Retirement Visa/residence Permit

[gugs]

Can someone please confirm my understanding and answer a couple of questions:

We are 50+ and want to retire in Thailand. From my understanding we can apply for the Retirement visa which lasts for 12 months, providing we meet the financial requirements.

We can renew the Retirement visa every 12 months for another 12 months

After 3 renewals of the Retirement visa we can apply for Residence Permit

Questions:

1/ Once the Residence Permit has been granted can we stay in Thailand indefinitely without having to continuously renew any visa's?

2/ Is it a straight forward process to obtain the Residence Permit providing one has resided in Thailand for 3 years and meets all the financial requirements

3/ Are there any catches?

Thank you for sharing your experiences

[Jingthing]

There is a big catch!

There is no residence permit available to those on retirement extensions. You might have heard of permanent residence. There is no path towards permanent residence for those coming here on retirement extensions. Otherwise, you are correct, you just renew every year. There is no upgrade in status available to you in the current system, Ever! Many of us retirees do not like this, but that is the way it is, so accept it, or choose another country. There are a number of other countries that do offer more permanent status to retired foreigners. Thailand is not one of them. There is no indication it will become one of them. BTW, I love it here and don't wish to live anywhere else, but that doesn't mean I don't think the visa system leaves some things to be desired.

BTW, if you haven't caught my drift, if you do choose to move to Thailand, you will only be here on one year visas, for life. The rules could change at any time. If you can no longer jump through the hoop du jour, you will have to leave. So it is best to have in mind how you feel about the possibility of being booted out of your new home at an advanced age. Whether you have been here for one year or 30 years.

Edited February 4, 2008 by Jingthing

[Guest]

What Jingthing says is correct. I've been here for a while on retirement extensions, and I have a stamp in my passport in Thai that says something along the lines of "Can renew for life" but it gives no special rights and I have to extend every year. Having said that, its fairly painless if you have the correct paperwork. They change the rules occasionally but in the past have always "Grandfathered" the rules relating to amounts in the bank.

There is a "Pinned" thread about Residencyand it is not straight forward.

[pab]

What Jingthing says is correct. I've been here for a while on retirement extensions, and I have a stamp in my passport in Thai that says something along the lines of "Can renew for life" but it gives no special rights and I have to extend every year. Having said that, its fairly painless if you have the correct paperwork. They change the rules occasionally but in the past have always "Grandfathered" the rules relating to amounts in the bank.

There is a "Pinned" thread about Residencyand it is not straight forward.

I also are here on retirement visa extentions (now 4 years) but I am also confused a little as to why these retirement visa renewals that are "permission for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa"will not qualify for a PR. I am married to a Thai national with a family of 2 girls and I was planning to do this at the end of this year based on the "supporting a family"basis. Could you please explain why I cannot ever qualify for PR. Many thanks for your help

[Naam]

I also are here on retirement visa extentions (now 4 years) but I am also confused a little as to why these retirement visa renewals that are "permission for yearly stays in Thailand on a non-immigrant visa"will not qualify for a PR. I am married to a Thai national with a family of 2 girls and I was planning to do this at the end of this year based on the "supporting a family"basis. Could you please explain why I cannot ever qualify for PR. Many thanks for your help

one of the various requirements for permanent residence is that you have to show three consecutive years paying income tax. as a retiree you don't pay income tax and therefore do not qualify. as simple as that.

[lopburi3]

It is more complex than income tax - those on retirement could actually be paying income tax here if they so declared it as active income; and there is no set requirement for this in any case (only policy). The current government policy is not to approve applicants on retirement extensions of stay. It could change with a policy change.

[gugs]

Thank you all for your postings and sharing your experiences. I know this Forum is for Thailand but has any of the current Thai expats considered Malaysia? What are the pro's and con's?