This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
What steps should we take as future retirees planning to live in Hua Hin, Thailand, and what visa options are recommended?
Retirement VisaHua HinRental HousingFinancial PlanningVisa AgentsHealth InsuranceBanking in Thailand
Aug 5, 2025
9 months ago
Tess ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone
Me and the Mrs intend to retire somewhere around Hau Hin. This is the plan when I retire at 62 in April 2027.
We will have £400,000 approx from our UK house sale and I will have a pension of £12,000 per annum until we receive our state pension in 2032.
We intend to use this money combined to live and rent.
We are coming for a three week visit next March, is there anything we could be doing in March to get the ball rolling.
We intend to use agents to sort everything out for us so any recommendations will be welcomed.
We realise our plans are in the future and things change but we feel any knowledge is better than non.
Thank you in advance for any help given.
Me and the Mrs intend to retire somewhere around Hau Hin. This is the plan when I retire at 62 in April 2027.
We will have £400,000 approx from our UK house sale and I will have a pension of £12,000 per annum until we receive our state pension in 2032.
We intend to use this money combined to live and rent.
We are coming for a three week visit next March, is there anything we could be doing in March to get the ball rolling.
We intend to use agents to sort everything out for us so any recommendations will be welcomed.
We realise our plans are in the future and things change but we feel any knowledge is better than non.
Thank you in advance for any help given.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to retire in Hua Hin around April 2027, and they ask for advice on preparing during a three-week visit in March 2027. Responses suggest applying for a non-O visa for the trip, looking into banking options, using a reputable visa agent, and understanding the local living conditions. Suggestions also include considering renting initially, buying health insurance, and getting financial advice to manage their capital wisely.
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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Gerald ********
Remember the rainy season where it floods many roads, I was told to rent for a year at least then you will see what it's like during the rainy season.
Dave ********
Would recommend renting for the first 3-6 months … check out the areas - we moved to HH last year .. but still do 6months in Europe 6 months Thailand the way things are heading we will be spending more and more time in Thailand.. check out a couple of agents.. would recommend
@Andy ******
Ian **********
Speak to Brian Ramsden of Lawyer for Expats (Thailand) for an initial cost free discussion concerning visa options, and Sarah of Sarah Joan Real Estate (Thailand) on areas to live, and property options.
Tom ********
Hua hin is widespread with many different types of locations, from City to rural living, spend your time wisely looking at all areas as a 3 week vacation is very different to full time living, here's a guide to Hua hin which may help you
*******************************************************
Pete *******
In March come in on a retirement visa from the UK Embassy. Use that to open a bank account. Contact an Estate Agent and have a look at the type of housing you may want to rent in the future to give you an idea of what’s available and the market rates.
John ********
Leave all your money invested at home.
Mark **********
Be careful which bank
I’ve heard you can loose your money in certain banks
But don’t quote me on it
Look into it properly
I’ve heard you can loose your money in certain banks
But don’t quote me on it
Look into it properly
Thehoodyguy *************
Pick where you would like to live. and then go and ask immigration for that area for there requirements
then you can get all that ready for when you want to go
if you use an agent not only do you lose some of your capital you could end up tied to the agent for the foreseeable future. just do it yourself and be legally there
then you can get all that ready for when you want to go
if you use an agent not only do you lose some of your capital you could end up tied to the agent for the foreseeable future. just do it yourself and be legally there
Gary **********
Just do it yourself. You got loads of money so. For 1,900 bht you fo it. Just avlittle time needed. I did it ...you can live on your pension like a king there ..
No need to touch your lump sum infact leave it a bank outside thailand font touch it. Things can go wrong any time.
No need to touch your lump sum infact leave it a bank outside thailand font touch it. Things can go wrong any time.
Kevin *********
The £
*****
0 should give you well over £1000 a month interest, plus £1000 from your pension , then your state pension approx £900 a month - £200 tax , financially ok i would have thoughtAngus *********
You need to take independent financial planning advice. Make that 400K work and earn, try not to eat into it. Good luck. 🙏💪
William *******
Visit Krabi first. It may change your mind.
Robert *********
Buy health insurance now!!!
Martyn *******
You have plenty of time and finances by the sound of it, I would do it yourself if posdible
Todd *********
@Martyn ******
if you have plenty of money you don’t need to stand around in line, wasting your valuable time, and banks and immigration offices every year:Todd *********
Graham Seal can be hired for 100 baht per hour to stand in line for you. He knows how 😂😂😂
Reply to
Todd *********
Reply
Andy ********
Just bare in mind that your pension will be locked in at £12k per year and will not rise so factor that into your finances.
Roger ********
@Andy *******
Why would a private pension be locked?Andy ********
@Roger *******
so you are certain it’s a private pension?Malcolm *********
@Andy *******
He said he'll get his state pension in 2032.Roger ********
@Andy *******
that's the way it readsAndy ********
@Roger *******
I've re-read it and agree with you now, my bad.Roger ********
@Andy *******
no worriesReply to
Roger ********
Reply
Sean ************
You will live very well on that amount of income.Just take you time to select the right Visa agent. Best go to a very reputable agent and pay a little more. I am talking about when you want to relocate to Thailand 🇹🇭
Todd *********
@Sean ***********
they qualify for LTR. Don’t need an agent. Or immigration offices.Reply to
Sean ************
Reply
Glen ********
With your pension,and the money u can make from your house,interest/investments,you probably won't need to touch the capital 🤷
Brandon ************
It sounds like you're already past 50, so if possible I would recommend applying for a non-O visa for this trip from your Thai embassy. You would use the e-visa system to do that. That would give you an opportunity during your trip to try and open a bank account. With only 3 weeks it will be hit or miss if you'll actually be able to get it done, but if you can it will put you a step ahead for your planning for 2027.
Heidi ********
@Brandon ***********
he there Brandon,I am sorry to jump on this OP’s thread,but I’ve got a question that relates. We are over 50, we are moving to Hua Hin in January 2026 permanently. We are also spending 9 days there this October as we have some stuff for our house we are having built to deal with.I see you have suggested to the OP to get the non-O on his trip prior to moving across so they can organise a bank account,and I am unsure whether I should look at doing this, I’m a bit confused about timelines though, if we have a non-o in October, leave to come back to the UK, would that mean we have to apply again for the non-o, or does it re-set itself and we would get a further 90 days when we land on 21st January.
I feel I’m overthinking things, but there is a lot to take on mentally and this my mind is going a bit crazy.
Also, am I correct in thinking the non-o men’s you don’t need police check (not that we have a criminal record) or medical insurance as I am getting conflicting info on this too.
Much appreciate it if you can respond.
Thank you
Brandon ************
@Heidi *******
the visa is used when you enter Thailand. There's no resetting of anything. It's a single entry visa and you get a single 90 days from it. 9 days isn't really enough to get anything done so I wouldn't worry about a visa that time.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Doug ********
@Brandon ***********
I think for the bank account I would use an agent, relatively cheap and a one off arrangement.I did it in June and was a bit of a hassle ,refused by three banks despite having everything required and the help of thai girlfriend translation. I got one in the end but after what I see and read its definitely more hassle now than it seems to have been in the past.
However with the funds they have I would stay clear of an agent for yearly extension as I'm sure they could do it themselves and then everything in their own control as it were.
Brandon ************
@Doug *******
things have changed drastically since June. Many agents cannot open bank accounts. Many agents have started telling people to come with a non-O visa or they can't help them at all. The prices for agent accounts, if they're able to open them, have also increased drastically.Doug ********
@Brandon ***********
I didn't know agent price for opening accounts had already gone up but it was obvious they would as things get worse and demand grows. I think I was lucky I got mine in Udon thani on June 3.....I Wanted SC B same as partner but they and also kasikorn and Bangkok bank all refused so had to use krungsgri.
Reply to
Doug ********
Reply
Mike ********
@Brandon ***********
Hi Brandon. I am in a similiar position as OP and have a question for you. As background, I live in USA, retired in 2025. My finances good. The issue is I can not to move to Thailand until summer of 2026. However I plan to take a one month vacation before then. Would it make sense to apply to apply for non -o visa with my embassy here before the one month trip, so that I can try to open a bank account during that one month, or should I wait to apply for the non-o after the trip. Are there any issues to getting the non-o and then goung for one only month on that and then returning ti USA and then going back on the same visa?Graham ******
@Mike *******
there is no issue if you stay less than 90 days on a Non-O entry stamp, up to youDoug ********
@Graham *****
no but the op said retiring so I think he will want more than 90 days stay lolGraham ******
@Doug *******
"We are coming on a 3 week visit next"Doug ********
@Graham *****
yeah I see but thought you were looking for advice for your full retirement. apologize if confused anythingReply to
Doug ********
Reply
Brandon ************
@Mike *******
The bank account is going to be the single most difficult part of the process. The sooner you can get it done, the easier your life will be in the future. If you don't mind applying for the non-O now, then I would do it.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
25 comments
9 months ago
62 comments
9 months ago
34 comments
10 months ago
35 comments
a year ago
36 comments
a year ago
43 comments
a year ago
6 comments
a year ago
3 comments
a year ago
6 comments
a year ago
32 comments
a year ago
31 comments
a year ago
25 comments
2 years ago
73 comments
2 years ago
31 comments
2 years ago
150 comments
2 years ago
98 comments
2 years ago
19 comments
2 years ago
57 comments
2 years ago
54 comments
2 years ago
52 comments
2 years ago
What are the best tips for expats in South Africa planning to retire in Thailand after a trial year?
14 comments
2 years ago
48 comments
3 years ago
14 comments
4 years ago
67 comments
5 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.