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What is the best visa option for staying in Thailand for 6 months each year without exceeding tax implications?
Apr 24, 2024
2 years ago
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER1. ?.. Can I go to pattaya immigration and get a 12 month extension on my current 60 day tourist visa amd already extended 30 days? ( i figure this is a long shot?)
2. Retire Visa is what i thought?....but I only plan on maybe 6 mos. each year here and then back to the lake in States when too hot and rainy here.
Just saw amd concerned at being taxed past 179 days here??!-
If I will only stay here 175 days a year/ single trip...from USA.
What would be best/ most cost effective type of Visa for me??
Just thinking with avg of 6 mos. here each yr right now...is retire visa the best option right now?
Thanks for answers!!
2. Retire Visa is what i thought?....but I only plan on maybe 6 mos. each year here and then back to the lake in States when too hot and rainy here.
Just saw amd concerned at being taxed past 179 days here??!-
If I will only stay here 175 days a year/ single trip...from USA.
What would be best/ most cost effective type of Visa for me??
Just thinking with avg of 6 mos. here each yr right now...is retire visa the best option right now?
Thanks for answers!!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is inquiring about the possibility of obtaining a 12-month extension on their current 60-day tourist visa and whether a retirement visa is the best option given their plan to stay in Thailand for about 6 months each year. Responses indicate that a 12-month extension on a tourist visa is not possible. They suggest considering a Non-O visa if over 50, which requires maintaining 800,000 THB in a Thai bank, or using a multiple-entry tourist visa with border bounces to extend their stay without the conditions of a retirement visa.
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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Phil ******
@Mark *******
you have nothing to worry aboutGraeme **********
Yeh. It’s ok by me….good luck
John ******
retiementvisa is possible if you are 50+. You do not have a minimum number of days staying in Thailand.
Thierry **********
Please send me this information for my retirement from teaching in Chicago
Thank you
Thank you
David ******
I believe you can stay in Thailand for up to 8 or 9 months via land/air border bounces etc. it seems like this would be a better route for you without having to tie up 800,000 THB and having to hire an agent.
***
is the ideal way to do it, I envy you. Do a search it ll tell you how long you can stay here etc…Rob *******
@David *****
I’ve been here 7 months on that method 👌🏻Ken ***********
@David *****
just a reminder that it is not difficult to obtain a Non O without an agent. Also, if you transfer THB 65,000 per month from overseas to Thailand, no need to keep THB 800,000 in a Thai bank. Up to the individual to determine what is best for themDaniel *********
@Ken ******
I really don't understand what you are talking about....I have had far more than 65K transferred to my Bangkok Bank account for more than a year. I acquired a Non-O by reason of retirement and tried to get a retirement extension. They informed me that the new requirement is 800K in the bank regardless of the income transferred to my bank. I had to hire an agent to get it resolved.Ken ***********
@Daniel ********
yes. There is a strange policy glitch when going from visa exempt or tourist visa to an initial Non O where they will not accept the 12 month THB 65,000 transfer and only axxep THB 800,000. However, once you have the Non O you can extend every year with the monthly transfer of THB 65,000 and not need the THB 800,000. I got caught up in that a few years back. Thailand at its finest.David ******
@Ken ******
Ken have you tried recently? We tried on our own and we were basically given the runaround. Hint we got is to hire an agent(VISWICS) as I got tired of bouncing. Now I am not sure why I was chosen to be given a difficult time as I’m sure this is not the every case but I could not do it on our own. It got done with an agent immediately but they were telling us this and that each time, I got tired of the hassle. Just my own recent case. It seems they’re out for money right now as I witnessed exchanging of money right in front of me but what do I care it got done finallyKen ***********
@David *****
yes. Sadly corruption is strong. I coverted from a visa exempt to a 3 month Non O when I returned after COVID around 2021.One I arrived visa exempt, I went to Chaeng Wattana with all documentation including 12 months of international transfers of THB 65,000. To my surprise, Chaeng Wattana would not accept the monthly transfers; they would only accept THB 800,000 in a Thai bank or a letter from my embassy if they still issued (U.S. does not.).
I had to scramble and sell stocks and transfer the money to THB 800,000. On all my yearly extensions since then, I use the THB 65,000 and have not had a problem and I have not needed an agent. But I can certainly understand why people use agents.
David ******
@Ken ******
very strong I saw with my own 2 eyes. I had to deal with embassy, CW and agency. It’s like I was being played by all 3 as at the end of the day, it benefits all of them. Had I known what I know now, I may not have sold all my belongings.Brandon ************
@Ken ******
that's not new. It's always been that way. You cannot convert to non-O visa or get the first annual extension using monthly transfers. Has nothing to do with corruption.Ken ***********
@Brandon ***********
but if a yearly Non O is given based on either 12 monthly transfers of THB 65,000 or THB 800,000 then why aren't either accepted for the initial Non O. To me, that doesn't make sense. I complied but I still think not logical.Brandon ************
@Ken ******
I don't know why. But the monthly transfer thing is something they did to help people after embassies stopped giving income verification. They could have just not even offered that but decided to be nice and make it an option.Ken ***********
@Brandon ***********
an interesting point.Daniel *********
@Ken ******
I see. Thank you.Reply to
Daniel *********
Reply
Stuart *********
Alternatively you could look at getting a multiple entry tourist visa which is valid for 6 months and on each entry you’d get 60 days, which you could extend for 30 days or do a border bounce for a new entry of 60 days.
Stuart *********
1. No. There is no 12 month extension off a tourist visa. You could apply for a Non O visa based on being over 50 but you’d need to meet the financial requirements of 800k in a Thai bank and have 15 days or more left on a current stamp. That visa is good for 90 days and when that’s winding down you can apply for a year extension.
Reply to
Stuart *********
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