Applying For A Retirement Visa

[billzant]

Dear Forum,

I wish to apply for a retirement visa. I have just come to Thailand but came in on a tourist visa as where I came from did not have a Thai embassy. I am 54, have UK citizenship and a UK passport.

I am working my way up to sorting out the retirement visa.

According to the info below I need to get a 90-day visa. My initial question is where would be the best embassy to go, or does it matter? Do I need to take anything with me to that embassy apart from my passport and money?

Will a 90 day visa be enough for them to process the application? I have no other intention of travelling within 90 days.

7 steps below:-

1) I must complete TM7 – I have downloaded it.

2-4) Straight forward

5) I am over 50 and have more than 800,000 baht in a Kasikorn account so I must go to the bank and get a letter from them detailing the state of the account.

6) I must also go to the British embassy saying I wish to retire in Thailand. Who should I see there?

7) Do I need a medical certificate the first time?

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best

Bill Z

http://www.thaivisa.com/318.0.html

Initially you must apply for a Non-Immigrant visa before you enter the country from a Thai Embassy abroad. Permission will be for 90 days. for the first permit (single entry) but you can apply for a multiple max one year stay in Thailand.

Requirements:

1. Application form T.M.7

2. Copy of passport or substitute document.

3. One 4 x 6 cm photo.

4. 500 baht fee.

5. Proof of financial status or pension.

6. Letter from your embassy saying you wish to retire in Thailand For an applicant who is over 50 years old, proof of a sum of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank OR an income of not less than 65,000 baht per month must be presented - OR a combination of balance in the bank and a monthly income. Example: 400,000 Baht in the bank and 32,500 Baht coming in every month.

7. If the alien is ill, or has weak health and is sensitive to colder climates or has resided in Thailand for a long period, and is 50-59 years old, special circumstances may be given. The applicant must also submit medical certificates and proof that he/she lived in Thailand for a long time. For info: Tel: (02) 287-3905 or 287-3101-10 (ext 2259-61) or ask us

[lopburi3]

You need a medical certificate every time, as well as a bank letter and your bank passbook/copies and if using a pension income you need a paper from your Embassy for that. You can apply with a real tourist visa but I suspect all you have is a 30 day entry without visa so a trip to Penang would be in order and you should be able to obtain a non immigrant visa there by showing your bank account and the fact you are over age 50 and use that as the basis for your retirement extension application. If for any reason they will not issue a non immigrant visa you can just obtain a tourist 60 day visa and do with that (an extra step costing 2,000 baht involved).

I don't know who you see at the British Embassy but suspect it is a consular officer who takes care of expats and they have a very good website so you can probably get full information there.

[billzant]

You need a medical certificate every time, as well as a bank letter and your bank passbook/copies and if using a pension income you need a paper from your Embassy for that. You can apply with a real tourist visa but I suspect all you have is a 30 day entry without visa so a trip to Penang would be in order and you should be able to obtain a non immigrant visa there by showing your bank account and the fact you are over age 50 and use that as the basis for your retirement extension application. If for any reason they will not issue a non immigrant visa you can just obtain a tourist 60 day visa and do with that (an extra step costing 2,000 baht involved).

I don't know who you see at the British Embassy but suspect it is a consular officer who takes care of expats and they have a very good website so you can probably get full information there.

Dear Lopburi3,

How are you?

Thanks very much for getting back to me so quickly.

I have 30-day entry without visa so I will go to Penang and apply for a non-immigrant visa to be used as a basis for retirement extension

I need medical certificate, bank letter, copies of passbook. Is it better to get these before going to Penang?

I will check the embassy website.

Thanks again for all your help.

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best

Bill Z

[lopburi3]

All you should need in Penang is your passport/photos/and bank passbook (and perhaps copies of that). Remember to use local currency if you make the visit out to the Consulate yourself. You will not need to do the extension of stay until a week or so before your 90 day entry expires so no rush. Medical and bank letter should be done immediately prior to extension request. Read through a few threads here and believe you will get a pretty good idea of what is involved.

[astral]

6) I must also go to the British embassy saying I wish to retire in Thailand. Who should I see there?

The British Embassy has two sections.

The mad house where the Thai's apply for visas,

and the civilised part, upstairs where they deal with UK citizens.

The officer on duty upstairs will be able to help you.