Thailand visa question & answer: Do you indeed have to transfer the amount of your income statement to Thailand?

Dear editors,

I moved to Thailand last year, so I completely deregistered from the municipality. I moved in with my girlfriend. She has a cottage near Khon Kaen. At my request, she has stopped working so that we can spend time together.

Now you must have an income of 65.000 thb per month to be eligible for a residence visa based on pension. Or 800.000 thb in the bank, or a combination of income and bank balance. But I have no savings to deposit in a Thai bank.

Fortunately, my monthly income (despite the low exchange rate) is more than enough to reach that 65.000 thb per month. I don't need that amount for myself and my girlfriend. We have calculated that we can easily meet 40.000 THB per month. Monthly costs: electricity, water, gas, telephone, internet, petrol and groceries. Occasionally eating out and visiting family. Plus that there is also just money to do a week's holiday in Changmai or Hua Hin, for example.

So now I just transfer euro 1200 to my Thai bank every month. This brings me to 40.000 thb (two months ago that was still 1.000 euros. The exchange rate reduction therefore costs everyone in Thailand 20%). I keep the rest as savings in my Dutch bank account.

I need to renew my visa soon. I have a form from the embassy on which I declare that I have a net income of 24000 euros per year. But as I said, I only transfer 12.000 euros per year.

My question is: if you indicate with an income statement from the Embassy how much net income you have per year, do you indeed have to transfer that amount to Thailand?

Thanks in advance,

HarryKK

Dear Harry,

The “Income Statement” from the embassy is sufficient as proof of sufficient funds for the application for your extension (provided the amount meets the income requirement, of course). You do not actually have to transfer that amount to Thailand.

How much, when and how often you transfer an amount, as well as how much you use of that amount per month, is of no importance.

They only want to see proof that you have sufficient resources (in this case an income) to stay in Thailand for a year when you apply for an extension. 

Regards,

RonnyLatPhrao

Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.