Getting a Thai Retirement Visa in Australia

[SpokaneAl]

I have no experience with obtaining a non imm multi entry o-a visa in Australia, but do get a new one each year in the USA. In order to get around your issue of having, what we call notarized, the notary signing each page, I create a cover letter that states that all the information is correct and true and have that single page notarized. The Thai Consulate in this neck of the woods has seemed happy with that solution.

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

Have you ever tried to apply for an Australian tourist visa as a citizen of a non OECD country which includes Thailand ?  If you have you will stop complaining. Plus if you wish to stay in Australian over a longterm you will need to be very very rich to buy your way in, while here you need a tip in Australian dollar terms. 

[AboutThaim]

3 hours ago, giddyup said:

If the money is not in a Thai bank it's meaningless. You could have a million bucks in the ANZ won't mean a thing to Thai immigration, and it doesn't mean you'll spend $1of it in Thailand either.  They are only interested in the 800,000 baht being in a Thai bank, but as someone pointed out, you prefer to go down the long and hard road, so any further comments here are superfluous.

Wrong!  I just went through this process for the second time after forgetting the re-entry permit when I left for Australia on the second year of an OA visa.  I have never had 800,000 baht in a Thai bank but was in the process of building up to the amount that was required with my pension as income included (about 300,000 baht).  That was as advised by the IO when I spoke to her about applying for extension when doing 90 day report.  The JP I went to in Qld had no complaints about signing the docs.  Fed. Police check online about $42, bulk billed for medical certificate.  I sent an email to the Canberra embassy about having the docs bound and the reply was “ just staple them together”.  I copied the email and sent it with the docs. My local Flight Centre had their courier take the docs and return the passport with the OA visa in less than a week.

[David Walden]

2 hours ago, giddyup said:

If the money is not in a Thai bank it's meaningless. You could have a million bucks in the ANZ won't mean a thing to Thai immigration, and it doesn't mean you'll spend $1of it in Thailand either.  They are only interested in the 800,000 baht being in a Thai bank, but as someone pointed out, you prefer to go down the long and hard roa.d, so any further comments here are superfluous.

Well yes ...Thailand has a procedure to allow people to apply for a "Thai Retirement Visa" in their home country.  It's really an  O-A multi Entry Visa.   The Royal Thai Embassy in Australia calls it a "Thai Retirement Visa".  You fill out an application form with the required details.  Get a police report, get a medical report,  you get a statement from your bank saying you have equal Bt $800.000 (adds up to Bt 65,000 P/M in a bank in Australia, not Thailand.  You tell them when you might arrive and where you are going to live (that can all change once you get the visa).  You can start the 12 month visa by arriving any time during the next 12 months after issue.  Yes you can get a "Thai Retirement Visa" in Australia up till 12 months before you make a move.  Don't even need to have been in Thailand...once you get the 6 pages application documents required you copy them 3 times to make 3 set of documents bound together, post these documents together with your passport and 3 photocopies to The Royal Thai Embassy Australia (Canberra) together with a return paid envelope and Aus $275 fee.  A total of 18 pages. All pages signed by a JP (not a CD).  A week or so later your Thai Retirement Visa will arrived with a new name "Non-immigrant O-A  M Thai Visa"

 

When all of these documents required are in order you find the JP and get him/her to sign every page (yes 18 pages).  A stat. dec. is not requested.  You have to beg a JP to sign all these pages.  A JPs duty is to witness that Stat decs or affidavits has been made in regard to any documents.  The requirement that these documents be signed by a JP has no more effect in law then any old bloke or lady signing it except where a legal declaration is evident (the stat dec.).  The JPs signature is only required to say he saw you sign your name on a stat. dec. but no one has requested me to sign anything except the original application form and that is not a stat dec. it's just a visa application information form..  "It's all to do about nothing".  To ask any one to place  their signature on any document other then a witness statement could be a crime.

 

Now again... you can have and I have just applied for and received a "Thai Retirement Visa" in Australia at the Royal Thai Embassy in Australia.  It is also on offer in most other Western Countries.  When you have done it once it's not so bad, you can do again if you're back in your home country.

 

The purpose of my post here is to point out that the procedure to getting this "Thai Retirement Visa" in Australia is really fairly simple once you know how to apply.   Its only complicated by Thai Immigration requesting unobtainable items.  Like the police report signed by the state police commissioner asking a JP to peruse his signature saying it's not false, no body adds anything to a Police Commissioner report, not anyone.  Or getting a JP to sign my doctors medical certificate to make sure the doctor is not telling lies.  In Australia this action by a JP could be identified that the JP has added to the document and that would be a crime.  A stat. dec is usually a full page  separate document witnessed by a JP attesting that he/her did see you sign the document in question and that your statement is true under oath.  It's all to do about nothing.

 

Yes it's all just to frivolous 

[David Walden]

23 minutes ago, AboutThaim said:

Wrong!  I just went through this process for the second time after forgetting the re-entry permit when I left for Australia on the second year of an OA visa.  I have never had 800,000 baht in a Thai bank but was in the process of building up to the amount that was required with my pension as income included (about 300,000 baht).  That was as advised by the IO when I spoke to her about applying for extension when doing 90 day report.  The JP I went to in Qld had no complaints about signing the docs.  Fed. Police check online about $42, bulk billed for medical certificate.  I sent an email to the Canberra embassy about having the docs bound and the reply was “ just staple them together”.  I copied the email and sent it with the docs. My local Flight Centre had their courier take the docs and return the passport with the OA visa in less than a week.

Mums the word about doctors bulk billing for medical certificates under Medicare Aus.  You have to pay for these, if the doctor bulk bills it to medicare that's a crime.  The doctor usually bill it as treatment for a bad back or similar.

[giddyup]

1 hour ago, AboutThaim said:

Wrong!  I just went through this process for the second time after forgetting the re-entry permit when I left for Australia on the second year of an OA visa.  I have never had 800,000 baht in a Thai bank but was in the process of building up to the amount that was required with my pension as income included (about 300,000 baht).  That was as advised by the IO when I spoke to her about applying for extension when doing 90 day report.  The JP I went to in Qld had no complaints about signing the docs.  Fed. Police check online about $42, bulk billed for medical certificate.  I sent an email to the Canberra embassy about having the docs bound and the reply was “ just staple them together”.  I copied the email and sent it with the docs. My local Flight Centre had their courier take the docs and return the passport with the OA visa in less than a week.

Don't see anything there to contradict what I said. 

Edited September 13, 2017 by giddyup

[gaviny]

Thailand immigration rules are so farcical, two example are the 24 hours deadline to report
arrival to your residence and the 800000baht in a Thai Bank.
As Ubonjoe has stated even though someone has arrived in Thailand , you only report to where you reside, my question is how on earth do they know when you finally arrive at your residence after spending time elsewhere in Thailand?
Secondly , why is 800000baht in an overseas account irrelevant , the 65000baht required monthly could be acessed from that very account.


Sent from my SM-N920I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[AboutThaim]

9 hours ago, David Walden said:

Mums the word about doctors bulk billing for medical certificates under Medicare Aus.  You have to pay for these, if the doctor bulk bills it to medicare that's a crime.  The doctor usually bill it as treatment for a bad back or similar.

I was seeing the doc about medical matters at the time and had him fill it out during a legit consultation.

[AboutThaim]

8 hours ago, giddyup said:

Don't see anything there to contradict what I said. 

Well I guess I didn't spell it out but you said a million dollars in an Australian bank would be meaningless to Thai immigration.  I had (a tad) less than that in my Australian bank both times I applied for the OA visa.  In fact I used the combination rule to get over the 800,000 baht line.  I think that contradicts your “meaningless” statement.

[David Walden]

13 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Mate in my honest opinion you went the wrong way about it, open a Thai bank account when you are over here, join BahtSmart, they do transfers, don't charge, and give a good rate. The process is easy, and you can transfer the 800,000 3 months prior to your renewal date, I do 4 months before.

 

Sure leave your money in Oz as I do, but a smart move is to open an account here, to use daily to survive.

 

You have a lot to learn, if your willing to, or keep going your way and enjoy the stress.

 

Either ways, good luck, the fella's here on TVF live here and have 1st hand knowledge and experience to share, if your willing to 'accept' what you hear.

4MyEgo...Your advice so far I believe is the best...After me studying up ALL  about getting a "Thai Retirement Visas" in Thailand or Australia and  it now!! being at it for 5 years I can celebrate some success.

My reason for engaging in this post is like an old clique I like to use  "I wrote you a 5 page letter because I didn't have time to write you a 1 page letter?"  Thailand simply needs get its act together and make it easy for all visa recipients to succeed without all the unnecessary and complicated delays.  

 

I have found that in the circles I mix with in Thailand the most common way to get a "Thai Retirement Visa" is to pay a corrupt legal firm or other persons who can make it all happen (usually 3/4 days) all for a nice donation of Bt 30,000 or Bt15,000 for a renewal (mostly for those who do not have the required funds).  I just wanted to do it all legal and above board.  I'd  like to Thai Immigration get rid of all the  

RED TAPE and FRIVOLOUS FRIVOLITY

 

 

 

 

oLOS FRIVOLITY 

[giddyup]

Thailand simply needs get its act together and make it easy for all visa recipients to succeed without all the unnecessary and complicated delays.  

 

It is easy, thousands of expats here proves it, you just complicated it for yourself.

[wgdanson]

6 hours ago, gaviny said:

Thailand immigration rules are so farcical, two example are the 24 hours deadline to report
arrival to your residence and the 800000baht in a Thai Bank.
As Ubonjoe has stated even though someone has arrived in Thailand , you only report to where you reside, my question is how on earth do they know when you finally arrive at your residence after spending time elsewhere in Thailand?
Secondly , why is 800000baht in an overseas account irrelevant , the 65000baht required monthly could be acessed from that very account.


Sent from my SM-N920I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The hotels are supposed to say where you are until you get 'home'.

 

Just move some of your 800,000 to another of your accounts on 1st of every month, 65,000 BHts worth. And move it back on say 20th. The Consulate letter is only interested in INCOME not what goes out.

Edited September 14, 2017 by wgdanson

[David Walden]

18 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Thailand simply needs get its act together and make it easy for all visa recipients to succeed without all the unnecessary and complicated delays.  

 

It is easy, thousands of expats here proves it, you just complicated it for yourself.

I' m the first to agree but it is time for Thailand to stop leading people up the garden path no nowhere.

[giddyup]

Thailand immigration rules are so farcical

 

Perhaps you might look at what is required by Australian immigration so you can remain in Australia indefinitely. It will make Thai immigration look like a walk in the park. There is no point bitching about it, it's their country, they decide what conditions have to be met.

[giddyup]

Just now, David Walden said:

I' m the first to agree but it is time for Thailand to stop leading people up the garden path no nowhere.

It seems this has only happened to you. As I said there are thousands of expats living in Thailand who all navigated the simple process of obtaining a retirement visa without any problems. You admit yourself that you f*cked up your first attempt to get the visa, and now you want to blame Thailand for your problems. Consider yourself lucky that they allow you to live here at all, and that you don't have to jump through the hoops that they would make you do if it was the reverse, moving from Thailand to Australia.

[StevieAus]

15 hours ago, David Walden said:

Yes you can butttt... you have to have about Aus $1,000,000 in a bank.  You have to build a house, not buy one, and have extensive medical insurance.  No free loaders in Aus.

Exactly you have confirmed my point as to how relatively easy it is in Thailand

[4MyEgo]

46 minutes ago, David Walden said:

4MyEgo...Your advice so far I believe is the best...After me studying up ALL  about getting a "Thai Retirement Visas" in Thailand or Australia and  it now!! being at it for 5 years I can celebrate some success.

My reason for engaging in this post is like an old clique I like to use  "I wrote you a 5 page letter because I didn't have time to write you a 1 page letter?"  Thailand simply needs get its act together and make it easy for all visa recipients to succeed without all the unnecessary and complicated delays.  

 

I have found that in the circles I mix with in Thailand the most common way to get a "Thai Retirement Visa" is to pay a corrupt legal firm or other persons who can make it all happen (usually 3/4 days) all for a nice donation of Bt 30,000 or Bt15,000 for a renewal (mostly for those who do not have the required funds).  I just wanted to do it all legal and above board.  I'd  like to Thai Immigration get rid of all the  

RED TAPE and FRIVOLOUS FRIVOLITY

 

 

 

 

oLOS FRIVOLITY 

David....I think the first thing you have to accept here in Thailand or anywhere else you deal with a Thai Embassy/Consul is, that they have their policies and procedures, and there is no way of getting around it, so the sooner one accepts it, the sooner one moves forward, and as much as I don't like the 90 day reporting to immigration on my annual extension of stay, e.g. its an hour and 30 minutes in each direction from where I live in Isaan, the paperwork, money in bank 3 months before, bank letter, photos upon renewal etc etc, I now look at it as a task that has to be done and accept it, because if I don't, I am just causing aggravation to myself, their country, their rules, as stupid as it seems and inconveniences us, but if we want to live here, we have to tow the line so to speak.

 

Forget the 30,000 and 15,000 under the table, do it the legal way, as I am opposed at feeding the corrupt officials, and it appears that you can sustain the amount required for the retirement extension of stay that you require.

 

There are some really helpful people here on TVF and as usual, the not so helpful, who want to have a go, so just side step those ones when they kick you their hot angry ball, just keep reading on.

 

When you do eventually get over here, just smile, duck and weave, because it is the way it is, their culture, their country, we are just visitors, and trying to impose or have our system that we are used to in Thailand, just ain't going to work.

 

Happy stay, be seeing you around on TVF

 

 

Edited September 14, 2017 by 4MyEgo

[giddyup]

•  

49 minutes ago, David Walden said:

David....I think the first thing you have to accept here in Thailand or anywhere else you deal with a Thai Embassy/Consul, they have their policies and procedures, and there is no way of getting around it, so the sooner one accepts it, the sooner one moves forward, and as much as I don't like the 90 day reporting to immigration on my annual extension of stay, e.g. its an hour and 30 minutes in each direction from where I live in Isaan, the paperwork, money in bank 3 months before, bank letter, photos upon renewal etc etc

 

Can't your 90 day report be done online now? I live within a 15 minute drive of immigration so it's really no hassle to devote 30 minutes of my time every 90 days. The yearly renewal involves a letter from my bank confirming I have 800,000 baht, a visit to immigration with a couple of photos and photocopies of visa stamps etc, this takes in all maybe an hour. So in 12 months it has cost me maybe a couple of hours of my time, and in 8 years never had a problem, so I'm not sure if it really could be any easier or simpler.

[David Walden]

19 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

The hotels are supposed to say where you are until you get 'home'.

 

Just move some of your 800,000 to another of your accounts on 1st of every month, 65,000 BHts worth. And move it back on say 20th. The Consulate letter is only interested in INCOME not what goes out.

EG...if you apply for a 60 day +30 day Thai Tourist Visa at Perth Consulate you have to state that you have Aus $800 in a bank and submit a current min 3 day old original bank statement as proof ( this requirement can take all day from and online a/c, almost impossible).  You also have to show your date of arrival with a paid for e-ticket and show a confirmed hotel reservation, an application form, a passport photo, must be less then 6 months old, your pass port and a photocopy.  I'm from the country so all of this goes in a registered letter and a return paid envelope  .

 

I forgot to put the photocopy passport in with my application...the Perth Consul rang me and told me I forgot to put the photocopy of passport in so all would be returned so I could do so.  I asked "could he do it for me"  The Consul said "no, we are not allowed to make photocopies for applicants, rules are rules and we do not break rules"...as a result all was posted back to my country address I made a photocopy of the passport, posted it all back in another registered letter

 

Now all okay all told this procedure took 18 days.  I got the tourist visa OK but the thing looking me in the eye was that the new visa stated I could arrive in Thailand to use the visa anytime within 90 days.       The bit about requiring a confirmed e-ticket and a hotel booking was not required either.  To get a 90 day tourist visa in Malaysia takes about 30 seconds...on arrival.

 

The next time me applying for a 60 day + 30 day Thai Tourist Visa I rang Sydney Consul, told him my previous experience he said "what a lot of rubbish just send your application to us don't worry about the bank bit or e-tickets or a hotel booking you can make up your mind when you go anytime in the next 90 days and to boot we would love to have you, we really really want tourist like you"  The price for the visa was then $45.  The Sydney Consul returned my money order with a nice hand written note "Tourist visa are free at the moment and have a nice time for your holiday"

 

Thai Consulates in Australia are about as different as chalk and cheese as it seems the same everywhere in the World  Frivolous...I love that word.  It fits in Thailand just perfect     

[giddyup]

Frivolous...I love that word.  It fits in Thailand just perfect     

Not sure why you even want to live here, you don't seem to have a very high opinion of the country or it's requirements. Or are you trying to get as much mileage out of this thread as you can?

[David Walden]

6 minutes ago, giddyup said:

Frivolous...I love that word.  It fits in Thailand just perfect     

Not sure why you even want to live here, you don't seem to have a very high opinion of the country or it's requirements. Or are you trying to get as much mileage out of this thread as you can?

Oh but I just love the people in Thailand warts and all it's just all he frivolous frivolity with immigration I don't like.  I think I'm Normal.

Edited September 14, 2017 by David Walden

[giddyup]

12 minutes ago, David Walden said:

Oh but I just love the people in Thailand warts and all it's just all he frivolous frivolity with immigration don't like.

A frivolous situation that you created for yourself. I give you a word of warning, sometimes the level of unnecessary bureacracy in Thailand can be annoying, but if you show the least sign of frustration they will make life difficult for  you. You have to develop a high level of tolerance and learn to roll with the punches, and that goes for other things like driving a car here. Keep your nose clean and life here is a breeze.

Edited September 14, 2017 by giddyup

[gaviny]

The hotels are supposed to say where you are until you get 'home'.
 
Just move some of your 800,000 to another of your accounts on 1st of every month, 65,000 BHts worth. And move it back on say 20th. The Consulate letter is only interested in INCOME not what goes out.

Thanks for this useful info as my rental incomes fluctuates between months due to rates , maintenance etc , sometimes it goes below the threshold.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[gaviny]

Thailand immigration rules are so farcical
 
Perhaps you might look at what is required by Australian immigration so you can remain in Australia indefinitely. It will make Thai immigration look like a walk in the park. There is no point bitching about it, it's their country, they decide what conditions have to be met.

I agree with you , their country , their rules, but monies in Oz account being irrelevant is absurd Imho.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[giddyup]

7 minutes ago, gaviny said:

I agree with you , their country , their rules, but monies in Oz account being irrelevant is absurd Imho.

Sent from my SM-N920I using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

If you say that they accept (in Australia) money being in an Aussie bank to qualify, I won't argue with you, but they certainly won't in Thailand. You have two choices here, either the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account, or a stat dec from the Aussie embassy stating that your earnings are sufficient to qualify. Neither of which is a hard thing to do, but if people prefer to jump through hoops to get their visa from the Aussie end, up to them.

Edited September 14, 2017 by giddyup

[David Walden]

1 hour ago, giddyup said:

Thailand immigration rules are so farcical

 

Perhaps you might look at what is required by Australian immigration so you can remain in Australia indefinitely. It will make Thai immigration look like a walk in the park. There is no point bitching about it, it's their country, they decide what conditions have to be met.

I'm not bitching about Lovely Thailand.  Would you believe I'm trying to help?  When I ride around Cha-am on my motorbike having a cheap lengthy holiday and see the 20,000 never occupied condos for sale and the only 20% or less  occupied hotels, restaurant and massage girls going broke, I get a weepy...true.  Thailand has the greatest tourist potential in the world by a country mile   I try to support them the best I can, I put much of my efforts with the massage girls (bloody good) and other things?   I'd like to help them all and get the powers that be put their thinking caps on and rev things up, things could be much better .  I can only do so much...Bless them all, bless them all, the long and tall and the short  La! La! La!!!

[giddyup]

3 minutes ago, David Walden said:

I'm not bitching about Lovely Thailand.  Would you believe I'm trying to help?  When I ride around Cha-am on my motorbike having a cheap lengthy holiday and see the 20,000 never occupied condos for sale and the only 20% or less  occupied hotels, restaurant and massage girls going broke, I get a weepy...true.  Thailand has the greatest tourist potential in the world by a country mile   I try to support them the best I can, I put much of my efforts with the massage girls (bloody good) and other things?   I'd like to help them all and get the powers that be put their thinking caps on and rev things up, things could be much better .  I can only do so much...Bless them all, bless them all, the long and tall and the short  La! La! La!!!

I think I've heard enough. Good luck trying to get them to change their ways, and pretty arrogant to want to do so.

Edited September 14, 2017 by giddyup

[David Walden]

32 minutes ago, giddyup said:

A frivolous situation that you created for yourself. I give you a word of warning, sometimes the level of unnecessary bureacracy in Thailand can be annoying, but if you show the least sign of frustration they will make life difficult for  you. You have to develop a high level of tolerance and learn to roll with the punches, and that goes for other things like driving a car here. Keep your nose clean and life here is a breeze.

I agree with that is what I'm all about.

[David Walden]

2 minutes ago, giddyup said:

I think I've heard enough. Good luck trying to get them to change their ways, and pretty arrogant to want to do so.

Where there is a will there is a way.

[giddyup]

Just now, David Walden said:

I agree with that is what I'm all about.

I'd like to help them all and get the powers that be put their thinking caps on and rev things up, things could be much better .

 

Doesn't sound like it to me.