What visa options are available for a couple in their 50s from Belgium to stay in Thailand long-term?

Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Long Stay Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Requirements Expat Advice Belgian Passport Holder Financial Requirements for Visa

Apr 6, 2024

9 months ago

Mar ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all! I am looking to help some friends out and need some advice.

This is a couple on their 50s whose company said to the man that his project has finished and they need to leave Thailand and go work somewhere else. They absolutely love Thailand and they would like to stay here longer. The ideas situation would be for him to find another job but in the meantime, what can they do in order to stay in Thailand legally? What type of visa can they have (long stay). They have Belgium passports.

Thanks a lot!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A couple in their 50s from Belgium is looking for advice on how to legally stay in Thailand after the man's project has finished. The recommended visa is the retirement visa (Non-O), suitable for those over 50. They need to meet financial requirements, which include having a pension or income of at least 65,000 THB monthly or 800,000 THB in a Thai bank for one spouse, with the option for the other to piggyback on the primary applicant's retirement extension if they are legally married. It's also advised to contact a visa center for assistance.

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.

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9 months ago

Christopher *************

Tell them to contact ,,,, The Thai visa centre

9 months ago

Kris ********

@Christopher ************

Indeed...the best...

@THAI *****************************

...

9 months ago

Reply to

Kris ********

Tullio *******

Bear in mind that the financial requirement for retirement option is only for one of them, if they are legally married, the spouse would then piggy back on the yearly extension of the husband. So he would deposit 800k in the bank (the first time cannot be done with the 65k monthly) ask for extension of stay based on retirement and once he gets it she will apply for the same as spouse. You can get all the information at the immigration office you will apply. If they are not legally married they will have to do the process with the 800k each on individual accounts (joint account doesn’t work).

9 months ago

Fred ******

@Tullio ******

if the couple is legally married, is the 800k deposit sufficient or does another 800k deposit need to be made to cover the spouse?

8 months ago

Tullio *******

@Fred *****

one deposit of 800k is enough but ONLY for the extension of stay and after the ‘main’ one has been obtained

8 months ago

Reply to

Tullio *******

Jan ******************

They fulfill the main requirements being over 50 years. Next question is regarding fund or income. They need an income/pension minimum 65K thb a month or 800K thb in a thai bank. As they’re from Belgium their embassy still offers to give an affidavit letter to confirm their income if it can meet the requirements.

9 months ago

John **********

They could get a non-o based on being over 50 by meeting the criteria but they wouldn't be allowed to work on that. What is the man currently on. A non-b visa or an extension of stay?

9 months ago

Mar ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

non b

9 months ago

Mar ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Great! Thank you!

9 months ago

John **********

@Mar ***

so he would have to leave Thailand and return on a tourist entry and take it from there. His wife would need to get her own non-o but neither of them could work on that

9 months ago

Reply to

John **********

Pui *****

Over 50 means they can apply for what is commonly called retirement visas. By far the easiest way to stay long term, but they can't work on this visa.

9 months ago

Mar ****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Pui ****

can they go back to non b visa if he found a job?

9 months ago

Tullio *******

@Mar ***

of course

9 months ago

Reply to

Tullio *******