Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing, well we are discussing Retirement Visas, and I'll get to that in a minute. But first, when we are talking about this “proof of funds” issue, it has come to my attention through research over the internet and anecdotally, that there are a number of people here in February of 2026 who are finding themselves being stopped at immigration checkpoints and asked to prove their ability to support themselves here in Thailand. As a rule of thumb, carrying 20,000 baht through an Immigration Checkpoint is usually the best, most expeditious way to prove that up and move along; I have discussed this at length in other videos. That said, there seems to be some confusion as to whether or not this stuff applies to Retirement Visas. Let me get into this. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent comment on our channel, quoting directly: "I live in Thailand and have a Non-O. I'm going back to the UK in June for a 10-day trip to visit friends and family. I will have the required re-entry permit. Does this mean I have to take 20,000 with me all the way to the UK just so I can have it to show Immigration if required? What a load of nonsense." Well first of all, there's sort of a misunderstanding about what we are talking about here. 

So the proof of funds issue comes up when people are utilizing Visa Exemptions, Tourist Visas, from what we're hearing, DTV visas, which are being treated largely like a long Tourist Visa especially by immigration checkpoints. On all of these types of visas when coming and going, again, and I've discussed this in other videos, the DTV was not designed per se to live in Thailand. It was all under the sort of rubric if you will that they were trying to create a Pan- ASEAN Visa. That didn't come through so they have this thing that you were supposed to sort of be able to jump in and out on; again it was nebulous when created and it wasn't entirely created to live in Thailand. Again it's a “Nomad Visa”. It's meant for people to sort of be passing through, which very nebulous. As I have discussed in other videos, not very good policy and now people are having to deal with it. But one thing that folks are dealing with in Tourist Visa, Exemption and DTV status we're hearing about is, when they're coming through a checkpoint, immigration is saying, "hey, it looks like you're staying here for a while. Can you show that you have the financial ability to support yourself while you're here? And if you can't, they are actually turning people away. They have the discretion to do that; they always have had. We've discussed this in other videos in the past. It's usually this time of year that we see this transpire, toward the end of high season where people start saying, "hey I really like Thailand; I want to stay here". And immigration starts to kind of looking at people as they’re doing a Border Run to get another Visa or Visa Exemption or whatever, and they start asking, "hey, do you have proof of being able to support yourself?" The general rule of thumb is 20,000 Baht will meet that requirement. 

Now what this person is asking about is whether or not on a Retirement Visa they need to worry about that. The answer is NO. Non-immigrant visas strictly speaking, although I would say maybe put an asterisk next to the ED Visa with regard to this analysis but standard O, standard B visas, Visas of that nature where you're on non-immigrant status and you're maintaining extensions in country, no. Generally speaking they are not asking to see any type of proof of funds or ability to support oneself because, for example, on a B Visa with a Work Permit, the Work Permit and the B Visa itself are prima facie evidence of supporting oneself anyway. With a Retirement Visa, you have to prove funds in a bank account, or ongoing pension, and that is deemed sufficient to get that Visa. But more to the point, they're Non-immigrant Visas and the paradigm at immigration toward Non-immigrant Visas especially at checkpoints, versus things like the DTV, versus things like the Tourist Visa, versus things like the Visa Exemption, it's a very different attitude because it is viewed as more permanent. You are here on a Visa that has a purpose that is for living in Thailand, and possibly even working in Thailand or retiring in Thailand. So for purposes of the analysis I would not worry too much if you're on a standard or otherwise an O-A Retirement Visa and you are living in Thailand. You have already proven up your funds - that's what you have to do when you extend your Visa - so it's kind of redundant at immigration checkpoints and they are not even really looking for that anyway. 

That said, again to reiterate, if you're coming through on a Visa Exemption, a Tourist Visa or a DTV, yeah, it's possible you are going to be able to need to show an ability to support oneself here in the Kingdom of Thailand.