I've just heard that the retirement visa financial requirement has been lowered from 800,000 baht to 200,000 baht for retirees over 60 years of age. People from 50 to 60 still have the 800,000 baht requirement.
I couldn't find a government regulation on this change. Can anyone verify if this is true?
Could this be a move by the government to help the ailing economy by promoting retirement here for older people who would only spend and not take anything away from Thailand?
Lower Retirement Visa Financial Requirement for Over 60's?
Re: Lower Retirement Visa Financial Requirement for Over 60'
I sincerely hope that this is true.hhfarang wrote:I've just heard that the retirement visa financial requirement has been lowered from 800,000 baht to 200,000 baht for retirees over 60 years of age. People from 50 to 60 still have the 800,000 baht requirement.
I couldn't find a government regulation on this change. Can anyone verify if this is true?
Could this be a move by the government to help the ailing economy by promoting retirement here for older people who would only spend and not take anything away from Thailand?
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Don't treat this as gospel, but unfortunately I don't think this is correct.
Years ago, the financial requirements were significantly lower than they are now. There will still be people who are "grandfathered" on the old figures. They might have been as low as 200K?
There's also a separate requirement for over 50s who take care of their Thai child who isn't married and under 18.
I really can't see that Imm would reduce the financial requirements, but I could well be wrong.
200K rings a bell somewhere - just that figure. I'll have a look through the Police Notices and see what I can dredge up.
Years ago, the financial requirements were significantly lower than they are now. There will still be people who are "grandfathered" on the old figures. They might have been as low as 200K?
There's also a separate requirement for over 50s who take care of their Thai child who isn't married and under 18.
I really can't see that Imm would reduce the financial requirements, but I could well be wrong.
200K rings a bell somewhere - just that figure. I'll have a look through the Police Notices and see what I can dredge up.
Found what I was looking for - amazingly.
Look at section 2.22 subsections (6) and (a) underneath it.
Perhaps this is where the confusion arises?
Link here: http://www.huahinafterdark.com/res/1208-english.pdf
Edit: shows how things have changed over the last 10 years. A 400% increase in Thai bank requirements, but the age limit has dropped from 60 to 50.
Look at section 2.22 subsections (6) and (a) underneath it.
Perhaps this is where the confusion arises?
Link here: http://www.huahinafterdark.com/res/1208-english.pdf
Edit: shows how things have changed over the last 10 years. A 400% increase in Thai bank requirements, but the age limit has dropped from 60 to 50.
There maybe some basis for a change as hoped for. It would be interesting to know just how many people qualify for the "grandfather" clause from 1998. Anybody that is qualified would now be at least 70 years old, given that they would have had to have been at least 60 years old, to have had the extension in the first place.lomuamart wrote:Found what I was looking for - amazingly.
Look at section 2.22 subsections (6) and (a) underneath it.
Perhaps this is where the confusion arises?
Link here: http://www.huahinafterdark.com/res/1208-english.pdf
Edit: shows how things have changed over the last 10 years. A 400% increase in Thai bank requirements, but the age limit has dropped from 60 to 50.
I have been here 20 years, and although the access to information has changed with the Internet, I do not know anybody that has such a visa extension. Back then there were a lot more folks just doing visa runs, and they were not bothered so much about such rules. (both expats and immigration) Just a thought.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Nereus,
I'm reading that clause again in the light of what you've posted. I think it's just bad terminology or translation, but it seems to say that you've got to be 60 now - ie 50 when you were granted the first extension.
However, I'm certain that you couldn't retire at 50 in 1998. That was the year I came over here, but was nowhere near qualifying age wise at that stage.
You'll know more than me on this one.
I'm reading that clause again in the light of what you've posted. I think it's just bad terminology or translation, but it seems to say that you've got to be 60 now - ie 50 when you were granted the first extension.
However, I'm certain that you couldn't retire at 50 in 1998. That was the year I came over here, but was nowhere near qualifying age wise at that stage.
You'll know more than me on this one.
quote Lomu "However, I'm certain that you couldn't retire at 50 in 1998. That was the year I came over here, but was nowhere near qualifying age wise at that stage. "
Absolutely correct Lomu i was 50 and it wasnt until i was 55 that they reduced it to 50
I am 61 day after tommorrow and it didnt make any difference to my application
Absolutely correct Lomu i was 50 and it wasnt until i was 55 that they reduced it to 50
I am 61 day after tommorrow and it didnt make any difference to my application
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
Lomu: you may well be correct about the translation / interpretation.sargeant wrote:quote Lomu "However, I'm certain that you couldn't retire at 50 in 1998. That was the year I came over here, but was nowhere near qualifying age wise at that stage. "
Absolutely correct Lomu i was 50 and it wasnt until i was 55 that they reduced it to 50
I am 61 day after tommorrow and it didnt make any difference to my application
Sarge: I do not follow what you have written. If they changed the age limit to 50 when you where 55, then going on your current age, that would have been 2002. And what was it changed from????
The regulation clearly states: " entered Thailand before October 21st 1998 and continuously allowed to stay in the Kingdom as a retiree,...."
At that time I was not interested in a "retirement visa", so I had no reason to find out what the requirements were.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
apologies for my poorly written post
I arrived 2 days after lomu on the 13th jan 1998 i applied for a retirement visa but was refused as at that time the retirement visa required the applicant to be 55 years of age and i was only 50
I muddled through with a work permit for a year then dunc of duncs pie fame and his visa by post system
At age 55 i applied again but this time i was refused as i already had a one year multi entry non O with 9 months on it and was told to reapply 2 months ish before it finished
dunc rang (he had been busted )and i had to do 3 ranong runs and in the meantime they changed it from 55 to 50 and to 800.000 from 400,000
I have been on a retirement visa ever since
I have asked about a marriage visa (not pushed i may add)but they seem reluctant although they are always helpfull and have told me they will make sure i am alright even when i asked about the falling exchange rate and a what if
The important words are as a retiree,...."(The regulation clearly states: " entered Thailand before October 21st 1998 and continuously allowed to stay in the Kingdom as a retiree,...." )
Multi entry non O and work permits and 30 day tourist visas dont apply
I arrived 2 days after lomu on the 13th jan 1998 i applied for a retirement visa but was refused as at that time the retirement visa required the applicant to be 55 years of age and i was only 50
I muddled through with a work permit for a year then dunc of duncs pie fame and his visa by post system
At age 55 i applied again but this time i was refused as i already had a one year multi entry non O with 9 months on it and was told to reapply 2 months ish before it finished
dunc rang (he had been busted )and i had to do 3 ranong runs and in the meantime they changed it from 55 to 50 and to 800.000 from 400,000
I have been on a retirement visa ever since
I have asked about a marriage visa (not pushed i may add)but they seem reluctant although they are always helpfull and have told me they will make sure i am alright even when i asked about the falling exchange rate and a what if
The important words are as a retiree,...."(The regulation clearly states: " entered Thailand before October 21st 1998 and continuously allowed to stay in the Kingdom as a retiree,...." )
Multi entry non O and work permits and 30 day tourist visas dont apply
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand
OK Sarge, thanks. In accordance with that I suppose that we can assume that the qualifying age for an extension based on retirement, was 55 yrs in 1998.
And without being pedantic, a multi / single entry non o visa most definitely does apply--it is what your "retirement" permitted to stay, is based on.
And to refer back to the op, those that have a "grandfathered" clause, would now all have to be at least 65 years old. And that is the age that a lot (most?) Western countries have as a long standing retirement age, (for males, at least), and are then eligible for a state pension.
While I very much doubt that Thai logic extends to that type of reasoning, I, for one, live in hope!
And without being pedantic, a multi / single entry non o visa most definitely does apply--it is what your "retirement" permitted to stay, is based on.
And to refer back to the op, those that have a "grandfathered" clause, would now all have to be at least 65 years old. And that is the age that a lot (most?) Western countries have as a long standing retirement age, (for males, at least), and are then eligible for a state pension.
While I very much doubt that Thai logic extends to that type of reasoning, I, for one, live in hope!
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil know`s you`re dead!
Yes 1998 it was 55
I have 4/5 years of multi entry non O visas in 2 passports but until i got the word retirement stamped in my passport with the Date (and i now have 5 years of them in 2 passports )I was not a retiree even though i was retired and have pension payments above 800K to prove it
the previous non O visas do not even vaguely go back retrospectively
However we can live in hope but you will need lots and lots of it
I have 4/5 years of multi entry non O visas in 2 passports but until i got the word retirement stamped in my passport with the Date (and i now have 5 years of them in 2 passports )I was not a retiree even though i was retired and have pension payments above 800K to prove it
the previous non O visas do not even vaguely go back retrospectively
However we can live in hope but you will need lots and lots of it
A Greatfull Guest of Thailand