within Thailand
while on a 30-day visa-exempt entry (i.e. no visa)
Disclaimer:
This web page was written for work colleagues who are U.S. citizens.
I understand the same procedure is available for citizens of most other countries also eligible for a 30-day visa-free entry to Thailand, but I can not vouch for that fact in all cases. Additionally, the O-A Retirement Visa mentioned in the last section also applies to several other countries including, but not limited to: Canada, the U.K. and Australia. |
1. Satisfy the financial requirement:
(a) proof of income or pension from the Embassy of a monthly income of not less than B65,000, or
(b) letter of guarantee from a Thai bank showing a deposit of not less than B800,000 together with a copy of bank statement(s) showing a minimum B800,000 balance was maintained for not less than 60 days, or
(c) a combination of (a) + (b) above to show an amount of not less than B800,000. (For this option, the bank balance need not be maintained for 60 days.)
To satisfy (a), you need a notarized letter from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok. The charge is B1,200 and it takes less than an hour to obtain. You fill in the form letter yourself, and no supporting documentation is required. Whatever income amount you put down is certified to be true by the notarization, and Thai Immigrations will accept the form as is. The hours at the Embassy are 0730-1100 and 1300-1400. While an advance appointment is not necessary, it may reduce the time spent in the office.
To satisfy (b), you need:
(1) a photocopy of the passbook page showing your name & account number
(2) a photocopy of the passbook page(s) showing the current, and past three months', balances
(3) a current, original guarantee letter from the bank (my bank charged B100)
Suggestion: If there is a copy shop outside your local Immigrations office, I recommend you tell them what transaction you are planning to do at Immigrations (e.g. say: "Retirement extension"), and let them make the appropriate copies. Generally, they know what is required. Often they can take the photos needed, as well.
2. Submit Form TM.87, the Application for Visa form. This will change you from a 30-day visa-exempt entry to a genuine 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa. It costs B2,000.
3. Submit Form TM.7, the Application for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom. This will extend your permission to stay from the 90 days received with the Non-Immigrant "O" visa to one year from the date of entry on your original passport stamp. It costs B1,900.
"...recent reports indicate Immigration now starts the one-year retirement extension clock from the date your 90-day permitted to stay stamp expires. Such a stamp is obtained when you convert to a Non Imm O in-country, and they send you home to wait at least 60 days into that 90 day permission before applying for the one-year retirement extension."
In years gone by, Immigrations would have you proceed to step #3 on the same day as step #2.
As mentioned in the quote above, it increasingly seems now that Immigrations will pause the process at step #2, and advise you to return in the final 30 days of your new 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa before proceeding with step #3.
NOTE: If Immigrations does send you home after step #2 and requires you to return within the final 30 days of your new 90-day Non-Immigrant "O" visa, beware of another "gotcha":
If you depart Thailand before proceeding with step #3, i.e. if you leave Thailand with only your new 90-day visa in your passport, you need to:
4. Submit a 4cm x 6cm photo, copies from your passport (copies of the picture page, the page with the current entry stamp, and the TM.6 departure card stapled in your passport) and all the above documentation.
NOTE: Any photocopies must have your original signature on them.
If you print forms in advance at home, do NOT print a two-sided form on two separate sheets. Print it on both sides of a single sheet of paper. They will NOT accept it as two separate sheets. Guess how I know...
I have read that you need to have 21 days remaining on your passport stamp to change to a visa, but that appears to be not always true, as I only had 11 days left on mine.
I know first-hand that this procedure works in Pattaya and have received second-hand confirmation that it also works in Bangkok, Phuket and Hua Hin.
There was a report posted on ThaiVisa.com on 31 October 2008 that Chiang Mai will *NOT* convert from a 30-day visa-exempt entry.
If you are curious about what the embassy letter or bank letter might look like, click the following links (don't worry about printing them out, the embassy and your bank will have them):
Here are the forms in three different formats:(a) MS Word format: You can not only print the forms, you can fill in the information before doing so!
(b) PDF format: If you don't have MS Word, you can still print out the blank form if you have Adobe Reader.
(c) scanned images: These are larger files and might take a while to download. If you have neither MS Word nor Adobe Reader, they will work for you! To be able to print the scanned forms, <right-click> on the link below and choose "Save target as..." and then print the downloaded file.
| Form TM.87: | MS Word format | PDF format | scanned image (front) | scanned image (rear) |
| Form TM.7: | MS Word format | PDF format | scanned image (front) | scanned image (rear) |
5. Miscellaneous notes & comments
In case you are not familiar with the term "TiT," it's not a vulgar expression, but an acronym for "This is Thailand," and is used often to shrug off, rather than attempt to explain, things that don't necessarily make sense to a Western mind that is unfamiliar with the local processes in the Kingdom. (Was that diplomatic enough?)
I feel compelled to point out that not every Thai Immigrations Police Officer at every Thai Immigrations office may handle a transaction in an identical fashion. An example would be the item referenced above where it was reported that the Chiang Mai Immigrations office does not change a 30-day visa-exempt entry to a Non-Immigrant O visa to issue a one-year retirement extension. "TiT" -- That's just how it is, and it is what it is.
Another example is a comment I received from someone who applied for his retirement extension in Pattaya, using only the income requirement:
"I just went to pattayas immigration and they sent me to my bank for a letter and copies of my bankbook.I had the letter from the US consulate but they wanted to see if I had money in a thai bank.The amount must not matter as my balance was just over 30 thousand.I am trying to save a few fellas an extra trip from immigration to the bank."
It is practically impossible to publish a web page that is accurate and applicable to 100% of all cases, but I hope you still find the information on this web page worthwhile.
In ALL cases, please present your self well (e.g. be clean, sober and dress nicely) and be polite and patient. If you are thrown a curve ball and asked for a document that you weren't expecting, just roll with the punches, thank the Officer for his/her time, get the bloody document, and return again just as well-presented and polite and patient as the first time.
There are two types of re-entry permits: single for B1,000 and multiple for B3,800.
Single is just that: leave the country once and re-enter. If you want to take a second (or third, or...) trip out of the country you'll need another re-entry permit, B1,000 each time.
Multiple is probably what you want: leave and re-enter to your heart's content without filing any additional paperwork.
To apply for a re-entry permit: Simply submit a completed Form TM.8, with a copy of your passport picture page, a 4cm x 6cm photo, and either B1,000 or B3,800. It takes about five minutes.
Form TM.8 asks for your departure information. I put in a tentative date and destination. I asked if I needed to report back if I changed or cancelled the date/destination, and they said no.
Effective mid-January 2009, you can no longer get a re-entry permit at Suvarnabhumi airport. You must go to an Immigrations office to get a re-entry permit before departing Thailand.
| Form TM.8: | MS Word format | PDF format | scanned image |
You must report your address to the Immigrations office every 90 days.
However, if you leave and re-enter the country, because you "report your address" on the TM.6 arrival card, the 90-day calendar re-starts on the date you re-enter Thailand. i.e. You only have to report to the Immigrations office if you stay continuously in Thailand for 90 days. Be mindful that the date you re-enter Thailand is counted as day #1.
There is also a procedure at some locations to do the 90-day report via mail.
If you run afoul of the 90-day report, "Any Aliens who fails to comply will be punish with a fine not exceeding 5,000 baht and with an additional fine not exceeding 200 baht for each day which passes..."
| Form TM.47: | MS Word format | PDF format | scanned image |
There is an entirely different route you can take, by actually getting a retirement visa in the USA before you leave. That visa is an "O-A Retirement Visa." The requirements and process to apply for it are different from what this web page addresses. e.g. You need medical clearance and a criminal record check. It is beyond the scope of this web page to explain in detail the pluses and minuses of the O-A visa acquired in the USA vs the one-year retirement extension acquired in Thailand.
Another option is to get a Non-Immigrant O Visa (in the USA or a third country) before departing for Thailand, with the reason "investigating retirement." You then could apply for an extension for retirement while you are in Thailand – the process is the same as detailed above except you would skip step #2, and save the B2,000 associated with step #2. Again, a debate of the pluses and minuses of doing this versus making a 30-day visa-exempt entry is beyond the scope of this web page. I just wanted to let you know there are other options, as you may hear other people talking about how they got their "retirement visas" and it may not be the process detailed on this web page.
And, if your eyes haven't glazed over yet, here's yet another option: get a Tourist Visa (in the USA or a third country) before departing for Thailand, and apply for the one-year retirement extension from Thai Immigrations after arrival in Thailand. For a limited time only -- until March 2010 -- Tourist Visas are free.
If you have questions about getting the visa in the USA before you depart for Thailand, I highly recommend that you become a member and post your questions/concerns on the ThaiVisa.com "Thai visas, residency and work permits" forum
(updated 11 Sept 2009)