Retirement Visa

[samtam]

Can someone please point me in the right direction for application/requirements for a retirement visa for a) British (50 in March 2007) Japanese (53)?

Thanks

[lopburi3]

Retirement obtain in your home country or in Thailand?

In Thailand it is 800k in Thai bank account 3 months, a non immigrant visa (tourist can be changed for 2,000 baht), passport, photo, bank letter of account balance within the week, TM.7 form filled out and payment of 1,900 baht.

You also have the option to use pension/income as verified by a letter from your Embassy and showing supporting documents. The amount is 65k per month and then bank account balance would not be a factor if something in it.

A combination of the two methods can also be used.

In home country you would apply at Thai Consulate with what they ask - in general 800k in home bank account, police no record report, basic medical report and forms they require.

If you are talking about a husband and wife only one retirement visa would be required and the spouse could enter on a non immigrant O visa and have it extended on a yearly basis.

Retirement stay must be renewed on a yearly basis with the same requirements. This is done at immigration in Thailand using the Thailand requirements.

[samtam]

We have non-immigrant B visas granted out of UK consulate. Can these be used for Retirement? If not can the requisite (which one?) non imm visa be issued from UK consulate? and the forms photos passport etc submitted in Bangkok? Where do you submit everything in Bangkok? How long does process take?

Thanks a lot.

[lopburi3]

Believe any non immigrant visa can be used. You visit immigration on Soi Suan Phlu and get a queue number and wait. When called you present your paperwork/pay and receive the extension of stay within a few minutes.

Remember the 800k or more must have been on deposit for at least 3 months before you apply and you should have copies of passport information page/visa page/entry stamp page and arrival card and your bank passbook.

[samtam]

Thanks. If it's a joint account for the two applicants, can this work if there is THB1.6 million in there for the three months?

[lopburi3]

Believe that would be accepted as those that have presented joint accounts with only 800k have been told they needed twice the money if a joint account.

[lotus eater]

You visit immigration on Soi Suan Phlu .

Presumably this is Bangkok.

Grateful if someone could tell me the location of the office in Chiang Mai.

[lopburi3]

The question was

Where do you submit everything in Bangkok?

so yes that was the Bangkok Immigration office location.

In Chiang Mai believe it is between Airport Plaza and the terminal but those for up there can probably place it better for you.

[samtam]

Lopburi3 thanks for all your help thus far. Regarding the funds on deposit with local Thai bank, do these have to be in a standard savings account, or can it be on three month deposit? (I've read something about this recently, but I can't find it, so my apologies if it's repetitive.)

[lopburi3]

It is up to the officer/office concerned but believe the trend is to accept a fixed deposit baht bank account.

[lotus eater]

The question was

Where do you submit everything in Bangkok?

so yes that was the Bangkok Immigration office location.

In Chiang Mai believe it is between Airport Plaza and the terminal but those for up there can probably place it better for you.

Touche. And thanks for the pointer.