Thai Retirement Visas

Thai Retirement Visas entitles the holder a stay of 5 years in Thailand. The visa is renewable every 5 years and the renewal process can be done inside the Kingdom.

Thai Retirement Visas

Thai Retirement Visas are available for foreign nationals over 50 years of age who wish to retire in the Kingdom. This visa can be applied for in Thailand or while overseas, at a Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate.

The Thai 5 Year Retirement Visa will allow you to stay in Thailand for a period of 5 years and it can be renewed every 5 years. There are no limitations on the amount of times you can renew a Thai Retirement Visa as long as you continue to meet all the visa requirements. This visa can be applied for as a single or multiple entry visa.

Requirements

• You must be 50 years of age or older.
• Application is open to these nationalities: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Canada and United States.
• Must meet the financial requirement: security deposit of 3 million THB in a Thai Bank Account for 12 months prior to the visa application.

Important: You are not permitted to work or run a business in Thailand while on a Retirement Visa.

In some cases you may also be required to provide the following:

• Police Clearance.
• Medical Certificate.
• Health Insurance.

How to Apply

You can apply for a Thai 5 Year Retirement Visa within Thailand or in a country you are a resident in. It is extremely important that you supply all the above mentioned required documents in full when making your application, as well as the relevant visa application form.

It is required that you apply for a 90 day initial Non Immigrant Visa from the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home country prior to your application for a Retirement Visa in Thailand.

You will have to wait for 60 days to be in Thailand before you can file your retirement visa application at the Immigration Office or you must be on the last 30 days of your current permit to stay.

The visa extension may be revoked if the sum of money in the bank account is less than 3 million THB at the end of the first year of stay period in Thailand, or the sum of money in the bank account is less than 1.5 million THB at the end of the second year of stay period in Thailand. And/or the money in said account was spent outside Thailand.

Foreigners must report, in person, to the Immigration Office every 1 year for the examination of the qualifications and supporting documents.

The foreigner on a visa exemption stamp or a tourist visa can still apply for a Retirement Visa given that the foreigner has already met the requirements for the Non Immigrant O Visa and for the five year extension visa applications. This can be done at the Immigration Office in Thailand.

90 Day Reporting

Holders of a Retirement Visa must report their current address to a Thai Immigration Office every 90 days. This can be done three ways:

• In person at a Thai Immigration Office.
• By mail.
• Through an agent who has the Power of Attorney to report your status.

If you are not in Thailand on the date your 90 day reporting is due, you do not need to report your status, your 90 day reporting will begin again from day one on the day you re-enter Thailand.

Re-entry Permit

You may leave Thailand at any time, but you must first obtain a re-entry permit. A re-entry permit can be requested at any Thai Immigration Office or at an international airport in Thailand. If you leave Thailand without first obtaining a re-entry permit, you risk losing your visa when you re-enter the country.

Fairfax Law Firm in Koh Phangan have successfully processed hundreds of visa applications with an incredible success rate. Our team of bilingual Thai Lawyers and English speaking associates will be guiding you every step of the way. Get in touch with us today and schedule a free consultation.