I have a British Passport and I am an expat living in Spain.

Earlier this year I visited friends in Thailand and decided I should like to retire to Thailand this year. I opened a bank account whilst I was in Thailand to which I have transferred funds in excess of 800,000 baht.

Can I travel to Thailand on a one way ticket (do I need a return ticket?) and apply for my Retirement Visa whilst I am there? I am allowed to visit Thailand for up to 30 days without having a visa as a tourist - I just got an entry stamp in my passport on arrival and an exit stamp on leaving.

Or, do I have to go to the Thai Embassy in London to apply there?

I have contacted two legal firms in Thailand both gave me different information. One said I need to go to London and apply at the Thai Embassy, the other said I could do it in Thailand at an Immigration Office.

Can somebody please help me with the correct information? I do not wish to fly to Thailand and find I cannot get a retirement visa or fly unnecessarily to London.

Many thanks.

Edited July 29, 201213 yr by Jon1946

Not surprised that you are confused.

You likely do not want a retirement visa. A retirement visa is an O-A visa only available from your home country. For the O-A visa you do not need to show 800K in Thailand. You have 800K in Thailand so the obvious choice for you is to go for an annual extension based on retirement IN Thailand.

How to do this?

To apply for the annual extension based on retirement, you first need a single entry O visa. Not an O-A. An O visa.

How to get the single entry O visa?

Different ways:

1. In Spain at the Thai embassy if they accept retirement in Thailand as a reason

2. In the UK at the Thai embassy (or consulates) if they accept retirement in Thailand as a reason

3. In a neighboring country to Thailand, Malaysia or Laos. Malaysia and Laos WILL give you this based on retirement reason, just be over age 50

4. Most conveniently, IN Thailand as part of the "two step process" where the O visa can be had if you qualify for step 2, the annual extension based on retirement, which you appear to be qualified for.

Not all Thai immigration offices do the step 1 which is called change of visa status. Bangkok and large offices do generally. If the office of your intended residence in Thailand does not offer it, you can do step 1 in Bangkok.

Doing this you can fly into Thailand on a 30 day stamp or tourist visa. If you enter on a single entry O you can directly apply for the retirement extension. If you fly in on a 30 day you must RUSH to do the change of visa status.

I reckon the most convenient/less stress option for you may be applying for a single entry O visa at the Thai embassy in Spain. Say to them you plan or applying for a retirement extension in Thailand. If they say no, then apply for a tourist visa there, and you can do the change of visa status to O in Thailand.

You will need proof of residence in Thailand to apply for your annual extension based on retirement. I don't recommend entering on a 30 day stamp. Too much time pressure. Your extension application needs to be at the immigration office that covers your residence area in Thailand.

Boarding an airplane with no visa and a one way ticket is a problem. If trying that, suggest purchasing a throwaway ticket leaving Thailand to somewhere within 30 days. You SHOULD be able to board with any visa (tourist or single entry O) on a one way ticket.

If for some reason you still want an O-A "retirement visa" the ONLY place you can apply for that is your home country. You do NOT need an O-A visa to retire in Thailand. It is an option only. I'm assuming the UK is your home country and that you are not a permanent resident in Spain (in which case MAYBE you could get an O-A in Spain).

Good luck with moving to Thailand.

P.S.: You do NOT need a legal office to apply for retirement extensions in Thailand. Most people do that here without any such assistance.

Edited July 29, 201213 yr by Jingthing

Requirements for a 12 month extension based on retirement.

A single entry Non Imm O Visa would be the easiest way to start but it can be done with a Tourist Visa.

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more

than 1 year at a time.

(1) The alien has obtained a temporary visa (NON-IM);

(2) The applicant is 50 years of age or over;

(3) Proof of income of not less than Baht 65,000 per month; or

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than

800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

(5) Annual income plus bank account deposit totaling not less

than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date of application

As said there is absulately no need for any legal firm to obtain a retirement extension of stay - the only paperwork is filling out the normal TM.7 extension of stay form and copies of passport/bank passbook and a letter of account balance from bank and some proof of where you are living. The total cost should be about 2,000 baht (TM.7 fee 1,900).

If you are in the South of Spain, the Thai Consulate in Gibraltar will give you a Tourist Visa which you can extend to a 'retirement' visa once in Thailand. If you take your Thai bank book, proof of Spanish address, etc. he might even give you a 1 year Non-Immigrant O visa which, again, you can extend to a Non-Imm O-A 'retirement' visa in Thailand.

The office is 120 Main Street, Gibraltar but you will need to make a prior appointment. The phone numbers (at least they were a year ago) are 'Office' +35020077890 or better to try the Hon. Consul's mobile +34 618724204 He is a very helpful fellow.

Whichever visa it's always best to ask for a multi-entry. It doesn't cost much more and you never know what might crop up requiring a trip back to Europe so you are covered for that.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Bpuumike

Good info about consulate. Do they accept mail in applications?

He does not need a multiple entry visa because he will be getting an extension of stay. If he wishes to travel he can get a re-entry permit (single or multiple) when he get his extension.

Good info about consulate. Do they accept mail in applications?

He does not need a multiple entry visa because he will be getting an extension of stay. If he wishes to travel he can get a re-entry permit (single or multiple) when he get his extension.

I don't know about a mail application (will PM you on that) but am doubtful.

I still recommend a multi-entry as you never know and saves the hassle of getting re-entry permits.

Good info about consulate. Do they accept mail in applications?

He does not need a multiple entry visa because he will be getting an extension of stay. If he wishes to travel he can get a re-entry permit (single or multiple) when he get his extension.

I don't know about a mail application (will PM you on that) but am doubtful.

I still recommend a multi-entry as you never know and saves the hassle of getting re-entry permits.

Having an extension of stay and a multiple entry visa at the same time will not work because a new permit to stay will be issued for the visa entry which would void out the extension of stay.

A re-entry permit is easy to get. The best time to get them is when a person does their extension. A single is 1000 baht and a multiple is 3800 baht.

He will not extend for "a non immigrant O-A visa" in Thailand but for a one year extension of a 90 day stay for retirement reasons. He can not use a multi entry visa while on such as extension so unless he feels he can not qualify financially for the extension the 2.5 times cost is not really worth much and the chance of getting such a visa would be much less than a normal single entry at most places. I understand your reasons for multi entry if any doubt in ability to get account/transfer funds to meet extension requirement but this poster has already done that so there is no such issue.

Yes, if a Thai consulate in Spain is more convenient to you than the Thai embassy in Spain by all means approach them. However,, I would suggest also with the consulate FIRST requesting a single entry O visa instead of a tourist visa. Arriving with a single entry O would be ideal but of course this can work with arriving with a tourist visa as well.

Hello everyone,

I should like to thank you for all your responses and I will investigate all avenues.

I would like to point out that I have no intention of returning either to the UK or Spain and if I can retire to Thailand I will stay there permanently unless forced to leave by a war or something. I do not need multi-entry visas and I did not clarify that in my original question. I am financially OK and have a good pension.

As I am living in Spain and not the UK, my biggest concern is the amount of travel, staying in hotels etc., to get a visa. Spain is a big country. Gibraltar is a 9 hour drive, Madrid 4 hours and getting to London and hotel accommodation with the Olympic games etc., is a nightmare. So I will follow each of your suggestions and let you know what happens.

I am also new on here and getting to grips with how the forum works .......

Many thanks.

I only see info about a Thai embassy in Madrid and a consulate in Barcelona.

http://www.thaiembas.../madrid/en/home

Perhaps this can be handled by post?

For the single entry O visa:

http://www.thaiembas...files/40190.pdf

For the tourist visa:

http://www.thaiembas...files/40187.pdf

If you choose to go without a visa, you can still do this. You should be able to board to Thailand but like I said before you should probably purchase an air ticket leaving Thailand within 30 days (suggest to Malaysia so you can use it if you end up needed it to get an O visa). When in Thailand, rush to immigration to do your change of visa application to O and be prepared to show your qualification for the annual retirement extension as well. If that's too much time pressure you can easily go to Laos or Malaysia (Penang or KL) to get your single entry O visa which should be very easy to do. Then with that, you can apply for your annual extension based on retirement during the last 30 days of your 90 day stay on the single entry.

I should also say even with a throwaway air ticket out of Thailand within 30 days, with no visa in your passport and a one way ticket you MAY encounter resistance to being boarded to Thailand. The best I can suggest is to make your case with the throwaway air ticket and insist on speaking to a supervisor.

Edited July 30, 201213 yr by Jingthing

Gibraltar is British territory, much to the chagrin of the Spanish government who want it back. I believe the consul in Gibraltar falls under the Thai embassy in the Uk and has nothing to do with Spain as diplomatic gesture to both countries.

Gibraltar is British territory, much to the chagrin of the Spanish government who want it back. I believe the consul in Gibraltar falls under the Thai embassy in the Uk and has nothing to do with Spain as diplomatic gesture to both countries.

Apologies for the late response, I have been working outside Thailand with very limited internet access.

Mario, your comments on Gibraltar are quite right. However, the Thai Consul in Gibraltar is completely independent from the Thai Embassy in the UK and is always very helpful.

I would guess it was set up originally to assist Thai seamen as so much shipping passes through the Straights of Gibraltar. One has to wonder if that is why a Thai Consulate was established in Hull, and also more recently I understand in Bristol?

Hello everyone,

I should like to thank you for all your responses and I will investigate all avenues.

I would like to point out that I have no intention of returning either to the UK or Spain and if I can retire to Thailand I will stay there permanently unless forced to leave by a war or something. I do not need multi-entry visas and I did not clarify that in my original question. I am financially OK and have a good pension.

As I am living in Spain and not the UK, my biggest concern is the amount of travel, staying in hotels etc., to get a visa. Spain is a big country. Gibraltar is a 9 hour drive, Madrid 4 hours and getting to London and hotel accommodation with the Olympic games etc., is a nightmare. So I will follow each of your suggestions and let you know what happens.

I am also new on here and getting to grips with how the forum works .......

Many thanks.

You have probably done the legwork by now but consider the Gibraltar Consulate would give you a visa on the spot. The Embassies (Madrid, London) can take a while so if going to the UK would recommend one of the consulates there.