@Philip ********

if you're not already in the group

@Tod ********

referred to, it's actually called Australians in Thailand, not "Aussie"

@Tony ******

have you ever looked at Tourist Visas (actual Visas that you have to purchase)? The length of time covered by the visa is actually a pretty good clue as to the "time limit" (other than the fact that an extension can be obtained).

@Kevin *********

@Brandon ***********

has given correct information as he always does. When starting this process, for a lot of people it is quite daunting and maybe also confusing if you're getting information from multiple sources and I think this is what's happening with you. I don't blame you though, so if you haven't been doing research for very long and following posts on retirement visas in groups like this for long, I would recommend listening to Moderators and other group members who provide information that's consistent with that of Moderators. Though my plan is to go via the Non-O Visa based on marriage, the basic process is pretty much the same. I've been following these types of posts in 3 Fb groups for the past two years and see confusion fairly often.

'IF' you were to go to Thailand on a 'tourist' visa, then, to apply for the Non-O Visa "based on being over 50" (Retirement), within Thailand, you would almost certainly need to use an agent to help you open A Thai Bank Account (into which you would need to deposit 800k Baht which is needed to apply for the Visa).

The other option is to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O Visa (based on being over 50) from the eVisa website of the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country before travelling to Thailand. Doing it this way, in the application process you can provide evidence of having the USD equivalent of 800k Baht or more, in your bank account in your home country and at this point you don't need a Thai bank account.

If you get the Visa in your home country, as described in the above paragraph, then you can enter Thailand on this 90 day Non-O Visa.

Then, once in Thailand, open a Thai bank account yourself, which you would be able to do without using an agent. Changes over the past year or so, have meant that Thai banks, most branches at least, will not allow people on tourist visas to open accounts, unless an agent does it for them. They WILL however, allow a foreigner who holds a long term visa, such as a Non-O open an account on their own.

Once your Thai bank account is open, transfer your 800k Baht (or whatever the USD equivalent is), into your new account Many people use the "Wise" app to do their transfers to Thailand, because it's less fees and a better exchange rate than most banks.

Keep in mind that the 800k Baht has to be in your Thai bank account AT LEAST two full months before you can apply for your first 1 year Extension of Stay. Also, start transferring your monthly 65k Baht into your new account, so that you have 12 monthly deposits showing as International Transfers before you return to Immigration to apply for your 2nd Extension of Stay.

After your 800k has been in your Thai bank account for a full two months, and before your initial 90 day Non-O Visa expires, go to the Thai Immigration Office nearest to where you will be living in Thailand and apply for the 1 year "Extension of Stay" which will allow you to stay for another year.

Once your 1st Extension of Stay has been stamped into your passport, you can allow your account to go down as low as 400k during this 1st Extension. If you choose to do the 65k monthly income method, you must keep up the monthly transfers (showing it's an International Transfer) every month without fail.

Should you decide on using the 800k method (minimum), that money must be in your account 2 months before applying for an Extension and 3 months after the Extension is granted. For the rest of the year, you must keep a minimum of 400k in your account. Choosing the monthly income method, once you are granted the 2nd yearly Extension, all you need to do is make sure you keep up with the 65k monthly transfers shown as "International Transfers" in your account.

@Daniel ************

I can't answer your question if it will suffice, but do you have any other options? I don't know.

Are you being asked by Portuguese Tax Authorities to prove you're a resident of Thailand for tax purposes? Or is it some other Portuguese Authority that wants to know your status? If it's for Portuguese Tax Authorities, then based on comments by

@Pete ******

all you could do until now, is tell those authorities that you are residing longer term in Thailand, with proof (DTV & maybe rental contract, plus maybe a residence certificate from your local Thai Immigration Office) and advise the Portuguese that you can't provide any certificate from the Thailand Revenue Department until 2026,after you've lodged a Thai tax return. I'm guessing that you'd prefer to be taxed in Thailand rather than Portugal.

@Jo *********

it seems like that was the indication in the original post from the way I read it.

@Gordon ******

do you already have a Thai bank account? Then yes, you can transfer the funds in 200,000 baht lots if your UK bank limits how much you can transfer at one time. I have no idea if your UK bank has a limit on how often you can make those transfers though. I guess every country and bank makes it's own limits.

As I pointed out in my previous reply to you, if you don't already have a Thai bank account, it would be best if you got your retirement visa from the Thai Embassy in the UK, which will make it much easier to open a bank account when you arrive in Thailand and then you can hopefully get 4x 200,000 Baht transfers done two months before you would apply for your first 1 year Extension of Stay.

@Gordon ******

are you still in the UK, as your profile shows, or are you already in Thailand with the intention of applying for a 'Retirement' Visa from within the country?

If you are still in the UK and don't yet have a Thai bank account, you would be better to apply for the visa through an Embassy or Consulate there, as you can use your funds in your UK bank account as 'proof of funds', for the initial visa, then enter Thailand on that visa. It just makes it easier to open a Thai bank account if you already have the long term visa.

If you are already in Thailand and have a Thai bank account, then the answer to your question is yes, you can transfer 200k Baht at a time, as long as you have the minimum of 800k Baht in your Thai bank account a full two months before you apply for the first one year Extension of Stay.

@Nelson *****

my understanding is that you can spend the 65k monthly deposit as soon as it's in your Thai bank account, you can use any or all of it, whereas the 800k proof of funds, as you would be aware, has to be in your account for two months before applying for an Extension and 3 months after, the rest of the year, not falling below 400k.

@Terje **************

I'm not going to claim to be an expert or close to it. I can only say what I've learnt on reading countless comments on hundreds of posts in, I think 3 Fb groups over the past two years, taking my knowledge mostly from Moderators who know there stuff and a few who seem to consistently provide information backed up by a number of others. As many will know, and moderators point out, among the 80 something Immigration Offices, there's always some that decide to make up a rules for themselves, which isn't consistent with other Offices, or the official Immigration laws/rules. Personally, from what I've seen

@Kool ******

provides very good accurate advice and I would tend to think that the Immigration Office that you deal with, has one of these 'exceptions to the rule', because I've never heard of anyone not having had to open a Thai bank account and have money as "proof of funds" go into that account, whether it be the full amount of funds, or monthly income. It certainly would be helpful to foreigners, if those high up in Thailand Immigration were to instruct all Officers in all Immigration Offices across the country to follow the rules/laws and not make up their own rules.