You are here: Guide > Asia > Thailand > Retiring in Thailand

Retiring in Thailand


I have lived in Thailand for over a year now, on a variety of visas. This week I applied for and received a Retirement Visa, based on proof of monthly income earned abroad, 65,000 Bhat per month. I should mention that I am 60. I had been on a Non B, visa, the first 90 days set to expire Feb 1, 2010., with Work Permit. My employer did not make deductions for my taxes and social insurance and did not register me with these agencies, preventing me from getting an extension on the Non B. So I left the job and changed the visa.

Here is what you need for retirement visa. Application form, Photo, 1,900 Bhat, copies of all pages of your passport with all visa and entry/exit stamps for Thailand. Rent receipts and possibly a form from your landlord stating where you live. A map of your residence.

Affidavit from your embassy stating that you receive 65,000 bhat per month in pensions or other income, so that you do not need to tie up your money in a bank account here. Or you can show a deposit in a Thai bank for 800.000 Bhat, seasoned for two months before you apply. Or a combination of both, money on deposit and monthly income from abroad., regarless, letter from embassy for immigration, does not need to be translated.

I had to hand in my Work Permit and get a receipt from the labor office to show Immigration, but the actual Work Permit was returned to me.

This was probably a little easier for me as I already had the Non B visa. So now I have a visa valid until February 1, 2012, that I can renew yearly thru the same process. I do not have to leave the country every 90 days.If I want to leave the country I must purchase re-entry permits for  1,000 Bhat each or Multiple for 3,800 Bhat. These must be pruchased in advance of your travel from Immigration, they cannot be transferred from one passport to another if you will be cahnging passports soon, before Multiple re-entries may be used. You still must report your address every 90 days or leave the country before 90 days and your 90 days starts again from the date that you arrive.

 


Article written by colbamumbai
Last update on 2011-01-14 12:00:08
Guide section: Visas

 

Print
Print

Comments


  • Thank you very much for your info. That was very helpful.
    By Gary Rosentreter 2013-05-04, 20h39
      Reply  
    • Thanks for the info.. I don't have any Visa at this point.. I have just been visiting a couple weeks at a time but looking at staying much longer and eventually retiring.

      What Visa do I ask for? I am from Australia and we actually don't apply for a Visa when we visit.. We just get to the airport and they stamp me in and I go through.. the only thing I fill out is a entry card that asks how long I am staying.

      This is quite confusing so I guess an Australian ex pat might know.
      By Mister George 2012-09-19, 15h28
        Reply  
      • Depends on your visa and if it is a multiple entry etc. If it is good for a year and you have to leave every 90 days, you can just go to Laos or anywhere for a day and come back. If you do this just before the year is up you can get an extra 90 days making it 15 months. Again I do not know what type of visa you have.
        By colabamumbai 2012-09-19, 10h45
          Reply  
        • Just to understand the 90 days visa thing because I get different stories. I come to thailand for 90 days and the I go home for a week and the I can come back for another 90 days.. and so?

          I was told 90 days max in a 12 month period?

          cheers
          By Mister George 2012-09-19, 03h32
            Reply  
          • When you arrive as a visitor you are given a 30 day visitors visa. If you want to stay longer: before you go apply for a visa from your local Thailand consulate/embassy. The price and any more info will be on the consulate website.
            By KNB 2013-05-12, 17h01
              Reply  
        • Congratulations, and have a good time.
          Nice article
          juanmmr
          By juanmmr 2011-08-17, 10h53
            Reply  
          Any question? Please ask on the Thailand forum.

          Expatriate health insurance Thailand

          Free advice and quotation service to choose an expat health insurance in Thailand.
          >> Click here

          Moving to Thailand

          A few tips from professionals about moving to Thailand.
          >> Click here

          Expat banking Thailand

          Discover the benefits of expat banking for people living and working abroad.
          >> Click here

          Luggage shipping Thailand

          Useful information about luggage shipping to Thailand.
          >> Click here

          Travel insurance Thailand

          Don't worry and travel happy across Thailand.
          >> Click here

          Businesses and services in Thailand

          Find the professionals in Thailand in the Expat blog directory.
          >> Click here