Can I apply for a 1-year retirement extension in Phuket with a Non-O visa obtained abroad?

Aug 17, 2022
2 years ago
Hello,

1) I am entering Thailand in Bangkok next week on a 90 days Non-O visa obtained abroad. I want to apply for the 1 year retirement extension in Phuket. Is it allowed? Will I have problems?

2) Last February I entered Thailand in Phuket on visa exemption and extended 30 days. Moved to Bangkok and tried Covid extension.

They finally issued it but after long discussion as they claimed I should have requested the Covid extension in Phuket.

Any clue on point 1?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is entering Thailand on a 90-day Non-O visa and is inquiring if they can apply for a 1-year retirement extension in Phuket. Responses indicate that it is possible, but certain requirements need to be met, such as having 800,000 THB in a Thai bank. Additionally, there was a mention of verifying if the visa obtained abroad is indeed an OA visa.
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Douglas *************
Giovanni, if you obtained the visa abroad, it is most likely an OA visa . Can you check ?
Giovanni ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks you all for your help.

However my main concern was entering Thailand in Bangkok and doing the extension in Phuket (i.e. different immigration office)
John **********
@Giovanni ***************
you apply for the extension in the province in which you live, doesn't matter where you enter
Bobby ********
@Douglas ************
You do a border bounce at 364 days (or thereabouts) to get the second "free" year (costs nothing). The beauty of the OA (for those who wish to visit their home country every, say 18-24 months) is there is no requirement to transfer money into a Thai bank account. This is great for people like me who are earning 7.5% (tax free) in Superannuation funds. It's all about individual situations of course.
Brandon ************
@Douglas ************
the OA visa isn't very common. Non-O is much more common.
Douglas *************
Douglas *************
@Brandon ***********
. Agreed , but only an OA visa is issued from outside of Thailand. A type O visa is issued from within Thailand.

The requirements are a little different.
Bobby ********
@Douglas ************
You're mistaken. The non-O is available from embassies and consulates. It differs from the OA in that it is valid only 90 days, whereas the OA can be pushed out to two years without the need for an extension. The O must be extended within the 90 days, which requires 800,000 baht to be transferred into a Thai bank account
David ****
@Bobby *******
hi Bob. Do you know if Thai banks will allow opening an account with a 90 day non-O visa? It’s needed for transferring the required amount to apply for the 1 year. Thanks
Bobby ********
@David ***
Yes you can open a bank account for this purpose
Douglas *************
@Bobby *******
. I believe that you must show insurance for the duration of the OA visa and the 800,000 baht can be in a foreign bank account and not seeded. I also believe that you must leave Thailand and return before the OA visa expires to extend it past 1 year. You must also show that you have health insurance for the duration of the visa.
Brandon ************
@Douglas ************
that's completely wrong. You can get a non-O for many reasons outside of Thailand.

Infact the multiple-entry non-O can ONLY be obtained outside of Thailand. The single entry can as well. But if you obtain inside Thailand it's "zero" entry.
Douglas *************
@Brandon ***********
, then I stand corrected. Are you saying that I can get an OA from within Thailand.
Brandon ************
@Douglas ************
no you cannot get an OA in Thailand. You can't even get an OA from a neighboring country. It's only available in your home country
Giovanni ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Pascal *****
1 yes you can

need 800.000 thb in thai bank... /...

you have to check at immigration office, what they need
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