Thailand is one of the most popular destinations for retired expatriates looking for an interesting and affordable place to spend their senior years. They must apply for a visa in accordance with the specified regulations. And then, if they wish to extend their stay after their visa’s expiration, the requirements for a retirement visa are as follows:
1. Applicants must hold a non-immigrant visa;
2. They must be aged 50 years or over;
3. Proof of income of not less than 65,000 baht per month;
4. For not less than 2 months before submitting an application and for not less than 3 months after receiving permission, a deposit of at least 800,000 baht must remain in a commercial bank account located in Thailand. When 3 months have passed after approval of the retirement visa, money may be withdrawn, but the account balance may not be less than 400,000 baht;
5. Proof of income of not less than 800,000 baht up to the date of application submission during the year, and deposits in a commercial bank located in Thailand. Please note that bank deposits must remain in the account 2 months before submitting the application and 3 months after visa approval; money may be withdrawn as specified in item (4);
6. Foreigners holding a non-immigrant visa (Non-Immigrant Visa), Code O-A, must have health insurance or government welfare of their country with coverage for medical expenses and have insurance covering the treatment of COVID-19 of not less than $100,000 or 3,000,000 baht, throughout the period of their residence in the Kingdom:
6.1 In the case of purchasing Thai health insurance, the policy must be purchased online through the website longstay.tgia.org;
6.2 In the case of purchasing health insurance abroad or having government welfare of their country, it must be certified by a foreign embassy in Thailand or a notary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant;
6.3 In case the insurance company refuses the purchase of health insurance in whole or in part, foreigners must have a deposit of not less than 3,000,000 baht remaining in a commercial bank account located in Thailand at least 2 months prior to the application submission or have a deposit remaining in a commercial bank account located in Thailand and other health insurance totaling not less than 3,000,000 baht for medical treatment, with proof of health insurance purchase refusal certified by the insurance company or a foreign embassy in Thailand or a notary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant, as the case may be.
7. Foreigners who entered the Kingdom before 21 October 1998, and were permitted to stay in Thailand after retirement must meet the following qualifications:
(a) Age 60 years or over with a stable income and a deposit remaining in the account for the past 3 months of not less than 200,000 baht per year or an income of not less than 20,000 baht per month;
(b) Aged not over 60 years old but not less than 55 years old with a stable income and a deposit remaining in the account for the past 3 months of not less than 500,000 baht per year or an income of not less than 50,000 baht per month.
Required documents
1. TM.7 form;
2. Copy of the applicant's passport;
3. Proof of income such as pensions or interest earned or dividends;
4. Certificate of deposit from a bank in Thailand and a copy of the bank account;
5. Only foreigners meeting item (6):
5.1 In case of purchasing Thai health insurance, proof of insurance according to the form approved by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) must be presented and can be checked through the website longstay.tgia.org;
5.2 In case of purchasing health insurance abroad or having government welfare of their country, the documents must be certified by the foreign embassy in Thailand or a notary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant in the form prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health;
5.3 In case the insurance company refuses to let the person purchase health insurance in whole or in part:
5.3.1 In case of trying to purchase Thai health insurance, a letter of the insurance purchase refusal is required and certified by the insurance company;
5.3.2 In case of attempting to purchase health insurance abroad, a letter certified by a notary from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant is required, according to the form prescribed by the Ministry of Public Health.
6. In the case of item (7), the same documents as in items 1-4 above must be presented.
Information as of 8 February 2023
Source: Immigration Office
Tel. 1178 or +66 2572 8500
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