I am Australian , over 50 , I want to move to the Krabi area , buy a condo, I still need to return to Australia 4 or 5 times a year for work to top up my savings and relax for the remainder of year, I will not be working in Thailand when I am there, is a retirement visa suitable or do I have other options, I can meet all requirements for a retirement visa, just looking at this if it's the best option or is there something else I haven't seen , thanks

A good option for you is to apply for non-imm "O-A" visa in your country.

Thanks for the advice I will look I to it cheers

Alternatively even a non-imm 'O' multiple entries would do.

Alternatively even a non-imm 'O' multiple entries would do.

If you meet the financial requirements for a retirement extension (not a visa) and you enter the country on a single entry non-imm O, during the last 30 days of your permission to stay, you could apply at immigrations for a one year extension of stay based on retirement, which would be renewable annually. Once you get the extension, you would need to get a multiple re-entry permit, which would be good for the life of the extension. If you get the extension of stay, you would not use the visa you got in Australia to enter Thailand again or you'd kill the extension of stay ... you would need the re-entry permit.

Not sure if multi-entry non-imm O visas are readily available in Australia. If it is available, it would be cheaper than all of the above, but would only get you 90 day entries in Thailand and you'd have to exit & re-enter for another 90 day permission to stay. Wouldn't be a problem if you plan to travel back to Australia every 90 days or less.

As Paz said, the Non-imm O-A might be a good option, but some people consider the initial application process more onerous than for the non-imm O and after the first year, you'd need a re-entry permit.

The differing options vary slightly in cost and convenience and may or may not be readily available to you when starting out at the embassy in Australia.

Thanks for the information

I saw something on thaivisa.com about a 5 year tourist visa that will be available soon, you only have to do a border run every year, might be worth looking into.

There is another option but I can't remember the name of the visa so don't quote me on the facts (someone else will give you exact details), you get a 5 year visa and costs about 500,000 baht.

I saw something on thaivisa.com about a 5 year tourist visa that will be available soon, you only have to do a border run every year, might be worth looking into.

There is another option but I can't remember the name of the visa so don't quote me on the facts (someone else will give you exact details), you get a 5 year visa and costs about 500,000 baht.

It is already available. It is the PE (privileged entry) visa that is valid for 5 years and gives multiple one year entries. You do not have to leave the country a one year extension is possible.

See: http://www.thailandelite.com/glimpse.php

I saw something on thaivisa.com about a 5 year tourist visa that will be available soon, you only have to do a border run every year, might be worth looking into.

You may have read wrong, not even rumors about anything like that

As Paz mentioned, get a non imm O-A. Little bit of extra trouble like police check, medical etc. You can only get these in Canberra (and maybe Sydney) You can do it by mail.

I'm in Melbourne on brief visit. Went to Melb Thai consulate yesterday and was refused non imm O.

They said I needed to be visiting spouse or family.

On cell I brought up their own official web site where it states....non imm o for , long term holiday, to visit family or spouse , OR VISIT FRIENDS.

I had my Thai gf with me. They read the web site and basically said , so what!

I said I obtained one about 14 months ago. They said that changed sept 2013.

BL**DY joke.

fly back Oct 12. Can get tourist visa or risk stamp after booking flight out of Thailand.

Get a non imm O-A. ....I haven't got enough time now!!

Thanks for that, when the time comes I think I will use a Thai lawyer who specialises in visa applications , best of luck and hope it works out for you

Thanks for that, when the time comes I think I will use a Thai lawyer who specialises in visa applications , best of luck and hope it works out for you

You don't need a lawyer unless your application has no legal basis and it needs corruption handling. Otherwise is wasted money.

The 5 year visa mention before is a Thai elite visa, the cost 2 million bht for 5 years plus a yearly fee of twenty thousand bht, bit expensive for 24 games of golf a year and entry and exit rights

The 5 year visa mention before is a Thai elite visa, the cost 2 million bht for 5 years plus a yearly fee of twenty thousand bht, bit expensive for 24 games of golf a year and entry and exit rights

It costs Bt 500,000 for 5 years actually, no yearly fee. For some people that is great value to each one his own.

The 5 year visa mention before is a Thai elite visa, the cost 2 million bht for 5 years plus a yearly fee of twenty thousand bht, bit expensive for 24 games of golf a year and entry and exit rights

Wrong see my previous post at #8. The 2 million baht option gives you 5 year visas for 20 years.

It is 500k baht for the five year option.

Sorry just checked the link, I was wrong, the This elite visa , costs 2 million bht for twenty years and a annual fee of twenty thousand bht , cheers

Not that bad, but I am looking at keeping my costs to a minimum , but all good advice