Retired at 45. Any visa suggestions or tips?

[jb525]

Any body out there retired early? Need visa tips or living tips regarding housing?

[RAM8]

Congratulations on your retirement!

[Fred11]

You're a long time retired so plan well, invest well, budget well and before deciding to purchase anything major seek good and reputable advice and guidance.

[Lok Jit]

Can't  get a Retirement Visa until your 50 Years of age...

[jocky king]

Good Luck with your retirement. I will retire when i am 54 which is next year. I have build foundations of moving to Pattaya since 2005.  I planned that when i was at your age (45)..Take your time with your plan. Only the fools rushes in..

[themosch]

If you're not married with a Thai girl it's more difficult to get long stay visa when being under 50 and wanting to settle in LOS permanently.

Best option would be a ED-visa for 5 year and go to school once or twice a year and learn thai language.

Personally i am 42y and have 1-year thai-marriage-visa and living in LOS for the past 16 months already !

[The Selfie Warrior]

Education visa

[Velcro]

Education visa is ok..but it is still only a 3 month visa that gets renewed every 3 months

 

That is no good for shipping you processions to LOS

 

Customs want to see a 1 year visa

 

I'm movong to LOS in Feb and I will getting an education visa although I am genuinely planning to take a Thai language course.. but (like the OP) I would like a more permanent visa

[Scumbag]

Education visa is ok..but it is still only a 3 month visa that gets renewed every 3 months

 

That would still a better option than scraping by on tourist visas and endless border runs. However, I thought that they issue 1 year ED visas that required reporting every 90 as with the retirement visa???

[The Sly Fox]

Could also do some English teaching for 5 years while waiting to reach 50 years age. If you lack degree/qualifications you can take a TEFL course in LOS, then get some part-time teaching with a language center, get a WP and non-imm visa. Can make some extra income plus get to meet some foxy non-P4P gals when you get sent to teach in-house at companies. Anyway, it's another option and something you can consider.

[Scumbag]

Could also do some English teaching for 5 years while waiting to reach 50 years age. If you lack degree/qualifications you can take a TEFL course in LOS, then get some part-time teaching with a language center, get a WP and non-imm visa. Can make some extra income plus get to meet some foxy non-P4P gals when you get sent to teach in-house at companies. Anyway, it's another option and something you can consider.

I believe that to get a WP you would need to have a degree as that is what is officially required to work as an English teacher. However being Thailand there are probably ways around it but you will need to know the right people.

[The Sly Fox]

I believe that to get a WP you would need to have a degree as that is what is officially required to work as an English teacher. However being Thailand there are probably ways around it but you will need to know the right people.

You may be right Scumbag, the regulations seem to change from time to time. My understanding was they did give WPs to English teachers who didn't have degrees but has taken recognized TEFL courses. But that may have changed, I'm no longer in the teaching game so not up to date on all the details. However, as you point out, there's always some way to skin the cat in LOS :-)

[matto]

That would still a better option than scraping by on tourist visas and endless border runs. However, I thought that they issue 1 year ED visas that required reporting every 90 as with the retirement visa???

Correct Scumbag, I had a one year ED visa and I only had to go to immigration every 3 months.. No visa runs.

[stillakid]

You might try talking to Darren at Keyvisa in Pattaya.  He may have some ideas that have not been mentioned.  He can be very helpful. 

[mrina]

I believe that to get a WP you would need to have a degree as that is what is officially required to work as an English teacher. However being Thailand there are probably ways around it but you will need to know the right people.

 As I understand it, you can work as long as your permit has been applied for. Your permit will never be granted without a degree but if the school has a good relationship with the Ministry of Education your application will stay at the bottom of the pile.

 I think it's actually the teachers licence that requires a degree, not the work permit, but you need the licence to get the permit.

 Confused myself now!

[mxer90]

Until you are 50 yo, I believe you have 4 options:

 

1, Working for a Thai company or teaching English, getting a 1 year visa and necessary Work Permit (but as you are retired, I don't think this is what you are looking for)

2, Marriage visa (but why you would be moving to Pattaya at such an early age and getting married is beyond me!! LOL).  I'm sure marriage is bliss to a Thai girl but not for me, personally.

3, Triple Entry Tourist Visa, giving you a maximum of 9 months stay (need to do border runs and extensions).  If you do this you will only be able to get a double entry (6 month stay) after as no bordering country offers Triples so you would need to go back to Falangland if you wanted to live on Triples, which doesn't seem like a good idea, personally.

4, Education Visa, (1 year stay with 90 day reporting.  You would need to apply for a new ED visa on subsequent years)

 

IMO, I'd be looking at an ED, gets you a long stay, plus as you are looking to live in Thailand, learning Thai will be great for your day to day life.

 

You may want to look at setting up an account on the Thaivisa website (if not done already), as the Mods on there seem very good with visa issues, etc.

 

Regarding housing, remember you cannot own land in Thailand so, in effect, cannot own a house.  Many threads on here about that, I'd recommend reading BM, On the Edges thread, if you haven't already:

 

http://www.pattaya-addicts.com/forum/topic/113208-the-trials-tribulations-of-thai-livingontheedge/

 

A condo is different as foreign ownership is allowed.  Personally, as rent can be found cheap (house or condo), I'd rent for a 1 year or 2 to be sure before planting longterm roots.  Also, "investing" any substantial money in Thailand, until you have gained much knowledge could be problematic (and don't go buying a bar, LOL).

 

Good luck!

[anderson167]

For information about teaching in LOS here is a good site for information

 

http://ajarn.com/

[JAI DEE MAK]

You might try talking to Darren at Keyvisa in Pattaya.  He may have some ideas that have not been mentioned.  He can be very helpful. 

 

+1

 

Have a chat with Darren Visa's is his day to day business he is up to date with the  current situation and IMO is a genuine very helpful guy.

 

You will get some very good advice  ( and unfortunately bad advice) from ( normally well meaning BM) however speak to the "expert".

 

Good luck with your retirement and take notice of the advice given by JK ( take your time and don't rush into any thing).

 

JDM

[Velcro]

That would still a better option than scraping by on tourist visas and endless border runs. However, I thought that they issue 1 year ED visas that required reporting every 90 as with the retirement visa???

ohh.. I don't know..

If they do issue you with a 1 year visa, thats my problem solved

 

anyone know ??

[learningthaihelp]

You can start study Thai language at some school, it costs about 25000 Baht per year and you can stay here for 10 years with this Visa? At least I think. After retirement visa?

[mpm]

Speak with key visa, Darren's your man, very helpful bloke

[Scumbag]

ohh.. I don't know..

If they do issue you with a 1 year visa, thats my problem solved

 

anyone know ??

Matto had previously confirmed that he was given a 1 year visa. The other option is to pay someone to get you a non-immigrant B visa.

 

 

Correct Scumbag, I had a one year ED visa and I only had to go to immigration every 3 months.. No visa runs.

[Velcro]

I think I will PM Matto in a minute.

 

Yes he says he got a 1 year ED Visa.. but he has to go to immigration every 3 months

 

To me that suggests it is a 3 month visa that gets updates every 3 months when you visit immigration

 

Which is fine.. but my issue is shipping my possessions to LOS.. I need stamp in my passport giving me leave to stay for 12 months..

Tri-monthly visa stamps won't cut it with customs at the docks

[mrina]

I think I will PM Matto in a minute.

 

Yes he says he got a 1 year ED Visa.. but he has to go to immigration every 3 months

 

To me that suggests it is a 3 month visa that gets updates every 3 months when you visit immigration

 

Which is fine.. but my issue is shipping my possessions to LOS.. I need stamp in my passport giving me leave to stay for 12 months..

Tri-monthly visa stamps won't cut it with customs at the docks

It's not a 3 month visa, you go to immigration to have the original visa extended.

 No offence but you don't seem to have much knowledge on the subject and as it's obviously important to you I suggest you do some research.

 Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. Good luck with it anyway.

[Scumbag]

I think I will PM Matto in a minute.

 

Yes he says he got a 1 year ED Visa.. but he has to go to immigration every 3 months

 

To me that suggests it is a 3 month visa that gets updates every 3 months when you visit immigration

 

Which is fine.. but my issue is shipping my possessions to LOS.. I need stamp in my passport giving me leave to stay for 12 months..

Tri-monthly visa stamps won't cut it with customs at the docks

The retirement visa has exactly the same requirements. It is about reporting where you are living and not an extension of the visa. The visa is for one year.