I have heard it is possible for a farang who is married to a Thai to obtain a retirement visa with 400K baht in the bank rather than the usual 800k. However, I do not know anyone who has succesfully gone down this route where I live in Phuket. Last time I got my retirement visa I had the 800k in the bank but this year thats not going to be possible. Any suggestions appreciated.

It is not based on retirement, but based on marriage to a Thai. Many people do this.

Requirement is an income of 40,000 a month (can be from abroad) or 400,000 in a bank account in your name in Thailand.

An extension based on retirement is however much easier to do. Requirements are:

800,000 in the bank

OR

65,000 a month

OR

a combination of money in the bank and yearly income (can be from abroad) totaling 800,000.

If you can qualify in this last way, I would recommend this.

Yep. A 12 month extension based on having a Thai Wife.

To be honest I do not think it is that difficult.

Immigration will push you towards retirement if you meet the requirements as it is easier for them.

Thanks so much Mario and Lite Beer,

So what you seem to be saying is that I should turn up at immigration when my current retirement visa expires, with my 400 k in the bank (which would not have been in for 3 months, by the way )and ask for a 1 year extention based on being married to a Thai (actually for 17 years and I have been living in Thailand for all that time with a Non O then a Retirement Visa when I hit 50).

That sounds like a very reasonable request, doesnt it ? but is that really possible?

Yes, many people change for one reason to the other reason.

The money in the bank has to be there for 2 month when based on marriage to a Thai. If needed you can first get a 60 day extension and than when the money is there long enough a 1 year extension as usual.

It is not quite that simple. Come back if you are considering this and ask what you need to do.

It is not quite that simple. Come back if you are considering this and ask what you need to do.

Many thanks...please advise what I need do.

Wife's ID Card and House Book.

Marriage Certificate. Maybe a copy of the Marriage Register entry.

Letter from bank and up to date bank book.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

Map showing the way to your house.

You and your Wife will be interviewed and sign a statement,

Your passport. TM7 application form. 1,900 Baht fee.

Signed copies of everything.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the full extension.

All Immigration Offices will have their own little quirks. They will let you know.

It really is not as bad as it sounds.

Wife's ID Card and House Book.

Marriage Certificate. Maybe a copy of the Marriage Register entry.

Letter from bank and up to date bank book.

Photos of you and your Wife in and around the house.

Map showing the way to your house.

You and your Wife will be interviewed and sign a statement,

Your passport. TM7 application form. 1,900 Baht fee.

Signed copies of everything.

You will be given a 30 day under consideration stamp.

Go back in a month and get the full extension.

All Immigration Offices will have their own little quirks. They will let you know.

It really is not as bad as it sounds.

Thanks for this. Plan B was to go to KL and go back to getting a Non O visa, and have a mini holiday every 90 days.

I have been dealing periodically with Immigration for 17 years and while some officers and offices are more polite than others I have always found them to be fairly easy to deal with so I may well give your suggestion a try .

Go and ask them what they require. I do it every year with no problem.