Immigration stamps out rumors over retirement visas

PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Superintendent Napat Nusen issued a press release today clarifying that the rules regarding retirement visa extensions will remain unchanged, but will be interpreted more strictly.

“Nothing has been changed. It has been the same since 2008. A wife can still use the same type of follower visa as before if her husband applies for a Non-immigrant O visa,” Lt Col Napat Nusen explained to the Phuket Gazette.

For couples where one spouse applies for a Non-Immigrant visa one-year extension, the spouse may receive a “follower” permit to stay in Thailand without having to show income or a specific amount in a bank account, Col Napat said.

The spouse must be able to show that he or she has a minimum income of 65,000 baht a month or 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. However, if the account is a joint account, it must have a balance of at least 1.6 million baht.

If the spouse does not wish to have “follower” status, but prefers to have retiree status, the spouse must meet all the requirements for a Non-immigrant O visa.

If the couple both apply for retirement visas using a shared joint account in Thailand, the account must contain 1.6 million baht.

Regardless of the approach applicants take, they must be able to show that the money has been in the account or accounts for at least two months for the first extension application, and for three months for subsequent applications, backed by a letter of confirmation from the bank, Col Napat said.