Is It Easier Getting A Retirees Visa In Thailand?

[dennis3506]

Or is it better to obtain one in your country of origin? In my case Australia. If anyone has got their retirees visa in Thailand please let me know what was required.

[naka]

Much easier in Thailand than overseas.

As for the details, they have been discussed many, many times, just do a search.

Naka.

[Jingthing]

I agree it is easier in Thailand. However some caveats:

if you are qualifying on bank account alone, you must have a Thai bank account if applying in Thailand, and the money must be in there for at least 3 months before application; if using a pension no worries about this

if qualifying based on bank account, if applying outside Thailand, the money can still be in your home country so many people see that as an advantage (no need to tie up the money for a long while)

(in Thailand, no need for a medical report or a criminal background report)

[dennis3506]

I agree it is easier in Thailand. However some caveats:

if you are qualifying on bank account alone, you must have a Thai bank account if applying in Thailand, and the money must be in there for at least 3 months before application; if using a pension no worries about this

if qualifying based on bank account, if applying outside Thailand, the money can still be in your home country so many people see that as an advantage (no need to tie up the money for a long while)

(in Thailand, no need for a medical report or a criminal background report)

I do have regular pension payments from the Australian govt. plus an allocated pension, so do I just need to show proof of this to Thai Immigration?

[Kerryd]

Try browsing through this forum:

Thai visas, residency and work permits

Pretty much any question you can think of regarding Visas has probably already been asked and answered in there. Try doing a search in that forum for Retirement Visas. Should get all the information you need.

[Jingthing]

I do have regular pension payments from the Australian govt. plus an allocated pension, so do I just need to show proof of this to Thai Immigration?

If applying in Thailand, you need to get a letter from your embassy in Bangkok to show immigration to prove your pension (ask another Aussie if you need to show your embassy proof, Americans don't). If your pension is over 800K per annum, you should also open a Thai bank account but it doesn't have to be plushly funded or the money seasoned. If your pension is under 800K you can use the combo method, for example pension 600K, bank account 200K.

[luckyluke]

On the risk to be pedant, you can get an extension of stay based on retirement in Thailand, you can only get a visa( any kind ) out of Thailand.

[sbk]

Moved to Thai Visas forum

[lopburi3]

You can obtain a single entry non immigrant visa inside Thailand at an immigration office for 2,000 baht if you qualify for retirement and have 21 days or more remaining on your entry stamp.