Visa options aside from retirement

[maccastime]

Good morning from a cold Australia, I wish to retire again in Thailand, did so in 2011-2016 retirement visa it has expired as my lady passed away and I returned to Aus for surgery.now I wish to live in Thailand but don’t want the retirement visa.is there another visa best for me not the elite way too expensive for me. Normally now I get the 60 day visa stay for 6 weeks. Can I do a few border runs? How many months will they grant me? Am on the aged pension here, hopefully they can continue to pay me in my Thai bank each month.if all ok would a one way ticket to Thailand be ok? Or maybe get a open ticket. Hopefully a few lads on here can assist. Have a great day

[Dannie Boy]

Good morning from a cold Australia, I wish to retire again in Thailand, did so in 2011-2016 retirement visa it has expired as my lady passed away and I returned to Aus for surgery.now I wish to live in Thailand but don’t want the retirement visa.is there another visa best for me not the elite way too expensive for me. Normally now I get the 60 day visa stay for 6 weeks. Can I do a few border runs? How many months will they grant me? Am on the aged pension here, hopefully they can continue to pay me in my Thai bank each month.if all ok would a one way ticket to Thailand be ok? Or maybe get a open ticket. Hopefully a few lads on here can assist. Have a great day

Although you don’t want to go down the retirement visa route, how long are you planning to stay in Thailand? I’m fairly certain they’ve restricted the ability to do regular border runs - you might be able to get away with a few but not as a permanent way to stay in Thailand - I’m sure someone with more experience of the system will answer soon.

[huahin4ever]

Why not the Retirement Visa? Pension not enough or? Retirement is really the easiest I would think if you are old enough and can show 800000 in a bank account or 65000 income per month or a combination.

I myself changed from marriage visa to retirement as soon as I was 50 years old. So much easier to get and renew. But still married

YNWA

[maccastime]

Thanks for your reply lads,I intend to live in Thailand for at least 5 or 6 years maybe longer.the retirement visa in Aus in 2011 required police check plus a lot of paperwork then off to a lawyer to get it all notarised and bound, fairly expensive. Would I be better off entering on a tourist visa then changing to retirement visa in Thailand? Not sure what is required or the cost.I have enough cash in my account here,Centrelink would pay me if I relocated to Thailand about$2,000 a month.after electric deductions etc. Re retirement visa does monies need to be in a Thai bank or can I show monies from here.thanks again for replies lads much appreciated

[Scout]

I recommend getting the Non-Immigrant O (90 day) visa (based on retirement) while you are still in Australia. You can do it online at https://canberra.thaiembassy.org/retire ... ategories/

Don’t get the Non-Immigrant OA (1 year version) as this will saddle you with additional health insurance requirements now and into the future.

When you enter Thailand with the Non O, they will stamp you in for 90 days. When you get within 45 days of its expiration date you can then apply for a one year extension. The application package and process is identical for either the Non-O or the Non-OA, but if you come in on the Non-OA you will need to purchase a Thai Healthcare policy ( around 8000 baht) that really isn’t good for much more than meeting the immigration requirement.

When you first arrive, get your bank account squared away as you will need to meet the financial requirements when you do the extension. You won’t be able to do the 65,000 baht transfer per month method as you won’t have 12 months worth of transfers. So either transfer 800,000 baht into your Thai bank (it’s supposed to be deposited 2 months before the date you apply for your 1 year extension) or use an agent.

[maccastime]

Thank you for your reply Scout, very good info there, will definitely look at your suggestions, sounds pretty straightforward, thanks again have a great day

[maccastime]

Thank you all here for your info. Had a chat with Centrelink here in sydney today, they advise I can relocate to Thailand they will reduce my payments by $75 a week. I can live with that. They can pay into my Thai bank.just need to call them before departing, the sydney Thai embassy won’t accept walk in visa applications? No idea why. So will enjoy my next holiday late January then return to sell my car etc etc. thanks again lads have a great day

[handdrummer]

"When you first arrive, get your bank account squared away as you will need to meet the financial requirements when you do the extension. You won’t be able to do the 65,000 baht transfer per month method as you won’t have 12 months worth of transfers. So either transfer 800,000 baht into your Thai bank (it’s supposed to be deposited 2 months before the date you apply for your 1 year extension) or use an agent."

I think that is 3 months before applying and must remain in the acct. for 2 months after receiving the visa. Unless that has changed.
Top

[maccastime]

Thank you Handdrummer. Great info. Added to my list

[Scout]

"When you first arrive, get your bank account squared away as you will need to meet the financial requirements when you do the extension. You won’t be able to do the 65,000 baht transfer per month method as you won’t have 12 months worth of transfers. So either transfer 800,000 baht into your Thai bank (it’s supposed to be deposited 2 months before the date you apply for your 1 year extension) or use an agent."

I think that is 3 months before applying and must remain in the acct. for 2 months after receiving the visa. Unless that has changed.
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Pretty sure it’s always been 2 months before the date you apply and 3 months after, since they adopted this scheme a few years ago.

AC0393CC-90A4-41D2-9991-66395E7CCD3E.jpeg (96.59 KiB) Viewed 745 times

[Dannie Boy]

Not sure if there’s a better thread than this one, but has anybody recently entered Thailand on a 30 day visa exemption and then converted to an O visa for retirement? I’m assuming to enter Thailand on a 30 day visa exemption, you’ll need to have a return ticket and not just a single entry? Thanks

[ahandpatsy]

Dannie. I entered with no return booked on a tourist 30 day. Got extension another 30 days. This was 7 weeks ago. Just got o visa. Will get retirement in 45 days. Used an agent which happy to recommend. Nobody asked about return tickets

Andy

[Dannie Boy]

Dannie. I entered with no return booked on a tourist 30 day. Got extension another 30 days. This was 7 weeks ago. Just got o visa. Will get retirement in 45 days. Used an agent which happy to recommend. Nobody asked about return tickets

Andy

That sounds reassuring even though nearly everything I’ve seen says that the airlines could refuse you to fly if you don’t have a valid visa or a return ticket - out of interest who did you fly with?

I’m assuming the Agent you used was one in Thailand (did you submit in Hua Hin or Tha Yang)? Thanks

[PeteC]

I got caught out long ago, in the late 90's on United, from Honolulu. I solved it by buying an inexpensive ticket Bangkok > Singapore which I cancelled once in Thailand and got a refund. There wasn't a problem with no return ticket, they just wanted to see an onward ticket. It's been many years now since I've read anywhere about it still being a problem.

[joelle]

Dannie. I entered with no return booked on a tourist 30 day. Got extension another 30 days. This was 7 weeks ago. Just got o visa. Will get retirement in 45 days. Used an agent which happy to recommend. Nobody asked about return tickets

Andy

That sounds reassuring even though nearly everything I’ve seen says that the airlines could refuse you to fly if you don’t have a valid visa or a return ticket - out of interest who did you fly with?

I’m assuming the Agent you used was one in Thailand (did you submit in Hua Hin or Tha Yang)? Thanks

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