Thailand O Visa-Retirement ExtensionIf you are over 50 years of age and hit certain financial requirements it is possible to extend your stay in Thailand using an O visa retirement extension.
As in an O visa marriage extension you will first need to obtain a Non-Immigrant O visa in your own country. This type of visa is available from Thai embassies and consulates.
The main advantage of using a retirement extension to your O visa is that you are not required to exit Thailand every 90 days but instead report your address to the local Thai Immigration Office. Also providing you continue to renew each year there is no requirement to renew the original visa that you used to enter the country in the first place. In effect this means you can stay in Thailand for an indefinite period providing you continue to fulfil the visa extension requirements.
Thai Immigration rules for obtaining a retirement extension to your O visa are as follows:
The applicant must be 50+ years old, this means after your fiftieth birthday.
A. The applicant needs to have 800,000 Baht deposited in a Thai bank account in their name, the money needs to be deposited at least two months before the initial application and must have been in the account for at least three months on subsequent applications.
B. OR an income of 65,000 Baht a month such as a pension or other overseas investments
C. OR a combination of savings in a Thai bank and income that is equal to 800,000 Baht a year. There is no requirement to have the money that is deposited in the bank there for any set period.
The applicant must have a valid passport with at least six months to run before it expires and a valid O visa.
When making your application the Immigration Officer will want to see evidence of your financial standing, this can be provided in the following ways depending on which method (outlined above) you choose:
A letter from your bank confirming your account plus a statement that covers the previous two or three months depending whether this is your first application or a renewal. (A above)
A letter from your embassy in Thailand certifying your yearly income. Different countries require different proof before issuing such letters. The embassy web site of your own country should specify this. The British Embassy for example requires bank statements( covering last 3months) or current annual P60 form from your pension provider(s).(B above)
Both one and two above.(C above)
To complete the application process you will also need to present the Immigration Officer with the following documents:
A completed form TM 7, which can be obtained from your local immigration office or downloaded from the Thai Immigration web site. If downloaded you must make the form double sided not two separate sheets. Attach a current photograph (4 x 6 cm) to the back of the form.
Your passport. Plus a copy of the main page, the page containing your original O visa and the page that was stamped when you last entered Thailand. Also provide a copy of your departure card and if this is a renewal to your O visa retirement extension, a copy of the page containing the extension stamp.
A fee of 1900 Baht.
Occasionally Immigration Officers will ask for other documents so be prepared to show your actual bank book, a copy of any leasing or rental agreement you have and the yellow house book that is sometimes issued to foreigners.
Footnote:
If you wish to exit Thailand during the period of your retirement extension you MUST obtain a re-entry permit from your LOCAL immigration office before travelling using form TM 8. There are single and multi-entry versions which cost 1000/3900 Baht respectively. If you exit Thailand without such a permit then your retirement extension is no longer valid when you return and you need to start the whole process again.
Holders of a retirement extension to their O visa are required to report their address to their local Thai Immigration post every 90 days. Form TM 47 is used for this purpose. Postal notifications are also accepted.
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I think you will find a medical certificate is no longer required for
a retirement extension