What types of visas are available for retired and solvent individuals wanting to live in Thailand?

Jul 29, 2024
5 months ago
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is there some kind of visa for people who are retired and solvent? Thx.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Retired and solvent individuals considering moving to Thailand have several visa options. The Non-O retirement visa is popular, requiring proof of 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank or a compatible pension income. Alternatively, there's the new DTV visa, which allows for a lower financial requirement of 500,000 Baht, which can remain in a foreign bank. The LTR visa is also available, but it demands a higher income threshold. Additionally, visa holders may be eligible for 12-month extensions, provided they maintain the specified financial requirements.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Daniel ******
LTR is easy for people who succeded in life!
Frank-Steven ***********
@Daniel *****
I could be a 42 year old multi-millionaire and would not get it. Why? Because I refuse to trade my lifetime for money being an employee. So, quite a lot of „successful“ people running their owned businesses are left out.
Daniel ******
@Frank-Steven **********
running your own business is fun. I sold mine successfully with 74 years and now i feel sometimes bored!
Oliver **********
All humans are 60 percent solvent
Frank-Steven ***********
@Oliver *********
I bet slightly above average in Thailand, due to: 🍻🍺🍻
Galenus ******
Are you able to use Google? 😳
Lena *******
@BrianLejambe he did the same thing to me. Haven't seen him since...then he popped up to give you his brilliant, incisive riposte.
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Galenus *****
if I did there would be no reason for this group
David ********
Yes, but it costs you Bt 800,000 it's called a retirement visa if you are over 50 Years Old it is simple to get. There are about 100,000 posts on the internet explaining all about this...good luck.
Graham *******
the 800k can drop to 400k for part of the year
Jeff *******
@David *******
It doesn't cost you anything, it's still yours!
David ********
@Jeff ******
Yes, conditionally yours, if you wish to hold an O Thai retirement visa. The corrupt way is if you can find a corrupt agent, that is a dicey way of getting a retirement visa. It may come back to bite you Good luck.
Jeff *******
@David *******
I agree completely, as sure as eggs are eggs the agent route will get shut down sooner or later. Thailand are always mentioning wanting a 'better class' of higher spending expats, shutting down the agent route, which is essentially people who largely cannot afford to live here, will acheive that. Someone will notice that soon imo
Frank-Steven ***********
@David *******
it doesn’t cost 800k. Only need to have that amount on a Thai account in your name.
David ********
Well, it still costs you Bt 800,000 plus the Visa fee of Bt1900 unless, of course, you go the corrupt way by a corrupt visa agent, that is still possible I think. You could be deported from Thailand though. Even if you get an AO retirement visa in your home country and I have done that, you have to prove you have the equivalent of Bt800.000 in a bank in your home country or a pension near that amount plus medical and police report which takes about 12 months to prove at so much a month over 12 months. The Thai Embassy in Canberra did accept the surrender value of my bank-managed super retirement fund as acceptable for the required amount provided it's on an original bank bank statement, not a copy, it must be an original statement. The lady at the Thai Embassy insisted that was enough she said, "This is the simplest way for us". There were no conditions on the visa of what I had to do with the money once I arrived in Thailand. My retirement visa was multi-entry entry with a one-year extension which really makes it good for 2 years with that extension period. The extension part is not multi-entry. You leave it's over and you start again. It's a good way to give you 2 years to put all your ducks in a row to get an O retirement visa in Thailand.
Bart **************
Yes
Jim ********
Over 50?
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Paul ********
Elite
Graham *******
@Paul *******
Elite is obsolete for most now due to the DTV.,
Graham *******
12-month extension of stay, just keep 800k in the bank.There is an LTR but you need a shed load of money.
Dave **********
@Graham ******
you only need to show you make 80K USD per year.
Graham *******
@Dave *********
which class of LTR! You might find this helpful to confirm your position.
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Dave **********
@Graham ******
thanks but got my LTR early on!
Robert *****
Hi Brian. As Frank mentioned about the hot ticket these days is the DTV VISA which only requires 500,000 Baht instead of 800,000 baht that the retirement visa wants. Another bonus is the 500,000 baht or equivalent Canadian money can be sitting in your bank in Canada collecting interest, while the retirement visa of 800,000 baht has to be a Thailand bank.

Maybe find your nearest Thai embassy website and read what the DTV visa requirements are. In Canada.

You’ll arrive with a passport and you’ll get 60 days visa exempt right away, then you can extend another 30 days by going to immigration.

Good luck to you Sir….🙏
John **********
@Robert ****
as he's Canadian he doesn't need to worry about money in a Thai bank, just prove to his embassy that he has enough income and they will issue an income affidavit/certificate
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ****
thx, I could haved looked some of this up, very kind of you good folks for the info.
Ruth *******
Numerous
Frank-Steven ***********
LTR visa if solvent enough. Non-O retirement visa and annual extensions if ok solvent.
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I suspect this has to be applied for in home country?
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brian ********
LTR has to be pre-approved by the BOI in Thailand and can be obtained within Thailand, too. Yearly extensions based on retirement will also be done in Thailand at a local immigration office.
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
thank you very much, plan on being there for a month and a bit, starting November 1?
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brian ********
Lastly: If you are fine with leaving Thailand every 180 or 360 days for a bit or to do a border bounce, you can also look into the newest DTV - Destination Thailand Visa. Cheap and easy to get for 5 years.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brian ********
I’d say start by looking into this. If you can meet the requirements it should be the best option.
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Frank-Steven ***********
Else, go the yearly extension way if you are 50+. All you need is 800k baht put in a Thai bank account for that.
John **********
@Frank-Steven **********
as he's Canadian and his embassy still provides an income affidavit/certificate he doesn't need to put any money in a Thai bank. Just prove he has enough income to his embassy to get the certificate
Frank-Steven ***********
@John *********
Good additional point. Though I am not sure all immigration offices everywhere will accept that way.
John **********
@Frank-Steven **********
as far as I'm aware they actually prefer that although they may ask to see the evidence provided to the embassy (which is as much a check on the embassy as anything)
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brian ********
Elite visa if so solvent that you wouldn’t mind throwing money out of the window.
Brian *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
I didn't get to be solvent by throwing money out the windows.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Brian ********
The Elite visa is quite expensive and does not justify its price anymore - as better and cheaper options exist.
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