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Answereda year ago

What should I do after forgetting to obtain a re-entry permit for my retirement visa in Thailand?

Maria *********
asked Sep 15, 2025
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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.
Answer summary
The user's retirement visa in Thailand expired due to a lack of a re-entry permit when traveling abroad. Upon returning, they were issued a 60-day tourist visa and have since learned that their retirement visa can potentially be reinstated if their landlord updates their TM30 registration within 24 hours of arrival. However, since that timeframe has passed, the landlord cannot assist them. The community comments suggest that the user should start over with a 90-day Non-O visa application, potentially by staying at a hotel for registration or requesting the landlord to file a new TM30. To convert back to a retirement extension, they need to meet the 15-day minimum stay requirement and provide financial documentation. The process can be complex, and there are indications that once the tourist visa expires, the user may need to leave Thailand unless they successfully apply for a new visa before that time.
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Lee *************
Lee *************
You might find your landlord doesn't but your rent down as income and might not want government to know, so you might need to move
Frank *********
Frank *********
One forgetful moment and you are in trouble these days. Life is not becoming any easier
Vincent *******
Vincent *******
need multiple entry retirement visa.
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Vincent ******
there is nothing such like a multiple entry Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa any more since October 2023
Maree ***********
Maree ***********
@Nongnuch *******
i have one i paid for it in April 2025
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Maree **********
you don't have any Non-Imm-O multi entry "visa". You obviously got a one-year extended stay permit based on being over 50/retired, and for this stay permit you bought a multi re-entry permit . . The only "1-year multi entry visa" is the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Ma***
Alibhai . . You need the up-to-date valid TM30 registration at your accommodation, or Immigration will not service your request for a "change of visa type" from the visa-exempt entry to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa.

So first things first – tell your landlord you have been TM30 registered in a hotel yesterday, and returned to your premises today. So your landlord IS OBLIGED to file a new TM30, and “export” it (download after submitting and print)

FIRST the problem with your landlord needs to get solved.

For the application to the "change"you need a minimum of 15 days left on your "admitted until" stamp.

***(You DO NOT HAVE A TOURIST VISA, you just have been admitted for a 60 days stay permit)

You seemingly have the required funds of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account (from your previous Retirement Extension of Stay)

so the only problem is that Immigration needs your rental contract, and a submitted TM30, and your updated bankbook showing the 800,000 THB sitting in your account (they might ask for a letter from the bank, though)

***you apply for the “change”, the fee is 2000 THB. The 90-days visa will be issued for “15 days under consideration”

***as soon as 30 days are left from the 90 days, you can apply for the wrongly called so “retirement visa” - which is NOT A VISA at all.

It just is a “1-year extended stay permit based on retirement” and you need a letter proof from your bank that the 800,000 THB have “seasoned” in your Thai bank account by 2 months. The fee for the Extension application is 1900 THB

*** Then you are back to square one, got a “1-year retirement extension” stamped, and you should ALWAYS immediately right after having been issued the extension stamp, buy a single re-entry permit for the 1-year extended stay permit, so it doesn’t become invalid should you exit Thailand
Sarick **********
Sarick **********
Have a sleep over at a hotel where they file your tm.30 with them. Then the next day come back to stay over night at your condo within 24 hours. Tell your silly landlord you have to update your tm.30 for you now.
Joe *****
Joe *****
U have to start the visa process again. Sorry:(
Derek *****
Derek *****
Pretty sure they meant you can resolve this at immigration by reapplying for a non-o retirement. If you frequently need to leave Thailand, u could just apply for a DTV in Hanoi or somewhere nearby.
Nick ************
Nick ************
Presumably you meet the financial requirements for an extension that you now can not have. What you can do is apply for a new non o 90 day visa and then a 12 month extension based on being over 50. If you have a rental agreement to show immigration they might do tm30 or tm 28 for you and then grant you the non o for 2000 baht I believe. Failing that check into a hotel and get copy of tm30 from there and take to immigration for visa application. Don't forget you can get a 30 day extension on your 60 day exempt if you need more time to get things sorted. Good luck.
Maria *********
Maria *********
OP
@Nick ***********
Wow, I can't believe I have to apply for the visa all over again. Thanks for your help
Nick ************
Nick ************
@Maria ********
it's not a lot different to getting an extension as long as you meet the requirements set by your local IO. Good luck.
Incognia **********
Incognia **********
@Nick ***********
they will force extend visa 1 month first.Then can convert Non O
Nick ************
Nick ************
@Incognia *********
that is exactly what I said.
John **********
John **********
I suspect there are some crossed wires here. When you left without a re-entry permit your current extension of stay (not a visa) was finished. You need to start over from scratch again by meeting the requirements for a 90 day Non-O visa while you have a minimum of 15 days (21 days in a few places) left on your current stamp. If you haven't yet had a 30 day extension you can apply for one to get you sufficient time. Visit your local immigration office to obtain their requirements for the 90 day in country Non-O visa
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@John *********
she needs a valid TM30 registration at her accomodation, or Immigration will not service her request for a "change of visatype" from the visa-exempt entryto the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. So FIRST the problem with her landlord needs to get solved. For the application to the "change"she needs a minimum of 15 days left on her "admitted until" stamp. She seemingly has the required funds in her Thai bank account (from her previous Extensionof Stay) so the only problem is that Immigration needs her rental contract and a submitted TM30
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
First of all, there's nothing to "resolve" at the immigration office. Your visa or extension is done. The moment you left without a re-entry permit it was gone for good. You're completely starting over now with a new 90 day non-O visa.

Second, your landlord is just being lazy.

Tell them you went and stayed at a hotel who filed a TM30 for you and returned and now you need a new one. If they want to be a stickler/jerk about it, you can be one too. Demand they do a new one every time you leave and return from anywhere in Thailand.
Maria *********
Maria *********
OP
@Brandon ***********
Wow, What a flippin palaver. I can't believe I have to apply for thd visa all over again. Thanks for your help
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Brandon ***********
Your "First" is dead right.

Your "Second", how would the Yellow Book on my condo, Thai driving license, Thai foreigner "Pink ID Card" help? Non O visa, until July 26. 2026.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Jim ******
None of those things are TM30. A TM30 from the property owner is required by immigration for most things.
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Nongnuch *******
It says "Import Excel" and that sits in "Processing" for hours.

There was no "Export Excel".

Will try again when I have exact dates, on the day of flight into Thai . Have to do it at home and print, no printer in Thai home yet.
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Jim ******
there's nothing to process. TM30 is instant. You submit it. You go back in and search for what you submitted (only available for 7 days) and print it.

If you fail to do that, submit a new one and then print that.
Nongnuch ********
Nongnuch ********
@Jim ******
You can print your TM30 for 7 days after submitting it. You need to find the button that says "export". This will open the form that can be downloaded and printed
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Graham *****
How on Earth would my wife know to do that? 7 days of entering Thai (we travel together), it has to be within 24 hours.
Graham ******
Graham ******
@Jim ******
You can only print the T30 within 7 days of entering it. It's better to download and save the PDF in case you need it later.
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Brandon ***********
I did that, July 3 2025, online, TM30, few hours after landing in Thai, it showed as "accepted" a few minutes after I submitted it. But I could not print it, it was showing (even now, 7 weeks later) as "Processing". I left Thai July 24.

Can I get that form, in paper, when I land to Thai next time, from the Immigration counters and take it to where ever it has to be taken to?
Brandon ************
Brandon ************
@Jim ******
If you are the property owner then you register on the TM30 website as the property owner and you can issue the TM30 to yourself.
Jim *******
Jim *******
@Brandon ***********
I am the property owner (a condo). I can only get the Yellow book (as a foreigner), all things with te City Council sorted out, the Yellow Book is waiting on me (we go to Thai October 28 2025). My Thai wife (she and our daughter have the Blue Book), has to be with me in the Samut Prakhan City Council to sign me in.

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