From tourist to retiree - the process

[dexter62]

I'm 50 and trying to figure out how to retire in Chiang Mai and wanted to confirm my understanding.

I'm currently here on a tourist visa, so I need to:
- convert that to a Non-Immigrant O (TM86, requires THB 800,000 to be sent from overseas) which gives me 90 days
- in the last 30 days, apply for an extension of stay (TM7), which gives me one year

 

I was looking for the requirements for the extension of stay, but all I could find was this: https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_22. But visas are not the same as extensions of stay, so is this the right page? The "extension of temporary stay" section doesnt have anything pertaining to retirement: https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_visa_extension_15_all

 

Once I get the one year extension of stay, I can stay for the full year, without having to leave the country every 90 days, correct? I just have to report in every 90 days.

 

Then, in the last 30 days, I just apply for another extension of stay, and repeat until I shuffle off this mortal coil.

 

TIA. I know this stuff has been done to death here, but the information is scattered all over the place ????

[ubonjoe]

The requirements for non immigrant visa application  is under change visa on the site. But the change page has nothing correct for the basis of them due to translation errors. When looking for one I don't know from memory I select Thai language and use Google translate to find the correct one.

The correct one is here. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80 

Note the error at the top of the page and read the part with a blue background.

[dexter62]

Thank you. I think I got that link from one of your other posts, and I was looking for the equivalent page for extension of stay.

 

I found it useful to print these things off, in Thai and English, and showing it to the bank staff when asking about getting documents. Plus, it's the official word on what the requirements are, assuming they're kept up to date, of course.

 

And am I correct in understanding that I don't need to leave every 90 days?

[dexter62]

And I know what you mean about having trouble finding documents. The download page on Chiang Mai Immigration site is all in Thai, even for the English version, so I had to download each file looking for the ones I want!

[buick]

i did this 'change visa' in bangkok, i assume the process is the same in chiang mai.  i had to make two visits to immigration, one to apply for the change, then an approx. two week wait period, then returned to get the official non imm O 90 day stamp.  your 90 days will start from the date of the application, not the date it is stamped into your passport.  then within the last 30 days of that 90 days, you go to immigration to get your extension of stay (1 year).

 

i was trying to make it such that my annual renewal of the extension of stay hit in a particular month, due to my annual travel schedule and holidays/days in a month where immigration is closed.  i was surprised the application date was the start of the 90 days and thereby determined the end of the 90 days (assumed it would be the date it was stamped in the passport).   not a complaint, just pointing this out in case it applies to your situation.

 

 

[dexter62]

Thank you for that, that's very useful to know. I might have to go overseas next year, probably for more than a few months, so that's why I need to be sure if my extension of stay lets me stay for a year or for 90 days, but when the clock starts is going to be relevant as well.

 

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, dexter62 said:

And am I correct in understanding that I don't need to leave every 90 days?

The extension of stay is issued for one year. No need to leave the country unless you want to for that year.

You only need to do reports of staying longer than 90 days at immigration if you stay in the country that long.

You will need a re-entry permit if you want travel to keep the extension valid when you return from a trip. A single is 1000 baht and a multiple 3800 baht. Both are valid for entry to the date your extension ends and that is the date you will be stamped into the country.

Most forms needed are here in this pinned topic. https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/631223-immigration-templates/?do=findComment&comment=11882320

 

[dexter62]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The extension of stay is issued for one year. No need to leave the country unless you want to for that year.

 

 

Thanks, that was what I was looking for.

 

I think I must have been getting things confused with another visa, maybe multi-entry O obtained from overseas?, where you have to bounce every 90 days.