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What visa options are available for my elderly UK parents who wish to live with me in Thailand?

Nov 20, 2025
a day ago
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm new to this group, so sorry if this a frequently asked question.

I'm a UK national, 60 years old , living in Thailand for 9 years already, on the standard retirement visa.

My parents, both UK nationals, , 83 & 84 years old, want to come and live with me. They would return to Europe a couple of times a year, but would be essentially living here, at my house, say 10 months each year.

Do they each need to apply for a retirement visa independently of each other, meaning 800k each in 2 separate bank accounts, or is there an option for attaching one as the spouse of the other to a single retirement visa.

Or are there other options available, like a family visa, or something similar.

Thanks for any/all feedback.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK national living in Thailand for 9 years is inquiring about visa options for their elderly parents (aged 83 and 84) who want to live with them for most of the year. Questions center around whether the parents need separate retirement visas, and if they can qualify for dependent visas. Insights from community members suggest exploring the DTV visa tied to learning Thai skills, as well as considerations for financial requirements such as maintaining 800,000 THB in bank accounts or monthly deposits. It is recommended to confirm with immigration authorities or a reputable visa agency due to changing regulations.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Raymond *********
Have they considered médical cost? If they can get insurance it will be expensive and if they cannot or décline, hospitals are far from inexpensive
Jim *******
DTV for 83&84 years old? Training Muay Tai?
Janie *********
Suggest you contact an established, reputable visa agency as rules change frequently................The cost will be justified by your peace of mind!!
Eric **********
@Janie ********
like the owners of this thread…
@THAI *****************************
Jim **********
Couple of things on the retirement visa option.

1. The 800k thing is only an option, the other option is to show at least 65k baht being transferred into their Thai bank account each month (that is just over £1500 per month).

2. I think that they would both need to have their own visas (and so both need to satisfy the financial requirements) but I am not 100% sure and I would check that out further.

As others have said, the DTV route may work better. You could apply for DTV ‘Thai Soft Powers’ option, where you need to sign up for training in one if a number of types of Thai skills - Thai cooking is one that may suit here. There is an excellent DTV Group on Facebook where you can ask info from others who have gone through the process and can help you with advice on what paperwork each embassy requires and how long it takes etc.

The DTV visa is effectively a 5 year multi-entry tourist visa, so you cannot work in Thailand on it, and each stay in Thailand has to be a maximum of 180days (but as it is multi entry, you can leave Thailand and come back the next day (even the same day if you wish). It costs about 15k baht and for 5 years, that is very good value. Also, maybe key for you, I think the DTV visa does allow for dependents, so you should definitely check that out further.

You should read up on the requirements and compare that to the retirement visa option.

One final note on the retirement visa - many people by-pass the initial 800k deposit requirement by using an agent who can deal with that for you (the agent’s of course charge - the charge varies from agent to agent, but i think setting up a retirement visa is about 20k baht). After the initial visa then you need to think about whether to stay with the agent permanently (for a charge each year - again varies a lot but I think about 10k) or do your own 12 monthly extensions of stay (costing 1,900 baht each time, but you will need to fully comply with the financial requirements of 800k in bank or 65k transfer each month).

Hope that helps, but you really need to lay out your options against their circumstances and double check everything.
Peter ****************
@Jim *********
Conc. 800k฿. I think first extension (When no income statement as for UK), is always 800k฿ (both) needed ? Only from 2nd year extension on, you can use 12 months of international transfer of 65k฿ (each).
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jim *********
thank you for your detailed, Informative reply. The DTV idea gives me another line of inquiry at the immigration office. I suspect 2 standard retirement visas will end up being the easiest solution but I will enquire about the DTV. I don't know how widely that option is used in Eastern Isaan, where I live.
Raymond *********
The 65k/month is only available for their second year. British embassy no longer offer this prof and Thaï immigration will only consider money in a thai bank account
Jim **********
@Raymond ********
I know. That is why i said about needing an agent initially to get the visa.
Kate *******
What if you did their retirement visas one at a time and just moved their money from one to the other?
Graham ******
@Kate ******
That's not possible if he wants them to be on a legal permission to stay and to be able to get subsequent extensions. The 800k needs to be in the account 2 months before applying for the 12 month extension then for 3 months after the extension is granted and never fall below 400k for the rest of the year.
Ally ************
@Graham *****
That is true.. but theoretically they could share a pot of 1.2 million baht and stagger the applications by 5-months.. meaning they wait 5-months to submit the second application and switch only 800k.. thereby leaving 400k in the first applicant's bank account.. then switching 400k back 5-months later.. far too cumbersome for most people.. and incredibly time critical in respect of the transfer dates.. but do-able if you have limited funds and the will to live in separate countries for the first 5-months.. or maybe only 2-months if the second applicant comes over on a 60-day visa exempt stamp and extends for 30-days.. then returns to their home country to apply for the non-o.. probably not ideal in this scenario given their ages but feasible if the situation demands it 😉
Kate *******
@Graham *****
fair enough, I thought agents sometimes did them with people by putting borrowed money in an account and then taking it back after the application has gone through. It sometimes hard to tell what’s actually allowed loopholes and what’s just outright abuse of the system because both happen so often.
Joseph *************
I think they will need medical insurance to fly and that would be very expensive I have friends same age that were denied insurance because of age not a 100% sure but maybe someone else can help you out.
Phil **********
Just go into immigration at Krabi and ask? Mr Wissut can be very helpfull...🙂
Kevin ***********
Living in Thailand for 9 years and your asking Facebook for advice
Nick *******
@Kevin **********
enjoying your daily troll session are you? nothing better to do? why would he know about this specific question if he hasn't needed to before? Do you expect people to research and know everything about every thing, just in case? get some help
Jack *******
@Kevin **********
So the visa regulations haven't changed in 9 years have they Kevin? 😅 Seriously man, think before you post.
Kevin ***********
@Jack ******
not really they just reword them but they're still the same visas all I'm pointing out is that he's been in Thailand for 9 years you'd think he'd be upto speed on everything Thailand. Either that or he's spending too much time in the bars.
Paul *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kevin **********
thank you for your helpful input. Very insightful! I am thinking that I'm probably not the first retired farang whose parents would like to come and live with them. I was hoping that someone who has been through the process before could share their knowledge. I will of course be visiting my local immigration office regardless of what tips are shared.
Allan **************
@Kevin **********
. Hi Kevin I understand you are not the stupidest person in the world but you better hope that person doesn't Die.
Sheen ************
Darren ******
@Kevin **********
Kevin you are an effwitt
Wayne ********
@Kevin **********
maybe his parents just decided they wanted to move to Thailand and over the past nine years he had no reason to look into what kind of visa they would need
Kate *******
@Kevin **********
what a weird comment 🙄
Aaron *******
@Kate ******
all his comments are shit.
John *********
@Kate ******
It's your comment what is weird Kevin is 100% right 555
Kevin ***********
@Kate ******
nothing weird about it, I would think he should know everything about Thailand and it's visa rules after 9 years yet he chooses to ask others. Seeing as your miss know it all y don't you answer him and ignore my reply. It's laziness
Ally ************
@Kevin **********
On the face of it that would seem to be a reasonable statement.. except we all know that the visa regulations can change and often do change with little forewarning.. just as the limitations on land border crossings and the ability to extend a visa exempt stamp was amended in the course of the last week or so.. meaning if you'd researched that scenario a week ago you would have received different advice to what your research would tell you this week.. and at the end of the day that is the reason why forums like this exist.. ie. so you can tap into the knowledge base of the membership and get a collective mind discussing the issues.. and usually the most upto date information will eventually surface.. sometimes that necessitates a debate like this to explore differing opinions.. but if we are going to call everybody 'lazy' for using this resource it kinda makes the whole purpose of the group pretty much redundant.. personally, if i can't offer anything constructive I'll just jog on by and not get involved.. because the people stressing over their visa dilemmas don't need any more negative energy from me 😉
Garry ***********
@Kevin **********
what a nasty attitude you have, instead of insults why not just keep quiet
Anthony ******
@Kevin **********
it’s a different circumstance dumb fk and stuff changes everyday
Kate *******
@Kevin **********
must be living that happy life huh, living in Thailand and still moaning at strangers on Facebook! 🤣
Kevin *********
@Kate ******
Well said theres always one isnt there .
John **********
Normally I'd have suggested one gets a Non-OA visa and the other a Non-O dependant visa but their age will make that a difficult as. With the standard Non-O visa I don't believe the Thai embassy in the UK will issue a dependant visa until the primary person is on a 12 month extension of stay. With one on a dependant visa then only one lot of 800k is required but due to the above it might be easier just to go with 2×800k
Stuart *********
Why not look into the DTV visa under the soft power options. My guess is Muay Thai won’t be an option but Thai cooking or medical appointments could work for them.

It’s a 5 year visa and on each entry they’d get 180 days.
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