Non-immigrant visa for retirement Penang – first timer FAQ

[leddie]

Sorry if this is a repetitive topic, but thank you for any advice on the basics of getting a single entry non-imm O for retirement in Penang including,

 

Documents required, costs involved, application-pick-up timings, where to stay, best flights to take, use agent or not, or any other useful information.

 

I appreciate your help!

Edited June 29, 2017 by leddie

[ubonjoe]

You will need proof of 800k baht in the bank or proof of 65k baht income or both totaling 800k baht.

If using the money in bank option you will need proof you are retired. A income letter from you embassy showing any proof of income will be accepted for that.

You will need a copy of your passport photo page and a completed application form (download http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/contents/files/services-20161027-173245-315830.pdf ).

The fee for the visa will be 300 MYR.

You apply for the visa the morning of one day by 11:30 and pickup the next afternoon between 2 and 4 pm.

The big advantage of using an agent is that you do not need to make trips to the consulate.

Where will you be flying from? Selection of flights would be based upon arriving and departing to be able to apply and pickup your passport.

Others will be able to help with hotel suggestions.

 

[BritTim]

I suggest staying at the Chulia Mansion Hotel. It is a really well run hotel. Their rates have been creeping up, but still perfectly affordable. They have an economical agent they recommend, and will ask to drop by if you do not want to walk over to the travel agency the agent works out of. Taxis in Penang are not outrageously expensive, but (if you have plenty of time and want to save money) there are buses between the airport and Chulia leaving, maybe, a 300 meter walk to the hotel.

 

It is unlikely you will get a flight that arrives early enough to apply for the visa the same day, but there is plenty of time to make the direct Air Asia flight to Bangkok the day of the visa pickup. Thus, you will generally need two nights in Penang. If you have never been to Penang, you could even deliberately stay longer. It is a pretty interesting place.

[leddie]

29 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You will need proof of 800k baht in the bank or proof of 65k baht income or both totaling 800k baht.

If using the money in bank option you will need proof you are retired. A income letter from you embassy showing any proof of income will be accepted for that.

You will need a copy of your passport photo page and a completed application form (download http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/contents/files/services-20161027-173245-315830.pdf ).

The fee for the visa will be 300 MYR.

You apply for the visa the morning of one day by 11:30 and pickup the next afternoon between 2 and 4 pm.

The big advantage of using an agent is that you do not need to make trips to the consulate.

Where will you be flying from? Selection of flights would be based upon arriving and departing to be able to apply and pickup your passport.

Others will be able to help with hotel suggestions.

 

Very helpful information.....planning to fly from Bangkok.  Is there any date requirement for the bank statement or income letter?  Could they be from the week before going, or does it have to be dated from the date of departure?

 

Thanks again.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, leddie said:

Very helpful information.....planning to fly from Bangkok.  Is there any date requirement for the bank statement or income letter?  Could they be from the week before going, or does it have to be dated from the date of departure?

There is no limit on how old the income letter can be. A update of your bank book would be accepted that was a few days old.

Flying from Bangkok you will need to fly in the day before the morning you apply for the visa. As far as I know there are no flights that arrive early enough to apply on the same day you arrive. Check Air Asia for flights from Don Mueang.

[overherebc]

My bank book update was about a week old but I did an ATM withdrawal the day before and stuck the ATM slip with it.

Don't know if it was essential or not but all went ok.

[leddie]

19 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You will need proof of 800k baht in the bank or proof of 65k baht income or both totaling 800k baht.

If using the money in bank option you will need proof you are retired. A income letter from you embassy showing any proof of income will be accepted for that.

You will need a copy of your passport photo page and a completed application form (download http://www.thaiembassy.org/penang/contents/files/services-20161027-173245-315830.pdf ).

The fee for the visa will be 300 MYR.

You apply for the visa the morning of one day by 11:30 and pickup the next afternoon between 2 and 4 pm.

The big advantage of using an agent is that you do not need to make trips to the consulate.

Where will you be flying from? Selection of flights would be based upon arriving and departing to be able to apply and pickup your passport.

Others will be able to help with hotel suggestions.

 

UJ, is there any need to show rental agreements or any other docs...would hate to get there and be missing something!

 

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

16 minutes ago, leddie said:

UJ, is there any need to show rental agreements or any other docs...would hate to get there and be missing something!

Nothing more is needed.

[leddie]

On 2017-06-30 at 11:08 AM, ubonjoe said:

Nothing more is needed.

Hello,

 

Does the income letter from the embassy have to state a monthly or annualized amount?  If not a pension amount, how should the income be described...as "general income"? Is a plane ticket out of Thailand required to get the visa and to enter at Don Mueang?  Is it required to carry 20k baht into country when arriving?

 

Sorry for the extra questions!

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, leddie said:

Does the income letter from the embassy have to state a monthly or annualized amount?  If not a pension amount, how should the income be described...as "general income"? Is a plane ticket out of Thailand required to get the visa and to enter at Don Mueang?  Is it required to carry 20k baht into country when arriving?

Either monthly or annual will be accepted. It just needs to state the amount of the income the source of it is not required but it depends upon how your embassy does them.

Not ticket out of the country is needed.

It is a requirement to have 20k baht for any visa entry but it not likely to be asked for when you have a non immigrant visa.