HOW TO RENEW YOUR RETIREMENT VISA IN THAILAND?
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ย. 2022
- IT’S THAT DREADED TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN WHEN I HAVE TO RENEW MY THAI RETIREMENT VISA
Unlike many countries that ex-pats retire to, getting and renewing your retirement visa is not a simple process and can vary from province to province. Today I will take you with me as I prepare and apply for my yearly retirement visa.
LINKS FOR VIDEO
Main Immigration office Hua Hin… tinyurl.com/4x8ekmsr
Immigration office Blueport… tinyurl.com/5338u7zj
Hua Hin Terminal Hotel… tinyurl.com/yzbd5ffd
Market Village… tinyurl.com/53js3k95
If you are thinking of retiring or living in Thailand, please take a look at my book “The Retire in Thailand Handbook” it’s crammed full of information to help you tiptoe over the logistics of making Thailand your home as seamlessly as possible. The Retire in Thailand Handbook…tinyurl.com/366aw9jf I am a retiree and though I love making these videos they obviously come at a cost to me as the cost of travel through the Land of Smiles when I make the videos takes a large chunk out of my pension. There are many “free” ways that would help me get recognised on TH-cam, they include
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You look amazing for over 70!!!!!
Thanks Kathryn. I feel pretty good also though I broke my collarbone recently which made me feel my age a bit.
See my latest video where I explain a little about my aging process
Cheers
Ged
th-cam.com/video/YcZlhqeJBeM/w-d-xo.html
Hi Ged , just got back home to the uk after spending two months in Thailand. I spent around three weeks in hua hin terminal but believe you were on your travels. I just wanted to thank your for all your work with the vids and helpful tips that made my trip all the more enjoyable. Kind Regards
Robin
Hi Rob I thought that I answered your comment last night but it hasn't appeared.
Sorry that we missed each other when you were staying at the Terminal. I am glad that my videos helped you while you were in Thailand, hopefully, we can meet up next time you come here.
Cheers
Ged
Thank Ged
I’ll let you know when I book my next trip, ATB and keep up the good work and try not to get frustrated 👍
@@robalexander5944 Cheers Rob. Have a great Christmas and New Year
Hi Ged, great video again. You are lucky to have been born with the patience of Job as well as a dry sense of humor. As you know, I was intending to retire to Thailand but was put off by the requirement to have health insurance, which at my age-a few months younger than you-and suffering from diabetes and a heart condition, was impossibly expensive and totally useless with all the exclusions. So I bought a small townhouse in Arkansas (of all places). But the association fees and utilities are so expensive, not to mention having to buy a car-the tax alone was $1800-that I am now somewhat regretting my decision. As Keith P has pointed out and your experience has shown, you don’t have to have insurance on an O visa. My plan now is to come in the spring or summer for a month or two and if I like it to convert to the O visa and self insure. Keep the vlogs coming and I hope to meet you and other Hua Hin expats in the spring. Cheers, Colin
Hi Colin if you don't have patience living in Thailand you wouldn't last long. I don't know anything about Arkansas but from what I have seen in the news it has got to be better and safer than living in Chicago. When I think of Arkansas I think it must be like where the old TV show The Beverly Hillbillies came from.
It's a good idea to come over next year and spend some quality time. If you think that its ok for you you can go back and sell up. If not you will have had a great holiday. Look forward to meeting you next year if I am still living in Hua Hin.
Cheers
Ged
Enjoying reading your book, very informative, thanks for taking the time to write it.
Thanks Robert. I'm glad that it is useful to you. I wish that I knew many of the things in the book before I arrived here it would have saved me a lot of time and money.
Cheers
Ged
Very informative, I was thinking of doing it myself for my second 1 year renewal. This definitely helps, thanks for the time and effort you put into this
Hi Ken Thanks for your input and comment. Some immigration offices are easier than others it depends on the town and province. Good luck.
Cheers
Ged
Your more patient than me Ged , but as you said at the start it’s worth the jumping about
Clear and informative.
Thank you.
Thanks Keith I am glad that it was useful to you.
Awesome..Helping .. take care Cheers Darren
Thanks for the VDO and very helpful. Subscribed👍
Thanks Yuwaret I am glad that it was helpful to you. Thanks for subscribing
Cheers
Ged
I prefer to use an agent in Hua Hin. I just have to get the bank letter and she does the rest. Cost 7000 baht. It is worth it than having to deal with all the challenges you faced in your video.
Hi David thanks for your input. I am retired and I have plenty of time on my hands. Maybe it's my Middlesbrough frugal upbringing but I prefer to save my money to spend on better things. It took me three hours and 1900 baht to sort out my visa and the 5000 baht that I saved will cover the petrol and ferry costs and three nights in a hotel next time I go to Koh Samui. Though I can understand why people do use agents as dealing with Thai immigration can be very frustrating.
Cheers
Ged
Hi, I'd be interested which agent you used and what city. I was quoted around 35k from one in pattiya but think that is crazy. Thanks.
what a palaver im back in huahin in november got my retirement visa last december will be there for 4 1/2 months and yes will be using the agent to sort my renewal out easy way but very good vlog thanks if your still there in november lets have a beer cheers
Hi Robert. Yes it can be a bit of a headache but last time it went more smoothly. I prefer to do it myself as I have time on my hands and what I save on a visa agent I can have a week's holiday in somewhere like Koh Samui with the money I save. Hopefully our paths will cross when you are here and we can have that beer
Cheers
Ged
Super helpful thanks 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Well explained..Thank you.
Your welcome Pat I am glad that it was useful to you.
Cheers
Ged
You’ve got the patience of a saint!
Hi Sean. Patience of saints comes with the territory when you live in Thailand unfortunately. But to me it's worth all of the hassles.
Cheers
Ged
This is super helpful as I hate red tape but I hate not even knowing where to start even more. Annoying that requirements change but Thailand would lose a lot of $$$ if they were silly enough to enforce private medical insurance. Many would leave Thailand when it's economy is already struggling,. It would make no logical sense. Thanks for putting such an effort in!
Thanks Justin I am gladly that it was helpful to you. Unfortunately silly decisions and not making logical sense are common when it comes to most governments not just the Thai government.
Cheers
Ged
Hi Gerald, my name is Rob and I am retired and living in Australia. I am heading to Hua Hin in March and if you are available I would very much like to meet and talk to you about the possibility of moving to Thailand and discuss the pros/cons of such a decision.
Regards Rob. @@thailandmyland...retiringd2351
Hi Rob. I lived in Australia for a lot of my life and I would love to help you in anyway that I can because moving to another country can be problematic to say the least. Look back at some of my previous videos because they may answer some of your questions. If I am in Hua Hin when you're here we can meet up and have a chat. Contact me on sspchef@hotmail.com when you get here.
Cheers
Ged
There is no logic in Thailand.
Very helpful
Thanks from Toronto Canada
Thanks Saleem. I am glad that it was helpful for you
Cheers
Ged
So from all of the other videos I have seen on TH-cam about visas, the key is to keep copies of your paperwork from the year before so you are not reinventing the wheel every year. Yeah the visa changes a little. But keep copies of your stuff from the year before with notes on what you did wrong so you can avoid it next year. Saves your mental health, waisted time and energy.
Rubbish. They want to see what your asetts are and where you are living on the day that you renew your visa. A year ago I was living in Koh Samui and my bank account had different balance.
So you think that you can rock up with last year's paperwork and they will hand over a visa? You need to get out more and instead of being a keyboard warrior Michelle.
If you took the time to look at the video the immigration officer wouldn't even accept my bank deposit book that I had updated 3 days before. He told me to go back to the bank and get it updated to show the date that I was applying for my new visa so no one is reinventing the wheel.
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 morning. Yeah my husband and I both watched the video all the way through.
I used to be so fond of Thailand 20 years ago. I swore that Thailand would be the place where I passed away. But there"s no way that I'm going through this tea party. Thank you for sharing the reality of things there these days.
Hi Michelle. Please don't think that Thailand is not a great place to live. Yes you have to jump through government hoops to be able to live here but for me it's worth it. When I look at other countries, including the country of my birth just opening their borders and letting people enter their countries I can see the Thai logic in being careful.
I have lived in 10 countries and for me Thailand ticks most though not all of the boxes for a retirement destination.
Cheers
Ged
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 Thank you for your reply Ged. I too have lived in a few countries other than Thailand and would not even consider going back to those ones now. So I'll continue to watch what happens in Thailand.
Sometimes it even depends on Thai Govt agencies! the Thai Foreign Affairs says one thing is acceptable yet Immigration says another! like banking info Immigration wants it the day of applying and where i go I have to get back in the taxi and go find an open Bangkok Bank branch and taxi back!.....I take my lady friend with me she don't like motorbikes for long distances!.......I also got a 90day extension of stay on my Visa as well but next time I'm getting the O-A renewed just to stay safe.
It varies from province to province even though it's the same country. Trying to get a retirement visa in Koh Samui is completely different than Hua Hin with different expectations depending on the mood of the immigration officer... go figure
in humor , you look like you got beat up. when you get home treat yourself to a beer. enjoyed the video.
Dealing with Thai bureaucracy sometimes feels like you have been mugged 😂😂😂😂
Happy New Year 2023. All the best wishes for you and the love one . we are from Perth WA, we also have a house in Chumphon near Thung Wua Lent Beach Patiew. I am so please to see you do the right thing by law, I am Thai who entry Thailand with Australian passport and I renew my retirement Visa every year only thing different from you{ real farang} I dont have to show the Bank statment} I have Thai Passport but I dont like to u se dual Passport. Hope we can meet one day, my husband 74 yrs . you are very direct person. Good luck and good health for 2023.
Hi Muranee thanks for your input and comment. Happy New Year to you and your family also. I lived in Australia for much of my life and worked on rigs and rig tenders out of Karratha in W.A.so I was in Perth quite a lot over the years and enjoyed visiting there.
I love the Chumphon beach areas though I am not a big fan of Chumphon city.
Look forward to hopefully meeting you one day when you come here.
I hope that you have a happy, healthy and prosperouse 2023
Cheers
Ged
WELL DONE THEY DO LIKE TO MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT DON'T THEY
Hi Nigel. Yes they do. It depresses me when I see the Australian, UK and USA governments welcoming illegal immigrants into their countries with open arms, and legal immigrants in Thailand are treated like undesirable aliens.
Cheers
Ged
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 keep on kicking on to supporting us undesirable aliens....lol 😂 😂
Hi Ged excellent informative vid again 👍 what is the procedure for the 90 day reporting , hopefully it's a lot easier 🤔
Cheers
Hi. Once again it depends on where you go to do your 90 day report. Hua Hin is fairly straight forward but Samui is a different kettle of fish. Here's a link to when I did my last 90 day report
Cheers
Ged
th-cam.com/video/LoX99nzEA3w/w-d-xo.html
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 Many thanks again Ged 👍
Hi Ged...lot of good information there, but there's one thing I don't understand. The advice on retiring to Thailand says come in on a tourist visa and change to a retirement visa in country. How can you do this if the 800k baht has to be in Thai bank for minimum three months, and you can't open the account till you get here?
Hi Ben. When I applied for my first one I came in on a tourist visa. I opened a bank account and deposited the 800000 baht. I renewed my tourist visa while in Thailand for another 30 days. Then did a visa run to Malaysia for one night . I then had another month to apply for my retirement visa. I am not sure what the procedure is now. Here is a link to a well known visa company here that explains the procedure. Or perhaps you could talk to them to find out the current requirements
The Thai visa system is very complicated and frustrating...I hope that this helps.
Cheers
Ged
www.keyvisathailand.com/services/retirement-visa-in-thailand/
I'd be in tears by now with all this back and forth.
Nah...it's all part and parcel of living here. Could be a lot worse I could still be living in Middlesbrough.
Cheers
Ged
"🤗📹 I wanted to drop by and say a huge thank you for sharing this informative video on retiring in Thailand. Your insights have been incredibly helpful and motivating. 🙏🌞"
Thanks mate
I am glad that the video was helpful to you. That's why I do the channel to help anyone who may be thinking of coming here long term or for retirement.
Cheers
Ged
I deal with a Visa agent in Pattaya,just did my 1st 90 day report, on a "O" visa, 200 Baht, she did all the running around,My time is worth $$$.....
I could also do it through an agent. But this is a TH-cam channel and I do this to let people know the ins and outs of applying for a visa or 90 day report. Its up to my subscribers if they want to do it themselves or pay someone to do it for them. It wouldn't be much of a video if I just walked into an office and gave them a few hundred baht to do the visa for me for me.
Cheers
Ged
Hello. You definitely need patience dealing with visa situation. I spent from 8am till closing time at the Chiang mai office just to get tourist visa extended one month. What are your thoughts about the private visa shops to do the work for you. I think it's a cash cow for the Thai govt. Cheers.
Hi yes they love to make you jump through hoops and they sometimes go out of their way. To make things difficult and the ninety day report is unnecessary. I have never used a visa agent as I am retired and have plenty of time so why pay someone to do what I can do myself. With the money that I save using a visa agent I can have a few days away relaxing on a beach sometime. Though I did use one to renew my UK passport last year to save me from having to go to Bangkok twice.
Cheers
Ged
Thank you Ged, I do like your videos. I hope you do not mind my comments.
You did not receive a visa, if you look at the stamp in your passport I think you will see it is a 1 year Extension of Stay. Many people and even Agencies call it a "retirement visa" but it is definitely not a visa. It is the same when people arrive with no visa, they state that they got a "Visa on Arrival" when in fact they got a Visa Exempt stamp.
Concerning medical insurance, I also decided to self insure, but for the last 3 years I have had to buy the cheapest possible(worthless) health insurance to obtain my 1 year extension. This is because my original visa that my extensions are based on is a Non Imm O-A visa. I think it started as a trial and they only appied it to O-A visa's, next year the health insurance requirements are increasing a lot, 3 million inpatient cover as opposed to the current 400,000. This would mean paying about 26,000 baht instead of 7,700 baht for the required health insurance which I do not want. Next year before I appy for my 1 year extention I plan to change my visa to a Non Imm O. To do this I have to leave Thailand and then return, so I have planned a holiday.
It makes no sense at all why Non Imm O-A is treated so differently to Non Imm O. I think the fact is they realise that if they apply the requirement to O then many elderly expats would have to leave. And to save face they are not removing the requirement from people with O-A visas.
I strongly suspect that if you look in your passport your last Visa was a Non Imm O, you do not need any health insurance for that when appling for your 1 year extension.
Hi Keith Thanks for your input. And I definatly dont mind your comments. I love all comments as long as they are constructive and helpful to my subscribers.
I am on a Non-Immigrant O visa which means I applied for my retirement visa from within Thailand whereas If I had applied for a retirement visa from within my own country it would be an OA Visa and I believe I would then need medical insurance to qualify, but with an O Visa as yet medical insurance is not required. (See below)
Whatever you want to call it, a visa or permission to stay in the country for one year, it still allows me to stay here for twelve-months as a retiree as long as I do my 90-day reports.
Cheers
Ged
The Retirement Visa
The Thailand retirement visa is a popular term for "Extension of Stay Based on Retirement”. It is an extension of a Non-Immigrant O Visa or Non-Immigrant OA Visa if you apply for it abroad. The visa can be valid either for a single entry or for multiple entries. It is a long-term Thai visa that entitles the holder to stay for 1 year period in Thailand. The visa is renewable every year and the renewal process can be done inside Thailand, you need to re-apply every year.
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 Hi Ged thank you for your reply.
I wish the popular term did not state "retirement visa" because it is not a visa, it is an "extension of stay". But maybe I am a sad person that feels it is better to be exact when dealing with immigration. For the last 4 years I have gone to immigration at about 8:30 am, paid my 1,900 baht and been out by 9:30 latest.
Sorry if it seems argumentative, I don't mean it that way, you do a great job of giving good honest information in your videos.
Another small point is that you need to have 800,000 baht in your Thai bank for 2 months before applying for your 1 year extension (not 3 months), then after the extension maintain 800,000 for 3 months and also never let the balance fall below 400,000. It is a bit different if applying for an extension based on marriage.
We are in a very similar situation, I arrived in Thailand 5 years ago to be with my Thai gf. We lived in Khon Kaen for 4 years but the last year have lived in Hua Hin. I am 70 years old next year.
Sorry again if my writting seems to be argumentative, I don't mean it to be.
@@keithp6254 Hi Keith. You are not at all argumentative, I appreciate your comments. I
have found that every immigration office is different in every province that I have lived in. Koh Samui was the hardest to deal with and HuaHin was the easiest. I also find it also depends on the mood of the immigration officer that you deal with. Just like you did in Khon Kaen I have been in and out of the immigration office in one hour. I then I go back a year later to the same office with the same required documents and they ask me for more documents, one time they even asked me for a medical certificate.
Regarding the 800,000 baht in the bank for three months, this time they sent me back to my bank to get photo printouts of my last 12 months' transactions because they wanted to see that I had 800,000 in my bank for 12 months, not 3 months.
Cheers
Ged
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 Hi Ged, I have only been to Khon Kaen and Hua Hin immigration, maybe I have been lucky in which Immigration Officer I saw as I have never had any problems.
I small point, they should be checking that the 800,000 baht has been in your account for 2 months before appling for your 1 year extension. The balance should remain at 800,000 for 3 months after and also the balance should never fall below 400,000. I do the same as yourself and just leave over 800,000 balance all the time.
When they check the balance for the 12 months they are checking that you complied with the previous years requirements not the requirements for your current application. I have never used an agent and hopefully will not need to. If people use an agent to avoid having the money in the bank they could have problems if they decide to move to a different area in thailand and hence a different Immigration Office. The new office would not have the special agreement with the agent and problems would occur when they check. Sorry, getting a bit detailed. I think you do it the best way.
I have never been asked for a medical cert.
I have been asked to give photocopies of pages of my passport but only at offices where they have a photcopy machine. I have always done them in advance. It is not because they need them because they can see details of my passsport on their database.
Take care
Keith
@@keithp6254 Thanks for your input, Keith. The comments help a lot of my subscribers.
Cheers
Ged
I'm very confused. retirement Visa I still need to report every 90 day immigration office or police Station?
Not police station. Immigration office or you can register and do it online.
Hi Ged,
Great video
I am travelling to Thailand in Jun 23 After 30 days in Thailand which I will extend for another 30 days = 60 days Total
Q1. Can I fly to say Vietnam and then back to Thailand for another 30 days?
Q2. Can I fly to say Laos and then back to Thailand for another 30 days?
Q3. Can I fly to the same country twice like Vietnam ONLY or it has to be different country each time?
Q4. After 60 days in Thailand, how many time can I do border run in order to keep staying longer in Thailand? Thank you.
Hi I am glad that the video was helpful to you. From my understanding you can come in for 30 days then reapply for another 30 days from within Thailand. After that you can do a visa run to any neighboring country for 30 days with a maximum of two border runs per year. Please check with the Thai immigration department before you leave your own country as they do change the rules quite often.
Cheers
Ged
You look very youthful for a retiree
Thanks mate I think it's because I keep active and busy.
Cheers
Ged
Better off using a visa agent. No worries, then and just pay them every year
Hi Greg. The video is to show people who may not have the funds how to renew their retirement visa. I have previously done a video on using a visa agent. I have the funds to renew mine with a visa agent but prefer to do it myself as being retired and with time on my hands, it's not a problem for me and the 5,000 baht that I save pays for a few days away somewhere like Ban Krut or Sam Roi Yot which is much better for me.
Cheers
Ged
great informative video, i’m told by agent they will do it for ‘about15000’. is that worth it i wonder,,,, as living in Jomtien and very busy can i go to Hua Hin to renew?
Hi thanks for your input and comment. I believe that a visa agent can do your 90 day report on your behalf for 500 baht but I have never used one. I once tried to do my 90 day report in Phuket while holidaying there but they wouldn't let me because my address on the previous 90 day report was in Hua Hin.
I am currently making a video where I will be talking about these things with a visa agent so look out for that as itay answer some of the questions.
Cheers
Ged
Did you get the visa same day ? In Koh Samui after submitting ALL the required documents (3Trips) I am told to come back in 7 Days I think ????
Hi I avoid doing my visa or 90-day report in Samui in my experience they make it more difficult for some reason. Hua Hin always is the easiest option for me and if all of your paperwork is in order it can be done in 15 minutes and 90-day reporting on line has recently been upgraded so you don't have to make the trip to immigration 3 times a year
Cheers
Ged
They may just want to make sure that you are still mentally and physically fit annually
Wonder if a person becomes disabled, they would boot you out??
No that's not the reason because there are many disabled and sick retirees living in Thailand. And you don't have to get a yearly medal to qualify for renewal of your visa. It's the Thai Hi-So mentality of the government. They just like to make life difficult and make expats jump through hoops to be able to live here. I suppose it's a lot better than many countries with an open door policy for people who want to enter the country both legally and illegally.
Cheers
Ged
Have you ever thought that they may make you jump through hoops as they prefer you do go through an agent, as it’s employment for them and also some times kick backs from the agents to them etc.
Yes, I think that has a lot to do with the system but I prefer to jump through hoops as I am not keen on giving kickbacks.
Cheers
Ged
Why not get the thai elite visa?
Far too expensive for what you get out of it. Ok for rich people but not for your average person
Cheers
Ged
Is it all worth it? I'm trying to decide where to retire myself.
Hi it's worth it to me but it's not for everyone. It depends on your outlook on life and your temperament I suppose.
Cheers
Ged
@@thailandmyland...retiringd2351 -Thanks mate =)
So your total cost was 1900 thb ?
+ petrol lol
What a pain in the ass to go thru the shit! Why not just pay an agent?
Hi. I am retired and have plenty of time on my hands and plenty of patience. Why give 7000 baht to an agent for something that I can do myself in a few hours. The
7000 I save will pay for a trip to Koh Samui, 7 nights out on the town or a rental car for a couple of weeks.
Cheers
Ged
Map is only for married visa. And show them the tm30 istead.
Hi GED
Just wondering if I could chat to you via email
Regards
Gordon
Hi Gordon this is the email that I use for my channel
sspchef@hotmail.com