Documents required for Retirement Visa

[Guest kjun12]

What documents are required for renewal of a retirement visa? I am confused on this topic.

[Bob]

It's actually a one-year extension rather than a renewal of your long-term visa. The answer appears to vary depending on (1) whether you're using the 800k in a bank or income as a basis and (2) what immigration office is issuing the renewal (although most appear to be consistent). You can get your answer at the myriad of threads on the subject at the Thai Visa forum.

 

[Gaybutton]

I'll try to make it easy for you:

 

If you have not held 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months or more:

 

1. Your passport

 

2. Copy of your main passport page.

 

3. Copy of the oldest retirement visa in your current passport, if you are renewing a retirement visa.

 

4. Copy of your most recent retirement visa, if you already hold one.

 

5. If you do not already hold a retirement visa, a copy of the visa you currently hold.

 

6. "Letter for Immigration" from your Thai bank.

 

7. Bank passbook, updated the same date you are applying for the retirement visa (no more than a very few days old. Best to update the same day you intend to apply)

 

8. Copy of your bank passbook's main page.

 

9. Copy of your bank passbook's updated page, showing your account balance.

 

10. Proof-of-Income statement from your embassy.

 

11. One passport photo

 

12. Evidence that shows where you live and whether you are renting or buying. You do not need to provide copies. They simply want to look at what you have.

 

13. 1900 baht to pay for the visa.

 

 

If you do have 800,000 baht in your Thai bank account, and it has been there for a minimum of three months:

 

You need everything listed above except the proof-of-income statement from your embassy.

 

At the Pattaya Immigration office, if they want additional copies or additional documents, there is a little copy shop right next door. They'll make whatever you need. You can even have your passport photos made there.

 

If you still feel uncomfortable, then if you're going to apply for your retirement visa in Pattaya, feel free to contact me. I'll be happy to go with you personally and walk you through the whole thing.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Are they not still requiring a copy of front and back of a foreign credit card?

[Gaybutton]

Are they not still requiring a copy of front and back of a foreign credit card?

As far as I know they are not. I just renewed my own retirement visa last week and was not asked for that.

[PattayaMale]

When I went in for my 90 day report they asked.

[Gaybutton]

When I went in for my 90 day report they asked.

Did you also give them some sort of proof of address? If you did, then that means whether they ask for the credit card or not is a matter of whim. All I can tell you is I have never been asked, although last year when I went to renew my retirement visa I gave it to them voluntarily with all my other documents. That's because that's when that rule first came out. But they didn't ask for a foreign credit card. I gave them a copy of a Thai ATM card, one that has a VISA logo on it. Also, they did black out that three-digit code on the back. I don't know what good that does them, though, because Thai ATM cards do not have your name imprinted on the front.

 

This year, however, I did not give them a copy and I was not asked. When I do my 90-day reports, all I have ever been asked for is something to substantiate my address. I give them a bill, in my name, that had been mailed to me. They always readily accept it. I've used my MaxNet bill, my TOT bill, and that sort of thing with no problem at all.

 

Sounds like the next item for my "I Don't Get It" list.

[Guest frodo]

My friend did his 90 day report on Friday and was not asked for credit card.

[Guest kjun12]

Many thanks for all the help. I will try tomorrow.

[Gaybutton]

I will try tomorrow.

Please let us know the outcome and if you found our information to be accurate.

[Guest kjun12]

Please let us know the outcome and if you found our information to be accurate.

 

 

I've had to put off my extension visit because I must get a new passport first. This will take two weeks. I'll post my experience then.

[Gaybutton]

I realize this is an old thread, but I just renewed my retirement visa yesterday and the documents required were just as I listed above. I was not asked to show a credit card, debit card, or any other kind of card.

 

I was not asked for any evidence of my address (number 12 on the list). But I had it with me anyhow. I'm not sure whether they ask some people and not others, but it was obvious that the Immigration officers recognized me from previous years. If they haven't gotten to know you, maybe they'll ask, so do carry it with you, just in case.

 

I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. They gave me a claim card and told me to come back today to pick up my passport, which I did.

 

That's all there was to it.

 

For those of you from the UK, Barry Kenyon was in the Immigration office and still is readily available if you have any questions or difficulties. I didn't think to ask, but since he retired from being a Thai consul I don't think he issues proof-of-income statements anymore. You can ask him, but I think you'll have to go to the UK embassy to get it and I believe they do require some sort of proof to substantiate the income you intend to claim.

 

The USA embassy still issues proof-of-income statements solely on whatever you tell them, without having to show any kind of documentation.

 

Remember, renewing or obtaining a Retirement Visa does not alter the date by which you must do your 90-day address report.

[Bob]

I realize this is an old thread, but I just renewed my retirement visa yesterday and the documents required were just as I listed above. I was not asked to show a credit card, debit card, or any other kind of card.

 

I was not asked for any evidence of my address (number 12 on the list). But I had it with me anyhow.

That's all there was to it.

 

I renewed my one-year visa about 6 weeks ago and nobody asked me about any credit card (or other type of card). I was asked a question about my address and I showed the guy a copy of the condo lease I had - and he proceeded to take a copy of the front and signature pages. I had the impression this wasn't strictly required but I didn't care that he took the copy. So, I'm guessing that it's at least wise to take something (lease copy, utility bill, or whatever) that shows your address on it.

 

Btw, I happened to have renewed at the Hua Hin office.

[2lz2p]

GB's information is correct from all reports I have received, except having to show evidence of where you live. Maybe this is another requirement that gets imposed and later dropped (e.g., credit card copies and proof of address for 90 day report). I will be renewing this month and like GB, I will have a copy of my lease with me in case they are still requiring it. As I understand it, they want to see lease/rental agreement or evidence of ownership -- I have heard, but cannot say for sure, that the reason is for those renting they want to get the address of the property and name of the owner so they can check to see if the owner is following the law that requires property owners to report foreign tenants to Immigration. Don't ask me where I heard it, because I don't recall, and I can't say for sure that is the reason (just seemed like a logical explanation to me for the added requirement). For those that would like a handy checklist, go to this website and click on Check List for Obtaining or Renewing a "Retirement Visa." It will jump to the last page of this PDF file. If you want to print it out, usually clicking on print will get you a screen that allows you to insert the page number you want to print so you do not have to print out the whole document.

 

Also, for someone who is using the 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank to qualify, but for some reason has not had it on deposit the required length of time (60 days before initial application or 90 days before renewal), if they have any type of income, they can get an "income" letter from their embassy and use a combination of money in the bank and income to qualify. When doing the combination, there is no requirement for the money in bank portion to have been on deposit for any length of time.

[Gaybutton]

I will be renewing this month and like GB, I will have a copy of my lease with me in case they are still requiring it.

I like 2lz2p's checklist better than my own. It is more detailed and it is correct.

 

One of the things that seems to happen regularly is that different immigration offices have different requirements and all too often people have different experiences in the very same immigration office. The Pattaya immigration office didn't ask me for any kind of address or lease information, but that doesn't mean they won't ask others for it.

 

To me, the smart thing to do is to take any documentation with you that has been asked for in the past. Maybe they'll ask for it and maybe they won't, but it's better to have it with you and nobody asks than it is to be asked for it and you didn't bring it. The worst that can happen is you'll take it home again.

 

There is one exception. If you are applying for the Retirement Visa within Thailand, you do not need a medical certificate. Years ago it was a requirement, but that requirement has been dropped at all immigration offices - within Thailand.

 

Embassies and consulates in other countries, if that's where you are going to apply, may still require a medical certificate, possibly along with other documents that are never asked for within Thailand. Outside of Thailand, many Thai embassies and consulates also require a police report. If you are going to apply for the Retirement Visa in a country other than Thailand, make sure you know what documents are required at the facility where you will apply.

[2lz2p]

I went in this morning to renew my annual extension of permission to stay - my eighth time for retirement extension.

 

I arrived at the Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration office about 8:15am and there was no problem finding a parking space in front of the building. I went next door to have photo taken (100 Baht) and entered Immigration Office around 8:25am - there were about 7 people there and most of them were waiting to do their 90 day reporting. I was ticket number 1 for "Retirement" extension - I had already completed all my documents (application, copies from passport, copy of TM 6 Departure card, US Embassy "income" letter, Bank letter (got it yesterday), and copies from bank passbook.)

 

It was about 8:35am when my number was announced. The Sr. Sgt. Major that has been there for years, did a quick check of documents and collected 1,900 Baht fee. Then I went to the lady Captain's desk behind his. She checked the documents and then asked me if I owned or rented. When I said rent, she wanted a copy of the rental agreement (which I had with me, just in case). I gave her the copy and she handed me the claim check number and said come back after 1pm tomorrow to get passport. I was finished and on my way home by 8:45am.

 

I used the documents checklist from the Pattaya City Expats Club website - PCEC Checklist. As reported by others, the renewal process is quick and easy if you have all the required documents.

[Guest kcampb49]

Interesting to read everyone's comments about documentation requirements for the 90 Day report. I lived in Pattaya for 18 months and received the requisite number of 90 day reports, receiving my last one in March (I moved to Chiang Mai in April). The only documentation I ever provided was the form and my Passport. I went to the Immigration Office in Chiang Mai the first time for my 90 day report and all they required were copies of some pages from my Passport. Maybe I've just been lucky?

[Bob]

Interesting to read everyone's comments about documentation requirements for the 90 Day report. I lived in Pattaya for 18 months and received the requisite number of 90 day reports, receiving my last one in March (I moved to Chiang Mai in April). The only documentation I ever provided was the form and my Passport. I went to the Immigration Office in Chiang Mai the first time for my 90 day report and all they required were copies of some pages from my Passport. Maybe I've just been lucky?

 

I think many of the comments made relate to renewal of the one-year visa, not the 90-day reporting. There's not much required for the 90-day report (nobody's asked me for a lease or utility bill for doing that).

[Gaybutton]

There's not much required for the 90-day report (nobody's asked me for a lease or utility bill for doing that).

The point is they can ask if they so choose. Just take some sort of proof of address with you when you do the address report. If they do ask, now you have it. If they don't ask, you take it home again. No problem.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I have reported my address every 90 days for the past 5 1/2 years and have never been asked to provide evidence of my residence.

[Bob]

The point is they can ask if they so choose. Just take some sort of proof of address with you when you do the address report. If they do ask, now you have it. If they don't ask, you take it home again. No problem.

 

Every time I go, I actually take more stuff than even god could ask for. I keep a file just for immigration purposes and have extra photos, my lease, a couple of recent utility bills, copies of the passport pages and bank book pages, etc. So far, I've never had to go back because I didn't have anything.

 

And, based on what many have written, I've always wondered why the immigration in Pattaya has some people come back the next day to pick up any final papers. I've done all my immigration work either in Chiangmai or Hua Hin and have always left after a short time with whatever I was looking for. When I first got the retirement visa (in Chiangmai), they cancelled my tourist visa, issued me a Non-Immigrant 0, and issued me the retirement visa and I walked out with all of that in about 20 minutes. I felt like giving them a tip (but I didn't).

[Gaybutton]

I've always wondered why the immigration in Pattaya has some people come back the next day to pick up any final papers.

I've always thought it might be because the final approval has to be done by some higher-up who simply isn't available other than certain hours. But who knows? From everything I read, it's just like the banks. You walk into one office and things are done entirely different from the way things are done in other offices.

 

The coming back the next day part isn't so bad if you happen to live in the same city. But some people have to make a special trip to complete these papers and coming back the next day often means having to spend a night in a hotel.