Dennis Eyler Dennis Eyler you’re overthinking it.

Remitly isn’t “more expensive” in any meaningful way — especially for what you’re trying to do. What matters is speed, simplicity, and getting a clean foreign transfer record for Thai immigration.

Wise telling you there’s a $50k cap is exactly the problem — you now have to split transfers, deal with timing, and risk messing up your paperwork trail.

Remitly? Send it in one shot, lands fast, done. That’s why people use it for the 800k requirement.

Both work, but Remitly is just more practical for large transfers. Wise is great for smaller, regular transfers — not ideal for this situation.

Focus on what actually matters:

• money from abroad

• into your Thai account

• clean transfer proof

Everything else is noise.

You can use Wise, but just be careful — not all transfers show as a proper international remittance in the way Thai immigration/banks expect. Sometimes it comes through as a local transfer, which can cause issues when they verify the source of funds.

A better option in my experience is Remitly. It’s fast, reliable, and clearly shows as an international transfer into your Thai bank, which is exactly what you want for the 800,000 baht requirement.

Just make sure:

• The money goes directly into your Thai account in your name

• You keep the transfer receipt showing it came from abroad

• Ideally transfer it as a lump sum, not multiple small ones

Bottom line: Wise can work, but Remitly is cleaner and safer for visa purposes.

@John *********

Short answer: No — a condo cannot replace the 800,000 THB requirement.

Here’s the proper explanation:

Under Thai immigration regulations for a retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O / O-A), financial eligibility is strictly defined and limited to liquid funds or verifiable income — not assets.

You must meet ONE of these:

• 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account (held for the required period), or

• 65,000 THB/month income, or

• A combination totaling 800,000 THB annually 

And importantly:

👉 Immigration requires bank evidence (passbook + bank letter) — not property ownership. 

⸻

Why a condo does NOT count (this is where people get it wrong)

Even if your condo is worth millions, Thai law treats it as:

• Non-liquid asset (you can’t instantly use it to support yourself)

• Not under immigration financial proof categories

• Not recognized as income or deposit

Immigration’s logic is simple and strict:

They don’t care what you own — only what you can prove you can live on immediately in Thailand.

That’s why they require:

• Money already sitting in a Thai bank

• Or documented monthly income

⸻

About those “creative ideas” (condo, investments, etc.)

You’ll hear people say:

• “Use property”

• “Use investment value”

• “Free visa with purchase”

Reality:

👉 These are not approved under standard retirement visa rules

👉 Immigration officers will reject them immediately

There are separate programs (like BOI or LTR visas), but those are:

• Different categories

• Much higher thresholds

• Completely different legal frameworks

They are NOT interchangeable with a retirement visa

⸻

Bottom line (simple and honest)

• Condo = great investment ✔️

• Condo = ZERO value for retirement visa qualification ❌

If you want the visa, you play by the immigration rulebook — and that rulebook is very clear:

👉 Cash in a Thai bank or provable income — nothing else.

@James *********

you haven’t figured out Thailand 🇹🇭 you have a long way to go

You don’t always need an appointment, but it depends on which office you go to. The easiest way:

1. Your wife should go herself (Thai citizen = much faster).

2. Bring her Thai ID card + passport (original + copies).

3. Go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Legalization Division (Chaeng Wattana in Bangkok, or a regional office).

4. Fill out the certification/legalization request form there.

5. Submit and pay the fee (normal or express service available).

If she goes in person, it’s usually straightforward and faster than having a foreigner handle it. Some offices allow walk-in, but Bangkok can require or prefer appointments depending on workload.

Pro tip: Early morning = fastest processing, and express service can be same day or next day.

Help me build a clean group please 🙏

Wayne Alchin get your tax id 🆔 also

Richard Gordon Julius That’s wrong. Thai inheritance law governs this, not a lease. A spouse isn’t just thrown out — legal succession applies. Please don’t spread misinformation.

@James *********

Different system here. Thailand doesn’t work like the West—leases don’t give you the protection you think. Yellow book and pink ID are what actually matter day-to-day.

@everyone You don’t need a lease. Your wife can add you to the house with a yellow book and you can get a pink Thai ID. That’s usually enough for a bank account, depending on the bank.