Thailand Visa Financial Requirements: Baht Needed by Route

A marriage extension needs THB 400,000 in a Thai bank for the past 2 months, or income of THB 40,000 a month. A retirement extension needs THB 800,000 in a Thai bank, or income of THB 65,000 a month. The DTV asks for financial evidence of at least THB 500,000.

By Vincent Nguyen

Two baht figures decide most long-stay filings in Chiang Mai: THB 400,000 and THB 800,000. The first belongs to the marriage extension. The second belongs to the retirement extension. The DTV and the long-stay visas have their own lines, set out below by route.

Which line is yours

• Aged 50 or over, no Thai spouse: the retirement extension, THB 800,000 or THB 65,000 a month.
• Married to a Thai, foreign husband: the marriage extension, THB 400,000 or THB 40,000 a month. This line applies at any age, and it is the lower of the two.
• Married to a Thai, foreign wife: the order names no money figure for a foreign wife.
• Remote worker, freelancer or course student: the DTV, THB 500,000.
• Aged 50 or over with US dollar income or assets: the LTR visa, below.

The thresholds at a glance

Retirement extension: THB 800,000, 65,000 a month, or a mix

Clause 2.22 of Immigration Bureau Order 12/2568 sets the retirement tests. The applicant must be at least 50 years old. Permission is granted for no more than 1 year at a time.

There are three ways to show money.

• Income of at least THB 65,000 a month.
• A deposit of at least THB 800,000 in a Thai bank, in the account at least 2 months before filing and at least 3 months after permission.
• Income during the year plus a Thai bank deposit totalling at least THB 800,000 as of the filing date.

Three months after permission, the deposit may be withdrawn, but the balance must stay at least THB 400,000. On the combined route, at least half of the deposit stays after month 3.

Income of THB 65,000 a month meets the income test on its own, with no deposit beside it. The retirement extension guide covers the counter steps in Chiang Mai.

O-A health insurance is a second money line

Holders of the O-A visa also need health insurance or foreign government welfare of at least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000 for the whole stay.

Marriage extension: THB 400,000 or THB 40,000 a month

Clause 2.18 (6) puts the test on the foreign husband in a marriage between a man and a woman. He needs one of three things.

• Average yearly income of at least THB 40,000 a month.
• At least THB 400,000 in a Thai bank account through the past 2 months.
• Income and deposit together of at least THB 400,000, to cover 1 year.

A marriage between persons of diverse sexes follows clause 2.18 (7): either spouse, or both together, can meet the income or deposit test. Embassy visa checklists repeat the same pair of figures, for example Seoul’s. The full document list is in the marriage visa guide.

DTV: financial evidence of THB 500,000

The Destination Thailand Visa asks for financial evidence of at least THB 500,000, for example bank statements or a sponsorship letter. It is for remote workers and similar applicants and is valid for 5 years.

• Taipei: the last 3 months of bank statements with a minimum balance of THB 500,000, or sponsorship letters.
• Washington D.C.: bank statements for the last three months with an ending balance of at least THB 500,000 for each month.
• Kuala Lumpur: the last 3 months of bank statements with an ending balance of at least THB 500,000.

A balance of THB 500,000 or more at every point across the 3 months meets all three wordings. Kuala Lumpur’s checklist dates from August 2024.

The DTV guide has the fees and the extension.

Retirement visas from an embassy: Non-O, O-A and O-X

For the Non-Immigrant O retirement visa, Phnom Penh accepts any one of three proofs. These are a bank statement showing at least THB 800,000, an income certificate of at least THB 65,000 a month, or a deposit account plus income. The third option totals at least THB 800,000 a year. The O-A visa asks for a bank statement of at least THB 800,000.

The O-X visa is for applicants aged at least 50. It has two money options.

• THB 3 million deposited in a Thai bank.
• THB 1.8 million in a Thai bank plus income of THB 1.2 million a year.

The deposit must stay at least 1 year. In the following year at least THB 1.5 million must remain. O-X also needs Thai health insurance with inpatient cover of at least THB 400,000.

LTR: the thresholds are in US dollars

The LTR visa is a renewable 10-year visa: 5 years first, extendable by 5 more years if the qualifications are met. Each category has its own line.

• Wealthy Pensioners, aged 50 and older, need passive income of at least USD 80,000 a year; salary does not count.
• With passive income below USD 80,000 but at least USD 40,000, they also make an additional investment of USD 250,000.
• Work-from-Thailand Professionals need average personal income of at least USD 80,000 a year over the past two years.
• Wealthy Global Citizens hold at least USD 1 million in assets and have invested at least USD 500,000 in Thailand.

All four categories need health insurance of at least USD 50,000. Social security benefits in Thailand, or a deposit of at least USD 100,000 held for no less than 12 months, also meet the test. The processing fee is THB 50,000 per person when the visa is collected in Thailand.

The Thailand Privilege Card requires no financial proof. The route comparison sets the three long-stay options side by side.

Smaller thresholds: border cash, study and work

At the border, visa-exempt visitors must show cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family. Evidence of adequate finance for an ED (education) visa is the equivalent of THB 20,000 per person and THB 40,000 per family.

For a Non-B business or work extension, Annex A of the order sets minimum monthly income of THB 50,000 for Europe (except Russia), Australia, Canada, Japan and the USA.

The bank certificate and the copy of the account

The retirement clause asks for a certificate of deposit from a commercial bank in Thailand and a copy of the bank account. It also asks for evidence of income, such as a pension, interest or dividends.

The marriage clause asks for the same certificate and account copy for the money routes. Income papers can replace the certificate: a personal income tax return with receipt, evidence of a pension, or evidence of deposit interest.

A Thai account comes first. Kasikornbank asks foreigners opening a savings account for a passport and a non-immigrant visa of any type. It does not open accounts for holders of tourist visas, Visa on Arrival, Free Visa or the DTV.

It also asks for documents matching the purpose of entry. The bank account guide covers the other banks.

Where to file in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Immigration is at 71 Moo 3, Sanam Bin (Airport) Road, Suthep, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50200. The telephone is 053 201 755. Its Services for Foreigner Section handles applications for and changes to all types of visa. The fee schedule lists THB 1,900 for an extension of stay.

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Not confirmed: Whether Chiang Mai Immigration accepts a first filing with a shorter deposit history: the order sets a 2-month look-back. The fee and timing for the certificate of deposit: no bank page found publishes them.

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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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