| Requirements and conditions for a British citizen | | | | of this. If some of the B800,000 is pension |
| applying for Retirement visa at Immigration, | | | | income, you will need to obtain a letter from the |
| Chiang Mai as at May 2008. These requirements | | | | British Consul that certifies the truth of this, plus a |
| pre-suppose no special circumstances apply in | | | | photocopy. If all the money is via income |
| your case. It is possible that these requirements | | | | (pension), equal to B66,000 per month will be |
| would be extremely similar for Nationals of other | | | | needed assuming the exchange rate is around |
| countries but potential differences should be | | | | B65 = GBP1 |
| explored and confirmed. | | | | In the event of no pension and the capital sum |
| Each person must be over 50 years old, have no | | | | being marginal there is a risk your application will |
| criminal record (that may require verification from | | | | fail because, any other type of income evidence |
| the British Embassy in London) and, have the | | | | will be difficult to guarantee. (Inherent in this |
| following: | | | | application is that income would have to emanate |
| Valid Passport with at least one year remaining | | | | from another country). |
| before expiry | | | | More... |
| 2 photocopies of every page having an entry, of | | | | All copies of all documents will need to be |
| the passport | | | | personally signatured in the presence of an |
| (Main page photocopy certified by the British | | | | Immigration Officer. |
| Consul) | | | | The costs of all these things are as follows: |
| In your passport - Non-Immigrant Visa 'O' or "B' | | | | Basic application 1 x B1,900 B1,900 |
| with less than 30 days left to run. | | | | Certification of Passports 1 x B1,700 B1,700 |
| One cannot apply for a Retirement visa from a | | | | Certificate letter of Pension* 1 x B1,700 B1,700 |
| tourist visa. | | | | Bank letter 1 x B200 B200 |
| It is possible (but not guaranteed) to apply with | | | | If Multiple Entry 1 x B3,800 B3,800 |
| more than 30 days remaining on your current | | | | *You will of course need the appropriate original |
| visa. | | | | documents from your Pension(s) Provider(s) |
| A Non-Immigrant 'O' can be obtained from any | | | | Private or Government, for the Consulate to |
| Thai Consulate in the United Kingdom or more | | | | pursue for authenticity. Certifications of most |
| locally from the Thai Consulate in Penang (usually | | | | documents can be processed in 48 hours. From |
| available in 48 hours once there) for RM200 and | | | | 2008, Certificate letter of Pension from your |
| the visa of 90 days duration is sufficient. | | | | Consulate will have to be for the current year. |
| Technically, you would then need to wait just | | | | There is no need to make an appointment for the |
| over 60 days before making your application. | | | | application day. The Applicant is required to attend |
| (See above) | | | | in person. The Office opens officially at 08.30 and |
| If you apply from a 'B' visa you will probably have | | | | if you arrive about then, register at the end |
| a work permit that you will have to give up, as | | | | window and wait to be called. Usually, you will be |
| no work of any kind is allowed on the Retirement | | | | about fourth or fifth in line. If you arrive at any |
| visa. In addition you may need evidence that your | | | | other time in the day you will be in a fairly lengthy |
| taxes have been correctly assessed and paid. | | | | queue. You will be invited inside and firstly your |
| A completed TM7 form with one recent colour | | | | requirements above will be checked. If this is all in |
| photograph 4.5cm by 3.5cm attached on the | | | | order, everything will be stamped up and you will |
| reverse side. Plus photocopy. This is the basic | | | | then be invited to a private office with a senior |
| application form, is self-explanatory; is available | | | | Officer who will 'rubber stamp' the application. Less |
| from Immigration, Chiang Mai, and, ideally, would | | | | than twenty minutes later your passports will be |
| be completed in advance of application day | | | | handed back with your Retirement visa duly |
| proper. A completed TM8 form will also be | | | | entered. |
| needed, if Multiple Entry on the Retirement visa is | | | | With your Retirement Visa there will be an |
| required costing B3,800 each.* and 2 more recent | | | | additional document in each passport showing the |
| colour photographs each. | | | | obligation to attend Immigration, Chiang Mai, every |
| A recent medical certificate (from a recognised | | | | 90 days, with an endorsement of the actual date. |
| Doctor or Hospital in Thailand) showing no | | | | There is also a reminder of the need to apply for |
| evidence of the declared diseases. Plus photocopy. | | | | a re-entry visa (see below). |
| You can call in at Ram or Suan Dok Hospital for | | | | * Now having your Retirement Visa, leaving |
| example, subject yourself to a simple examination | | | | Thailand without the Multiple Entry element, will |
| and for B100 get the certificate you need. In | | | | necessitate applying for a Re-Entry visa at |
| 2008 no longer required. This item has been left in | | | | Immigration, before attempting to leave. If you |
| to alert you to a possible change again. | | | | didn't do this, on re-entry to Thailand you would |
| You will need B800,000 minimum. If capital sums | | | | only get a 30 day tourist visa that would then, |
| are involved they will need to be deposited in a | | | | unfortunately, supersede your retirement visa. |
| savings or investment (not a Current) Account of | | | | (You would be back to square one!) Also, |
| a Thai Bank. The more recent this information is | | | | remember that, at places like Mae Sot and Mae |
| the better. From 2007, there is a requirement | | | | Sai, no exit from Thailand is possible at all without |
| that this capital would have been in account for | | | | the pre-arranged re-entry visa. |
| the previous consecutive three months. | | | | Remember, this is a one-off application and each |
| In addition, you will need the bank book together | | | | subsequent year requires a brand new application |
| with 2 photocopies of every page showing | | | | (not renewal) with exactly the same requirements |
| transactions. Also a letter from your bank | | | | (subject to any changes). Therefore, it's a good |
| certifying the money is there, plus a photocopy | | | | idea to keep extra photocopies in your files. |