Step by Step Process for Retirement Visa Extension?

[owenm]

In April 2015,I will finish work in Australia and plan for Retirement in Thailand. I have been to LOS at least 15 times since late 80s.

I'm 56yo,have enough for my Bt80K, and to live comfortably, and then draw on my superannuation funds from 60yrs,paid as a monthly pension. Then aged government Australian pension from 67.5 yrs. Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment.

Will this amount give me pretty good living standards for a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, not including additional funding for short trips abroad in Asia for breaks?

I'm an addicted avid TV reader, and have contributed a couple of times previous. I do get a little confused with the complete step-by-step procedure of either applying for a Non O-A from abroad, or a Non O from Thailand , understanding the basics, but not completely.

I can either apply for a Non O-A from Australia, show my local bank funds, get a Police Check clearance and Medical Certificate. Then on approval, I presume I have 90 days to enter the Kingdom, sign a rental lease, open a Thai Bank account, transfer min Bt80K and season for minimum 60 days, then go to immigration after 90 days for proof of lease and seasoned funds, then with reporting again every 90 days.

My second option is to arrive with a 60+30 Tourist Visa, single or multiple entry, have enough time to see where I want to settle, though I'm thinking of CM, attempt to open a Thai Bank account, sign up to a rental lease, and then convert my TV to a Non O visa, giving permission to stay for 90 days, based on Retirement, and then a one-year extension of stay based on Retirement.

Either way, I would presume that there are pros and cons. I believe that the second option gives me more time to arrange for bank account, transfer of funds from AUS bank, seasoning for min 60 days and finding a suitable 6/12 month lease of a condo. No Police Clearance cert required, not that I have any issues, and I would presume a letter from any doctor, stating that I don't have any of the listed diseases and am reasonably medically fit.

Or does this need to be done at a Hospital or Medical Centre?

Either way, I'm going to want multiple entry, so I still have the freedom to come and go at will, providing I'm in the country for 90 day reporting and 1yr renewal.

Have I dotted all the i's, and crossed all the t's, or have I forgotten anything?

I'm just looking for the easiest option, that's giving me extra flexibility. And I'm thinking that doing it in Thailand maybe the way to go.

And if so, can I do the visa conversion from CM, or do I need to go to BKK Immigration? I believe in CM you need to camp out from before dawn to try and get anything arranged. Is the procedure going to be a one day job, or require two plus visits, if all the required docs, photocopies, and additional photos are in order?

I know that a lot of the above has probably been in TV forums and threads, but not step-by-step with options.

I appreciate any assistance and advice based on your knowledge and experience, and apologise to anyone who says all has been said before.

Thanks again. I can't wait to be a Retired Expat living in LOS.

[Mario2008]

With an O-A visa you get a permission to stay for 1 year on entry, not 90 days. With a multiple entry O-A you could even get 2 years in Thailand, by just leaving and re-entering Thailand just before the visa itself expires. So you have much more time to get the money in the bank in Thailand. That is the advantage of the O-A visa over converting in Thailand itself.

[ubonjoe]

You seem to be confusing a non-o visa with OA visa. As said the OA gives you a one year entry for one year.

Also you wrote 80k baht for the financial requirements. I assume you meant 800k baht in the bank.

A non-o visa gives you a 90 day entry that you can extend at immigration and it requires no financial proof to get. You can also get a multiple entry non-o visa that gives you 90 entries for a year. If you not sure where you want to stay and spend some time before extending a multiple entry visa might be a good option. You should contact the Brisbane consulate if you are interested in the non-o visa. The embassy and consulate in Sydney will not issue them because they only do the OA visa.

Getting the single entry non-o would be the better option than getting a tourist visa.

This file from the embassy website gives all the requirements for the OA visa application. http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/doc/form/Long%20stay%20Visa%20O-A%20(5)%20updated%20020114.pdf

[owenm]

Thanks Mario. With approval of O-A it commences from date of approval, not arrival date in LOS. You have only 90 days, and Bt80K needs 60 days seasoning. Not much time if arriving 2 weeks after visa approval?

[TSF]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

[Mario2008]

Not sure what you mean. The validity of your O-A visa starts from date of approval. Once you enter Thailand you get a 1 year permission to stay, not 90 days. That means you have 1 year and not 90 days to season the money.

[owenm]

Thanks Ubonjoe, you are definitely the Guru when it comes to expertise on visa related topics. Yes I did mean 800k. I thought that getting a Tourist Visa, convert in Thailand to Non O, and then to Non O-A in Thailand, based on retirement, but is this option not available from within Thailand, but only from abroad? I always like reading your knowledgeable threads. Thanks again.

[Diplomatico]

Thanks Mario. With approval of O-A it commences from date of approval, not arrival date in LOS. You have only 90 days, and Bt80K needs 60 days seasoning. Not much time if arriving 2 weeks after visa approval?

Most of this is incorrect. Read the posts above....you have about a year to enter Thailand from the date of approval (not 90 days). Your 800k (not 80k) needs no seasoning for an O-A visa.

[steve187]

Thanks Mario. With approval of O-A it commences from date of approval, not arrival date in LOS. You have only 90 days, and Bt80K needs 60 days seasoning. Not much time if arriving 2 weeks after visa approval?

the visa will be a multi entry non 'O' 'A' which is valid for one year and on each entry gives you a 1 year permission to stay stamp on arrival.

link here - http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/doc/form/Long%20stay%20Visa%20O-A%20(5)%20updated%20020114.pdf

Do not confuse with Non 'O' visa

[ubonjoe]

Thanks Ubonjoe, you are definitely the Guru when it comes to expertise on visa related topics. Yes I did mean 800k. I thought that getting a Tourist Visa, convert in Thailand to Non O, and then to Non O-A in Thailand, based on retirement, but is this option not available from within Thailand, but only from abroad? I always like reading your knowledgeable threads. Thanks again.

You are confusing a OA visa you get from an embassy or consulate and and a one year extension of stay based upon retirement you get here at immigration.

You can get the single entry non-o visa from Brisbane and then apply for the extension of stay during the last 30 days of your 90 day entry. If you get the multiple entry non-o visa you could apply for the extension during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries it gives.

You can do the conversion from a tourist visa entry to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at immigration and then apply for the extension. Getting the non-o visa instead of the tourist visa is the best option.

[owenm]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Thanks TSF.

For a newby settled Retired Expat what would you consider to be a reasonable monthly budget, not being frugal, where one can live comfortably, rent of Bt8000, daily Leo's, eating well, WiFi or Internet, HBO cable tv, running costs of small car and not being too tight with the money??

[wgdanson]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Absolute rubbish. You can get a very nice condo for 20K a month, eat well for 2000 a day, a lady a day will only set you back 30k a month, and rent a car if you need for less than 1000.

[umbanda]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Wrong.....35K go long way if living on "right" cities and "right" areas, avoiding "party" life and paying for female "companion"....

I still amazed how many farangs in TV cannot get into a "normal" life and/or with a "normal" woman in Thailand, and how many farangs thinks that Thailand is Kaosan Road, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket......

Sometimes I wonder what a foreigner just visiting Copacabana thinks about Brazil, and just visiting Las Vegas thinks about the US....... Thailand is the place when most people, Thai and foreigners, can have a wonderful life for a very small money... But..I also understand....

For some people a meaningful life it is not a wonderful life...

Edited December 10, 2014 by umbanda

[TSF]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Absolute rubbish. You can get a very nice condo for 20K a month, eat well for 2000 a day, a lady a day will only set you back 30k a month, and rent a car if you need for less than 1000.

Absolute rubbish???? Really, and in response you post this rubbish. You need to go back to kindergarten mate and learn your 1 + 1 = 2.

So you suggest 20K for a nice condo. You're damn right he can eat well for 2000 a day, eat like a lord for that amount, which comes to 60,000, now add the pooying for another 30K and we're up to 110K a month, and you suggest he can rent a car @ 1000 a day when he's already 75K over-budget?

[owenm]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Wrong.....35K go long way if living on "right" cities and "right" areas, avoiding "party" life and paying for female "companion"....

I still amazed how many farangs in TV cannot get into a "normal" life and/or with a "normal" woman in Thailand, and how many farangs thinks that Thailand is Kaosan Road, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket......

Sometimes I wonder what a foreigner just visiting Copacabana thinks about Brazil, and just visiting Las Vegas thinks about the US....... Thailand is the place when most people, Thai and foreigners, can have a wonderful life for a very small money... But..I also understand....

For some people a meaningful life it is not a wonderful life...

Umbanda thanks.

I'm looking at Chiang Mai, which should be a lot cheaper than Pattaya, Phuket and BKK. It will be a new challenge for me, tightening my belt, changing from a middle class Aussie without too much of a bother for budgets, to living a more simple but hopefully more satisfying lifestyle in LOS and watching where every baht goes, within reason.

It would be interesting to know what single expats, in their 50s and 60s budget per month for living expenses in say Chiang Mai, excluding rent costs, because that can be variable.

How much do you need each month to live a reasonably comfortable lifestyle, with some extravagance?

Rent cost of a reasonable condo in Chiang Mai can vary from Bt3000 to 10,000, and additional costs including internet /WiFi and cable tv?

[TSF]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

Thanks TSF.

For a newby settled Retired Expat what would you consider to be a reasonable monthly budget, not being frugal, where one can live comfortably, rent of Bt8000, daily Leo's, eating well, WiFi or Internet, HBO cable tv, running costs of small car and not being too tight with the money??

It can be done at 35K a month, I've done it myself. You can get an AC room with cable & wifi, you eat Thai street & market food (nothing wrong with that - great tasty food) and drink in night markets & outside minimarts.

If you're OK with that type of lifestyle then fine. But if you also want some western meals in restaurants and like to go to a few bars and want a woman in your life and want to run a car, and maybe do some activities like play golf, then a more realistic budget would be 50K.

[JJ Madcow]

I read on other forums that people from Australia have problem get there pension if outside Australia more then 6 month per year, have you look into that ?

Remember to account for XX.XXX - XXX.XXX baht per year for a Health / Accident insurance.

[owenm]

I read on other forums that people from Australia have problem get there pension if outside Australia more then 6 month per year, have you look into that ?

Remember to account for XX.XXX - XXX.XXX baht per year for a Health / Accident insurance.

Getting the Australian Aged Pension was an issue in the past, but from Sept 2014 changes came into effect. Yes, full pension is paid if living abroad permanently, and if was a resident of Australia and of taxpayer age for 30+ years, will be paid the full aged pension. For 25, and 20 years the pension will reduce by about 20 or 25% .

I won't however reach 67.5yrs to be eligible for another 11yrs so anything can change between now and then. I'll be using my superannuation funds, paid as a monthly amount, rather than lump sum, to see me through to Government Pension age. I don't want to touch my Superannuation until 60yrs otherwise it's taxed at 15% . And I have saved funds to last me till then hopefully.

I've read debate on whether to self insure, or pay for a Private Insurance policy, which has exclusions for pre- existing conditions, namely my rheumatoid arthritis. And with the choice of policies and limits and the expensive cost to insure, I think I'd take the punt to cover myself.

[TSF]

I read on other forums that people from Australia have problem get there pension if outside Australia more then 6 month per year, have you look into that ?

Remember to account for XX.XXX - XXX.XXX baht per year for a Health / Accident insurance.

Getting the Australian Aged Pension was an issue in the past, but from Sept 2014 changes came into effect. Yes, full pension is paid if living abroad permanently, and if was a resident of Australia and of taxpayer age for 30+ years, will be paid the full aged pension. For 25, and 20 years the pension will reduce by about 20 or 25% .

I won't however reach 67.5yrs to be eligible for another 11yrs so anything can change between now and then. I'll be using my superannuation funds, paid as a monthly amount, rather than lump sum, to see me through to Government Pension age. I don't want to touch my Superannuation until 60yrs otherwise it's taxed at 15% . And I have saved funds to last me till then hopefully.

I've read debate on whether to self insure, or pay for a Private Insurance policy, which has exclusions for pre- existing conditions, namely my rheumatoid arthritis. And with the choice of policies and limits and the expensive cost to insure, I think I'd take the punt to cover myself.

If you have reasonably good health (and I for one would not want to live permanently in Thailand if I had major health issues) then IMO medical insurance is not necessary. About once or twice a year I need to see a doc about something and go to a gov hospital or a clinic and pay a couple hundred baht. A couple years ago I had a complete check up with a heart specialist, including blood tests & stress tests, total bill was 2000Bt. So one can pay these small occasional fees.

Accidents are of course totally out of one's hands. So I have an accident cover which costs me 2,600 Bt a year. If I'm in a traffic accident or slip on a banana peel (any sort of accident) then I'm covered for hospital/doc/meds.

If I was ever diagnosed with a serious medical condition that would require hospital and prolonged treatment then the party's over. I'd return to Australia.

[JWNZ]

I have a 1 year multiple entry O-A visa.

Mario 2008 mentioned that this visa enables the holder to get a 1 year permission to stay stamp on each entry,

potentially valid for 2 years if arriving just before its expiry.

When it comes time to renew, or extend this visa, I assume a TM 7 application with fee needs to be presented personally to immigration, with proof of sufficient funds etc.

I'm assuming this extension needs to be submitted before the extension of stay expiry, rather than prior to the original visa's expiry? (This is my question)

I am aware though a re-entry permit (TM 8) is required outside the expiry date of the original O-A visa.

Cheers

J.

[ubonjoe]

I have a 1 year multiple entry O-A visa.

Mario 2008 mentioned that this visa enables the holder to get a 1 year permission to stay stamp on each entry,

potentially valid for 2 years if arriving just before its expiry.

When it comes time to renew, or extend this visa, I assume a TM 7 application with fee needs to be presented personally to immigration, with proof of sufficient funds etc.

I'm assuming this extension needs to be submitted before the extension of stay expiry, rather than prior to the original visa's expiry? (This is my question)

I am aware though a re-entry permit (TM 8) is required outside the expiry date of the original O-A visa.

Cheers

J.

If you do an entry just before your visa expires you will need to get a re-entry permit to keep the one year permit to stay valid that you will get from that entry valid if you want to travel.

Before that last permit to stay ends you will need to apply for a one year extension of stay using the TM7 form.

[JWNZ]

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I have a 1 year multiple entry O-A visa.

Mario 2008 mentioned that this visa enables the holder to get a 1 year permission to stay stamp on each entry,

potentially valid for 2 years if arriving just before its expiry.

When it comes time to renew, or extend this visa, I assume a TM 7 application with fee needs to be presented personally to immigration, with proof of sufficient funds etc.

I'm assuming this extension needs to be submitted before the extension of stay expiry, rather than prior to the original visa's expiry? (This is my question)

I am aware though a re-entry permit (TM 8) is required outside the expiry date of the original O-A visa.

Cheers

J.

If you do an entry just before your visa expires you will need to get a re-entry permit to keep the one year permit to stay valid that you will get from that entry valid if you want to travel.

Before that last permit to stay ends you will need to apply for a one year extension of stay using the TM7 form.

Thank you.

[Suradit69]

You seem to be confusing a non-o visa with OA visa. As said the OA gives you a one year entry for one year.

Also you wrote 80k baht for the financial requirements. I assume you meant 800k baht in the bank.

A non-o visa gives you a 90 day entry that you can extend at immigration and it requires no financial proof to get. You can also get a multiple entry non-o visa that gives you 90 entries for a year. If you not sure where you want to stay and spend some time before extending a multiple entry visa might be a good option. You should contact the Brisbane consulate if you are interested in the non-o visa. The embassy and consulate in Sydney will not issue them because they only do the OA visa.

Getting the single entry non-o would be the better option than getting a tourist visa.

This file from the embassy website gives all the requirements for the OA visa application. http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/doc/form/Long%20stay%20Visa%20O-A%20(5)%20updated%20020114.pdf

"You can also get a multiple entry non-o visa that gives you 90 entries for a year. "

90 entries

90 day entries?

As stated you can use the non-o and during the last 30 days of your permission to stay apply for a one-year extension based on retirement, for which you will need an embassy letter/affidavit proving > Baht 65,000 a month in income OR a Thai bank manager's letter and photocopies of your passbook showing a balance of Baht 800,000 for at least 2 months (for the first extension) OR a combination of the two that adds up to at least Baht 800,000.

Once you have an extension or if you used an O-A visa, you need to report your address every 90 days and, if you plan to exit and re-enter Thailand, a re-entry permit if you obtained an extension. If you were here on the multi-entry non-imm O only, you would need to exit and return every at least every 90 days, so no address report.

The benefit of an O-A is that you can stretch it out to two years ... one year on the visa and an additional one year by crossing a border before the visa expires to get an additional one year permission to stay from Immigrations at your point of re-entry. During the first year you can exit and re-enter using the visa and for the second year you would need a re-entry permit, but the proof of income and/or bank deposit wouldn't be required until the 2nd year permission to stay is about to expire and you go to immigrations to apply for a one-year extension.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Suradit69

[kingstonkid]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

If you are not living and partying in BKK or the big spots 35k is doable

Rangsit a garden home 5k a month food if you do not spend like crazy 7k is also doable but tight

[TSF]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

If you are not living and partying in BKK or the big spots 35k is doable

Rangsit a garden home 5k a month food if you do not spend like crazy 7k is also doable but tight

Agree entirely. Doable but tight.

[owenm]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

If you are not living and partying in BKK or the big spots 35k is doable

Rangsit a garden home 5k a month food if you do not spend like crazy 7k is also doable but tight

Agree entirely. Doable but tight.

So your suggesting doable but tight, but if I could budget Bt50k would be far more easy going in say CM or wildly thinking Korat.

[TSF]

"Initially I'm budgeting Bt35K per month for rental, food, drinks and some entertainment."

Yes you can get by on a monthly budget as low as this but it'll be frugal living. Unqualified teachers get salaries 30K-35K and get by, but usually a meal is provided at the school and sometimes accommodation as well.

For 35K a month expect a small cheerless room, you'll be eating cheap Thai food and drinking Leos outside a 7-11.

If you are not living and partying in BKK or the big spots 35k is doable

Rangsit a garden home 5k a month food if you do not spend like crazy 7k is also doable but tight

Agree entirely. Doable but tight.

So your suggesting doable but tight, but if I could budget Bt50k would be far more easy going in say CM or wildly thinking Korat.

Yes, you can get by in LOS on a budget like 35K. Probably enough if you plan on living alone and keeping out the bars.

My current budget is around 50K a month. I live with my TGF in a great 14th floor large studio with sea views, I run a car & MC for GF, we eat well, I enjoy my beer, we have regular holidays in Cambodia/Lao/and around Thailand.

I've been to CM a few times but it's not one of my favorite cities. Don't like Korat either. Khon Kaen is OK, I really like Nong Khai (which is where I am right at the moment as we're going over to Vientiane on the weekend) I live in Bangsaen, which is a nice place to live. I think Kanchanaburi would be OK, I also have my eye on Prachuap Kiri Khan. In Isaan the Mekhong riverside towns are way better than the inland cities, so Nong Khai, Bueng Khan, Mukdahan, NKP are all nice spots.

[gyrosman]

35k per month, yea live in a village. I get 90k per month and live good with no extra money left.

[inzman]

35k per month, yea live in a village. I get 90k per month and live good with no extra money left.

Some people can't live on any amount, probably has to do with the ladies gambling or drinking. I myself bring in over 100 a month and can't for the life of me spend more than 40 k. Own car and house, go out to dinner often. But my family aren't big spenders. You can easily live on 35k in the village. Have fun.

[Liquorice]

@owenm.

Costs of living and accommodation vary depending on where you live and your lifestyle.

I live in Roi-Et (Issan) NE Thailand. It's a nice small city with all amenities.

I rent a nice 3 bed house, gardens, carport, driveway. 6000BHT a month.

Electric 800BHT a month

Water 100BHT a month

I have a Thai girlfriend, we eat well, sometimes Thai, sometimes English.

I like an occasional beer, but not to any excess.

I struggle to spend 30,000BHT a month.

If you want to live in the 'Tourist' hotspots then you'll pay their prices.

In comparison many Thais earn far less than 35000BHT, even joint family incomes.

It depends whether you intend to retire, or to holiday that will make a significant difference.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Faz