Answereda year ago
Can I apply for a 90-day Non-Immigrant Visa (O) in Thailand before receiving my pension?
I am 59 years old, residing in Australia. In early August 2025 I will retire and get a cash payout in excess of 800,000 THB. It will be ample for setting up (required bank balance for 12 month retirement visa, car purchase, house renovation) and living costs in Thailand until May 2026 when I start to receive a pension, in excess of the 65,000 THB a month.
Once I receive that cash payout, I intend to make application via e-Visa for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa(O). The plan is I will fly to Phuket to stay with my girlfriend in a hotel for about a week, then we fly to Udon Thani to reside in her house for the remainder of the 90 days. I will later apply for a 12 month extension.
In regards to that 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa(O) application, I have these questions that I hope you can answer:
1. Purpose of Visit:
If I do not receive a pension until May 2026, can I use - Retirement (pension aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)?
Uploading bank statements will show regular fortnightly salary payments from my employer (in excess of the 65,000 THB a month), but not pension payments, and then the August cash payout from my employer.
Will the fact it's not a pension create a problem and possibly non issue of that visa?
Does it matter that I have not received pension payments at the time of application, seeing as the application asks for financial evidence of monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB or having the current balance of 800,000 THB?
Could I apply for the visa prior to the cash payout, based on my salary payments?
2. Accommodation in Thailand:
Under Accommodation type, for Private Property, it has a mandatory field for Accommodation name. What do I put in there for my girlfriends house?
3. Sponsor letter:
When I reside at my girlfriends house, as I won't be staying in a hotel, condo, Airbnb etc, I assume I will require a sponsor letter from my Thai girlfriend. What does it need to contain? Does it need to be in Thai or English?
Thanks
Once I receive that cash payout, I intend to make application via e-Visa for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa(O). The plan is I will fly to Phuket to stay with my girlfriend in a hotel for about a week, then we fly to Udon Thani to reside in her house for the remainder of the 90 days. I will later apply for a 12 month extension.
In regards to that 90 day Non-Immigrant Visa(O) application, I have these questions that I hope you can answer:
1. Purpose of Visit:
If I do not receive a pension until May 2026, can I use - Retirement (pension aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)?
Uploading bank statements will show regular fortnightly salary payments from my employer (in excess of the 65,000 THB a month), but not pension payments, and then the August cash payout from my employer.
Will the fact it's not a pension create a problem and possibly non issue of that visa?
Does it matter that I have not received pension payments at the time of application, seeing as the application asks for financial evidence of monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB or having the current balance of 800,000 THB?
Could I apply for the visa prior to the cash payout, based on my salary payments?
2. Accommodation in Thailand:
Under Accommodation type, for Private Property, it has a mandatory field for Accommodation name. What do I put in there for my girlfriends house?
3. Sponsor letter:
When I reside at my girlfriends house, as I won't be staying in a hotel, condo, Airbnb etc, I assume I will require a sponsor letter from my Thai girlfriend. What does it need to contain? Does it need to be in Thai or English?
Thanks
Answer summary
The post seeks clarification on applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa (O) in Thailand while the author is not yet receiving a pension. They ask if their current salary can be used to meet the financial requirements instead of a pension, how to address accommodation when staying with a girlfriend, and what is needed for a sponsor letter. Comments provide insights on visa requirements, financial management for extensions, and necessary documentation.
28 repliesnewest first
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Charlie ********
Applying for a non O in your own country you will not need to specify where you income is from. On the visa ap you will need to put ‘private residence’ for where you are staying.
You cannot apply for your 12 month extension until your 800,000 baht has been seasoned in your Thai account for two months. So you will be unable to get your extension until October 2025 at the earliest if you do not deposit your funds until August.
Switching to the monthly 65,000 baht per month route will be possible after you have shown 12 regular monthly payments of that amount into your Thai account from overseas. So if you are not getting your regular monthly payments until May 2026 then the soonest you can switch would be the next 12 month extension after May 2027.
Hope that makes sense
You cannot apply for your 12 month extension until your 800,000 baht has been seasoned in your Thai account for two months. So you will be unable to get your extension until October 2025 at the earliest if you do not deposit your funds until August.
Switching to the monthly 65,000 baht per month route will be possible after you have shown 12 regular monthly payments of that amount into your Thai account from overseas. So if you are not getting your regular monthly payments until May 2026 then the soonest you can switch would be the next 12 month extension after May 2027.
Hope that makes sense
Frank ********
Best to get married, only need 400,000 in bank. The other 400,000 you can gift as marriage to family. Buy and live off of that.
Wannikea *********
It's known as a retirement visa, but officially the required criteria is being 50 years or older, you don't need to be retired or need a pension. You just have to follow the funding requirements to the letter.
Robert ********
I would put and leave the 800k forever in the bank and live from income. It’s way easier.
On first try I left out a month and transferred double another month. Lost the extension!
And working is ok. Nobody asked me. I worked remotely on/off for years. Only 50+ is relevant.
On first try I left out a month and transferred double another month. Lost the extension!
And working is ok. Nobody asked me. I worked remotely on/off for years. Only 50+ is relevant.
Jesper *******
800k basically allows u to apply for the initial 90days non O and need to be seasoned for 2mths before you apply for your one year extension and after your extension have been approved the 800k have to stay in the acct for 3mths and not lower than 400k throughout the year (conditions for one year extension) the immigration will need to see your 12mths statements when doing the second extension if you have planned these carefully u should try to bank in 65k every month once you get your first extension that means u will have 12mths of statements (including 400k) to do second extension
Graham ******
@Jesper ******
The 65k monthly deposits need to start before getting the first 12 month extension to have a total of 12 consecutive months when the second extension is applied for
Miles ***********
OP@Graham *****
thanks. So if im not getting any regular money from August 2025 until May 2026 (living off my payout until I start to get super), what options do I have for remaining in Thailand?Graham ******
@Miles **********
From 3 months after the first extension was granted up to the end of the first extension (9 months) the original 800k cannot fall below 400k (conditions for the first extension) and you need 12 consecutive international deposits of at least 65k at the time of application to meet the requirements for the next extension.Miles ***********
OP@Graham *****
Actually I think I get it now - 1st 12mth extension needs to have had 800kTHB in account for 2 months. Once I get 1st extension, I need to have 65k depisited each month. So as I do not get my super until ~6months later, I will need to do my own 65k THB deposits each month from my payout (leaving the 800k THB in the account).Wayne *********
Question 2. You put her address as your accommodation.
Make sure she does a TM30 within 24 hours of your arrival
Make sure she does a TM30 within 24 hours of your arrival
Miles ***********
OP@Wayne ********
Thanks. I understand I put her address, but what do I put in Accommodation name - it says it is required? Do I put 'private house'?
Spencer *******
@Miles **********
on my non O all I put was Private Residence which was fine.Wayne *********
@Miles **********
just put house or apartment it just needs somethingWayne *********
They don't care if your still working and apply for a retirement visa.
I work 2 on 2 off and have a retirement visa
I work 2 on 2 off and have a retirement visa
Dean ********
What pension do you get at 60
Miles ***********
OP@Dean *******
yes, sorry I should have said super but got stuck with pension in my head.
Luke **********
@Dean *******
I was thinking that hahahahaRick ************
@Dean *******
if eligible, super converted to pension.Dean ********
@Rick ***********
you mean from super as part of transition to retirement?Rick ************
@Miles **********
honestly, if you have a financial advisor, best to speak to them. I didn't even know TTR existed until mine told me. See Chris the SuperGuy
********************************************************************************
Now I've moved over to super based full pension account..
Miles ***********
OP@Rick ***********
forgive my ignorance but what is meant by TTR - transition to retirement? I don't plan to work again.Rick ************
@Dean *******
you can do it that way (TTR), if you still work. If you don't plan to work again, the whole super can become pension, with all interest tax free.
Conny **********
You go to migration with your landlord within 24 h of arrival to register your place of stay
Graham ******
@Conny *********
Or the landlord (girlfriend) does it online, a simple 3 step process the first time (set up account, add address then add foreigner details) ******************************************************************************************************
*****
ea9Miles ***********
OP@Graham *****
Thanks, thats very helpful. So for the 90 day e-visa app, no need for anything other than the first week in Phuket hotel details?Graham ******
@Miles **********
Yes, your first accommodation will be fineConny **********
Short answer no. You need to keep the 800kthb in the account. So don't spend it.
Your option, if this is your budget, is to rent and then you can use the 800kthb after you have switched in one year.... Remember that the 800 kthb is for that first year...
Your option, if this is your budget, is to rent and then you can use the 800kthb after you have switched in one year.... Remember that the 800 kthb is for that first year...
Miles ***********
OP@Conny *********
thanks but sorry if i wasnt clear enough - i will receive sufficient payout to permit me to keep the 800kTHB in a bank account & do all the other setup & living costs.Activity
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