@Eamonn ******

We're talking about Thailand not the rest of SE Aisia. Id rather leave my Thai licence as a deposit for a car or a bike than 3K+ baht or my very precious Passport. Simples!!

@Chantelle *****

A Thai drivers licence is very handy, instead of a passport you can use it as a deposit for hiring bikes or cars and ID for hotels, in fact it's accepted almost anywhere in Thailand as form of ID. Obviously you'll need a passport for official things like opening a bank account etc.

@Stuart ********

ok many thanks

Instead of the initial 800k can you just pay in 65k monthly. After 12 months apply for the retirement visa.

The advantage is As you pay in monthly you can spend or transfer the money back to high interest accounts. No need to keep a constant 800k in the account as long as 65k is paid in monthly.

Is this an option?

@Stuart ********

use an agent. Very easy not particularly expensive.

@Stuart **********

So are you saying paying in 65k every month for a year will give the same entitlement as 800k paid two months before applying for the visa.

And money paid in using the 12 month method can be spent or moved to other accounts?

@Steve ******

I take it a monthly transfer from a wise account is sufficient

@Todd ********

'wrong' could you explain?

Correct me if I'm wrong, the monthly payment option must be from a certified pension fund such as HMRC (UK state pension) or a UK certified pension scheme, the payment cannot be made from some individual's bank account. The problem is that if the state pension pays monthly into a non UK bank account this pension looses it's triple lock status, which means in the UK it will not increase with inflation (there are some countries that are exempt, but not Thailand)