Get in Touch with Siamese Visa Service:

[email protected] / [email protected] / +66 84-658-6864 / +66 89-787-7890

RETIREMENT IN THAILAND AND THAILAND RETIREMENT VISA

Nowadays, there are many best places around the world to suit in retiring. One of those countries is Thailand. In this country, you can live comfortably with your Savings, Pension or Social Security income.

There are Three Main Factors why Thailand is the appropriate place for retirees to live here:

Personal Income Tax Exemption for retirees who limitedly have incomes or even for unemployed person.
Low cost of living in Thailand when comparing to other countries in the world, especially Western zone. For example, you can live happily here with your monthly budget around 1,500 USD/1,000 GBP/1,000 EUR/1,800 AUD.
Way of life and weather conditions, enjoy with the urban life (living in towns and cities) or the rural life and simplicity (in northern, northeastern, southern zone) including weather atmosphere (not too cold and all-year-round sunshine).

If the above factors are your answers, you can start to Retire Here (The Land of Smiles, Thailand).

Qualifications of an applicant and Requirements for a Thailand Retirement Visa.

A foreign national whose age is over 50 years or above
Must be able to present the financial evidence between:

Not being prohibited from entering the Kingdom under the Immigration Act B.E.2522 (A.D.1979)
No criminal record of the Kingdom of Thailand, the country of national and country of permanent residence as well. (will only be needed for the O-A Visa.)
Holding the nationality or permanent residence of the country of application
No medical record of contagious disease. (will only be needed for the O-A Visa)
Medical Insurance 100,000 USD (3 million Baht) required for the Non-Immigrant O-A Visa application or Retirement Visa (based on the O-A Visa). **Update: The Thai Government and the Thai immigration authorises will anyway be reducing the policy coverage to 400,000 Thai Baht soon for the Non-OA Visa Holder.**
No permission of working in Thailand.

CHANNELS TO SUBMIT THE RETIREMENT VISA APPLICATION

Channel 1. Applicants can submit their applications at the Thai Embassy/Royal Thai Consulate in their countries. If they choose this channel, they must also show the following documents along with the financial evidence to process the Retirement Visa in their countries:

1.1 Criminal Record from own country and country of permanent residence with validity of at least 3 months.

1.2 Medical Record proving applicant has never been infected with contagious disease with validity at least 3 months (in accordance with Immigration Act B.E.2522)

Note: Documents as stated above must be certified by Notary Public or from the competent authority concerned of the country of application. For the Criminal Record must be certified by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok as well. And in case wishing to be accompanied by spouse, the marriage certificate will be attached. But spouse will be granted Non-Immigrant “O” instead of “O-A” (Long Stay).

1.3 Medical Insurance which the minimum coverage of 100,000 USD (3 million Baht). This policy will be forced since 1 October 2022 onwards.

*Updated in 2024: The Thai Government and the Thai immigration authorises will be reducing the policy coverage to 400,000 Thai Baht soon for the Non-OA Visa Holder. Awaiting for the official confirmation..*

If you think that the Channel 1 is too complicated for you, you may choose the following channel.

Channel 2. Applicants can submit the visa applications while they are in Thailand at: The Office of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok (Head Office) or branch offices which locate in the northern, southern and eastern part of Thailand.

Plus, in order to proceed with the Retirement Visa Application through this channel, applicants Will Not Need To present the criminal record, the medical certificate and any medical insurances to the immigration office, except the financial evidence (Saving money in Thai Bank Account of at least 800,000 BHT OR Pension/Monthly Income 65,000 BHT).

We can also assist you with the Non-O + Retirement Visa Application through one of the following options. We usually help our clients to proceed with the Retirement Visa Application/Extension through our officers at the Thai immigration HQ where we can get everything completed within 2-3 working days (at the first time of the application) and within one working day (at the time of the visa extension/renewal.) With this channel through our services, you Will Not Have To wait for the 30 day approval and Will Not Be Interrupted during your stays in Thailand. **Focus on Option 4-6 below**

VARIOUS OPTIONS/PLANS FOR PROCEEDING YOUR RETIREMENT VISA

There are 6 PLANS/OPTIONS as follows:

THE 1st PLAN/OPTION, If you are living in USA or Canada or United Kingdom or Australia:

We will initially help you to receive a Non-Immigrant Visa in your country. This visa permits you to stay in Thailand for about 90 days. After that, when it nearly expires, we will assist you to extend the Non-Immigrant Visa to the Retirement Visa at Thai immigration office whilst in Thailand.

We will also help you to arrange all required documents to send to a Thai embassy/consulate, including at the Thai immigration office. You just have to proceed as our advice.

In order to process the Non-Immigrant visa, we recommend you to prepare following basic items at the time of visa application:

Your passport remaining at least 12 months before it expires,
Two passport photos
A copy of airline ticket/e-flight ticket/itinerary (will be requested in some case.)
A copy of your bank statement of the last 6 month

These documents will be used for proceeding the Non-Immigrant Visa together with our supporting documents.

The next step, once you have stayed in Thailand with such visa until one month left before expiration. Just let us know, then we will help you to collect your appropriate financial document from your embassy/bank in Thailand before accompanying you to the Thai immigration office in order to extend to the Retirement Visa. This step of the process can be completed within 1 working day.

Moreover, during your staying in Thailand, we will also pay attention your case closely to check that you are qualified and be ready prior to extending your visa at the immigration bureau or not.

With all above procedures, you will be allowed to stay in Thailand total around 1 year and 3 months under the First Type/Option.

THE 2nd PLAN/OPTION, If you are inside European continent and planning to stay in Thailand for a long term, we can also assist you to reside in Kingdom of Thailand total about 1 year and 3 months or 6 months or 2 years (depending on your nationality) within our one service.

The process are similar to the first option, we will initially help you to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa for 90 days/180 days/1 year from the most appropriate Thai embassy/consulate in Europe. Then we will help you to extend to the Retirement Visa at an Immigration Office after your non-immigrant visa remains one month before it expires.

To apply for the Non-Immigrant Visa, the following basic documents will be required at the time of visa application:

Your passport remaining at least 12 months before it expires,
Two passport photos
A copy of airline ticket/e-flight ticket/itinerary (will be requested in some case.)
Proof of sufficient income or Saving funds in an account (will be requested in some case.)

Once you have received the visa and stayed in Thailand until one month left before expiration. Just let us know, then we will help you to collect your appropriate financial document from your embassy/bank in Thailand before accompanying you to the Thai immigration office in order to extend to the Retirement Visa. This step of the process can be completed within 1 working day.

In addition, during your staying in Thailand, we will also pay attention your case closely to check that you are qualified and be ready prior to extending your visa at the immigration bureau or not.

With all above steps, you will be allowed to stay in Thailand total around 1 year and 3 months or 6 months or 2 years under our service (depending on your nationality).

THE 3rd PLAN/OPTION, If you are not residing in USA, UK, Australia or Europe but you are a citizen or permanent resident in other countries such as: in Asia, Africa, including Pacific islands. You could also have a rights in getting the Long Stay Retirement Visa like The First and Second Options.

Of course, the process and basic required documentations resemble The Second TYPE/Option. Anyway, you can check with us again as case by case because each embassy/consulate requires paperwork differently (depending on your nationality).

**THE 4th PLAN/OPTION (*RECOMMENDED),**

If you are in Thailand now with a Non-Immigrant Visa and looking for a way to extend to a Retirement Visa. Please make sure that you are holding a non-immigrant B/ED/M/RS/O/O-A visa. If you are holding a type of the mentioned visas, next, we will check that whether you could show a proper financial evidence in order to convert/extend your visa.

As you may know, you need to be able to show a financial evidence between:

- Pension of at least 65,000 THB OR
- Saving moneys in a Thai bank account at least 800,000 THB and it must be continually deposited for 2 months (at the first time of visa application) and 3 months (at the next time of renewing your visa). OR
- Pension x 12 months + Saving moneys totaling not less than 800,000 THB

*(If you are an American/British/Australian passport holder and your embassy is no longer to do the income/pension verification and you would like to show the monthly income/pension (above 65,xxx THB per month). It is still possible but (US/UK/Australian) applicants have to keep transferring the income/pension into their own Thai bank accounts every single month. Thai immigration will want to prove the last 12 month credit advice provided by your Thai bank.)*

*(Renewing/Extending the Retirement Visa before 45 days), If you are needing to renew/extend your Non-O or Retirement Visa before 45 days due to the emergency situation/the urgency of your matter. We can help you with the visa extension/renewal through the fast track process, if needed. We have been doing that through our officers at the Thai immigration HQ.*

*(Changing Visa Type/Status to Retirement Category), In the case of holding a working/business visa OR a Thai family (wife/husband/child) visa OR a media visa OR an official visa and you would like change the reason of staying to Retirement category. We can also assist you with changing the visa status through a backup plan. You will just have to make the official cancellation of the Non-B/Non-O Family)/Non-M/Non-F visa first. After the official cancellation, we will be able to convert to the Retirement Visa, without having to leave Thailand.*

Note: Thai medical insurance is only needed in the case of holding the Non-Immigrant O-A Visa or extending the retirement visa based on the O-A Visa. For other visa types, applicants do not have to show the Thai medical insurance.

**THE 5th PLAN/OPTION (*RECOMMENDED),**

If you are entering or currently in Thailand on a 60 Day Visa Exemption or a 30 Day Extension or a Single Entry/Multiple Entry Tourist Visa or an APEC Visa.

We can also help you to change from the visa exemption/tourist visa/APEC visa into a Non-Immigrant Visa and extend to the Retirement Visa at the Thai Immigration Office.

In order to proceed the Non-Immigrant Visa + the Retirement Visa via this option, please arrange following basic documents:

Your passport remaining 12 months before expiration
The current permission (on the 30 day visa exemption/the 30 day extension/the 90 day visa exemption/the Single/Multiple Entry Tourist Visa/Apec Visa) must remains not less than 15 days at the time of converting to the Non-Immigrant Visa. *(We usually help our clients to proceed with the Non-O + Retirement Visa within the first/second week upon their arrival in Thailand.)*
Four passport photos
Proper financial documents between:

- Pension of at least 65,000 THB OR
- Saving moneys in a Thai bank account at least 800,000 THB and it must be continually deposited for 2 months (for the first time) and 3 months (for the next time).OR
- Pension x 12 months + Saving moneys totaling not less than 800,000 THB

*(If you are an American/British/Australian passport holder and your embassy is no longer to do the income/pension verification and you would like to show the monthly income/pension (above 65,xxx THB per month). It is still possible ((when renewing your retirement visa)) but you have to keep transferring the income/pension into their own Thai bank accounts every single month. Thai immigration will want to prove the last 12 month credit advice provided by your Thai bank.)*

**If you don't have a Thai bank account, we can also help you setting up a Thai bank account while you are in Bangkok.**

Note: Thai medical insurance is not needed in any case through the Fifth Type/Option.

**THE 6th PLAN/OPTION (*RECOMMENDED),**

If you are neither unable to meet with financial requirements nor the Thai medical insurance, you can contact us directly to get more details about this option. We can also support you in this situation.

Thai Retirement Visa No Funds:

If any applicants are inconvenient or unable to meet with the financial requirements;

Here's the items needed:

Your actual passport
Three passport photos with white background are required at the first time of application OR Two passport photos are needed for the visa renewal.
Your Thai bank account with the mobile banking app registered on your smartphone/tablet and the Thai phone number (Let us know what Thai bank you do have the account with.)
**If you don't have a Thai bank account, you can contact us to get assistance in setting up a bank account.**

Opening a bank account Thailand:

Generally, Only the Non-B, Non-IM, Non-IB, Non-O, Non-OA, Non-ED, Non-R, Non-RS, Non-F (Official), Diplomatic, Expert, Elite, Non-OX or LTR Visa holder are allowed to open Thai bank accounts.

For the 30 Day/90 Day Visa Exemption or the Tourist Visa holder, if you are looking for an assistance to setup a Thai bank account, we can assist you with this matter. We ask you to prepare the following basic items:

Your actual passport
The 30 Day/90 Day Visa Exemption or the 60 Day Tourist Visa (remaining not less than 28 days at the time of setting up the bank account)
Your valid Driving License/ID Card issued by your home country

**7 Reasons why our clients choose Siamese Visa Service (SVS)**

Siamese Visa Services (SVS):	Official Services:
1. Completed visa application forms filled out by our Thai visa specialist team.	1. You need to fill in forms by yourself.
2. Supporting documents which is matched to your purpose of staying in Thailand.	2. You must directly check with the government sector about required documents.
3. Updated Checklist indicated to all of required items for the application	3. You must directly check over the phone or via their websites.
4. Express Service (All of paperwork can be arranged within 12-24 hours.)	4. You must spend more time to prepare the involved paperwork by yourself.
5. Our Thai visa specialist team is available to support you both of the online and offline (24/7 chat and email support.)	5. You can only contact the government sector during business hours (Mon-Fri), You cannot also reach them during Public’s holidays. Then you have to wait until they reopen.
6. We can complete all the Non-O + Retirement Visa Application within one working day through our officers at the Thai immigration HQ.	6. You will have to wait for the 30 days approval and may be requested additional documents (upon their request).
7. We also have the money back guarantee service.	7. No Refund, if the application is unsuccessful.

Get in Touch with Siamese Visa Service:

[email protected] / [email protected] / +66 84-658-6864 / +66 89-787-7890

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