@Sean *******

no, one physical sim. But depending on the iPhone you might be able to download digital sims. I have a physical Thai sim in my iphone I also have a UK digital sim downloaded and an international sim downloaded to access all networks world wide.

Depends on your phone. If you have a phone that’s supports digital sim you can get a UK digital SIM card and a Thai digital sim. On iPhones you can have two SIM cards activated at the same time without switching. It’s quite easy to do

Applying for a non O in your own country you will not need to specify where you income is from. On the visa ap you will need to put ‘private residence’ for where you are staying.

You cannot apply for your 12 month extension until your 800,000 baht has been seasoned in your Thai account for two months. So you will be unable to get your extension until October 2025 at the earliest if you do not deposit your funds until August.

Switching to the monthly 65,000 baht per month route will be possible after you have shown 12 regular monthly payments of that amount into your Thai account from overseas. So if you are not getting your regular monthly payments until May 2026 then the soonest you can switch would be the next 12 month extension after May 2027.

Hope that makes sense

@Phil *****

the owner of the house has to file a TM30 with immigration within 24 hours of you arriving there. It can be done online

I entered last month on a non O-A and found opening a bank account very easy. If your son owns the property he must file TM30 with immigration. If he is a tenant his land lord must.

To get a residence certificate you need to attend immigration with TM30, your passport with signed photocopies of data page and stamp page. You need to complete a form , have a passport size photo and the fee is 500 baht ( that was at Phuket , may vary from place to place) You can get a residence certificate on day one in Thailand.

All banks vary with their requirements. Some vary from branch to branch in same banking group.

I used BKK bank in Karon Phuket and needed Passport , Thai SIM card , home country address , home country UTR and driving licence. As I didn’t have a Thai DL they accepted home country DL as I had an IDP ( international driving permit) I would suggest you get one before you travel from your home country. The whole experience lasted 45 mins. But as I say different branches of the same bank may have different requirements. After all TIT ( this is Thailand)

I was never asked for residence certificate or tenancy agreement. Best to check with your preferred bank first and when you go back try to see the same person you checked with.

Hope this helps

Where in Thailand do you plan to live? That will make a difference in relation to dealing with banks and getting residence certificate from immigration.

I can only speak for Phuket but all you need for a residence certificate is your passport, photocopies of you passport info page and entry stamp both signed by you. A TM30 ( this will be provided by your landlord) fee of 500 baht , a passport size photograph and a correctly completed residence certificate application. In Phuket you do not need a tenancy agreement for a residence certificate and you can get a residence certificate your first day in Thailand. They last for 30 days. You need one to buy or sell a vehicle and apply for a driving licence.

Bank account: Every branch of every bank will have different requirements.

BKK bank in Karon Phuket requires passport , long term visa, Thai driving licence or your own nationality driving licence and IDP. Thai SIM card.

I opened mine last week and did not have to show tenancy agreement or TM30 or residence certificate.

Hope that assists but remember if you narrow down the area you plan to live that will assist people in advising you.

Not sure where you are I was based in UK

A 12 month multi entry non O-A retirement visa is available to apply for from your own country. It’s an e visa application

You would require

12 months health insurance with minimum 4 million baht cover ( mine was £250 for annual premium from AXA)

Police check ACRO not DBS , cost £66

Health check certificate , you can get online for £20-£80 pounds ( I paid £21 ) no medical just online questionnaire.

Can’t recall cast of visa think it may have been £200 or something.

I had to prove income of over 65,000 Thai baht for a three month period before I travelled. ( uk bank statements)

No requirement to show income in Thailand or put lump sum in Thai bank.

It’s multi entry so you come and go as you please but must show insurance as well as visa when you are stamped in.

In you last month of visa if you enter with a new 12 month insurance you are stamped in for 12 months , so you can actually get 24 months out of this visa. ( second 12 months is not multi entry)

@Clare *********

I have life insurance, accident insurance and medical insurance so didn’t need banks insurance

@Robin ******

I don’t know if they do, if you don’t have a Thai tax identification number they want your UTR I suppose to ensure that you have paid tax in your home country therefore you are not liable for tax in Thailand on the same income. (Double taxation agreement) I am not an expert on taxation or finance therefore you will be better placed seeking professional advice if in doubt.

@Henrik ****

I am aware of that but I was told in this group I also needed TM30, residence certificate and 12 month rental agreement…non of which were required that is why I’ve posted my actual experience in order to assist and enlighten people.