O Visa For Retirement

[jdean]

I am a 62 year old American citizen living in Phuket. Is it possible for me to get an Non Imm "O" visa (maybe even multiple entry) for purposes of applying for a Retirement visa? Easiest to get to are Singapore, KL and Penang. I saw one post which said you can if you show a Thai Bank Account with 400,000 Baht in it. Someone else told me you can actually apply for the Retirement visa in Penang if you show the bank account.

[lopburi3]

If you wish to stay in Thailand on a yearly basis you need 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or have 65k per month pension/income as stated in a letter from your Embassy or a combination of the two. You do this at an immigration office inside Thailand on any non immigrant visa or after converting a tourist visa (or even a 30 day visa free entry) with 21 days or more remaining on permitted to stay stamp. If you can obtain a non immigrant O visa so much the better (one 2,000 baht step removed) but it is not required.

A non immigrant O visa is normally issued for family visits these days. If you find a Consulate willing to issue for other reasons it is not likely to be in this area anymore I suspect. Singapore will not even issue a multi entry for marriage without seeing 400k baht in a bank account now (suspect that is what you believed to be for retirement - although Penang used to issue with such proof to those over age 50). But I have not seen any reports either way (most are using in country conversion these days) so would suggest you call the Consulate you intend to visit to get the latest word if you want to take that course.

[dclaryjr]

If you wish to stay in Thailand on a yearly basis you need 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or have 65k per month pension/income as stated in a letter from your Embassy or a combination of the two.

How is it determined if "a combination of the two" meets the requirement? Is there a formula??

[Dave the Dude]

If you wish to stay in Thailand on a yearly basis you need 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or have 65k per month pension/income as stated in a letter from your Embassy or a combination of the two.

How is it determined if "a combination of the two" meets the requirement? Is there a formula??

Hi dclaryjr

i believe if your pension/income is below 800k, the difference should be shown to have been in the bank account for 3 months prior to application.Thats how I read the rules,as I'm in the same situation.

Regards

Edited February 3, 2007 by Dave the Dude

[Sojourner]

If you wish to stay in Thailand on a yearly basis you need 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or have 65k per month pension/income as stated in a letter from your Embassy or a combination of the two.

How is it determined if "a combination of the two" meets the requirement? Is there a formula??

If your monthly pension is less than 65k and you want to know what your minimum balance in the bank needs to be simply multiply your monthly pension by 12 then subtract that amount from 800k. The result will be your minimum requirement in the bank. My experience at Chiang Mai Immigration is that even if you have the full 65k coming in every month, they want to see a few hundred thousand in the bank.

[dclaryjr]

If your monthly pension is less than 65k and you want to know what your minimum balance in the bank needs to be simply multiply your monthly pension by 12 then subtract that amount from 800k. The result will be your minimum requirement in the bank. My experience at Chiang Mai Immigration is that even if you have the full 65k coming in every month, they want to see a few hundred thousand in the bank.

Got it! I never thought about it before because by my calculations, I project my retirement income to be more than enough. Of course, I did those calculations at 42 to 1, then 40 to 1, then ..............

Thanks!