What is the process for applying for a retirement visa in Chiang Mai and can anyone recommend an agency?

Agence

Mon colonel en face de Aéroport International de Chiang Mai

If you want to come first with visa free, I can tell you how to open a bank account

Relax, if you are intelligent enough to retire then you are intelligent enough to get the visa process done on your own. As Brandon stated, get the retirement visa started in your home country before you travel.

your location is Chiang Mai. open the google map in Chiang Mai, and search Visa agents, and you can find several visa agents in your place. And check the reviews etc.. And choose some good agents. and contact them directly, via Email, phone, or Whatsapp etc.. And explain what you want. They will offer or give you quotations etc.. And choose one that you prefer or find good. Then, just follow what they ask you. That is all. But finding good agent is the main key. I dont recommend any individual agent without office or reviews. local agent is good for you for next cases and if you have any issues, you can visit their office in your living place.

i’m using thai visa. very good.

Thai Visa Center ask for Grace

It's not very difficult. I've been doing my own visas and extensions for 20 years now. Just do as John stated above and you will be able to manage it. You need to find a rental ASAP to open your bank account, along with most banks now require a COR, Certificate of Residence from your local immigration office. Some bank may allow you to use two forms of ID along with a long term rental contract. My suggestion is go to a few branches and ask what they require. It's not standardized.

If you really want to use a agent in CM

Join some Chiang Mai Expat FB pages

They will share local info

But as mentioned

Apply from Thai embassy website outside Thailand

Find this section

Upload basic info

And wait for it to be approved

Mate there is a really good post about this very matter it sets out the sequence of events that you need to follow. I'm using that post as checklist as I'm heading to Chiang Mai as well at the end of July to start my retirement journey.

Without a Non-O visa you won't be able to open a bank account, if you arrive with the visa you go to immigration and get a residence certificate, a mobile provider and get a Thai SIM then go to a bank and request they open a bank account. Transfer a minimum of 800k baht into it, wait 2 months then go and apply for a 12 month extension of stay. While you're at immigration also pick up their list of requirements for the extension of stay. It's pretty straightforward to do yourself if you just work through it step by step

Non o in your country, open bank account asap in thailand, deposit 800k baht, do a 12 month extension at immigration.

Apply for the non-O visa based on retirement online before you travel to Thailand. It makes everything much easier, and even makes it cheaper if you decide to go to an agent.