Hi everyone, my wife (44 years old) and I (51 years old), both New Zealand citizens / residents are planning to retire to Thailand in a couple of months and wanting to sanity check our approach with this group given my wife is under 50.

Firstly I'll apply for the Non-O Retirement from New Zealand so that I can easily open a bank account in Thailand upon arrival, deposit the THB 800k, and then apply for the 1 year extension.

As for my wife, the two options based on advice from visa agencies and forums appear to be as follows:

Option 1. Travel to Thailand visa exempt, apply for ED granted for a stay of 90 days, extend once for a further 3 months, then apply to change to a Non-O dependent (on my Non-O Retirement).

The issue we're finding with the ED is that schools seem to be catering only for DTV now and not supporting ED. I expect we'd also not be able to leave the country and travel until the conversion to Non-O dependent is complete and immigration appear to be taking a dim view of people on ED visas travelling when they should be studying. But the ED duration is intended for only 6 months so that's not really an issue.

Option 2. Apply for the DTV from New Zealand based on Thai soft power activities. The 5 year duration of the visa will be sufficient to cover the period until my wife is 50 at which point she can apply for the non-O Retirement.

The concern with the DTV is the soft power category seems to have a lot of problems with immigration based on the forum posts, particularly when reentering the country. This creates the risk she will be denied entry.

Greatly appreciate your expert opinion as to the best approach given the current lay of the land in Thailand right now. Thanks!

Thank you.

Just putting in my experience with immigration. Just some context I’ve been to Thailand now 3 times once for a week on visa exempt, once with a tourist visa and then now on a visa exempt. So when entering most recently the Immigration officer looked at my passport and asked for onward flight or return flight. I had no phone data when landing so I had a screenshot of my onward flight, she looked at my onward ticket from my phone then thought about it for like 2 min then told me wait over there to the side. I knew I was going to be held back. Then another officer said follow me to the “back” room from there there were several of us waiting. The lady said I need to talk to the main immigration officer as soon as he’s finished with another person. Long story short, I waited 30 min then another lady came to me and said why are you here I said on Holiday. She said let me see your onward ticket and I showed her. Then she communicated to another lady and then she asked me why were you brought back here I said I have no idea and she was like who was the officer that told you to come back here and I said I can’t even pronounce your names. She said ok you are good then another officer came over and stamped my passport and I left from there. While I don’t blame the original officer cuz my passport photo and me now are a lot different with no beard and long hair and the onward ticket being from a screenshot I kind of wish the original officer at least asked me questions instead of just holding me back. I think they don’t have time for that since it was jammed packed and would rather have the back officers ask the deeper questions.

Hi im travelling trough bkk airport on the way to Europe normally I purchase my visa which is compulsory for me but this time im only transferring to another flight unfortunately I have to go trough immigration so the question is would I have to do a dtac form to transit im not leaving the airport

I applied for a non B visa online while in Cambodia on June 9. I am still stuck on pending approval, and my flight is on June 29. Calling the embassy has been no help so far.

Is it an option for me to go to Thailand on a tourist visa while waiting for my non B to be approved and then go back to Cambodia and re-enter? Or is my only option to postpone my flight?

Hey everyone,

for those who were successful in getting a DTV for dental treatment, at which consulate did you apply and with which clinic?

I would like to get Invisalign done in Bangkok and I read that some people have gotten a DTV for it at certain consulates, but that at other consulates people have been rejected saying dental treatments don't count as medical treatment.

My alternative would be to just enter on a tourist visa or visa exempt, though I have been in Thailand ~4-5 months (on tourist visas and visa exempt stamps) every calendar year from 2021 to 2023 and I am worried about being denied entry the next time I fly to Bangkok (haven't been in Thailand for ~1.5 years now).

I’m planning to apply to ALA Language School and already emailed them to begin the application process for their education visa. They replied saying I have to apply in person, which surprised me—I thought I needed to apply before leaving the U.S.

To be sure I’m not missing anything, I reviewed the Digital Arrival Card form. I wanted to fully understand what’s required. It asks for the visa type and visa number, but obviously, I won’t have a visa number until I go through immigration.

Since this is an arrival card, it includes questions about the purpose of my visit, my visa type, and visa number—which makes me wonder how I’m supposed to fill those out if the visa is only issued once I arrive. Do I leave it blank??? Any help to how I can apply to ALA would be helpful.

Have a bit of a strange question

I travel to Thailand on 24th June and plan to travel to Vietnam on 2nd July returning back to Thailand 11th July and then flying back to UK on 12th July .

Problem is as of 5th July I will have less than 6 months left on my passport which I know is not enough enter Thailand from Vietnam I don't jave time now to renew my passport before I travel.

I don't suppose there would be any way I would be allowed into Thailand on the 11th as my passport will have 6 days less than the required 6 months .

Even though I would be leaving Thailand again the next day ?

Retired Visa or 60 Days with a 30 Day extension???

Costs 120 Baht through an agent

I rent a condo annually in North Pattaya.

Too old to purchase.

I think i know the answer, but would like to hear opinions.

I do go back and forth 2-3 times a year.

Hi all is anyone close to Liverpool I am struggling with application for 60 day visa I haven’t got a lap top and my phone ain’t helping so if anyone is close or within 10 15 miles who can help please pm me ta