Jun28

I am in first-stage Thai retirement visa insanity?

Author: thailandretire  |  Category: thai visa
thai retirement visa
Skipper asked:


Ok, here I go again…
I am now ready to apply for a retirement visa to Thailand. My intent is to go there in Sept 2010 and retire in Thailand. What I want is a multiple-entry retirement visa. Does such a thing exist? I am being told that you can only get single-entry retirement visa’s BECAUSE if you get a multiple-entry retirement visa you WILL have to make 90-day border runs. I would rather have a multiple-entry retirement visa in the event I should want to return to the US for a month or so, or, to take a trip to Laos, or Cambodia, or…..
I have been to all of the online sites and find that the process is not standardized. I am on the verge of hiring one of the legal services available online, even though friends say not to because it’s a waste of money. “You can do it yourself,” they say. They mean well. But I must be too dense, to stubborn, to confused… I don’t know how to get the retirement visa I want. I don’t know which of the many consulates to use…yada yada yada.
If your answer is right-on then I will come to your city in Thailand and we’ll go out drinking – my treat!

How to retire in Thailand

5 Responses to “I am in first-stage Thai retirement visa insanity?”

  1. No Says:
    July 1st, 2010 at 4:07 am

    You can apply for either a multiple entry or single entry retirement visa, the only different is as you say if you want to leave the country after you get here you will not have to go to immigrations for a reentry permit which cost 1,000 baht each time you apply for one..

    You do not have to leave the country ever 90 days as someone told you, I think they are thinking about the O visa for marriage.

    You do however have to report to immigrations every 90 days in the area you will be living in person or by mail.

    The process is very easy, don’t read too much into it.

    All you need is your applicant, visa photo, police check, medical certificate, statement from you showing you will have the income to meet the retirement visa requirements. and payment. I can’t think of anything else I needed.

    Don’t apply too early for the visa it’s only good for 6 months which means you have six months from the date on the visa to entry Thailand. Once you entry Thailand your visa will be stamped for 1 years from the date of arrival.

    If you apply for a single entry visa than it is valid for only 3 months.

    If you have questions email me.

  2. geomark Says:
    July 2nd, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Sounds like the answers you are getting are all mixed up.

    A retirement visa is easy if you are over 50. Get a 60 day tourist visa, arrive in Thailand, open a bank account (Kasikorn is the friendliest to expats) and deposit 800,000 baht. 30 days later (the money must be on deposit for minimum of 30 days) you can go to immigration with a letter from the bank and copy of you passport and apply for a retirement visa good for one year.

    Whenever you want to travel outside the country you get a re-entry permit for 1,000 baht. But you never have to leave, never have to do a visa run, can stay forever just by getting a one year extension each year.

    You do have to report every 90 days, although some people skip it because there is no check on it at all. If you decide to report every 90 days you can do it by mail.

  3. spanky Says:
    July 2nd, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    After I got my retirement visa in bkk – I said I want multiple entry – they said fill out this form and go to window xx – I gave them my passport and what 6000 baht?? and ten minutes later they gave me back my passport w/the stamp –

    If you ask enough questions – a logical approach for sure, you will likely get back enough contradictory answers to confuse anyone – just ask at immgiration – and yes, I recommend the multiple entry, even of you only plan to go back once a year – it makes it easier…

    for retirement visa – 90 day check in is required – you can even mail it in

  4. Khun Larry Says:
    July 2nd, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    Everything in Thailand is insanity

    Much easier to do in person, be sure you have some visa when you arrive like a 60 or 90 day visa

  5. theymademedoit Says:
    July 5th, 2010 at 1:13 am

    “No’s” First answer is a good one -about as simplified as you are going to get.

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