessitate a Thai bank account, which has implications for visa applications and extensions.
36 repliesnewest first
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Jon ******
I love TH but it is just to complicated and I question future changes by Thai immigration. I am from the US and have property and perm rrsidence in the country of Panama and was considering the possible purchase of a condo in Thailand but for now I am putting that on hold.
Shawn ***********
Contact One Stop Visa. Mark will sort it all out. Never been any problems.
Scott *******
Tagthai operates as a Thai bank and free to set up at Kasikorn bank. They give youba debit card and QR scan and you can add funds no problem
Brad ******
I wanted to do the same: METV as opposed to the Retirement visa that I let expire I travel to the Kingdom 4x per year: 44 days Thailand back to USA for 47 then back to Thailand for 44……repeat (4) 44 day visits My Consulate advised me to get either DTV, renew my retirement visa or Non Immigrant O , which I assume is not renewed or extended but granted with new medical appointment. That’s an easy, inexpensive option that doesn’t require the 800k deposit it’s a 60 day visa eligible for a 30 day extension.
Stephen *******
You would be best to get a retirement visa for twelve months, you need to have 800.000.00. In a Thia bank account it’s about £700 to set up then £300.00. Every year.
Stephen *******
Hi Greg I got the retirement stamp in my past port and I have had it for five years and I have two Thai bank accounts.
Non
Non
Andrew ***************
Stephen Angel It's not a visa..it's an extension to your O visa. They stamp retirement to distinguish it from the marriage stam which has different rules
Greg ***********
Stephen Angel there is no retirement visa for twelve months. There only is a 1-year extension of the stay permit based on reason retirement. The original retirement visa is only good for 90 days
Steve ********
Greg Alexander OA visa is 12 months. OX is ten years
Greg ***********
Steve Iveson the O/A visa is not a "retirement visa". The O/A visa is called "Longstay Visa". And it doesn't require money in a Thai bank account, at least not during the first two years
Andrew ********
OPGuys my final question for today is what document do I need to send re the confirmation of legal residence in the UK ? - Council Tax letter ??
Dave ******
@Andrew *******
any that you'd use for the same purpose in the UK. I used an HMRC letter.Graham ******
@Andrew *******
I usually use my current Council Tax bill
Graeme ******
@Andrew *******
council tax letter or electricity letter
Alastair ********************
@Andrew *******
Driving licence would suffice as it's an official document that bears your photo and address.Andrew ********
OPJust reading the Non Type O requirements from the embassy website it states 3 months pension and bank statement of £10,000. Is there an amount the monthly pension drawdown has to be as I get a monthly drawdown payment plus I make up my income from Interest payments ?
Graeme ******
@Andrew *******
to apply for a non O 90 day over 50 retirement visa you need to show 800kbaht or equivalent in your home bank account or 65kbaht monthly income , when I applied for non o through the evisa at London
Kevin **************
Bullshit
Ole ***************
If you own a condo, bring your papers to the Bank, because you need a bank account for automatic deduction for electricity to PEA, this requires also a registred phone number
Jim *******
Ole Kristoffersen I own a condo in Bangkok, since 2008, that did not mean anything to any bank.
As John Stanners advised, get a Non O visa 90 days and sort out 1 year extension while on those 90 days of stay. You can use an agency, they will fix all of that.
As John Stanners advised, get a Non O visa 90 days and sort out 1 year extension while on those 90 days of stay. You can use an agency, they will fix all of that.
Peter ******************
Jim Davis I have a condo since 2012. And I opened two bank accounts. Two! One for money transfert, one for electricity bills.
Ole ***************
Jim Davis Might be differences, i have 3 condos and 1 house in my own name and for other foreign co owners especially in Jomtien where my newest cond is, the juristc office make a statment that you bring to bank even if on a 60 day Tourist visa, not sure if can on a visa exemtion, that always helps even today, i also have a condo in Bangkok but then i alreadu had a n account
John **********
Given you've already bought a condo I'm going to assume you are planning to repeat this process annually. If so get yourself a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 before you next travel and get a 12 month extension while inside Thailand. Then just renew the extension every year
Peter ********
@John *********
he would need to get a bank account opened and the appropriate amount of money into the account to get it seasoned before doing the extension.Andrew ********
OP@John *********
I'm assuming the Non-Immigrant Type O- A (Long Stay) 1 Year/Multiple entries as I will be visiting twice in the year ?
BC ********
@Andrew *******
you can still opt for the non-O, just make sure you get a re-entry permit for each time you leave Thailand. (Could also getba multiple re-entry, which is 3800 baht, and lasts until the end of the current year extension)
Justin **********
BC Farangdo you obtain the re entry permit at the airport on leaving ?
John **********
@Andrew *******
it's up to you. The Non-OA is a 12 month visa that requires a medical certificate, police check and relevant insurance cover. The Non-O on the other hand is a 90 day visa that requires none of the above but you do have to deposit 800k baht in a Thai bank for the 12 month extension of stayAndrew ********
OP@John *********
cheers John for the advise as was thinking the same due to the tourist visa changes. 👍Graham ******
For two visits of 60 plus 30 a year a single entry tourist visa for each visit will give you that without needing money in a Thai bank or mandatory insurance etc.
Kent ***********
Graham Seal you can’t do that you can only get 60 +30 and 60+7
But every thing changes next week as parliament is voting on 60 day visa
Some countries may keep 60 days
Some going to 30
Some missing out all together
Need to wait to see what changes are
But every thing changes next week as parliament is voting on 60 day visa
Some countries may keep 60 days
Some going to 30
Some missing out all together
Need to wait to see what changes are
Gethin *******
Kent Aitchison
It’s not voting on 60 day tourist visa it’s voting on 60 day visa exemption, 2 completely different things.
The 60 day tourist visa will still be 60 days.
It’s not voting on 60 day tourist visa it’s voting on 60 day visa exemption, 2 completely different things.
The 60 day tourist visa will still be 60 days.
Darren *******
Kent Aitchison he said tourist visa not visa exemption. Nothing has been reported about changing the length of a tourist visa.
Ivan *********
Graham Seal but the 60 days is going to be cut to 30 days
Jay ************
Ivan Glossop, if you read it a bit better, Graham Seal is not talking about coming in on the visa free stamp, he's talking about a single entry TOURIST visa, those are for 60 days.
Ralph *******
Graham Seal They don’t allow it with visa exemption. I wonder if it’s acceptable with the tourist visa?
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