Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing new financial requirements associated with Thai Retirement Visas. I came upon this information from a viewer actually who sent us an email. They were basically dealing with matters; they were seeking a Retirement Visa from an Embassy abroad. So understand we are talking about Embassies abroad. And I'm going to go ahead and quote this from what they sent me. 

So this is actually from the e-Visa portal website, quoting directly: "Other requested documents: Upload bank statements from the last 3 months - either savings or checking account - that display an ending balance of at least $25,000 or equal to 800,000 Thai baht for each month, along with the applicant's name and date."

What are we talking about here? Well heretofore, one was able to seek a Retirement Visa from abroad, basically just utilizing what amounts to one month if you will, about; you just show an ending balance, "hey, this is my bank account" and you just need a one off. Now they want 3 months. They want people to show 3 months that they have those funds before a Retirement Visa will be issued from abroad. Now understand, there are different types of Retirement Visas. There is O Retirement Visas and there is O-A Retirement Visas. The initial Visa associated with for example an O Retirement Visa is generally issued in 90-day increments, then travel to Thailand and then seek extension here in Thailand. O-A is issued in one-year increments but as discussed in another video made contemporaneously with this one, there are other requirements for the O-A including, which is often really important to folks, the issue of insurance. 

That said, the thing to take away from this video and the major change that we are now seeing on the horizon with regard to Retirement Visas is to get that initial Retirement Visa from an Embassy or Consulate abroad, you are going to go ahead and need to show 3 months of maintaining the balance required for the financial requirements before they are going to issue that Visa. 

Now something to take away from this video - we have discussed this in other videos - unfortunately there are a lot of folks out there that are just saying, "oh it's completely impossible to convert to a Retirement Visa in Thailand". As I discussed in another video made contemporaneously with this one, as a rule of thumb under current circumstances, yes, that is the case. But generally speaking, it is a good idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight and guidance with regard to all of one's options before proceeding to seek any type of visa to come to the Kingdom of Thailand.