Getting A Retirement Visa - What It Took

[mrphil]

This may help some of you, if you are similar to me (many years in Thailand,

good income, frequent trips abroard:

Well, I finally got my fully legal 'retirement' visa for Thailand.

What I have been doing free and paperless for the last 10 years, I can

now continue to do - leave the country and return as often as I like.

But it took me 4 trips to the Pattaya Immigration office and almost

10,000 Baht to achieve this, though it was quite 'simple' :

1. Get a letter from my Embassy that I have enough income every month.

Luckily UK Embassy has a consul in Pattaya who sits outside the

Immigration Office each morning to help us. Even though my income

comes from the US, they 'certified' it by looking at my bank book !

2000 Baht.

2. Get a letter from my Thai bank that I have an account with at least

2000 baht in it. Free

3. Convert my visa waiver on arrival to non-immigrant status.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo. 1900 Baht

4. Convert my non-immigrant visa to a one-year retirement visa.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo, letter from embassy,

letter from bank. 2000 Baht

5. Get multi-entry re-entry visa for one year

Copies of passport, photo. 3800 Baht

And I will have to do all that again next year !

And report at Immigration every 3 months.

Welcome to Thailand !!

If anyone needs to discuss details - //contact via PM//

[lopburi3]

3. Cost for visa change is 2,000 baht - one time - will not be required next year.

4. Cost for extension of stay 1,900 baht each year.

5. Not required if you do not travel - if you only travel one or two times a year perhaps single re entry permits at 1,000 baht each would be more cost effective.

Congratulations and you do not have to visit immigration every 90 days as that can be done by mail if easier - but for those like you with an immigration office handy it is probably the best way.

Removed email address from your post to prevent spam; per forum rules.

[pitrevie]

I would like to add that I have just reported having completed my first 90 days. I am based in Bangkok and reported to the Immigration Bureau in Soi Suanplu. I downloaded the form tm47 found on this site in word format allowing you to fill in all your details so that all you need is to sign it. I arrived at the Immigration office and was in and out within 10 minutes. It could not have been easier. I also asked if I could send future forms in by post but was told as I live in Bangkok I must attend but after that sort of service I have no complaints.

[Firefan]

You MIGHT also be able to use the same embassy letter each year as many have reported doing so. That cuts your cost to 1900 Baht+3800 Baht for the multiple entry permit(as you mention frequent trips abroad) = 5700 Baht/year (+pics/copies). That is the same I pay for my investment-visa renewals. Cheers!

[Krub]

Did the UK Consul made the letter there and then or did you have to apply one day and get the letter the next ?

This may help some of you, if you are similar to me (many years in Thailand,

good income, frequent trips abroard:

Well, I finally got my fully legal 'retirement' visa for Thailand.

What I have been doing free and paperless for the last 10 years, I can

now continue to do - leave the country and return as often as I like.

But it took me 4 trips to the Pattaya Immigration office and almost

10,000 Baht to achieve this, though it was quite 'simple' :

1. Get a letter from my Embassy that I have enough income every month.

Luckily UK Embassy has a consul in Pattaya who sits outside the

Immigration Office each morning to help us. Even though my income

comes from the US, they 'certified' it by looking at my bank book !

2000 Baht.

2. Get a letter from my Thai bank that I have an account with at least

2000 baht in it. Free

3. Convert my visa waiver on arrival to non-immigrant status.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo. 1900 Baht

4. Convert my non-immigrant visa to a one-year retirement visa.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo, letter from embassy,

letter from bank. 2000 Baht

5. Get multi-entry re-entry visa for one year

Copies of passport, photo. 3800 Baht

And I will have to do all that again next year !

And report at Immigration every 3 months.

Welcome to Thailand !!

If anyone needs to discuss details - //contact via PM//

[Firefan]

I have friend living in Bangkok (ok - Bangna, but still Bangkok) who mail it in, no problem. Never heard that one has to live outside BKK to use this service, even though I do recall a mention on a homepage mentioned it as as "service for people who live far from reporting point" - but how far is far?

CHEERS!

I would like to add that I have just reported having completed my first 90 days. I am based in Bangkok and reported to the Immigration Bureau in Soi Suanplu. I downloaded the form tm47 found on this site in word format allowing you to fill in all your details so that all you need is to sign it. I arrived at the Immigration office and was in and out within 10 minutes. It could not have been easier. I also asked if I could send future forms in by post but was told as I live in Bangkok I must attend but after that sort of service I have no complaints.

[atlastaname]

Don't you also have to supply a Police letter confirming you have no criminal record? I only ask because you don't refer to it. Or am i wrong about this ?

[lopburi3]

Don't you also have to supply a Police letter confirming you have no criminal record? I only ask because you don't refer to it. Or am i wrong about this ?

You are wrong. That is only required when you apply at a Consulate for an O-A non immigrant visa for long stay (retirement visa done in home country).

[atlastaname]

thanks Lopburi3 , i've learnt something

[stickyb]

For anyone wanting to go the 30 day to retirement visa route see this excellent thread http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=84738

It certainly worked for me.

[thaihome]

Should also note that you don't have be present yourself for the 90 day address report, someone can take your passport and do it for you.

TH

[mrphil]

Did the UK Consul made the letter there and then or did you have to apply one day and get the letter the next ?

This may help some of you, if you are similar to me (many years in Thailand,

good income, frequent trips abroard:

Well, I finally got my fully legal 'retirement' visa for Thailand.

What I have been doing free and paperless for the last 10 years, I can

now continue to do - leave the country and return as often as I like.

But it took me 4 trips to the Pattaya Immigration office and almost

10,000 Baht to achieve this, though it was quite 'simple' :

1. Get a letter from my Embassy that I have enough income every month.

Luckily UK Embassy has a consul in Pattaya who sits outside the

Immigration Office each morning to help us. Even though my income

comes from the US, they 'certified' it by looking at my bank book !

2000 Baht.

2. Get a letter from my Thai bank that I have an account with at least

2000 baht in it. Free

3. Convert my visa waiver on arrival to non-immigrant status.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo. 1900 Baht

4. Convert my non-immigrant visa to a one-year retirement visa.

Copies of passport, bank account, photo, letter from embassy,

letter from bank. 2000 Baht

5. Get multi-entry re-entry visa for one year

Copies of passport, photo. 3800 Baht

And I will have to do all that again next year !

And report at Immigration every 3 months.

Welcome to Thailand !!

If anyone needs to discuss details - //contact via PM//

I gave him the info one day, picked up the letter the next