Please Note: The situation with long term Visas is changing. New regulations come in to force in June 2004 which will change the requirements for 1 year visas and work permits. At the moment it is not clear what exactly these changes will be. This DOES NOT effect normal Tourists Visas.

Retirement Visas
These are obtainable only at Thai immigration bureau and allow an uninterrupted stay of twelve months. They are renewable without leaving the country.

The basic rules are that you must be at least 50 years old, hold a non-immigrant visa (any type), keep personally at least 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and have a regular monthly pension or a capital sum as a backup. It is OK to spend the 800,000 baht during the year, but you must replenish it in time for your next application.

Typical documentation required is your passport showing a current non immigrant visa, two passport photos, letter from a Thai bank and the passbook showing at least the minimum sum and a letter from your former employer or home country bank showing that you have access to an income there.

The processing fee is 500 baht at the time of writing. Take two photocopies of all papers and sign them. To apply, you don’t need to wait until your non-immigrant visa has nearly expired, as the key date is when you last entered the country.

12 month Visas
Defined categories of farangs can apply for an extension of a non-immigrant visa to stay for a year, and longer, without ever leaving the kingdom at all. For example, those holding a Thai work permit.

There is also an investor’s visa for men and women under 55 who keep three million baht here. None of these - and don’t forget residency permits - are without mounds of paperwork. If you hold a double or multiple entry tourist or non immigrant visa from abroad, this is not truly a twelve months’ visa: you have to leave the country, however briefly, each time a particular entry expires, say every three or four months.

Pros and Cons

Both the above visas last a year at a time. They give you some security, but no special rights, provided you are prepared to make the financial investment in Thailand. Neither offer permanent residency, as defined, which usually requires an investment of ten million baht and police clearance from your home country.

Both the yearly visas save you the hassle of visiting Thai consulates abroad. However, they normally take three months to process at present and may necessitate several trips to the immigration office on specified dates to check if yours has arrived yet. If you wish to leave the country at any point during the year, you can apply for a re-entry permit beforehand. If you do not do this, you can still leave but your long stay status is terminated. On return, you need to start again.

Other Visas
Foreigners holding a work permit do not automatically obtain a yearly visa, but can apply for a non-immigrant “B” visa to be extended.

Farangs with a Thai spouse or dependants may apply at immigration bureau for their non-immigrant “O” visa to become yearly. Officers will need to interview the spouse or dependants and be satisfied you have the income to support them.

There are many other types of Visa available for those seeking long term stays however the regulations are complex and you would be well advised to seek legal help in obtaining these.