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When should I apply for a visa extension for retirement after cancelling my work permit in Thailand?

Thailand visa extension retirement visa Thailand NON-O visa work permit cancellation residency in Bangkok financial requirements for retirement visa TM 30 filing 90-day reporting

Aug 16, 2025

8 days ago

Richard *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

I plan to retire on 30 September. I am currently working with a work permit visa extension. My current residency is in Nakhon Pathom, but I will move to Bangkok. May I kindly ask for advice on the best timeframe to apply for the new visa extension. Many thanks

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TLDR : Answer Summary

To transition from a work permit visa to a retirement visa in Thailand while moving from Nakhon Pathom to Bangkok, it's advisable to cancel your current work visa at the immigration office where it was issued. Then, apply for a new retirement extension at least one week before your current visa expires. Ensure you meet the financial requirements by having 800,000 baht in the bank for three months prior to your application, and gather all necessary documentation, including proof of bank balance, prior to the application.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Gary *********

I did this last year. Your work permit has to be cancelled by your employer before immigration will issue an extension based on retirement. You need proof of permit cancelation. You need your 800,000 baht in the bank for a full three months prior to application. To apply you need bank statements for the three months stamped by the bank, a letter from the bank dated the day of application confirming bank balance and a copy of your bank book showing balance. Once your work permit is cancelled you have a short period of time to change your visa extension. I did everything 1 week prior to visa extension expiry.

8 days ago

Tod *********

No matter what your office is telling you there is no 3 month seasoning before you apply for the year extension

@Gary ********

😕

So, one more time for the record, the official seasoning for banked money method for a retirement extension is 2 months before you apply for the extension,

this is a rip from the translation of the police order concerning banked money method for retirement extensions

7 days ago

Tod *********

@Gary ********

the 800K only has to be banked for 2 months so if your immigration office said it's 3 they're yanking your chain. The bank can print a 3 month statement but that has nothing to do with the amount of time you really need to season the funds

8 days ago

Gary *********

@Tod ********

Every Immigration office has a printout of the rules applied in that office. Our OP here should get a copy.

8 days ago

Reply to

Gary *********

Tod *********

I would say your best bet would be to cancel the extension of stay based on employment at the immigration office where it was issued and immediately apply for a new yearly extensional stay based on retirement by meeting the financial requirements.

Then move to Bangkok

Once you do, file a new TM 30, start doing your 90 day reporting at Chaengwattana and the following year apply for your extension thru that office after you have a year 'track record' under your belt.

8 days ago

Richard *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

may I ask a follow up ? One issue I may have is that I actually live where I work, same address , and I can't use that address to extend my stay in the area where my stay based on employment was issued. I could short let an apartment in that area still and follow your advice, or in this case better to try to cancel in Nakhon Pathom and apply at Chaengwattana ?

8 days ago

Tod *********

This is a general list of what documentation an immigration office is likely to require to get a year extension based on retirement, it is NOT office specific, which is why I said go to your office and talk to them about it 🙂 and get the hand out listing the requirements at that office

8 days ago

Tod *********

@Richard ****

I still think you're way better off doing it all where the current extension was issued rather than cancelling the current employment extension and then going to C/W wanting to get a new year extension based on retirement.

So GO talk to your immigration office (where you live/got the extension/do 90 day reports) and see what they say about cancelling your current employment extension a couple weeks early then immediately applying for the year extension based on retirement

As Gary pointed out you will have to have the 800K baht funds seasoned in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the yearly extension. You'll need the 'standard' bank letter, the 3 month printed detail transaction report (to show the 800k was in the whole 2 months before you apply). You have to update your bank book the date you apply for the extension along with providing them all the documentation that office typically requires for a year retirement extension

8 days ago

Richard *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

I really appreciate all the advice. Thank you so much

7 days ago

Reply to

Richard *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

many, many thanks.

8 days ago