Thailand has over the years become a hot spot in Asia for retirement as the cost of living is low, crime levels are far lower than Europe or Spain and the weather is great most days of the year. Many people see Thailand as an excellent place for retirement. The Kingdom of Thailand has about 76 provinces that offer different attractions, cultures, and experiences. It is for these reasons that many foreigners are drawn to retire in this country every year.
The application process for retirement visa in Thailand is pretty straightforward. Over the years, however, this has become a rather confusing subject to many due to the inconsistency in the immigration processes. Not only are the processes varying in the Thai Embassies and Consulates around the world but also with some rules in different immigration offices all across Thailand.
Consider the following guidelines if you wish to retire in Thailand.
Eligibilities
- The client must be at least 50 years of age or over during the time of the application.
- The client must meet the financial requirement which could be any of the following:
- Security deposit of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank; or
- A monthly income or pension of 65,000 baht; or
- A total of 800,000 baht combination of personal bank deposit and income or pension for the entire year.
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Processing of Visa Application
There are at least two ways on how to get a visa to retire in Thailand:
- Application outside Thailand.
A foreigner who meets the age requirement set by the Thai Embassy (in their country) can directly apply for the 1 Year Non-Immigrant OA visa from their home country. Application for this type of visa requires the applicant to submit a police clearance and medical certificate.
- Application inside Thailand
Getting a 1 year visa extension inside Thailand based on retirement requires an initial application for a Non-Immigrant O visa. The Non-Immigrant O visa is usually applied at the Thai Embassy in the applicant’s home country, but it can also be obtained inside Thailand. However, the applicant must already meet the financial requirement if they wish to go with the latter.
In addition, applicants of Non-immigrant O visa extension in Thailand must provide evidence of their address in Thailand. Processing of visa extension is done at the immigration office in the same area, or usually the one nearest to their location in case there is none in their city or province.
Renewal of Extension
Once the applicant has obtained a one-year extension of stay based on retirement, the extension can be renewed every year within Thailand. The renewal application must be done prior to the expiration of the current visa. The procedure for renewal is the same as for the initial application, and therefore this should be an easier task for retirees who are able to obtain an extension before.
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Yord Satesri, Immigration Specialist
Does the 800,000,thb in my thai bank need to be active (monies in and out) except for the last 3 months in my savings account to show immigration.
As long as you maintain the amount of 800,000 baht for the past 2 months (or 3 months, if applying for visa renewal) on your bank account, regardless if you are withdrawing from this account or not, then you should be good to go.
Hello. I am due to renew my OA multi entry retirement visa in April. Is it possible to do this at Jomtien Immigration as long as I provide all the relevant information, bank account letter, etc.
Yes. For information on the process and requirements, please contact or visit the immigration office.
Hi, in 2014 I had a one year retirement Visa which ended April 1, 2015. However this year my retirement visa is only good for 90 days expiring on March 16, 2016. I depart for America March 8, 2016 but would like to renew for one year before departure. My visa also states I must apply for re-entry permit before departure. What do I need to do to renew for one year?
Firstly, you need to meet the qualification for the retirement visa if you wish to apply for a renewal. In order for us to advice you further, we will need to obtain more information from you. Please provide us with your phone number or email address so we can contact you regarding your concern.
If I apply for a retirement visa does my spouse need to apply too and do they recognise same sex marriage?
Same sex marriage is not recognized in Thailand and therefore, your spouse will need to file for a separate visa application.
I am 55 years old and live in India and want to apply for retirement visa for Thailand. Can I apply in Mumbai, India and will they be able to give me all the forms needed?
Yes, you may lodge your application for the retirement visa at the Thai Embassy in Mumbai. It’s best that you contact the embassy directly if you wish to enquire further on the requirements.
I want to change my retirement visa to a work permit but my visa expires on the 2nd of February. Can I extend my retirement visa for 30 days as I will be leaving the country on the 7th of February.
Retirement visa can only be extended for 7 days if you do not wish to apply for renewal anymore. After the 7 days extension is over, you will then be required to leave the country.
Must I have all the forms for renewal of my retirement visa filled out again? If so, what are they?
Thanks
Yes, you will need to fill out a form if you wish to renew your visa. For information on what form to fill out, please visit or contact the nearest immigration office.
I am Danish and have from Denmark a non-immigrant category O number of entry M. I stay here for 4 months every year but I have this time bought the above mentioned visa so I do not have to leave the country by plane as I use to. I am 70 years old. In Denmark they said I should go to the immigration in Krabi where I stay after 3 months and then I would have an extension for the last months for 1,900 baht.
Is that correct and what do I have to bring with me more than passport, ticket and? Please help me.
Thank you
Ulla
Your non-immigrant O visa can be extended at the immigration office in Krabi. However, we’re unable to advise you on the requirements as there are different sets of required documents depending on the basis of your non-immigrant O visa.
Please contact or visit the Thai Embassy in Krabi to further verify your concern.
I want to apply for a retirement visa after having had a work permit. How much before that expires can I apply for the retirement visa?
When you change your visa from non-immigrant B to non-immigrant O (based on retirement), your work permit should also be automatically cancelled. As soon as you are ready to apply for the retirement visa, then you should be able to do so without having to wait for any expiration or cancellation period concerning your work permit.
My retirement visa expires on May 9, 2016. I will be traveling to Japan on April 11, 2016 and return on May 10, 2016. How early can I apply for the extension of my current retirement visa?
You may start the retirement visa extension as early as 45 days prior to the date of its expiration. It’s best that you start the application before your trip to Japan.
Dear Sir,
So far I had consecutive for 3 years one year family non immigrant visa (was married to thai in Sweden) issued by embassy in Sweden. I am living in Kata/Karon in a rented house since 2 years. Now I am divorced and retired and want to stay in Kata for the rest of my life. My 3rd one year visa goes out in Feb 8. Do I need to fly back to Sweden and apply for a new one year visa for retired persons or maybe it is possible to do that locally in Phuket.
Thank in advance,
Vladimir Ponjavic,
227/3 Koktanod road,
Karon
83100 Phuket
If you meet all the qualification for the non-immigrant visa application, you may be able to apply for the visa in Thailand without having to go back to your home country.
Sir,
Can I use any immigration office to renew my retirement application? I live in Lampang and have used Chiang Mai but is it possible to use Chiang Rai as an alternative?
You should apply for the retirement visa at the immigration office nearest your location.
Applicants of Non-immigrant O visa extension in Thailand must provide evidence of their address in Thailand.
What if I am staying at relatives home temporarily? What do I need to prove I live with them?
You must provide a letter written by the owner of the house together with a signed copy of ID card and Tabien Baan.
I have a retirement visa for 2 1/2 years now and need to renew it in 6 months. I live in Yasothon and report to the immigration people in Amnat Charoen. I want to satisfy the financial requirement this time with a combination of money in the bank and a declaration, (obtained at the Australian Embassy), showing my income from Australia. How current does the declaration have to be? I mean can I get the declaration 6 months before I make my application for visa extension for example?
You are required to submit the documents during the time when you apply for visa extension. So technically, you only need to prepare them once a year. It’s best to check with the immigration office in regard to the validity of the declaration or income affidavit.
Good morning
My present retirement visa expires on 01FEB2016, how early in advance can I apply for an extension? Can I do already around 05DEC, as I will be traveling overseas and will not be in Thailand during the period 10DEC2015 – 15MAR2016.
Thanks
Bjorn
The earliest date when you can already start your retirement visa extension is only up to 45 days before its expiration. Your option is to make a new application for the retirement visa. I advise that you check with the Thai Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will be travelling to in regard to lodging an application for your visa.
Since they are moving and still in transition and there are far more foreigners there everyday now and the great immigration staff there is indeed swamped, obtaining a 1 year visa renewal in Chiang Mai can now take all day and one has to go there very early in the morning if they even hope to get a queue number, can a foreigner go to another, less busy provincial immigration office outside of the foreigner’s local address area and renew their annual visa there instead of at the now very busy Chiang Mai Immigration Office? Is it possible and if so, are their requirements for the foreigner to do this other than the standard requirements to complete the retirement visa application? And will another province accept an income statement from the US Chiang Mai Consulate…? Will they accept a lease copy from where I live in Chiang Mai or would I have to change my address to whatever hotel I went to and then change it back to Chiang Mai when I come back?
I only ask because I getting older an d now have some health issues and frankly, sitting and standing around in a room for many many hours is very uncomfortable for me now. I could do it, but it would be much more unpleasant and tiring for me than when my health was better.
thank you
If what you are using for your application is a house address Chiang Mai, you might not be permitted by immigration offices in other province to apply for the extension. You may seek assistance from an agency or firm who provides assistance with your concern so that you wouldn’t have to go to the immigration very early in the morning. Please provide us with your email address or phone number and we will contact you and refer you to someone who can assist you further.
I have a retirement visa that expires in March of 2016. I will be out Thailand when my retirement visa comes due. Can I renew my retirement visa when I’m out of the country and in the USA.
Thank you,
Ron Janowich
You can still apply for the retirement visa while in the US, although it’s not the same as the 1 year extension based on retirement which you can apply for when inside Thailand. We would like to talk to you further about this matter. If you can provide us with your contact number, we will be glad to give you a call and explain the process.
I have a retirement visa now for many years.
How long before the retirement visa expires can I apply for a renewal ?
The retirement visa is only valid for one year but can also be renewed in Thailand before its expiration. As long as you meet the qualification for this visa, you should have no problem getting the visa renewed every year.
At Phuket immigration what Items are needed for one year retirement extension of my non imm o visa?
I Have Non imm o visa,
Bank book with Over 800K in the bank, and
House rental contract
Is there anything else I require, like the TM30 landlord paper?
cheers
For information on the requirements/ qualifications for retirement visa application in Thailand, please visit the website below:
http://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/Thailand-Retirement-Visa.php
I have an Embassy Letter confirming sufficient income, but it’s 6 month validity ends 2 weeks before my Extension Renewal date. Can the letter still be used for renewing the Extension 2 weeks early?
Have been advised by Jontiem Immigration that the Income Validity letter from British Enmbassy is valid for 1 month, and not 6 month as described on various forums.
Hence, the one that I have just paid big money for, is useless.
You may be able to apply for the extension of your visa for up to 45 days prior to the expiration of your non immigrant O visa. In line with the income affidavit, you might be required to obtain a new one if the immigration office in Jomtien said that they would only accept the document which is only up to one month since it was released by your embassy.
Hello
I have my first non im o do I need to apply for the non im oa, one year extension with 21 days left on my current o visa as I did the first time?
Thanks
The non-immigrant “O-A” visa is being applied at the Thai Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of residence. If you have previously acquired a non-immigrant “O” visa based on retirement, you may apply for visa renewal at the immigration office in Thailand, provided that you are able to meet the requirements. You may apply for the visa renewal from period when you still have 45 days remaining on your visa until a day before its expiration.
My his and I are from Australia and have been living in Koh Samui Thailand for nearly 2 years and our OA(M) extension expires in October and want to change it to a marriage visa extension.
We have been told by our agent that our Australian marriage certificate needs to be certified by the Australian embassy in Thailand – is this correct? And can we fax it as we are leaving to go back next Next month to Australia and this done urgently before we leave also what is the fee? We have the required funds in the Thai bank but only in one name.
Hi Christine,
If you wish to apply for a non-immigrant O visa based on your marriage with your Thai spouse, your marriage must then be registered at the local district office. And part of the process before you can register your marriage is to have the marriage certificate be certified at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok.
We recommend that you speak to one of our Thai visa specialist to further explain to you the process of applying for the visa. You may provide us your contact details and we will get in touch with you on this matter.
Hallo,
iam married with Thai since 15 years, we have in Chiang Mai good running Homestay (Baitong Homestay), i haveto make my visa for 1 year new-by mistaje i had overdue , paid the fee but i had to make new Non Immigration Visa 0, in Laos and have to show now my income :Retirement is only 869,00€ but out of our Homestay i have minimum 50000THB per month. Is it possible to combine thos 2 incomes ?? (by the way i stay inChiang Mai since July 2013. How i can hanle my case ??
Greetings
Manfred Geissler
You cannot use the income of your Chiang Mai business. You can only use the income that you receive from abroad. Alternative would be for you to have a Thai bank account and deposit 800,000 baht.
why not a web site for the rules that keep changing yearly
I can get thai retirement visa last year in 3 hrs. this time I have to get 90 DAY o VISA FIRST that takes over 3 weeks; then I can get a Thai retirement visa.
Where is this posted. The staff at immigration even themselves. can’t explain how it works
If you still have a valid retirement visa issued last year at the immigration office, you can renew it directly and it will take 2 to 3 hours only. However, if you have let your retirement visa expired, you have to start all over again and the by getting a non-immigrant O visa and then convert it to retirement visa.
Greetings, I am U.S. citizen with current retirement visa coming due for 2nd year renewal. Will I be required to show proof of income again (Letter from U.S. Embassy.
Yes, you will be required to provide the same set of requirements as the first time you applied for the extension, and this includes proof of income.