On 2/24/2026 at 2:52 AM, KhunHeineken said:

One's phone has to have e-sim capability.

Strewth, good on ya for speakin’ up, mate.
Though I reckon Aldi would’ve given the old non-tech-savvy codgers a heads-up if ya hadn’t.

• Here’s why an eSim is a good idea mate:

  • Can’t be yanked out or nicked on its own – it’s proper soldered/embedded in the bloody phone.

  • Drops the risk of SIM theft heaps if ya phone gets pinched or goes walkabout.

  • Makes it a right pain for thieving bastards to nick ya number and chuck it in another handset – no popping the SIM out like a loose tooth.

  • Knocks the legs out from under heaps of those dodgy SIM-swap jobs that rely on gettin’ hold of a physical card or easy portin’.

  • Locked down tight by ya phone’s screen lock, Face ID, fingerprint or PIN – no mucking about with a separate SIM PIN like the old days.

  • Stashed in a tough-as-nails secure chip inside the phone with proper strong encryption – way harder to clone or rip out.

  • Not as easy to knick, lose or get messed with in the supply chain – no loose little card floatin’ around for some grub to pinch.

  • Makes trackin’ a stolen phone a doddle ‘cause the SIM (and ya number) stays glued to the device.

On 1/11/2026 at 6:22 PM, KhunHeineken said:

just in case something happens to the main one.

Aldi has e-Sim now and can convert their Sim card to e-Sim now too.

1 hour ago, treetops said:

There's a school of thought that says only the cash balance in savings accounts can be used as the pre 2024 base, not the value of any investments.

Ahh ok that's the catch thanks.

That official pdf repeatedly mentions foreign-sourced income and nothing specifically about "savings". I thought income is income from whatever source it comes.

Looking up the definition of foreign-sourced income one of them is "Interest, dividends, or capital gains" which seems to cover super or savings.

Is there anything official about not superannuation?

Looks like there are plenty of opinions about the law but considering this "official" pdf posted here earlier:
https://www.rd.go.th/fileadmin/user_upload/lorkhor/newspr/2024/FOREIGNERS_PAY_TAX2024.pdf

That pdf seems clear if I stay ≥ 180 days and drawdown my 31st December 2023 Australian superannuation balance and remit it to Thailand, I'm exempt from Thai tax until that balance runs out.

If I withdraw and remit balance more than my 31st December 2023 balance, I pay Thai tax.

I asked a Thai expat tax accountant and they said this is NOT how Thai tax works and to have a (paid) meeting to discuss it.

Is there anything I'm missing?

19 hours ago, dj230 said:

for visa exemption is a real flight ticket out needed

 

99% of the past 30 years I've travelled to Thailand on non-confirmed for visa exemption. Booked a date prior to the 30/45 days.

We have moved the ticket coming home many times before the 30/45 days when seats were tight.

Although, once in that time we overstayed a couple of days and paid the fine.

Talk about crazy pricing.

Wife went to Top Charoen in Lotus Thalang in Northern Phuket.

Wife's sister gave her some nice frames and she wanted prescription lens sunglasses and that Top Charoen shop quoted 8600 baht for the lens fitted. Another shop in the mall quoted 6900 baht.

Came home (Sydney) and same thing at a local shop wants A$140 or 3400 Baht.

What's the deal in Phuket with the super high prices or did they "see my wife coming" speaking Thai with an Aussie accent?

On 11/20/2022 at 7:49 AM, ubonjoe said:

You do not the insurance for a non-o visa or a extension of stay based upon retirement applied for at immigration here.

 

Great info thanks.

I'm thinking in the case of doing this in Thailand it might be better starting on a tourist visa so I can get a bank account setup and money for the required time.

Stupid question possibly but would it make a difference if my wife opened a Thai bank account and I "piggyback" off her visa?

Cheers.

Joe, I bet has been asked a squillion times and still got a bunch of questions - thanks!

I see the TR-METV is A$300 each plus 2 trips outside Thailand.
Non O is A$120 each (plus extension - I think 1900 baht).

I understand for the non O, I apply in Sydney, need to pay 12 months Thai insurance x 2, A$120 visa x 2, show A$2000 each in bank account then when both wife go to extend our visa's in Thailand before the 90 day expiry, we need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account in my name for X months prior and my wife can use this for her extension too.

During our 6 months stay we can travel to Vietnam if we like and return. ie: this non O allows multi entry?

After 6 months, travel back to Australia keeping the 800,000 baht in Thai bank account.

Before the non O visa expires we travel back to Thailand and enter with the 30 day visa exemption. Then, extend the non O (1900 baht?) for another 12 months (what about insurance?).

Stay another 6 months and repeat.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Perhaps you can now see that there are many ways to stay for 6 months.

Everyone is different.

Thanks DrJack, yes, definitely!

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The non O with extensions based on retirement requires money in the bank all year.

However no exits required.

Your wife could piggyback on your non O.

So confused about the non O-A and O. Been looking up a comparisons of them.

About my "wife can piggyback" on my non O, so no need for the 800,000 x 2?
Wife is Australian citizen too.

Could the non O last two years too if we exit after 6 months and return before the 12 months is up?

Also, weird here: https://sydney.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-type-o-retirement
 

5. Proof of adequate finance

- A bank statement in the past six months showing a deposit account with the minimum fund of AUD 2,000

I'm probably missing something but that's well short of 800,000 baht and doesn't mention it's to be in a Thai bank.
 

8 hours ago, Onerak said:

A TR visa will allow you to stay in Thailand for 60-days. You can extend it once only for an additional 30-day. Extension is 1900 Baht. Extension is easy. 
If you travel twice outside Thailand, TR is the perfect. At the end of 90-day from your above stay, go out of Thailand and enter again with visa exempt. That will give you 30-day. You can again extend it once for another 30-day. That cover 150-days. Exit Thailand again at the end of 150-days and enter again with another visa exempt and that will give you another 30-day. You can extend it again for an additional 30-day. Total of 210 day. Each extension costs you 1900 baht. Exempt entries are free.

Ohh I thought the TR was a mult-entry visa. Actually, thought there was a multi-entry tourist visa but can’t see it on the Australian Thai Embassy site.

Anyway, thanks for this, understand the TR to get the 6 months now but I read in the link above:

“3.5 Confirmed accommodation in Thailand under the applicant’s name.

This accommodation would need to be in both mine and wife’s name to get the TR but we stay at our relatives home. Would this be an issue please?

3 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

There are eligibility rules for OAP like having two years continuous residency before or after application.

 

There is some provisos to that 186-day rule and new legislation from last year is still in the pipeline.

 

I suggest you read the OAP and OAP Portability forums there is info about all of this.

 

Will do thanks, although, we'll be self funded retirees for a while and the two years continuous residency is something to worry about in maybe 20 years. Dunno, things might be totally different by then.

Appreciate replies plus different options!
Thanks.

https://canberra.thaiembassy.org/toursit-visa-category-tr/

This is the TR visa mentioned above from the embassy in Australia. I understand we could pay A$60 each for 3 x 60 day stays making up the 6 months. We would need to travel twice outside Thailand during the time.

...or from a post above stay 60 days, extend 30 days and do this twice. Not sure how much the extension is? Is it easy to extend?

I really like the idea of heading off to Saigon (or elsewhere) for a few days in the middle of the 6 months!

This sounds perfect without the bigger cost of a retirement visa ($300 visa plus the Thai insurance) or having to show money in the back (either Australia or Thailand).

 

12 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

I would suggest that if you are in receipt of the Old Age Pension or part of it, there may be issues with your Oz residency status for your pension and also for your taxation liability. If so, get some expert advice.

Thanks, yes good point but we aren't pensioners (yet) ????
I know about the 186 day rule.

Edit: just want to stay Phuket for 6 months over the tourist season each year.

Thanks Jack, I have no idea why that would make a difference but yes plan is 6 monthly stays ongoing.

Yes that's it thanks.
 

Maybe a problem to get my insurance to fill out their form.

Possibly having to pay for 12 month Thai company insurance.

...and A$300 each for the visa.

Maybe not the cheapest option!

Hi,

Back from a 6 week holiday in Phuket and now thinking of our next trip next year for around 6 months.

Wife and I are both over 50, Aussie passports and wondering the cheapest and/or easiest way to do this?

Not sure there if there is an alternative visa option but I've been looking at the retirement visa. Yes we would waste 6 months of it but seems the easiest.

Looking at the requirement I'm not 100% sure if applying for this visa in Australia I can show our bank account in Australia for the 800,000Baht X 2 with no need to open a bank account in Thailand?

Yes I understand there is also the health insurance requirement too but have a Commbank Visa card that has 6 months free insurance, maybe I can use this?

Thanks,

Not too far Siem Reap, Cambodia?

Take your wife here: http://privilegefloor.com/ a very nice spot to sleep after a day out.

Visit amazing Ankor Wat and some really nice (quiet) spots like Tonle Sap lake. Siem Reap the town is laid back.

If you want to avoid crowds, just don't go to the Bakheng Temple at sunset but it's still great.

1 hour ago, awesome dude said:

Yes there is racism in Australia but mainly towards Australian aboriginals.

I bet the majority of "Australians" have never even interacted with Aboriginals.
 

Random story ...my Thai wife who has worked 20+ years in a hospital in Sydney with patients and staff from many countries. She finds by far the most racist are English/England/British whatever :)

BUT that is just her, next person will tell another story.

On 15/10/2017 at 10:21 PM, ryanhull said:

Cheers all, got the 6mbps today, on a speed test it got 15mb dls and 40ping .

Is that common to get higher speeds than advertised on AIS? My DTAC is just over 4Mbps download and upload.

Hmmm reading all this I might swap to AIS depending on towers.

I'm currently on the 4MB unlimited 30days 500B with DTAC and a 2MB speed increase might be good for another 50B :)

Although, been using the 4MB DTAC to stream Netfix Australia HD ($13.99 one) and it works great. Not seen any buffering. The 4MB seems consistant.

Edit: BTW really like the Thai mobile plans how you choose based on a speed limit. Cheap data compared to Oz where I don't know of any unlimited 4G.

Is there a water "service charge" or is the bill for water usage only?
 

I don't live fulltime here (yet) but wondering about paying bills here.

Can you pay stuff like water, power, internet, car insurance, rego, home telephone etc online?

It seems crazy that my in-laws drive to place to pay bills and this week 1.5hr drive to pay the car rego. Surely some of these bills can be paid direct debit or online?

35 minutes ago, 55Jay said:

I was pleased to see Yellowtail (Shiraz and Merlot) in Villa Market down in BKK, think it was 700 Baht each.

Hmm 700 baht :|
In Sydney, Yellowtail is our go to wine at A$7.50/bottle at Dans.

7 hours ago, Rhys said:

cut your loses...buy a house up country... close to a major city...

Might be cheaper to get some "Here One" earbuds and reduce those nasty frequencies for a few hours a day.

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

This is what my Thai bank charges for incoming TT which I don't mind as it's usually only around 200 baht so thats approx A$8  ...

Thanks, sent A$10K so guess the max. but will charge the account next time to see.

It's crap that there seems to be no statement of exchange rate or fee charged. The person receiving it only uses a bank book for their account which gets stamped. Maybe if they had an online account, this may show details but the bank teller should be able to give it surely!