Asking for a friend whose extension is due at Jomtien immigration.

He is German and has an income certificate from the consulate (different from many nationals here). Income > 65k.

Can someone confirm (from recent experience or reports) that this is accepted at Jomtien immigration?

Do they ask for additional proof of transfer or the like?

Against all advice he is still withdrawing money with his German VISA card.

Kasikorn bank account basically unused.

Bumping as zero reply. 

Hard to say. Hopefully first hand experience will be posted. 

Immigration may just accept income letter , however he is not doing monthly transfers. 

Suggest anyone doing income method make 65k + transfers every month regardless of embassy letter or not. 

The letter is a scam 

Hi there.

Have not done myself but based on the info from Pattaya City Expat Club I'm going to say that it is highly probably that you CAN use the embassy letter. I've found info from them highly credible and as up to date as humanly possible. 

The monthly transfer rule is for people that can't get the letter from their embassy.

Also, I don't recall ever hearing a report of someone trying to use an embassy letter at Jomtien being told monthly transfers only.

 

On the other question, YES, they might request documentation about the

pension from the pension grantor. etc. so advisable to have that ready.

 

Pattaya City Expats Club - CHECKLISTS - Extensions of Stay

www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/CHECKLISTS-Extensions-of-Stay

I am also German.

 

I have been receiving my EOS for many years on the basis of a certificate from the German consul in Pattaya.
However, I have to enclose copies of my pension statements, which are then attached to the income certificate and stamped.
Proof of a transfer to a Thai bank is not required, nor is it mandatory!

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

On the other question, YES, they might request documentation about the

pension from the pension grantor. etc. so advisable to have that ready.

Above posts says it. The pension documents (or copy) are attached to the certificate.

 

My added question was more about asking "how do you get money into the country".
He seems to have ATM slips saved.

 

Anyway, seems OK for him.

17 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

My added question was more about asking "how do you get money into the country".
He seems to have ATM slips saved.

 

That is not normal however with embassy income letter will  not be an issue. 

Why does he not do monthly transfers using eg WISE

9 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Why does he not do monthly transfers using eg WISE

The underlying problem: age and progressive dementia.

Long story.

Trolling post removed

Gday

In Germany you receive every year a annual statement from the German pension fund which details your yearly gross/net pension income with contributions to social security .

The German consul Mr. Hofer Pattaya can confirm this with a letter issued in English. Thereto this letter can be used for the mixed method pension income and money in the bank.

Wbr 

Roobaa01

 

 

On 11/26/2025 at 5:48 PM, Jingthing said:

Hi there.

Have not done myself but based on the info from Pattaya City Expat Club I'm going to say that it is highly probably that you CAN use the embassy letter. I've found info from them highly credible and as up to date as humanly possible. 

The monthly transfer rule is for people that can't get the letter from their embassy.

Also, I don't recall ever hearing a report of someone trying to use an embassy letter at Jomtien being told monthly transfers only.

 

On the other question, YES, they might request documentation about the

pension from the pension grantor. etc. so advisable to have that ready.

 

Pattaya City Expats Club - CHECKLISTS - Extensions of Stay

www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com/CHECKLISTS-Extensions-of-Stay

 

Correct.  If one has an Embassy letter, no proof of transferring money into Thailand is needed.  They will most likely ask for some form of documentation confirming pension.

I used a confirmation letter of income from the New Zealand Embassy just recently with Surin Immigration.

Had no problems.

On 11/26/2025 at 4:28 PM, KhunBENQ said:

Asking for a friend whose extension is due at Jomtien immigration.

He is German and has an income certificate from the consulate (different from many nationals here). Income > 65k.

Can someone confirm (from recent experience or reports) that this is accepted at Jomtien immigration?

Do they ask for additional proof of transfer or the like?

Against all advice he is still withdrawing money with his German VISA card.

Kasikorn bank account basically unused.

not sure from this note but, the 65K must be deposited in a Thai bank account each and every month showing it as a foreign transfer and immigration will need the bank letter indicating this. unless something has changed and I missed it or didn't understand fully from the above note.

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

not sure from this note but, the 65K must be deposited in a Thai bank account each and every month showing it as a foreign transfer and immigration will need the bank letter indicating this. unless something has changed and I missed it or didn't understand fully from the above note.

Thanks but he only has the income letter (pension > 65k equiv.)

No monthly deposits.

From above posts it is clear that this will work.

Are the days of transferring money from account a to account b every week to show income gone and buried?

Sorry Dr. Jack. The letter is not a 'scam'. 

 

Germans on a pension get a confirmation every year which notes also the annual increase and net payment. Take that to the Embassy in BKK (or anywhere else authorized) and they will issue a very official certificate at the consular dept. (Online appointments only).

 

That certificate has to be confirmed as legit and stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who have a branch in MBK. (Also online appointments only).

 

This certificate alone is 'proof of over 65k income' for immigration purposes. At least it has been for me at PKK for 2 extensions in recent years. There is no need in my experience to show transfers. It is also not asked for in the case of the certificate. It's an extra item on the list of required income proofs as an 'or'.

 

State contributory pensions in Germany by the way are normally taxed in Germany, and are protected by the Dual Taxation Treaty (or whatever) from taxation in Thailand.

 

Someone who shifts their tax domicile to a 'cheaper' country runs the risk of having their pension payments reduced to the euro purchasing power of their new country of choice. I've never come across anyone had that done to them, nor heard of it. But the legislation is there to enable it.

4 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Thanks but he only has the income letter (pension > 65k equiv.)

No monthly deposits.

From above posts it is clear that this will work.

 

Note that the DRV letter needs turning into a certificate at the consulate in BKK or anywhere else authorized. The certificate confirms the total amount in euros and states clearly that it therefore exceeds the requirements of 65k.

 

This certificate needs confirming as legit and stamped as such by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before it will be accepted by immigration. 

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

not sure from this note but, the 65K must be deposited in a Thai bank account each and every month showing it as a foreign transfer and immigration will need the bank letter indicating this. unless something has changed and I missed it or didn't understand fully from the abov I e note.

 

At what immigration office did you have this experience?

 

This topic is specifically about the Pattaya immigration office, colloquially also know as the Jomtien office, and the current practice at this office.

I have been living in Pattaya for 37 years, and for 25 years I have been receiving my EOS upon presentation of my income certificate, which is issued by the consulate in Pattaya.

For several years now, copies of my pension certificates have been attached as an appendix and stamped separately.

There is no regulation in Thailand requiring these funds to be transferred. They just have to be proven!

A letter from the bank is therefore never required!

The certificate shows the income amount in € & THB!  

See attachment!

 

1 hour ago, BusyB said:

Germans on a pension get a confirmation every year which notes also the annual increase and net payment

The income letter provided by embassies were not just Germany. 

My embassy AU prior to 2018 provided a "statutory declaration" 

Thats not worth the paper it's printed on. 

When Thai immigration wanted embassies to Verify the income some embassies  stopped providing the service. 

USA, UK, AU. More recently Canada and others have stopped. 

More will likely withdraw this service. 

Suggest anyone that uses income method actually transfer 65k + every month. 

The letter is then not even relevant. 

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The income letter provided by embassies were not just Germany. 

My embassy AU prior to 2018 provided a "statutory declaration" 

Thats not worth the paper it's printed on. 

When Thai immigration wanted embassies to Verify the income some embassies  stopped providing the service. 

USA, UK, AU. More recently Canada and others have stopped. 

More will likely withdraw this service. 

Suggest anyone that uses income method actually transfer 65k + every month. 

The letter is then not even relevant. 

 

From what I recall the US etc were issuing affidavits confirming untrue statements that people had written themselves and sworn to regarding their true incomes/assets. It was a known swizz.

 

As I stated the German embassy consular division issues a certificate against an official statement of pension income from the Deutsche RentenVersicherung (public pension fund) which is issued annually. This then needs verifying as an official embassy certificate by the MFA. If I waltz into the German consular department with a note claiming I have over 1700 euros in pension they will laugh me out of the place accompanied by the Bundesgrenzschutz. And rightly so. Why should they be expected to verify a lie?

 

The German set up is a completely different kettle of fish as to what went on with the US, UK AUS etc. embassy letters. Those embassies said they couldn't really verify the truth of the statements, so they stopped issuing the affidavits. Sensible. Sad though that those countries won't issue pension statements to their own retirees which could be verified.

 

I have neither desire nor need to transfer 65k a month - I bring in what I need - sometimes a bit more than that sometimes less - as needs. But I also have commitments back home and want to keep a healthy bank balance to manage them.

 

I've not heard anything about Germany cancelling that service (like Sweden apparently will end of 2026). Why should they? It's a consular, public service for citizens abroad who pay the taxes to fund it. That the notion of public service no longer has currency in countries like the UK is no reason to assume Germany will follow suit.

 

If immigration decides to insist on 65k transfers, then my stays in LOS are likely to be much shorter than 90 days a year, and my focus will move to other destinations. So far I've heard no hint of that either and I seriously hope it doesn't happen because my next stay is planned to be two to three  years and when I'm away from Thailand I genuinely feel homesick now.

10 minutes ago, BusyB said:

Sad though that those countries won't issue pension statements to their own retirees which could be verified.

You are overlooking fact that the income does not need to be from "pensions" 

It can be income. 

I'm over 70 and never had a satang from government pensions. 

 

In any event. Off topic as the OP is using German income/pension letter so no issues. Doubt that will change. 

 

My "warning" Is due to couple of countries recent withdrawal of this service. 

On 11/27/2025 at 5:53 AM, KhunBENQ said:

The underlying problem: age and progressive dementia.

Long story.

Then why do you not help him?

It seems a bit silly to me that a guy can have a million Euros income in Germany, or other country who still issues the 'letter', but he does not need to transfer one satang to Thailand to get an Extension of Stay. 

9 hours ago, Deerculler said:

I used a confirmation letter of income from the New Zealand Embassy just recently with Surin Immigration.

Had no problems.

Hi...I'm from NZ as well and will be using the income letter method...just not sure how it should be worded...any chance of a generic sample you have used??...I'm from Rotorua btw...advance thanks

For many years, I've been able to renew my non-emigrant visa in Jomtien with just a letter from the consulate and a tax notice from my home country (France). The wait is about an hour, and I return the next day to collect my passport, 5 minutes.

 

As a precaution, I update my bank account details in the days leading up to the renewal, but this isn't mandatory for Europeans.

 

As a precaution also, I always complete the process between one to two months before the expiry date.

21 minutes ago, NZAMBOY said:

Hi...I'm from NZ as well and will be using the income letter method...just not sure how it should be worded...any chance of a generic sample you have used??...I'm from Rotorua btw...advance thanks

The "income letter" will be provided by the NZ embassy. 

You do not word it. 

1 hour ago, Will Iam Not said:

It seems a bit silly to me that a guy can have a million Euros income in Germany, or other country who still issues the 'letter', but he does not need to transfer one satang to Thailand to get an Extension of Stay. 

What seems "absurd" to you is simply irrelevant!

 

I receive a pension of over 1 million THB per year! My pension goes into my "Wise" account in Belgium.

 

There, I convert it into THB! I then transfer what I need.

 

But I could just as easily not transfer anything and pay for all my major expenses with my credit card!

 

And withdraw the cash I need from an ATM...!

 

My "O" Visa doesn't require me to transfer money to Thailand!!

 

Proof that I have it is sufficient, and I have for 25 years!

20 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

Thanks but he only has the income letter (pension > 65k equiv.)

No monthly deposits.

From above posts it is clear that this will work.

yeah I didn't realize that the income letter alone was sufficient since US Embassy was one that dropped that years ago.  I always had to provide the bank letter for the monthly deposit for the 1-year extension.  Lucky though they came out with the LTR which fit my pension perfectly.  

15 hours ago, Will Iam Not said:

Then why do you not help him?

 

Ludicrous comment IMHO.

 

16 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Ludicrous comment IMHO.

 

I was merely asking why the OP does not help his ailing friend. What is ludicrous about that? IYHO.