There is a lot of discussion about visa extensions and renewals in this forum, but where could I find an overview of the different visa options and what is required? - yes, I know the regulations are complicated.
I rent an apartment in Thailand and I have been in the country many times on a tourist visa and extended it with 30 days, then out of the country for some time and back again. I am an EU citizen and I have years enough for a retirement visa - female, so marriage to a Thai option not to be considered. I have understood that you have to have some 20,000€ on a Thai bank account (or is it in your own country?) three months before applying for a retirement visa, and you are not allowed to work in Thailand if you have a retirement visa (but you can work in other countries which I as a freelancer am doing).
A friend of mine living in Thailand for more than 25 years told me that you are not allowed to open a bank account here unless you have a business visa and a work permit. This doesn't make sense if you are required to have a considerable amount of money on a bank account in Thailand before applying for a retirement visa.
Could somebody please clarify and send a link to comprehensive visa information? Thanks a lot.
Visa options and Thai bank account
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Dannie Boy
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Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
I'm sure our resident Visa expert Lomumart will respond when he sees your message, but to put your mind at ease, most banks will allow you to open a bank account on a tourist visa - one that does is Kasikorn, but I'm sure there are others.
Regarding the "Retirement" visa that you infer, it's called an O-A visa for those over 50 and amongst other qualifying criteria is to have the equivalent of 800,000 Thai baht in a bank account. Certainly when you apply for your first O-A visa the funds can be in the country where you are applying and then after your visa expires, the extension process will be done in Thailand and where you will need to have the funds or show regular income equivalent to 65,000 baht a month. For your initial visa you have to jump through a few hoops (from memory a medical and police report), but hopefully Lomu will put you right there - it's not too difficult just typical Thai beaurocracy.
Regarding the "Retirement" visa that you infer, it's called an O-A visa for those over 50 and amongst other qualifying criteria is to have the equivalent of 800,000 Thai baht in a bank account. Certainly when you apply for your first O-A visa the funds can be in the country where you are applying and then after your visa expires, the extension process will be done in Thailand and where you will need to have the funds or show regular income equivalent to 65,000 baht a month. For your initial visa you have to jump through a few hoops (from memory a medical and police report), but hopefully Lomu will put you right there - it's not too difficult just typical Thai beaurocracy.
Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
Any visa is okay to open a Thai bank account. No police report is required if in country. A 90 day or longer lease at some rental is required. A letter from the bank is needed with your passbook.
Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
The OP shouldn't confuse the visa with an annual extension.
The visa will be applied for from a Thai Embassy or consulate. You'll need either a Non Immigrant O or OA visa. Both types lead to annual extensions on the basis of retirement later on.
The O visa can be single or multi entry. The former is valid for 90 days and will allow you one entry of 90 days. The latter will be valid for a year and allows as many entries as you want - during the visa's validy - and you'll get another 90 days each time you re- enter. If you exit and enter just before th visa expires, you can make it work for almost 15 months.
The OA can can also be single or multi entry. Both will be valid for a year. You'll also be stamped in for a year when you arrive. You have to report to Imm every 90 days. If you have the multi and leave just before the visa expires, you'll get another year on re-entry thus making the visa work for almost 2 years. In the second year, you'll need a re-entry permit if you exit the country as your visa has expired. This is to keep your permitted to stay date alive. To get this visa, you need to show income of 65,000 THB a month or have savings equivalent to 800,000 THB in a bank account. For the visa, the money dosn't need to be in Thailand. The OA visa can only be applied for at the Thai Embasy in your home country - unless you're domiciled elsewhere as well. You'll also need a police and medical certificate for the OA.
Whether with an O or OA visa, you can apply for an annual extension of stay on the basis of retirement within the last 30 days of any permitted to stay date. As has been said, you'll need to show an overseas income of minimum 65,000 THB per month (evidenced by a letter from your Embassy) or by showing a minimum of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account. This is evidenced by your bank book and a letter from the bank. Or you can do the extension on the basis of a combination of income and savings as long as the total is 800,000 THB minimum.
Once you've got your extension you just renew it at the right time each year ad infinitum. You're always extending off the original visa even if it expired years before.
Hope that's clear. It might sound daunting but it's really straightforward when you get down to it.
The visa will be applied for from a Thai Embassy or consulate. You'll need either a Non Immigrant O or OA visa. Both types lead to annual extensions on the basis of retirement later on.
The O visa can be single or multi entry. The former is valid for 90 days and will allow you one entry of 90 days. The latter will be valid for a year and allows as many entries as you want - during the visa's validy - and you'll get another 90 days each time you re- enter. If you exit and enter just before th visa expires, you can make it work for almost 15 months.
The OA can can also be single or multi entry. Both will be valid for a year. You'll also be stamped in for a year when you arrive. You have to report to Imm every 90 days. If you have the multi and leave just before the visa expires, you'll get another year on re-entry thus making the visa work for almost 2 years. In the second year, you'll need a re-entry permit if you exit the country as your visa has expired. This is to keep your permitted to stay date alive. To get this visa, you need to show income of 65,000 THB a month or have savings equivalent to 800,000 THB in a bank account. For the visa, the money dosn't need to be in Thailand. The OA visa can only be applied for at the Thai Embasy in your home country - unless you're domiciled elsewhere as well. You'll also need a police and medical certificate for the OA.
Whether with an O or OA visa, you can apply for an annual extension of stay on the basis of retirement within the last 30 days of any permitted to stay date. As has been said, you'll need to show an overseas income of minimum 65,000 THB per month (evidenced by a letter from your Embassy) or by showing a minimum of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account. This is evidenced by your bank book and a letter from the bank. Or you can do the extension on the basis of a combination of income and savings as long as the total is 800,000 THB minimum.
Once you've got your extension you just renew it at the right time each year ad infinitum. You're always extending off the original visa even if it expired years before.
Hope that's clear. It might sound daunting but it's really straightforward when you get down to it.
Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
Thanks a lot for all the clarifying info! Do I understand correctly that OA is retirement visa that requires you to demonstrate financial assets, but what are the requirements for an O visa (90 days or 1 year)?
Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
The OA visa is commonly referred to as a retirement or long stay visa. You need to demonstrate funds (savings or income) and get a medical and police certificate.
If you're over 50 or married to a Thai, then there may be financial requirements for the O visa depending on where you're applying. I think this will be less likely if you only want a single entry.
Here's the relevant page from the Thai Embassy in London http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/49
I think it's up-to-date but it might be worth while contacting them to check that and that the requirements are comprehensive. Again, what you need to show may vary if you're not applying in London.
If you're over 50 or married to a Thai, then there may be financial requirements for the O visa depending on where you're applying. I think this will be less likely if you only want a single entry.
Here's the relevant page from the Thai Embassy in London http://thaiembassyuk.org.uk/?q=node/49
I think it's up-to-date but it might be worth while contacting them to check that and that the requirements are comprehensive. Again, what you need to show may vary if you're not applying in London.
Re: Visa options and Thai bank account
my wife and i are living in South Korea just now, i have a home in Pranburi and a bank account with 800K funds, and this time next year we intend to leave Korea. I was going to apply for a non imm O visa here at the Thai Embassy for both of us ( both over 50) with multi entry as we intend to travel a bit the 1st year. within this 1st year we will change to a OA visa. just to be 100% certain, is it the O visa we should be apply for ?