Which long-term visa fits you?

Most foreigners who settle in Chonburi — Pattaya, Jomtien, Sri Racha, Bang Saen or the EEC industrial estates — live here on one of five visa types. Pick the one that matches why you are here, not the one a friend used.

• Retirement (Non-Immigrant O, extended yearly) — aged 50+, with money in a Thai bank or a monthly income.
• Non-Immigrant O-A — the retirement visa applied for at a Thai embassy abroad, with mandatory health insurance.
• Marriage (Non-Immigrant O) — married to a Thai national, extended yearly.
• Work (Non-Immigrant B + work permit) — employed by a Thai company, including factories in Amata City and Pinthong.
• LTR (Long-Term Resident) — a 10-year visa from the Board of Investment for wealthy individuals, pensioners, remote workers and highly skilled professionals.
• DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) — 5-year multiple entry for remote workers and people joining courses such as Muay Thai or Thai cooking.

Retirement extension: financial requirements

For a one-year extension of stay based on retirement you must show one of the following:

• At least 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account, held for 2 months before applying and kept at that level for 3 months after approval (it may not drop below 400,000 THB for the rest of the year).
• A monthly income of at least 65,000 THB, proven with an embassy income letter or 12 months of foreign transfers into a Thai account.
• A combination of the two totalling 800,000 THB a year.

Marriage extension

Couples need 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account (2 months seasoning) or a monthly income of 40,000 THB. Immigration may visit your home and will ask for photos of you together, the marriage certificate (Kor Ror 2 and Kor Ror 3) and the house registration.

LTR visa in brief

The LTR is applied for online at the BOI, not at Chonburi Immigration. It is valid for 10 years, replaces the 90-day report with a yearly one, and allows the Highly-Skilled category to work without a separate work permit. Most categories require annual personal income of around 80,000 USD and health insurance of at least 50,000 USD. The government fee is 50,000 THB.

Staying legal after you have the visa

• 90-day report — every 90 days of continuous stay. Do it online or at the immigration office up to 15 days before, or 7 days after, the due date. A late report is fined 2,000 THB.
• TM30 — your landlord or hotel must report your address within 24 hours of arrival. Keep a copy; you will need it for every extension.
• Re-entry permit — without one your extension is cancelled when you leave Thailand. 1,000 THB single, 3,800 THB multiple.
• Overstay — 500 THB per day up to 20,000 THB, and long overstays can lead to a re-entry ban.

Documents to bring to any extension

• Passport with a copy of every stamped page, the TM6/arrival stamp and the current visa
• Form TM7, filled in and signed, with a 4×6 cm photo
• Bank book updated on the day, plus a bank letter issued the same day or one day before
• TM30 receipt and a copy of your lease or house registration
• Extension fee of 1,900 THB in cash