Moving to Thailand can be a dream come true, but dealing with the bureaucracy can be a nightmare. The Thai government has made it easier for retirees to live in Thailand with the retirement visa, but what if you’re self-funded and don’t have a pension?

The good news is that you can still get a retirement visa in Thailand without a pension. The bad news is that it’s not as straightforward as it seems. The Thai government requires that you have a certain amount of money in the bank or a certain amount of income per month to qualify for a retirement visa.

The first option is to have 800,000 baht (approximately $25,000 USD) in a Thai bank account. This is the easiest option, as you can simply deposit the money into a Thai bank account and show proof of it to the immigration office.

The second option is to have 65,000 baht (approximately $2,000 USD) per month in income. This can be from a variety of sources, including rental income, dividends, or interest from investments.

But here’s the catch: the Thai government requires that this income be deposited into a Thai bank account every month. And not just that, but you also need to show proof of the source of this income.

So, what if you’re self-funded and don’t have a pension? How do you show proof of income?

The answer is that you can use a variety of documents to show proof of income, including:

• Rental agreements
• Dividend statements
• Interest statements from investments
• Letters from your accountant or financial advisor

You can also use a visa agent to help you with the application process. A visa agent can help you gather all the necessary documents and submit them to the immigration office.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Gather all the necessary documents, including proof of income and proof of address.
2. Deposit 800,000 baht into a Thai bank account or show proof of 65,000 baht per month in income.
3. Go to the immigration office and submit your application.
4. Pay the application fee (currently 1,900 baht).
5. Wait for your application to be processed (this can take several days or weeks).

The best place to go for help with the application process is the Thai Consulate in Melbourne: https://www.thaiconsulatemelbourne.com/

It’s also worth noting that the Thai government has a Double Taxation Agreement (DTA) with many countries, including Australia, which can help reduce your tax liability.

In summary, getting a retirement visa in Thailand without a pension requires some planning and preparation, but it’s not impossible. With the right documents and a little bit of patience, you can enjoy your retirement in Thailand.