New rules for retirement visa in Chiang Mai

[rubyeb]

I understand there are reasons to change a marriage visa to a straight retirement visa?

[chiang mai]

Immigration can ask for anything they want. Whether or not you have to provide it is a different story. No one I know has been denied a retirement visa extension by failing to provide evidence of a pension or a housing document. They have all been told to be sure to bring it "next time."

Try not providing it once it's been asked for and see how easy life becomes! During my retirement visa extension two years ago I was asked for a copy of my lease, the extension interview was suspended whilst I drove home to get it, thereafter all was fine.

[Thighlander]

I just turned 50, and I am wondering if it is better for me to get a retirement vis here at the Thai Embassy in Washington DC, or wait and do it in Thailand, with a 30 on arrival or a 60 from the Embassy. I plan on doing it with 800K, and don't mind wiring it to my bkk bank account. The rules look a little vague at the Embassy, and they've been known to have bad hair days there. Like the med certificate. I didn't even see a blank form on their website.

[pgardiner]

I got my retirement visa in Chiang Mai but am now living in Pattaya. My 90 day check in is nearly due, do I go to Jomtien as usual and if so what paperwork do I need?

[Tywais]

Are people talking about getting a Retirement Visa or extending an existing one.

two different animals.

"Retirement visas" are never offered at immigration offices in Thailand -- period.

Retirement visas are never offered anywhere as there is formally no such thing - period. It is referred to as a Non-immigrant OA-Long Stay Visa. Extensions are than referred to as 'One Year Extension of Stay Based on Retirement'.

Siam-Legal

[DoctorG]

I do not know why we need to be so pedantic about the terminology when most people, including Thai immigration, understand what you are talking about when you say "retirement visa". I know when I first came to Thailand all the talk on TVF about non-imm OA just confused the hell out of me.

[THAIPHUKET]

I was also at Chiang Mai Immigration this morning and renewed my Retirement visa without the need for proof of renting. I'm single.

It only took 25 minutes from paperwork to door - excellent.

Did you make an online appointment before hand?

[Jingthing]

I do not know why we need to be so pedantic about the terminology when most people, including Thai immigration, understand what you are talking about when you say "retirement visa". I know when I first came to Thailand all the talk on TVF about non-imm OA just confused the hell out of me.

You just answered your own question! Actually, we DO NOT know what people are talking about when they say retirement visa. We can usually GUESS based on the context but that isn't precise. For people who supply advise here on these matters, it gets tedious to always have to guess what people are talking about, to ask more questions and to have to wait for the answers, because believe it or not the CORRECT advise does vary, often very much, based on WHICH of the THREE things they are talking about.

If someone says "retirement visa" they may be talking about three DIFFERENT things!

ONE) O-A visa from their home country (officially now called a Long Stay Visa, not a retirement visa). It is the closest thing to ACTUALLY being a retirement visa but even that has become ambiguous, better to say O-A.

TWO) An O visa obtained outside Thailand or at Thai immigration that is NOT an O-A but is used to become eligible to apply for an annual extension based on retirement in Thailand. This is definitely NOT a retirement visa.

THREE) Annual extensions based on retirement in Thailand (often stamped RETIREMENT, but NOT a visa). Also definitely not ANY kind of visa, retirement or otherwise, rather an extension.

As far as Thai staff at immigration contributing to the imprecise language people use, so what? Will THEY advise you about O-A visas? They only know their process within Thailand.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Jingthing

[uptheos]

As has been said, it is important to know if it was the OP's firt extension of stay or not. With the first extension of stay it is not uncommen to ask for this information, to determine which immigration office the applicant should apply to.

I think the OP was such a happy me after getting his visa extension, that he went on holiday after posting.

[BradinAsia]

Are people talking about getting a Retirement Visa or extending an existing one.

two different animals.

"Retirement visas" are never offered at immigration offices in Thailand -- period.

Maybe you don't call it a "retirement visa", but most everyone else does.

In the Visa section of my passport (P. 18) I have a stamp from the Chiang Mai Immigration

Office -- it sure looks like a visa to me. It says my application of stay is permitted up to

"30 JUN 2014" (in red) and the word "RETIREMENT" also stamped in red.

Maybe this is called an "extension of stay for retirement reasons"?

[Jingthing]

Call it what you like but on this forum when you say retirement visa, it could mean one of three DIFFERENT things. Is this so hard to understand why it is helpful to use the actual correct terminology for what you actually have?

[Sparkles]

Had an on line appointment for extension of retirement visa today at 2pm. Arrived at 1.35 pm to find one spot in the parking area (bonus) Called up at 1.59pm and escorted to the back room to a rather glum chap I hadn't seen before (my 5 th renewal in CM) At 2.07 pm paper work had been completed and not a single question.My wife was sitting in the coffee shop if required. Expected the normal 30-45 minute wait for return of passport..At 2.11 pm called up to the counter and passport was returned. So all in all 12 minutes ,got to be some sort of record.

Now there was no red "Retirement" stamp on the page maybe he didn't have one but it clearly says permitted to stay until Jan 13 2015,that also happened in 2012...that will do me

I think CM Immigration has really lifted its game and I feel sorry for the staff, they are almost sitting side by side.

90 day reporting, 4 times, and renewal has eaten up no more than 90 minutes of my time in the last 12 months.

[personchester]

Should there be new retirement rules then that would not take place merely in Chiang Mai, because immigration rules are national rules, not provincial rules.

Thus if there are immigration changes about retirement applications as you mentioned, then that would apply entirely across Thailand and not just in Chiang Mai.

[Sparkles]

Should there be new retirement rules then that would not take place merely in Chiang Mai, because immigration rules are national rules, not provincial rules.

Thus if there are immigration changes about retirement applications as you mentioned, then that would apply entirely across Thailand and not just in Chiang Mai.

I think rumours sometimes, maybe due to a lack of information, from the, OP tend to gather momentum and many concerns are magnified..

Its also true that Thailand's Immigration offices, as well as overseas consulates /embassies act independently at times.That's been my experience over 14 years for what its worth.

[Thailand]

Had an on line appointment for extension of retirement visa today at 2pm. Arrived at 1.35 pm to find one spot in the parking area (bonus) Called up at 1.59pm and escorted to the back room to a rather glum chap I hadn't seen before (my 5 th renewal in CM) At 2.07 pm paper work had been completed and not a single question.My wife was sitting in the coffee shop if required. Expected the normal 30-45 minute wait for return of passport..At 2.11 pm called up to the counter and passport was returned. So all in all 12 minutes ,got to be some sort of record.

Now there was no red "Retirement" stamp on the page maybe he didn't have one but it clearly says permitted to stay until Jan 13 2015,that also happened in 2012...that will do me

I think CM Immigration has really lifted its game and I feel sorry for the staff, they are almost sitting side by side.

90 day reporting, 4 times, and renewal has eaten up no more than 90 minutes of my time in the last 12 months.

Scandalous, you should pay someone to do it for you!

[chiang mai]

I wish folks would stop using the online reservations system to make 90 day reports, in the last month I've learned of three people in my condo building using it for that purpose, it's intended for for visa renewals/extensions.

[Sparkles]

Had an on line appointment for extension of retirement visa today at 2pm. Arrived at 1.35 pm to find one spot in the parking area (bonus) Called up at 1.59pm and escorted to the back room to a rather glum chap I hadn't seen before (my 5 th renewal in CM) At 2.07 pm paper work had been completed and not a single question.My wife was sitting in the coffee shop if required. Expected the normal 30-45 minute wait for return of passport..At 2.11 pm called up to the counter and passport was returned. So all in all 12 minutes ,got to be some sort of record.

Now there was no red "Retirement" stamp on the page maybe he didn't have one but it clearly says permitted to stay until Jan 13 2015,that also happened in 2012...that will do me

I think CM Immigration has really lifted its game and I feel sorry for the staff, they are almost sitting side by side.

90 day reporting, 4 times, and renewal has eaten up no more than 90 minutes of my time in the last 12 months.

Scandalous, you should pay someone to do it for you!

We have farang neighbour who proudly announced to us the other day that she has a Thai lawyer do all her reporting and its only costing 5,000 baht p/a. Each to his own.

[Sparkles]

I wish folks would stop using the online reservations system to make 90 day reports, in the last month I've learned of three people in my condo building using it for that purpose, it's intended for for visa renewals/extensions.

I wish they could build something into the system that refuses any appointment time for 90 day reporting...could that be done ?

[Maestro]

Well, I wish they'd stop stamping 'Retirement Visa' in red on the top of my annual extension.

.......period seems not to have the same clout, after this year.

I'd be grateful if you kindly scanned and posted this stamp so that I may add it to our reference album. I don't have that type of stamp yet.

[Maestro]

...

In the Visa section of my passport (P. 18) I have a stamp from the Chiang Mai Immigration

Office -- it sure looks like a visa to me. It says my application of stay is permitted up to

"30 JUN 2014" (in red) and the word "RETIREMENT" also stamped in red.

...

It is interesting to see that some extension stamps use the text "extension of stay permitted up to...", others use "application of stay is permitted up to..."

Examples of "extension..."

• Bangkok: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B8Z5Tx8gS2c/TomwYbEP2dI/AAAAAAAAJVk/Ohjpv7Ec14o/s512/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Bangkok%252020080715.jpg
• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QV59-xmlMeQ/UKYqd0JWshI/AAAAAAAAJVk/8jis-a9x_-M/s365/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020110901.jpg
• Tak: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3OCUDd_wRzM/TomwnrRmG4I/AAAAAAAAJVk/iV5g4MefvIQ/s442/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Tak%252020090724.jpg

Example of "application..."

• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7-uBeKeJBeQ/UKYqvOCaz5I/AAAAAAAAJVk/73TerBeoxR4/s362/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020120821.jpg

BradinAsia, if it is not much trouble, would you kindly scan and post your extension stamp from Chiang Mai so that I may have one more in the "application..." category?

[BradinAsia]

...

In the Visa section of my passport (P. 18) I have a stamp from the Chiang Mai Immigration

Office -- it sure looks like a visa to me. It says my application of stay is permitted up to

"30 JUN 2014" (in red) and the word "RETIREMENT" also stamped in red.

...

It is interesting to see that some extension stamps use the text "extension of stay permitted up to...", others use "application of stay is permitted up to..."

Examples of "extension..."

• Bangkok: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B8Z5Tx8gS2c/TomwYbEP2dI/AAAAAAAAJVk/Ohjpv7Ec14o/s512/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Bangkok%252020080715.jpg
• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QV59-xmlMeQ/UKYqd0JWshI/AAAAAAAAJVk/8jis-a9x_-M/s365/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020110901.jpg
• Tak: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3OCUDd_wRzM/TomwnrRmG4I/AAAAAAAAJVk/iV5g4MefvIQ/s442/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Tak%252020090724.jpg

Example of "application..."

• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7-uBeKeJBeQ/UKYqvOCaz5I/AAAAAAAAJVk/73TerBeoxR4/s362/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020120821.jpg

BradinAsia, if it is not much trouble, would you kindly scan and post your extension stamp from Chiang Mai so that I may have one more in the "application..." category?

Ok, I've never done an attachment, but will try to do that shortly...

[elektrified]

I seriously doubt Immigration will ever 'require' a copy of the ID card of the owner of the property. Our landlord is high profile and would never give out a copy of his ID. The one and only time we ever needed a copy of the tabien baan was I think to get the telephone installed which is required under the law. I remember how difficult it was at the time as the owners were in Europe or somewhere. Eventually they instructed the housekeeper to deliver a copy to the phone company for us.

[BradinAsia]

...

In the Visa section of my passport (P. 18) I have a stamp from the Chiang Mai Immigration

Office -- it sure looks like a visa to me. It says my application of stay is permitted up to

"30 JUN 2014" (in red) and the word "RETIREMENT" also stamped in red.

...

It is interesting to see that some extension stamps use the text "extension of stay permitted up to...", others use "application of stay is permitted up to..."

Examples of "extension..."

• Bangkok: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B8Z5Tx8gS2c/TomwYbEP2dI/AAAAAAAAJVk/Ohjpv7Ec14o/s512/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Bangkok%252020080715.jpg
• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QV59-xmlMeQ/UKYqd0JWshI/AAAAAAAAJVk/8jis-a9x_-M/s365/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020110901.jpg
• Tak: https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-3OCUDd_wRzM/TomwnrRmG4I/AAAAAAAAJVk/iV5g4MefvIQ/s442/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Tak%252020090724.jpg

Example of "application..."

• Prachuap Khirikhan: https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7-uBeKeJBeQ/UKYqvOCaz5I/AAAAAAAAJVk/73TerBeoxR4/s362/Extension%2520retirement%2520approved%2520Hua%2520Hin%252020120821.jpg

BradinAsia, if it is not much trouble, would you kindly scan and post your extension stamp from Chiang Mai so that I may have one more in the "application..." category?

Maestro, here is my extension stamp --

[1ma]

Lets face it. They make it up as they go along. Here today gone tomorrow.

Yup.

[northernjohn]

why is it so hard for a foreigner with their own money to retire in thailand? its not like we are going to use their government to get money or take one of their jobs etc. Come to australia they will take anyone no questions asked and you can go on the dole for years, get government housing and then go straight on the pension and live happily ever after. Its a joke

Well to be honest with you it is a joke. But don't tell the Australians that they are just a joke.

Hard to believe but yes Thailand is more sensable.

[northernjohn]

I just turned 50, and I am wondering if it is better for me to get a retirement vis here at the Thai Embassy in Washington DC, or wait and do it in Thailand, with a 30 on arrival or a 60 from the Embassy. I plan on doing it with 800K, and don't mind wiring it to my bkk bank account. The rules look a little vague at the Embassy, and they've been known to have bad hair days there. Like the med certificate. I didn't even see a blank form on their website.

I believe you need the money in the bank for 60 days before you can use it to get your retirement visa. So if you are planning in being here before that time is up you will have to get it done here. I could be wrong and it could be 90 days. I don't use the system and I know it is 60 or 90 for the initial Visa and the other one for the yearly permission to stay.

[northernjohn]

Call it what you want. I had mine transferred into a new passport in August.

the first Stamp says Visas on the top and in it it says NON OA

Directly below that it has two other stamps one says NON OA and the other one says NON RE

On the following page it has a copy of my last permission to stay. That I had received in 2012 it says retirement. On the bottom of the page it says retirement Aug.14 2013 that was the day I had the transfer from the old passport to the new one done.That page says nothing about NON OA or NON RE . On the following page I have my renewal of extension.

It says nothing about NON OA or NON RE. It says in big letters retirement.

I have given you all the information in my passport up to date. so as you can see you may call it what you will but if you say passport retirement even the ones who study the code and can quote it will know what you mean. Apparently there is three types of retirement passports all needing a 90 day check in so what is the big deal about the correct terminology. Some of us have better things to do than study the code. To go in to the immigration office and see that they call it and stamp it as retirement. Good enough for me.

[Jingthing]

Sure call it what you want, but the NEXT time someone posts

I want a retirement visa.

OR

I've got a retirement visa.

etc.

unless they give good clues there is absolutely no way to know exactly what they have or what they want.

Without knowing that exactly, it isn't possible to give accurate targeted advice to that person's specific case.

Cheers.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Call it what you want. I had mine transferred into a new passport in August.

the first Stamp says Visas on the top and in it it says NON OA

Directly below that it has two other stamps one says NON OA and the other one says NON RE

On the following page it has a copy of my last permission to stay. That I had received in 2012 it says retirement. On the bottom of the page it says retirement Aug.14 2013 that was the day I had the transfer from the old passport to the new one done.That page says nothing about NON OA or NON RE . On the following page I have my renewal of extension.

It says nothing about NON OA or NON RE. It says in big letters retirement.

I have given you all the information in my passport up to date. so as you can see you may call it what you will but if you say passport retirement even the ones who study the code and can quote it will know what you mean. Apparently there is three types of retirement passports all needing a 90 day check in so what is the big deal about the correct terminology. Some of us have better things to do than study the code. To go in to the immigration office and see that they call it and stamp it as retirement. Good enough for me.

RETIREMENT in big letters on a retirement extension is common. I've got those.

I am not familiar with the term NON RE (which would be a visa, not an extension).

If you get a single entry O visa outside Thailand for the purpose of getting annual retirement extension in Thailand, that is just a regular NON O visa, not an NON RE.

An O-A visa is an O-A visa (also a non-immigrant visa).

Is the O visa some people get in Thailand as part of the two step process (second step the extension) labeled a NON RE?

That would make sense to me if it is.

If not, I don't get the use of this label, NON RE. Well I guess I get it if it's just an INTERNAL code.

Is this common or one office?

I have never seen any immigration documentation talking about an RE visa either.

Edited December 26, 2013 by Jingthing

[Thighlander]

Thai embassy says for retirement you would get an OA, which is a multiple entry one year and cost 200 USD.