Pay an agent in Thailand. Why put yourself through all the hassles? Come in on a visa exempt, the first thing you do is see an agent, get the 60 day extended if needed and apply for a bank account through the agent, then apply for the O type visa here through them, then extend it 3 months later to the retirement visa. You need to eliminate problems to make your transition to living in Thailand easier.

@Jenny *****

you also have the option of showing 65,000 baht a month going into your account every month for a year instead of the 800,000 baht. Obviously you have to put the 800,000 in for the first year then start the 65,000 monthly for 12 months so you can show when you do you next 12 month extension

You have to be an Australian resident for at least 10 years, including at least five years in a row to qualify for age pension. It's not based on citizenship. I ran into this nonsense because I had lived in Australia for 20 years as a kiwi on a SCV visa which a kiwi automatically gets on arrival and ceases the minute you leave the country. So they wouldn't pay me in Thailand as when I left the country I had zero residency status.

@Arnold *********

You have to be an Australian resident for at least 10 years, including at least five years in a row to qualify. It's residency not citizenship.

@David *******

wrong. Age pension isn't based on citizenship it's based on residency, how long you have resided in Australia. You have to be an Australian resident for at least 10 years, including at least five years in a row to qualify. You can't become a citizen then apply for age pension.

@Paul ******

age pension is based on residency not citizenship.

Why not just close this forum down and use google?

@Lone *********

I know westerners who have done this, they have Thai partners they can trust, you can work in the business but only behind closed doors. You just can't work where you can be seen, obviously you need to watch your back.

@James *********

why are you so prejudice?

@Tim ********

where was the stall?