Retirement Visa Question Re. Multiple Entries

[Tony59329]

I have looked but couldn't find the answer to my question.

I am just starting the process to obtain a Retirement Visa and I think I understand most of the requirements, but have one question.

With a Retirement Visa am I allowed multiple exits and entries to Thailand without any change to my status or on exit must I start from scratch again and re-apply or is there some sort of re-entry programme and if so are there any caveats or limitations?

Thanks in advance.

Edited April 9, 2012 by Tony59329

[Jingthing]

The general answer is you are allowed reentries all you want (for the life of the O-A visa OR the current retirement annual extension to stay) as long as you have reentry permit(s) or in the case of an O-A visa, a multiple entry O-A. However, for more specific info, please state whether your intention is to apply for an O-A visa from your home country OR an annual extension based on retirement IN Thailand. It REALLY makes a difference as far as the details of how the reentry works, so please do say what you are applying for.

Edited April 9, 2012 by Jingthing

[phuketjock]

There is no such thing as a retirement visa only a one year extension of an non immigrant O visa and when you get your extension you can get a single or multiple re-entry permit, I think a single is 1,000 tb and a multiple is about 2,800 but you need to check for sure. If you go for a single and go out in the year you will need to re-apply for a further re-entry permit on return if you wish to go out again in the same year.

[Jingthing]

The O-A visa is often considered a "retirement visa" even though it is now called a "Long Stay" visa. On the forum, generally O-A visa is considered the retirement visa, and annual retirement extensions are ... annual retirement extensions. The O-A visa is an option to start. It is not a REQUIRED option. As I said, it's important for the OP to state whether he is starting with an O-A visa or not. And if he is going for an O-A which has different process than the extension applications, it is highly recommended to make sure it is a MULTIPLE ENTRY O-A.

Edited April 9, 2012 by Jingthing

[lopburi3]

I believe you are talking about a one year extension of stay for retirement rather than the long stay (retirement) non immigrant O-A visa issued by home country Consulate so for that you must obtain a re-entry permit to keep your stay alive prior to any travel. Cost is 1,000 baht each or 3,800 baht for the full term of extension unlimited number of entries. Each entry will receive your same current permitted to stay until date again.

[Jingthing]

If starting with an extension, you do need some kind of O visa first. This can be obtained at some Thai immigration offices as part of the "two step" process, with the O visa (not O-A) being the first step and the annual extension the second step. Single entry O visas can also be obtained in Malaysia or Laos for this purpose, or some consulates in your home country. So if going this route, check to see if your local office supports the two step process; if not the first step can be done at Bangkok immigration. Bottom line: you can't start directly with a retirement extension, you need something to extend first ... an O visa.

Edited April 9, 2012 by Jingthing

[Tony59329]

Apologies for not being as specific as I should have been. I am intending to apply for the " Retirement " O-A visa in the USA with the financial requirement in a US bank.

[lopburi3]

In that case you want to pay for the multi entry and for one year you can come and go with a new one year stay from each entry.

[Jingthing]

Apologies for not being as specific as I should have been. I am intending to apply for the " Retirement " O-A visa in the USA with the financial requirement in a US bank.

Great. In that case, be sure to apply for a MULTIPLE ENTRY O-A. With that, every time you exit and reenter Thailand before the original one year term of the visa ends, you get an additional "free" full ONE YEAR each time you reenter Thailand. That is a very desirable feature indeed. So basically you can stretch that one year visa to be more like two years by timing your travel right. With the O-A (as with extensions) you do need to do an address report to Thai immigration every time you are in Thailand for 90 days. Also near to when you are finishing with the O-A permissions to stay, you simply start to apply for annual extensions based on retirement in Thailand like everyone else. Edited April 9, 2012 by Jingthing

[Tony59329]

Apologies for not being as specific as I should have been. I am intending to apply for the " Retirement " O-A visa in the USA with the financial requirement in a US bank.

Great. In that case, be sure to apply for a MULTIPLE ENTRY O-A. With that, every time you exit and reenter Thailand before the original one year term of the visa ends, you get an additional "free" full ONE YEAR each time you reenter Thailand. That is a very desirable feature indeed. So basically you can stretch that one year visa to be more like two years by timing your travel right. With the O-A (as with extensions) you do need to do an address report to Thai immigration every time you are in Thailand for 90 days. Also near to when you are finishing with the O-A permissions to stay, you simply start to apply for annual extensions based on retirement in Thailand like everyone else.

Thank you so much.....You have answered my question and some.....Many Thanks

[RickSee]

Pardon for piggy-backing on this thread but it seems close enough to my own question. I've had an O-A for nearly 2 years now - issued in my country of residence. At, or just before, expiry I understand I have two options: (i) apply again in my country of res; or (ii) apply in Bangkok where I mainly reside. I know what is required for (i) and I believe the difference with applying for (ii) is that, while I will not need a med certificate, I will need my embassy (USA) to notarize my pension status (fully based on monthly income rather than bank deposit). First question: is my understanding here correct? Is that all I would need to apply in BKK?

Second, if I apply through (ii) do I still get the same characterics in the O-A? Specifically, does applying in Thailand give me the one year that can be extended up to 2 years?

thanks, RS

[Mario2008]

In BKK, if living there, you can indeed apply for a 1 year extension of stay with an declaration from your embassy stating your income, which must be over 65,000 baht a month. It means that you can stay for a year in Thailand and at the end can apply again for another 1 year extension, and so on. For travel outside of Thailand you would need a re-entry permit.

Extesion of stay is 1,900 baht and you will also need a copy of passport and an passport photo.

It might be wise to take with you a rental contract or utillity bill with your name and adress on it, to proof you are living in Bangkok.

[SantiSuk]

If one buys a multiple entry re-entry permit for 3,800 baht alongside a marriage or retirement extension of one year non-O visa (phew - did I get that bit right?) is there any administrative hassle in using the re-entry permit when you leave and enter Thailand? Or is it straightforward - a rentry permit stamped in you passport that is merely looked at by immigration when you pass through and the usual permitted-to-stay-until stamp given?

The reason I ask is that I could go either route - carry on coming here with a non-O multiple entry visa (since I need to go back to my UK origins at least every 3 months) or get a marriage extension. Whenever I go to my SiSaket immigration office for a residence cert - for a one year and recently a five year driving license - they have encouraged me to get an extension and shoved forms in my hand. I've told them that it doesn't seem worth the hassle to get extensions - bank deposit or pensions letters. They looked slightly dissaproving, but no more than that. If there was also a hassle factor attaching to the re-entry permits that would make me even more resolved to stick with the simple non-O route.

[beechguy]

If one buys a multiple entry re-entry permit for 3,800 baht alongside a marriage or retirement extension of one year non-O visa (phew - did I get that bit right?) is there any administrative hassle in using the re-entry permit when you leave and enter Thailand? Or is it straightforward - a rentry permit stamped in you passport that is merely looked at by immigration when you pass through and the usual permitted-to-stay-until stamp given?

The reason I ask is that I could go either route - carry on coming here with a non-O multiple entry visa (since I need to go back to my UK origins at least every 3 months) or get a marriage extension. Whenever I go to my SiSaket immigration office for a residence cert - for a one year and recently a five year driving license - they have encouraged me to get an extension and shoved forms in my hand. I've told them that it doesn't seem worth the hassle to get extensions - bank deposit or pensions letters. They looked slightly dissaproving, but no more than that. If there was also a hassle factor attaching to the re-entry permits that would make me even more resolved to stick with the simple non-O route.

I've never read about anyone having a problem with a re-entry permit, just enter the number on the entry card when entering the country.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Seems as though a bit of a recap is in order here re O-A retirement visas sought in the USA vs. extensions of stay based on retirement sought in Thailand. Hope I'm getting this right:

O-A visa:

• Issued by Thai consulates outside Thailand.
  
• Valid for one year from issue and can be used to come and go from Thailand unlimited times during the year.
  
• No re-entry permit required.
  
• If the holder exits and returns to Thailand just before their initial one year visa expires, they'll be stamped upon re-entry for an additional one-year stay, making the original visa almost valid for two years.
  
• Must do reporting to Thai Immigration via paperwork if in country for any continuous 90-day period.
  
• New O-A visas are only issued/renewed at Thai consulates outside Thailand, meaning a trip abroad will be required. The current application fee is $200 U.S./about 6200 baht.
  
• Eligibility requirements are similar, being at least 50 years of age and meeting one of the three income requirements, one being sufficient funds on deposit in a U.S. bank.
  
• O-A visas typically also have added requirements compared to the simpler retirement extension process, as follows from the Los Angeles Thai Consulate's website toward the bottom of the page. (the exact requirements may vary some from consulate to consulate):
  

Required documents (*** One original set and 3 sets of copies. Requested documentation 5–7 must be notarized.***)

1. Four visa application forms |Download|

2. Four passport-type photos (Passport-type photo, 2” x 2”, color, front-view, taken within 6 months, and write your name and last name on the back of each photo).

3. Four copies of the applicant's passport (the picture page) - include the actual passport when submitting the application. Passport must be valid for at least 18 more months.

4. Four copies of Personal Data Form. |Download|

*5. Four copies of:

- applicant's bank statement (U.S.) showing a balance in the amount of not less than 800,000 Baht (current Thai exchange rate is available from the Bank of Thailand web site)

- or an income certificate with a monthly salary of not less than 65,000 Baht

- or a combination of a deposit account plus a monthly income totaling not less than 800,000 Baht a year.

(When submitting the bank statement, a letter from the bank verifying the account and balance is to be presented)

*6. Four copies of police verification stating the applicant has no criminal record issued by the authority concerned of his/her nationality or residence. The verification must not be more than three months old. [not required as part of extension of stay]

*7. Four copies of the completed medical certificate form |Download| issued from the country where the application is submitted, showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) with the name and address of the doctor. The certificate must be not be older than 3 months. [not required as part of extension of stay]

Retirement Extension of Stay:

• Issued by Thai Immigration inside Thailand.
  
• Can be obtained by someone already holding an expiring non-immigrant visa, or even a tourist visa or visa-exempt stamp with a bit more effort/paperwork and fees.
  
• Valid for one year, and requires an additional purchased re-entry permit from Thai Immigration (1000 baht for single entry or 3800 baht for multiple/unlimited entries) to keep it alive during that year if the holder plans on departing and re-entering the country during that year.
  
• Each entry receives a permission-to-stay date coinciding with the original one-year period granted.
  
• Must do reporting to Thai Immigration via paperwork if in country for any continuous 90-day period.
  
• Can be renewed annually at the holder's local Thai Immigration office with payment of 1900 baht fee for the extension, plus additional for optional re-entry permit. No foreign travel required.
  
• Eligibility requirements are similar, being at least 50 years of age and meeting one of the three income requirements, one being sufficient funds on deposit in a Thai bank.
  
• No police/criminal or medical check, no notarizing of documents, no multiple copies required.
  

Edited April 10, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've never read about anyone having a problem with a re-entry permit, just enter the number on the entry card when entering the country.

There's no discretion involved with Thai Immigration and re-entry permits. You either have a valid one or you don't. If you do, your extension of stay is kept alive when traveling abroad and returning. If you don't, your extension dies when you exit from Thailand.

There's no hassle factor involved with re-entry permits other than having to pay for them and get them in person from your local Immigration office. The most convenient way, of course, is to apply for one at the same time/trip one does their annual extension renewal.

As the prior poster said/asked...it is straightforward: "a rentry permit stamped in your passport that is merely looked at by immigration when you pass through and the usual permitted-to-stay-until stamp given."

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Another difference re the O-A retirement visa in the U.S. is as follows:

In the U.S., there are numerous Thai honorary consulates in different smaller cities around the country like Houston and Portland that will issue tourist visas and even other varieties of O visas other than for retirement. Often, those honorary consulates also will handle those applications by mail and return mail, if requested, in addition to in-person visits.

However, sometime back, the Thai government put the U.S. honorary consulates OUT of the business of handling O-A retirement visas, and now those can only be sought from the official Thai consulates in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and the Washington DC embassy -- though they do seem to accept visa applications and return stamped passports by mail.

But sometimes (often?), the honorary consulates can be easier to deal with and more helpful/cooperative. And some people aren't too comfortable with their passport being mailed back and forth, even if it's by trackable mail carriers.

Edited April 10, 2012 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[lopburi3]

If one buys a multiple entry re-entry permit for 3,800 baht alongside a marriage or retirement extension of one year non-O visa (phew - did I get that bit right?) is there any administrative hassle in using the re-entry permit when you leave and enter Thailand? Or is it straightforward - a rentry permit stamped in you passport that is merely looked at by immigration when you pass through and the usual permitted-to-stay-until stamp given?

The reason I ask is that I could go either route - carry on coming here with a non-O multiple entry visa (since I need to go back to my UK origins at least every 3 months) or get a marriage extension. Whenever I go to my SiSaket immigration office for a residence cert - for a one year and recently a five year driving license - they have encouraged me to get an extension and shoved forms in my hand. I've told them that it doesn't seem worth the hassle to get extensions - bank deposit or pensions letters. They looked slightly dissaproving, but no more than that. If there was also a hassle factor attaching to the re-entry permits that would make me even more resolved to stick with the simple non-O route.

For you using the multi entry visa is the best option. Re-entry permit arrival requires the officer to check the exact date on that permit each time and reset a stamp manually to enter it into your passport - much higher chance of error than the normal 90 day stay stamp and will take a lot longer each time.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Like 1 minute as opposed to 30 seconds?

[lopburi3]

As said more time with a higher chance of error at entry and a higher price in fees and time required at extension immigration as compared with a simple yearly visa application.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Lopburi, as I'm sure you know, I and other members here regularly use re-entry permits for entries with absolutely no problem or delay. And in my years of using them, I've never had any mistaken stamp date given by Immigration with them, although mistakes can and do happen in any process.

On my last entry to Swampy with re-entry permit, I spent perhaps all of a minute at the Immigration desk while the officers stamped my card and passport before sending me onward, whereas I then spent a half hour waiting for my check-in luggage to arrive at the carousel.

[supaprik]

There is no such thing as a retirement visa only a one year extension of an non immigrant O visa and when you get your extension you can get a single or multiple re-entry permit, I think a single is 1,000 tb and a multiple is about 2,800 but you need to check for sure. If you go for a single and go out in the year you will need to re-apply for a further re-entry permit on return if you wish to go out again in the same year.

Why do members continually "correct the op's" posting re RETIREMENT VISA? The RETIREMENT visa in my passport it is clearly stamped RETIREMENT so what is the issue?

[Mario2008]

Because there is no retirement visa, there is the O-A visa and the non-O visa, wich both can be given for the purpose of retirement in Thailand. But in the case of the non-O visa, tat is not the only reason.

Your visa in your pasport will not say retirement, what might say retirement in your passport is the reason for an extension of stay.

[Jingthing]

Yes and also when people say they have a retirement visa, people trying to give advice can't possibly know if they mean they have a currently valid O-A single entry, O-A multiple entry, or an annual extension based on retirement. So it wastes time because we have to guess or ask them so they can say. So ideally, it would be better if people would just stop using the term retirement visa but of course they won't!