If you are not married I am sure the 'life partner' part will not count for anything here.

The retirement visa is easier to obtain than a marriage visa anyway (provided you can invest 800,000 baht in Thailand).

Come to Thailand with a day tourist visa and start the process for obtaining a non O visa when you arrive.

If you are over 50 and can invest 800,000 baht here, you can get a retirement visa.

@Graham *****

yes sorry Graham, I mean the non OA.

Depends how long you are coming for. If under 30 days you can enter without a visa from Aus.

Do travellers cheques still exist? You can't open a bank account easily, so bring some cash and use your card.

Malaria, Depends where you intend to go, for example the jungle yes, but Pattaya no. Ask your doctor for specifics.

Hotels, no need to book in advance, although it is a busy time, so you will get a nicer place if you plan ahead.

I think as always in Thailand, it depends which IO. As Kool Breeze stated the TM30 has to match your 90 day report online.

I did my first one at Hua Hin with no problem and have seen others are successful too, so it is possible.

If you want to move to the income method after the first year (you need 800,000 in the Thai bank for your first retirement visa), you can deposit 65,000 per month as well as the 800k. That qualifies you to get the extension the following year and you can then spend the 800k.

You do not need to show proof of income, it is all about money in a Thai bank account.

You still need insurance if you apply for the retirement visa in the UK, so most people enter Thailand on a tourist visa and apply here.

Never tried for a marriage visa, but anecdotally it seems much more troublesome than the retirement one.

A bribe to the mother would seem your best option.

@Ralph ************

I keep a list of my responses and then just copy them every 90 days to make it easy.

Good luck.

@Ralph ************

, it's fairly straightforward, just ensure you put the address the same as the TM30.

@Ralph ************

, this is the link...