Thailand Retirement Visa Application Process

Thailand Retirement Visa Application Process

Thailand ranks 1st in Asia and 11th in the world according to the 2025 Global Retirement Index with its warm climate, beautiful nature, cheap cost of living, good healthcare and quality living standards. There is a visa application for foreign nationals who want to retire in Thailand.

Thailand retirement visa covers foreign nationals who are over 50 years old and want to retire in Thailand. There are 2 types of Thailand retirement visas: 1 year and 10 years. Since Turkey is within the scope of the 1 year Thailand retirement visa, Turkish citizens who want to get a Thailand retirement visa can only benefit from a 1 year retirement visa.

Who is Eligible for a Thailand Retirement Visa?

Foreign nationals who are over 50 years of age and wish to retire in Thailand can obtain a Thailand retirement visa.

What are the Types of Retirement Visa in Thailand?

Retirement visas granted by the Thai government to foreign nationals are listed below.

• 1-year Thailand retirement visa: Covers all countries, has a validity of 1 year and is valid for foreigners aged 50 and over.
• 10-year Thailand retirement visa: Only covers certain countries, is valid for 5 years and is valid for foreigners aged 50 and over. It can be renewed once for a maximum of 10 years.

What are the Application Requirements for a 1-Year Thailand Retirement Visa?

The application requirements for a 1-year Thailand retirement visa are listed below.

• The applicant must be at least 50 years old on the day he/she applies for a retirement visa.
• The applicant must meet the financial requirements.
  • The applicant must have 800,000 Thai baht as security deposit in a bank account in Thailand 2 months before applying for the retirement visa.
  • The applicant must have a monthly income of 65,000 Thai baht.
  • The applicant must have a security deposit and annual income of 800,000 Thai baht in total.
• The applicant must not have any criminal record.
• The applicant must have Thai health insurance with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 THB for outpatient treatment and 400,000 THB for inpatient treatment for the duration of their stay in Thailand. The Thai health insurance must be taken out with one of the approved companies of the Thai General Insurance Association.
• The applicant must not have leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug or alcohol addiction, or third-stage syphilis.

What are the Requirements for a 10-Year Thailand Retirement Visa?

The application requirements for a 10-year Thailand retirement visa are listed below.

• The applicant must be at least 50 years old on the day they apply for a retirement visa and be from one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland or the United States.
• The applicant must meet the financial requirements.
  • The applicant must have a security deposit of at least THB 3 million in a bank account in Thailand.
  • The applicant must have an annual income of at least 1.2 million Thai baht.
• The applicant must have Thai health insurance with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 THB for outpatient treatment and 400,000 THB for inpatient treatment for the duration of their stay in Thailand. Thai health insurance must be taken out with one of the approved companies of the Thai General Insurance Association.
• The applicant must not have any of the following diseases: leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug or alcohol addiction, or tertiary syphilis.
• The applicant must report to immigration officials in Thailand on an annual basis to ensure that he/she continues to meet the required conditions throughout his/her stay in Thailand.

How to Get a Thailand Retirement Visa?

A Thai retirement visa can be obtained by applying to the Thai Embassy in Ankara in person or through accredited agencies. In order to apply for a Thai retirement visa, a visa appointment must first be made online from the embassy and then the necessary documents must be prepared.

On the visa appointment day, the applicant goes to the relevant embassy and completes the visa application by submitting the documents and paying the visa fee.

What are the Thailand Retirement Visa Application Documents?

Thailand retirement visa application documents are listed below.

• Thailand visa application form: 3 photocopies of the application form filled with complete and accurate information must be submitted.
• Passport : A passport valid for at least 18 months is required.
• Photo: 3 photographs, 4 cm x 6 cm in size, taken within the last 6 months are required.
• Plane ticket: The plane ticket, which is proof of travel to Thailand, must be included among the visa application documents.
• Personal information form: The form where personal information is shared must be filled out completely and submitted.
• Bank statement: A copy of a 6-month bank statement showing a deposit of at least THB 800,000 or an original income document showing a monthly income of at least THB 65,000 or a copy of a document showing a deposit account and a total monthly income of at least THB 800,000 is required. If a bank statement is presented, the original letter of guarantee from the bank is required.
• Criminal record: The applicant must have a confirmation letter from his/her country of citizenship or country of residence stating that he/she does not have a criminal record, and the confirmation period must not exceed 3 months.
• Health certificate: The applicant must have a health certificate from the country in which he/she is applying.A health certificate stating that the person does not have leprosy, tuberculosis, drug addiction, elephantiasis and third stage syphilis must be approved by a notary.
• Health insurance: The applicant must have Thai health insurance with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 Thai baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 Thai baht for inpatient treatment for the duration of his/her stay in Thailand and submit the policy.
• Marriage certificate: If the applicant's spouse is not eligible to apply for a 1-year Thailand retirement visa, a notarized marriage certificate must be submitted as evidence to be considered for temporary accommodation.

All pages of all documents declared in the Thailand retirement visa application must be signed by the applicant and declared completely.

What kind of health insurance should I get for a Thailand Retirement Visa?

Health insurance for the Kingdom of Thailand retiree visa is required by the Insurance Commission of Thailand and the Health Insurance Office and must be taken out with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 Thai baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 Thai baht for inpatient treatment.

How to Make an Appointment for Thailand Retirement Visa Application?

Appointments for Thailand retirement visa applications can be made online at https://rteankara.setmore.com/ . In the appointment process, Thailand retirement visa must be selected as the visa type to be applied for, the date and time must be selected, and finally personal information such as name, surname, telephone, e-mail address and residence address must be entered and approved; an appointment is made if all stages are completed.

The visual of the Thailand retirement visa appointment screen is given below.

Can a Thailand Retirement Visa Application Appointment Be Cancelled?

Thailand retirement visa application appointment can be cancelled. After creating an appointment for Thailand retirement visa, the application appointment can be cancelled by selecting the cancellation option in the information e-mail sent to the applicant's e-mail address.

How Much Is the Thailand Retirement Visa Application Fee?

The Thailand retirement visa application fee is $200 in 2025. The Thailand retirement visa application fee must be paid in dollars to the authorized officer during the visa appointment at the Thai Embassy.

Thailand retirement visa costs an average of $310 for 2025, including Thailand visa fee , travel insurance, hotel and transportation reservations, sworn translation and consultancy fees if necessary.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Thailand Retirement Visa?

The Kingdom of Thailand retirement visa takes an average of 2 to 3 business days to be issued.

How to Track Your Application for a Thailand Retirement Visa?

The Thai Embassy does not have any tracking application to track Thai retirement visa applications.

How Long Is a Thailand Retirement Visa Valid?

Thailand retirement visa is valid for 1 or 10 years depending on the type of retirement visa. Turkish citizens who want to apply for Thailand retirement visa can only apply for 1 year retirement visa type.

Can a Thailand Retirement Visa Be Extended?

Persons wishing to extend their Thailand retirement visa must submit a request to the Immigration Office for an extension of stay in Thailand with proof of money transfer or a deposit account in Thailand or an income document showing an income of at least 800,000 Thai baht or a deposit account with a total amount of at least 800,000 Thai baht, and the visa may be extended for 1 year at the discretion of the officer at the Immigration Office.

What Should Those Going to Thailand on a Retirement Visa Do?

With a Thailand retirement visa, entry into the country is permitted within the period the visa is issued; however, foreigners wishing to leave Thailand must apply for a re-entry permit to re-enter Thailand, and foreigners continuing to live in Thailand must notify the Immigration Office of their address every 90 days. The procedures to be followed while in Thailand apply to all foreign nationals in Thailand.

How to File a 90 Day Notice in Thailand?

Foreign nationals in Thailand are required to report to the Immigration Office in their locality of residence at the end of every 90-day stay. If there is no Immigration Office in the locality of the applicant's residence, the applicant may report to the police station.

At the end of the 90-day stay in Thailand, the report form, the applicant's photograph, personal details, a copy of the passport pages showing the visa stamp on arrival and a copy of the previous approval receipt must be sent to the competent authority by post in an envelope with the applicant's address and postage added. The competent authority's address is Immigration Division 1, 120 Moo 3, Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210 and the documents must be posted to the relevant address 7 days before the end of each 90-day period. After the notification after the 90-day stay in Thailand, the applicant will be given a confirmation receipt and this receipt will be used for subsequent notifications.

Does a Retirement Visa Grant a Work Permit in Thailand?

No, retirement visa holders are not allowed to work in Thailand.

Since the retirement visa does not grant a work permit in Thailand, people who go to Thailand must not engage in any activity that will provide financial gain; otherwise, this is considered a visa violation.

Can Family Members of Retirement Visa Holders Come to Thailand?

Yes, family members of retirement visa holders can come to Thailand if they meet the required criteria.

Family members who do not meet the criteria for a Thai retirement visa can come to Thailand by applying for a Thai family reunification visa. The Thai family reunification visa only covers the spouse and dependent children under the age of 20 of the person applying for the Thai retirement visa.