How safe is the retirement visa as a strategy to live in Thailand permanently?

[youreavinalaff]

13 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Can't you guys just agree we are allowed to stay another year based on retirement visa. Not that complicated?

Can't agree on that because it's not correct. 

[donmuang37]

On 1/30/2025 at 12:40 PM, Gaccha said:

The issue might be the problems of aging and the logistics involved in conforming to immigration law. You can usually do the 90 days online now, so you can limit having to visit the Immigration Office to (1) once a year for the extension, and (2) every time you travel you'll have to do a 90 days notice in-person.

 

The laws occasionally change, and that is generally harder for the elderly to handle. But as long as you keep watch on this forum it should be fine.

 

But if you reach 90 years, then I can imagine that it will become a struggle. But then life is always a struggle. 

Well, I'm 87 and I do my 90 online.  Occasionally, it doesn't work, so my younger wife does it for me.  For my annual extension, I simply go in with my wife and we do it ourselves.  I prepare all the documents  in advance and get a letter from K-Bank the day I apply.  I do use a wheeled walker for long distances, but it is no problem at Chiang Wattana.  Planning to return to the USA soon for about a year.  That trip may be a challenge.

[Confuscious]

I was told by the ThaiVisa/AseanNow guru's and Mod's many times that there is no such thing as a "Retirement visa".
Things has obviously been changed since then and now there exsists a "Retirment Visa".

[Cameroni]

On 1/30/2025 at 6:40 AM, Gaccha said:

The issue might be the problems of aging and the logistics involved in conforming to immigration law. You can usually do the 90 days online now, so you can limit having to visit the Immigration Office to (1) once a year for the extension, and (2) every time you travel you'll have to do a 90 days notice in-person.

 

The laws occasionally change, and that is generally harder for the elderly to handle. But as long as you keep watch on this forum it should be fine.

 

But if you reach 90 years, then I can imagine that it will become a struggle. But then life is always a struggle. 

 

First congratulations on taking a very, very long-sighted view. That's very wise and laudable.

 

Right now I have no issue to go to Pattaya once a year. If in 40 years I do find it a struggle, I'd still do it. What doesn't kill me only makes me stronger. Thailand at any cost. 

 

If Donmuang can make it to the USA at 87, I'm pretty sure I can make it to Pattaya.

[Hummin]

3 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

Can't agree on that because it's not correct. 

Thai Retirement Visa

If you’re over 50 years of age, the Retirement Visa Thailand gives you the chance to spend your golden years in Thailand with fewer hassles. Before acquiring it, you will need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa before converting it to a Thai Retirement Visa, which will allow you to extend your visa up to a year. You can also renew it every year, allowing you to extend your stay indefinitely, as long as you continue to meet the requirements

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/1-Year-Thailand-Visa.php

[oldcpu]

11 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Thai Retirement Visa

If you’re over 50 years of age, the Retirement Visa Thailand gives you the chance to spend your golden years in Thailand with fewer hassles. Before acquiring it, you will need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa before converting it to a Thai Retirement Visa, which will allow you to extend your visa up to a year. You can also renew it every year, allowing you to extend your stay indefinitely, as long as you continue to meet the requirements

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/1-Year-Thailand-Visa.php

Siam legal?  < sigh  >

[Liverpool Lou]

On 1/30/2025 at 1:11 PM, Digitalbanana said:

Your thread should be titled "How safe is the agent supplied retirement ....".  Many of us just do it ourselves so there are no surprises as immigration law is very clear.

Does Immigration law state that using an agent is not permitted?   It has never been an issue for many decades so why are you expecting "surprises" or are you just fear-mongering?

[Hummin]

8 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

Siam legal?  < sigh  >

Fair enough, but good enough

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, Hummin said:

I'm and many with me is okay with this description 

No offense however the scribble you quoted from Siam Legal is a nonsense.

It's a simplistic statement for folk that require that. 

In the same way that immigration offices have signs in different locations stating "VISA EXTENSION"

 

Most folk that advise on the forum let terms such as "retirement visa" slide. 

There is no such thing as retirement Visa. 

At the very best the term was used to describe Non O-A 

 

 

[youreavinalaff]

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Thai Retirement Visa

If you’re over 50 years of age, the Retirement Visa Thailand gives you the chance to spend your golden years in Thailand with fewer hassles. Before acquiring it, you will need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa before converting it to a Thai Retirement Visa, which will allow you to extend your visa up to a year. You can also renew it every year, allowing you to extend your stay indefinitely, as long as you continue to meet the requirements

 

https://www.siam-legal.com/thailand-visa/1-Year-Thailand-Visa.php

Incorrect. Nothing is converted. You stay in Thailand with a permission to stay. That is extended, not the visa.

[Kerryd]

It is safe - if YOU follow the rules and meet the requirements.

In other words - do what you are supposed to do to live here legally.

There is no need to use an agent - unless you do not meet the requirements.

An Extension of Temporary Stay costs 1,900 baht. That's it.
Add a couple hundred baht for photos and photocopies every couple of years.

I put my 800k in a Fixed Term account the year before I could apply for a Non-O (and then apply for an Extension).

That money has sat there ever since. Doesn't earn a lot of interest but technically it earns more than enough to pay the fee for my annual Extension as well as those photocopies/photos and a Re-Entry permit or two. And I never have to worry about "topping up" the account or withdrawing "too much" or having to pay an "agent" to scam the requirements.

I've done 13 Extensions so far with NO problems and don't use an agent.

15 years ago, my 77 year old dad who was dying of lung cancer was still able to go to Immigration to apply for his Extension - 6 weeks before he died.

If he could do it - without an agent, there's no reason anyone else can't.

Pro tip: It's the SAME paperwork and photocopies needed every year. THINK about it and prepare it AHEAD of time. Get your photocopies done, update your bank book the day before you go. Sign your photocopies.

If you don't have a computer/printer, get extra copies of the TM.47 from Immigration and photocopy them and make extra copies of the required passport pages.

Each year it takes me barely 15 minutes to update and print the TM.47, print the scans of my passport pages, attach a photo and sign all the paperwork. A quick run to the bank to update my bank book and get my "bank letter".

When you arrive at Immigration all your paperwork should be 100% complete. It takes me maybe 4-5 minutes with the IO from the time I hand over my paperwork until I've paid the fee and he's taken my photo (with the "ticket number") and I'm heading for the door.

Pro tip: Take a pen with you so you can sign all the pages you didn't bother doing beforehand or the photocopies you decided you might not need this time.

Pro tip: SHOWER and wear CLEAN clothes before going to Immigration. Seriously - WTF are you thinking when you show up stinking of body odour and looking like you haven't changed your clothes in weeks ?

And yes - I HAVE seen people sit down with an IO and hand over their passport and bank book - and then expect the IO to fill out the paperwork and make the photocopies for them. (And of course they are ahead of me in line every time.)

And yes, there are always people who "forgot" to make photocopies or sign half their paperwork and need a pen.

And yes, far too often I've had to stand in line with people who stunk so bad it almost made you retch. And it sucks when they are directly behind you and you approach the desk/IO and they see you and then get hit with the smell and think it's you. (I've even made eye contact with an IO, pointed at my nose and then behind me so he knew it wasn't me that stunk so bad.)

I spent 10 years working in Afghanistan and you could literally smell them from 500 meters away if the breeze was right - and they didn't smell as bad as some people I've seen at Jomtien Immigration.

And people wonder why so many of the Immigration Officers seem to be in a bad mood all the time.

(Another good reason to show up really early - to catch them before their mood turns really sour !)

Still shake my head when people claim they'd rather pay an agent 20,000+ baht to get their Extension for them - because they "can't be bothered" to spend 15 minutes to do the paperwork themselves and only pay 1,900 baht instead.

Uh huh. 

 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

I've done 13 Extensions so far with NO problems and don't use an agent.

Good for you.

The OP is using an agent.

The thread is not a out legality or otherwise of agents.

22 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Still shake my head when people claim they'd rather pay an agent 20,000+ baht to get their Extension for them - because they "can't be bothered" to spend 15 minutes to do the paperwork themselves and only pay 1,900 baht instead.

You have an opinion fine.

Many see it differently.

[Hummin]

12 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

No offense however the scribble you quoted from Siam Legal is a nonsense.

It's a simplistic statement for folk that require that. 

In the same way that immigration offices have signs in different locations stating "VISA EXTENSION"

 

Most folk that advise on the forum let terms such as "retirement visa" slide. 

There is no such thing as retirement Visa. 

At the very best the term was used to describe Non O-A 

 

 

It is convinient to explain the differences between stay in Thailand based on marriage or 50 years and above. And also the one year extension based on same requirements. 

 

Even Thai embassy using retirement and stay based on family. 

 

 

https://oslo.thaiembassy.org/en

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, Hummin said:

It is convinient to explain the differences between stay in Thailand based on marriage or 50 years and above. And also the one year extension based on same requirements. 

Nup.

You quoted Siam Legal and here is one snippet....

" Before acquiring it, you will need to apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa before converting it to a Thai Retirement Visa, which will allow you to extend your visa up to a year" 

 

I can hardly read that without feeling ill.