it can matter as within the same country the Thai Embassy and any Thai Consulates will have jurisdiction over specific areas within the country, as in the USA, Australia, Laos, Vietnam, Canada, among other countries:
the Thai Embassies and Thai Consulates specifically list out the residents of which particular provinces/States/areas they accept visa applications and other Thai consular matters from, even if that country's Thai Embassy and Thai Consulates use the Thai e-Visa system....
As per the Thai Cabinet Meeting Resolution (Synopsis) held on 28 May 2024, Agenda Topic # 13, Section 4.2.3:
The Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a target to move all 94 of Thailand's Embassies, Consulates, and Foreign Offices around the world to utilize and provide service with the Thai e-Visa system by December 2024.
As for actually achieving this target is another matter for discussion.
> Thai Cabinet Resolutions (Synopses) are usually available at thaigov.go.th
in fact, those Thai Embassies and Consulates in Cambodia and Malaysia already officially cut off and stopped accepting in-person applications this past Friday, 04 October 2024.
Eventually, all of Thailand's Embassies and Consulates will move to and use Thai eVisa, just unknown as to when....
Retirees aged 50 years and older who have an annual pension or stable passive income
Minimum unearned or passive income* of USD 80,000 / year at the time of application
*unearned or passive income includes, but are not limited to pension, rental, capital gain, dividend, and interest payments
(Note that earned income and salaries WILL NOT be considered for the personal income requirement for wealthy pensioners)
In the case that unearned or passive income is lower than USD 80,000 but not lower than USD
*****
, the applicant is required to make additional investments of USD 250,000 combined in Thai government bonds OR direct investment in companies registered in Thailand OR Thai property
Insured under a health insurance covering a minimum of USD 50,000 OR currently receiving social security benefits in Thailand OR deposit and maintain at least USD 100,000 in bank account balance under the applicant’s name for no less than 12 months
Don't want to make assumptions with the Original Post containing very little details and info, but "having bought a villa", then is your pension at least USD $40k/year, but less than USD $80k/year?
Then, that "villa you bought" needs to be at least USD $250k in value.
Otherwise, if your pension is at least USD $80k/year, then no need to buy Thai property beforehand for the purpose of applying for a Thai LTR Visa as a "Wealthy Pensioner".
Also, this "villa that you bought" needs to have heaps of Thai paperwork to be submitted to the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), if your pension is at least USD $40k/year.
If your pension is less than USD $40k/year, then you don't qualify for this Thai LTR Visa as a "Wealthy Pensioner"