I am currently holding a retirement visa in Thailand, valid until March next year. However, when I traveled outside of Thailand last month, I did not obtain a re-entry permit before leaving. (Yes I totally forgot) Upon my return at airport, I was granted a 60-day tourist visa instead.
At the airport, the immigration officer informed me that I could resolve this matter at the immigration office. A week after my return, I visited the immigration office in Bangkok to resolve this. There, the officer explained that my retirement visa could be validated, but my landlord would need to update my residential status in the system.
When I contacted my landlord, she informed me that this update can only be made within 24 hours of my arrival. Since more than 24 hours had passed, she is unable to update it now, as entering false information would be an offense. Without this update in the system, immigration is unable to proceed further.
Therefore, I am kindly seeking your guidance on what I should do next. Does this mean that once my 60-day tourist visa expires, I will need to leave Thailand? Or is there a way to reapply or convert to a new retirement visa within Thailand without having to leave the country? And what if I stay over and let's say I travel in December and apply for re-entry b4 I go, will I get away with it.
Thank you very much for your time, understanding, and assistance with this matter.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has a retirement visa in Thailand that was invalidated due to forgetting to obtain a re-entry permit before traveling. Upon returning, they received a 60-day tourist visa but face issues with their landlord not updating the TM30 registration, which is necessary for resolving their immigration status. Users advise that the retirement extension is effectively lost, requiring the user to start over by applying for a 90-day Non-O visa and subsequently a 1-year extension, emphasizing the importance of having an updated TM30 registration either through a hotel stay or with the landlord's cooperation.
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.