Are Thai Retirement Visa Requirements Changing

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

Was on YouTube checking out various subscriptions and I noticed the two videos on Integrity Legal Thailand's channel. Interested changed coming, if this is indeed the case. Thoughts? If these changes are coming down the road, should we assume something happening to marriage visas down the line?

 

Video 1 

 

Video 2

 

[tonray]

Integrity and Legal are two words that should never be in the same sentence

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

if this is indeed the case. Thoughts?

He is just speculating. I recommend to ignore this guy.

[DrJack54]

The blonde chap shouldn't be allowed near a camera.

I want see him in a Jackie Chan movie.

[pattaya1234was]

He suggests having 1.2 million in the bank rather than the present 800,000 baht. With the banks only guaranteeing 1m baht I think this unlikely.

[LarrySR]

GOOGLE : Thai retirement VISA 1.2 million baht.

 

 

 

 

[anchadian]

'The law is our business'.....what a complete joke.

Edited November 9, 2021 by anchadian

[sqwakvfr]

The 1.2 Million Baht and the 100,000 Baht was posted on the Los Angeles Thai Consulate website for about  a week.  I just checked the website now and this is what is posted:

 

4.   Bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing
      – a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht; or
      – an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht; or 
      – a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht. 
      – In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank
        (an original copy) is required. 

[tonray]

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

The 1.2 Million Baht and the 100,000 Baht was posted on the Los Angeles Thai Consulate website for about  a week.  I just checked the website now and this is what is posted:

 

4.   Bank statement or evidence of adequate finance showing
      – a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht; or
      – an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht; or 
      – a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht. 
      – In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank
        (an original copy) is required. 

It most certainly was a cut and paste error on the site....but.....it would certainly not surprise me in the least if over the next year or so Thailand does increase the requirements as all they keep saying is they want to attract the well heeled (and in unwritten speak that means forcing out the rest of us by default)

[Robin]

For me, here on a retirement visa for some years, these new insurance requirements for Thailand Pass, mean the end of Thailand as a retirement country.

I want to retire to somewhere that I can travel from as I want, and Thailand has ceased to be this place.

I am here on a Non"O" visa, so for the moment I can stay with no Insurance required, but for how long?  Will the Junta, having closed Thailand for new retirees, soon start closing the loopholes like Non O for excising retirees?

Looking elsewhere on this Forum, I have seen a recommended health insurance policy (from WR)  which quotes me $2277 annually for the cover that Thailand now wants.   So basically this is added to the cost of living, retired, in Thailand.  Throw in the suggested 1.2M Baht in the bank, and thsi will be the end of Thailand as a retirement destination.  If I cannot travel back to my home country (UK) at least once a year, i do not really want to be here..

Am I the only person who feels like this?

[grain]

I've been expecting the financial requirements to be increased for the past couple of years, and it won't surprise me one bit to see them go up next year. My guess is 1.2 mill will become the new requirement, possibly 1.5 mill, but unlikely to be more than that. Of course this is just my hunch. Medical insurance also seems to be something they are inching towards as a requirement for all foreigners. And if so this will spell the end for many aged retirees, me included, who won't be able to get, or afford, medical insurance. Now's the time to be putting some thought to preparing a Plan B.

[Digitalbanana]

He's a click baiter - been playing the game for years.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Digitalbanana

[david555]

1 hour ago, pattaya1234was said:

He suggests having 1.2 million in the bank rather than the present 800,000 baht. With the banks only guaranteeing 1m baht I think this unlikely.

Why not ...? as you can take out half of that 800K after5 month's for 7 month's under your own hands/pillow ???? .... so lower the risk if you are concerned about the " 1 million deposit protection only "  ????

[Salerno]

4 minutes ago, grain said:

My guess is 1.2 mill will become the new requirement, possibly 1.5 mill, but unlikely to be more than that.

Unless they change the bank guarantee back I can't see them going above 1 million. Before the O-A insurance kicked in it would be a safe bet they'd grandfather existing retirees, since then a precedent has been set so interesting times.

[Ginkas]

This brings back memories.

Some years ago, when Taksin was Prime Minister, the heads of each immigration office were called to Bangkok.

They were told the retirement requirements were being raised to 1.2 million baht and in four years were to be raised to 2 million.

I was 'warned' about this by the head of our immigration office who I knew well, but who has since retired.

 

The following year, with no increase, I was told that with the ousting of the PM it was not thought appropriate to bring in the increases!

Maybe, after all these years they are finally going to do it?

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

10 hours ago, pattaya1234was said:

He suggests having 1.2 million in the bank rather than the present 800,000 baht. With the banks only guaranteeing 1m baht I think this unlikely.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Richard 2020]

Who says that 1.2 million Thai Baht must be in only one account...???

So one account with 600.000.-THB and another one with 600.000.-THB

Where would be the problem??

Anyone who has more than 1 million THB in one account is not only reckless, but also stupid ????

[matta01]

AUD 54,545 now = +/- 1.200000 Thb

 

https://sydney.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-visa-type-o-a?fbclid=IwAR2A-TeOGWzTSzKniTWQb7BZ3cZRiPpE5RmOjoVnvPUrKwXUizeMhmKTpRU

 

 

 

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

1 hour ago, Richard 2020 said:

Who says that 1.2 million Thai Baht must be in only one account...???

So one account with 600.000.-THB and another one with 600.000.-THB

Where would be the problem??

Anyone who has more than 1 million THB in one account is not only reckless, but also stupid ????

Not sure about Thailand, but here in the US FDIC insurance ($250K USD) covers all accounts in that bank in total. Not individual accounts.  So, if you had two accounts both with $250K. only one of those accounts would be covered by the insurance.

[bokningar]

20 minutes ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

Not sure about Thailand, but here in the US FDIC insurance ($250K USD) covers all accounts in that bank in total. Not individual accounts.  So, if you had two accounts both with $250K. only one of those accounts would be covered by the insurance.

The solution would be to use 2 different banks. 

Then at the other hand, just to open a bank account in Thailand is a bit hit and miss. 

[Boyn]

The more i read on this site the more im thinking that retiring to LOS is a bad idea.

But the missus wants to go home and it is a country ive loved for over 30 years so what do i do?

 

[HappyGoLuckyLife]

5 hours ago, bokningar said:

The solution would be to use 2 different banks. 

I thought the visa requirement funds had to be in a single account?

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, HappyGoLuckyLife said:

I thought the visa requirement funds had to be in a single account?

Not true but using multiple accounts and/or banks complicates things and officers like things to be simpler.

Edited November 9, 2021 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, Boyn said:

The more i read on this site the more im thinking that retiring to LOS is a bad idea.

But the missus wants to go home and it is a country ive loved for over 30 years so what do i do?

 

Well you could use a marriage visa. However, overall, I would not recommend Thailand for retirement except for the very wealthy (because that's the group that is actually WELCOME here).  Better to choose a country that offers a path to permanent residency or even citizenship and even better entry into their health care system. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Thailand is a bad place to retire purely as a place to LIVE. It's actually quite good. The problem is the VISA SYSTEM. 

Edited November 9, 2021 by Jingthing

[talahtnut]

You can save heaps of cash and heaps of hassle staying in your home

country,  just buy a pair of Long Johns and a waterproof hat and enjoy

the winter with the extra cash.  Right click for more options.

Thailands not really what it used to be, the playgrounds gone.

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Not true but using multiple accounts and/or banks complicates things and officers like things to be simpler.

me too. I am a simple man. 

[1FinickyOne]

22 minutes ago, talahtnut said:

Thailands not really what it used to be, the playgrounds gone.

or you just outgrew it?

[tonray]

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

the very wealthy (because that's the group that is actually WELCOME here). 

Correction...they despise them just as much as us...they want their money is all

[itsari]

I read an Australians post on news in Chiang Mai Facebook that the minimum requirement for funds will increase to 1.2 million baht .

 

[tonray]

19 minutes ago, itsari said:

I read an Australians post on news in Chiang Mai Facebook that the minimum requirement for funds will increase to 1.2 million baht .

 

Well that settles it....who's going to question a facebook post from an Aussie in Chiang Mai ?