@George ******

that is unclear to me because the DTV conditions stipulate enrolment in a soft power course for, a suggested, minimum of 6 months to secure the visa but there is no mention of having to keep this up at every 6-month cycle.

Thanks that's good to know

@Kim **********

they say that the initial application should be accompanied by 6-months of soft power classes but I'd like to know whether there is a similar requirement every 180 days or each time you enter Thailand.

Anonymous participant 979 I'm fine with leaving before the 180 days and if I can get a 5-year visa at today's prices that would suit me over the prices for a retirement visa for the same number of years.

Anonymous participant 979 is the DTV extension done once every 5 years?

@Anna ********

but leaving 800k baht in a non-interest bearing Thai bank account will lose you 24k baht/year (assuming 3% interest rate savings)

Anonymous participant 979 I don't know about that. DTV is 10k, Muay Thai 6-month course is 20k and I believe you only need to pay these once every 5-years/DTV so a total of 30k for 5 years. A retirement visa would cost, if going through an agency, 30k for year 1 and 15k for every renewal. So for 5 years of retirement visaa that's 90k. Personally I would use an agency so that my funds are earning interest elsewhere and easily accessed.

@Allan *************

are any of the visas safe from change?

@J.P. ********

yes and?

@James ********

over 50s can apply for either.