In order to apply for a work permit, you must be on a non-work restricted visa/extension. The retirement visa is work restricted, so you cannot apply for a work permit while on that type of stay.

@Tony *********

what visa fee? The only thing available is an extension. If you're not able to extend there is nothing else to do except leave. When you return you can convert from tourist to non-O visa.

You can't convert from an extension based on retirement to a visa based on retirement. There's nothing to convert, you're already on that type of entry. That's not how it works.

You have 2 options. Carry both your old passport (with the passport number on the DTV printout) and your new passport for the remainder of the 5 years of your visa.

Or you can go to immigration after you get your new passport, and they will add the details of your old passport into your new passport, allowing you to use the new passport by itself with the printout of your DTV visa.

@Peter ******

Past record is not a factor. The guidelines are black and white.

You have 2 options. Carry both your old passport (with the passport number on the DTV printout) and your new passport for the remainder of the 5 years of your visa.

Or you can go to immigration after you get your new passport, and they will add the details of your old passport into your new passport, allowing you to use the new passport by itself with the printout of your DTV visa.

@Kenny ****

I don't know, but the BOI doesn't charge LTR visa holders for this type of assistance and that visa costs MUCH less.

@Paul *********

unless there's a Thai company willing to sponsor you for a work permit, you won't be able to do anything with Thai clients. Switching to a work visa would also cancel your DTV.

You cannot have Thai clients. If you are in Thailand and providing services to a Thai client, you are illegally working in Thailand.

That's not a requirement for a retirement visa, it's a requirement for a retirement extension. If you are on a retirement extension and your bank account drops below 400,000, technically your extension is invalid as of that moment. You could theoretically be charged for overstay from that day forward. I've never seen that actually happen though, but what will happen is when you go for your next extension and they ask to see the 12 month bank statement, they will see you failed to meet the requirements of the previous extension and deny your next one. You will have to leave Thailand and start over with a new 90 day non-O visa.

You're not paying for the paperwork. You're paying for the activity. Then the school gives you the paperwork.