Thailand Retirement Visa Requirements
Thailand is an affordable, tropical and interesting place to retire after years of working. It has it's challenges and it's not the cheapest, but it is one of the most popular and affordable destinations for retirees who live in the Americas, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, The Middle East, Russia and many other places. This post will describe what you need to get the process started and if you qualify. (Updated April 2021).
Who is it for?
Those age 50 years and over who wish to stay and enjoy Thailand for the long term. You need to renew it each year.
What countries are eligible?
Citizens and residents from all countries are eligible to retire in Thailand.
What are the financial requirements?
You can have at least 800,000 THB in a bank account for at least 2 months, or income from a pension or other source of at least 65,000 THB per month. A combination of the both of those are acceptable.
How long can you stay in Thailand?
One year. The visa is renewable each year.
Can I work in Thailand?
No. The retirement visa does not allow you to work in Thailand.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
Step #1 - Come to Thailand!
You can enter Thailand with just a tourist visa or a 30 day visa exemption stamp.
Step #2 - Open a bank account in Thailand
As soon as you arrive in Thailand, we will assist you in opening a bank account. You can transfer funds to satisfy the financial requirements. We will also help you to get a statement and letter from the bank proving you have met the requirements.
Step #3 - Change to the retirement visa
The final step is to change your tourist visa to your retirement visa before tourist visa expires. This we will do for you.
PAPERWORK REQUIRED
- Original passport (when you arrive in Thailand)
- Copy of passport - to start the process
- 3 Passport photos
- Address in Thailand
- Statement from bank (as explained above)
MISCELLENOUS NOTES
Travel outside Thailand
To travel outside Thailand you need a re-entry permit. If you leave Thailand without this permit, your visa will be cancelled. Luckily the re-entry permit is easy to get and you can do so at your local immigration office, or at the airport before you leave.
Renewing your visa
This is a repeat of the same process you did before. Just pretend you are doing it for the first time again. Same financial requirements. Same paperwork. Just no 90 day visa required since you are already in Thailand. You would start the renewal process a month before your visa expires.
Address reporting
For just about every kind of long term visa (including the retirement visa), the Thai Immigration department requires you to report your address every 90 days. This can be done online or in person at one of the nearby immigration offices.
Have more questions or ready to start the process?