Hi,

I am 44 years old. I plan to buy a condo in Thailand and live here permanently. I do not plan to do any work here (apart from some stock market play on the internet). Well, this is the plan anyway.

Now, as far as I can see you can do this if you're over 50, but if not it seems more difficult. I have sufficient funds in foreign banks (inheritance etc.) to support me in Thailand.

My question is: is there any way I can get a similar type of visa (one year multiple, and extensible, doing the regular visa runs) that 50+ foreigners can get?

I heard somewhere (please correct me if I am wrong) that having invested some 3 million+ baht in a house or condo would facilitate the possibility of long time stay given the investment made in Thailand.

I repeat, I do not intend to have any business or other occupation in Thailand. I am a Swedish citizen.

Cheers, TT

Yes, I do believe you are in luck.

You can get a one year visa based on investment (which can be renewed annually).

To do this, you can buy a condo from a developer and be the first owner. However, you cannot buy a house in your name and if you bought one through one of the schemes available it wouldn't help you with your visa.

Alternatively, you can bring in 3 million baht and buy approved Thai bonds through an approved Thai bank. You need to hold the bonds.

Get some expert specific advise before committing your funds to make sure your investment is truly qualifying.

Good luck!

As said the investment visa is your best bet and that is run by Immigration so you should check with them for details. General requirements are as below:

Application for extension of stay of persons investing a minimum of 3 million Baht in the Kingdom

Required Documents

Evidence of transfer of at least 3 million Baht from abroad into Thailand. The applicant must be either the sender abroad or the recipient in Thailand of the investment.

Evidence of investing the transferred money after the transfer is completed in one or several of the following cases:

Deposit the money in a fixed account of a state bank (Krung Thai Bank, Government Savings Bank, Bank for Agriculture and Cooperative, Ratanasin Bank, Srinakhorn Bank, Nakhornluang Thai Bank, Housing Bank)

Buy bonds issued by a state agency or government enterprise. The bonds must be purchased directly from a state agency or government enterprise or an authorised dealer.

Buy an apartment or condominium at the price set and registered by the Land Department.

Any kind of investment deemed beneficial to the country by the Immigration Bureau.

Conditions for permission

The foreign national must permanently possess the investment. If he wishes to change the kind of investment, he first has to ask for permission to change the kind of investment and may then change to a new permanent kind of investment.

Note

For more information, please call 0-2213-2556

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/ba...p?page=service#