I met a guy at the pool the other day he is is 69 years old. He is here for the last 3 years on an Education visa. He tells me he pays 23,000 baht per year for Thai language lessons. I think he should go for a retirement visa/extension. He says he enjoys the lesson. But on digging deeper I think he is on a tight budget. What should I advise him to do?? I would like to help him. Pat

You can tell him about retirement extension of stay which requires 800k in bank account 2 months first year and then 3 months each year or proof of 65k per month income or combination to meet 800k per year but suspect your comment about a tight budget is likely the reason he is using education.

I know he has a pension from his home country, but I don't think it's enough to satisfy his visa extension. I not sure if he has funds on a Thai bank account. I don't really like to ask to much as it not my business. I will give him the information and knowledge I have, and let him decide for himself. I just want to give him the correct information. Pat

Is it easy to change from an education visa to a visa based on retirement?

At the most would be an overnight trip to a Consulate to obtain a non immigrant O 90 day entry and then after 60 days making the one year extension of stay.