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Why are Thai immigration officers conducting home visits for retirement visas?

Thai Immigration Retirement Visa Home Visit Visa Verification Expat Life in Thailand Immigration Procedures

May 7, 2025

23 days ago

Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Would like to share a recent experience, a call yesterday from Phuket immig asking if they could visit me at home confirming my presence before lunch today. They duly arrived at 11-30 and immig officer had a brief chat took a photo, thanked me for the very precise drawn map I presented with my last visa app…..now i’ve heard of them visiting farangs with thai wives but not retiree‘s - positive engagement chatted with my singaporean wife who is also on a retirement visa and went on his way - at least i know the map I draw and google cooridnates had some value. Very pleasant man……..

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post recounts an individual's experience with an immigration visit at home in Phuket, where officials confirmed residency for a retirement visa. The visit was friendly and focused on verifying the applicant's presence at the given address. Several commenters shared similar experiences, highlighting that while checks are common for marriage visas, retirement visa visits are becoming more frequent as immigration seeks to verify the addresses of retirees. The discussion highlights a perceived increase in such home visits across different regions in Thailand.

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

Next comes the income tax

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@J *************

nothing to do with immig - yet🤔

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Michael *******

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Sue **********

@Michael

@Michael ******

Did they change the „map thing“ again? Last December they only required a screenshot from google maps showing longitude/latitude. No drawing required.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yip 2 years ago started asking for it again after a 3 year hiatus now I know what it is for no issue with it and providing Google map co-ordinates

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Michael *******

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John **********

Yes they seem to be doing this for retirement visa/extension in a number of places now. I've been here 8 years on a retirement visa and prior to this year not a single visit. This year they've visited 2 times, the first time shortly after getting my extension and I got a call announcing the visit 2 days after the visit. The 2nd time about 6 months later and no phone call, only a guess but I suspect the 2nd visit was due to me using online 90 day reporting this year whereas I'd previously always done it in person.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

interesting about the 90 day John, I mentioned to my visitor that i was coming to immig next day for my 90 day he suggested doing it on line, which I may now have another crack at although the drive thru in Phuket is a breeze….

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Michael *******

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Oo *****

Nice, I know retired frangs who just got a knock on the door. No phone call. Took photo and left. C u.

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Jesper *******

It's been a std practice to home visit married couples to confirm their relationship that's why u get a 30days consideration stamp and after they are happy with the visit they will stamp u your 1yr extension.....for retirement visa they already stamp u for 1yr extension on the same day as u apply there's no need for home visit

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Charles ********

the ‘under consideration’ stamp for Marriage extension to a visa is because all of the paperwork has to be processed at the main office in Bangkok.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

not my experience which was reason for post, they phoned to let me know they were coming and came spot on time, and without fuss. They used the handwritten map I submitted with my appl, to come straight to my house , now I understand why they require it. Post was for information only .

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Chris *******

all aliens, regardless of visa, can be subject to Inspection at any time.

In Phuket;

Marriage, retirement, ED, nonb are routinely inspected and sometimes it seems very randomly. OR is it?🤷‍♂️.

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Jesper *******

I have not encounter such situations after 3 continuous extension (bkk)

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Chris *******

and you may never.

Doesn't change that it is being done.

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Chris *******

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Nigel **************

but they are increasingly coming to visit people at home for retirement visa at least for first time app. They came to visit me in Petchabun

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Jesper *******

@Nigel *************

oh so did they give u a 30days consideration stamp? And do they give u a call before visiting?

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Nigel **************

it was 2 weeks, and yes they rang my partner before coming

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Will ************

under consideration stamps very normal for retirement in Nakhon Nayok , had one every time

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Will ************

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Ian **********

They do visits for marriage extensions to establish if the relationship is real and not a marriage of convenience. You must get a neighbour or the village head to confirm you live at the address. I've no idea why they would visit a retiree.

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Nigel **************

they did visit me in Petchabun for my retirement visa. Didn't get the stamp until after the visit.

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Ian **********

@Nigel *************

Over the years, I've read of many random visits of retirees, but no one can explain why.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

to ensure you live where you say when you apply, renew…..they like to know where we are, that’s fine with me nothing to hide……if they can’t find you, won’t end well when you go to renew….🫤

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Nigel **************

I am on my first extension until Feb 2026. Will update then.

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Nigel **************

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Will ************

They do visits for retirement in Nakhon Nayok.

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Neil ********

Good to hear that a random check is done and it went well

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Damo ***********

would be better if the Imm Officer asked to look at the Bankbook as well just to make sure money is there.

Lots of farang flaunt the financial req’ for the retirement visa and should be dealt with accordingly.

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Michael *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Damo **********

they check that when you renew, hence the bank statements, the visit is to determine that you live where you have declared you live….comfortable with that….if people lie about their residence they will struggle to renew when the time comes as system will flag them

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Damo ***********

@Michael ******

you have missed my point totally… have better things to do this arvo than try to explain things to you.

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Damo ***********

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Dany ********

@Damo **********

but the money doesnt have to be there permanently

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Damo ***********

2 months before extension application until 3 months after the extension, needs to be 800k minimum. Then after 3 months extension approval it can go down to 400k but even a day under 400k you in the 💩

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Damo ***********

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

Thanks for your report!

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Jeff *****

Glad it all turned out well Michael!! 👍👍👍

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Jeff *****

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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

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The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

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