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Can I apply for a Non-O retirement visa from within Thailand after exiting to apply as a tourist?

Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Marriage Visa Visa Conversion Expat Visa Regulations Thailand Immigration Policies

May 23, 2025

2 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am sorry to keep asking questions about this but I want to be sure I have the correct information. I am currently in Thailand on the Non-O marriage visa, but I need to change it to the Non-O retirement due to a mistake I made. After checking the relevant websites, visiting immigration here in Korat, and emailing with a visa agent it seems to me the easiest way to do this is to go to Cambodia and then re-enter as a tourist with my US passport. 

Please bear in mind the required funds are not an issue. All other paperwork is in order. 

My question is this; if I do that can I then apply for the Non-O retirement visa from WITHIN Thailand, or does that need to be done while in Cambodia? Obviously if I do that while in Cambodia I will then need to stay there for the 10 days or so it takes to get approval for the visa. Which isn’t great but it’s easier than any alternative I can see. 

Thanks as always for your assistance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is currently on a Non-O marriage visa in Thailand and seeks to convert to a Non-O retirement visa. They are considering exiting to Cambodia and re-entering as a tourist to facilitate the application process. The main inquiry is whether they can apply for the retirement visa from within Thailand after re-entry, or if it must be done while in Cambodia. Responses emphasize the importance of checking local immigration policies regarding conversions and mention shared experiences from others who have navigated similar visa situations.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

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Colin *********

Not shore why you need to change marriage visa 400,000 buats retirement visa 800,000 buat, do you have a thai marriage certificate, if not your home embassy will tell you what to do?

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Robert ********

Did you ask the immigration, if they let you convert your marriage to retirement visa in place?

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Graham ******

@Robert *******

You cannot convert between these Visa types and the first 12 month extension must be for the reason the Non-O was originally issued. Any subsequent extension application can be a different reason if the Immigration Office used will allow that conversion.

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Robert *******

yeah we sure did and they said nope. We even asked nice and they still said no.😎🤪😎

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Rick *********

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Alain ***************

As far as i know, chuck from YouTube notime2bsad was in the same situation and talked in a video about it years ago. I don’t remember details because it’s not relevant for me but i believe he did everything in Bangkok

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Stuart *********

I have seen comments that there are agents out there that can help legalise the marriage certificate without the need to travel back to the US.

Otherwise yes you can leave and return visa exempt and (at most offices) convert to a in-country Non O based on being over 50.

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

thank you! I have seen on this site that you clearly know what you’re talking about so I was hoping either you or

@Brandon ***********

would answer this question. Like I have said I really only want to use an agent as an absolute last resort. So this was the answer I needed. Thanks again sir! 🙏😎🙏

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Tony **********

no agent needed

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Tony **********

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Andrew *******

I am not retirement age just yet, but I did live at a bar in Pattaya for over a year and so talked to many expats and tourists about visas, my understanding is most would come to Thailand on the visa exempt entry and apply pretty quickly for the first 3 months part a non-O I believe and then inside that 3 months window they and there agent would get together all the paperwork for the retirement visa extension, so first one is 15 months and I understand in Pattaya costs from 28-35k depending what you may need help with, I understand from many UK expats that they apply from inside Thailand because if they apply from UK then they require medical insurance, but I would say if you have several months left on your marriage visa I would let that expire first or maybe you can use a couple of months of it to sort out your retirement extension and not need to 3 months part and save some cash...

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Stuart *********

You’re missing the point that if you apply for a Non O visa based on being over 50 from the UK you don’t need insurance - nor the medical certificate and police check.

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Andrew *******

@Stuart ********

so your saying that you wouldn't need the first non-O part of apply from UK, if that's the case great but I don't think many are aware of that

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Stuart *********

It’s better to get the Non O from the UK initially as that will make opening a bank account to fund the extension way easier.

You can convert to a non O in country though but it’s tough opening the account.

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Andrew *******

@Stuart ********

so then you need the medical insurance, so em yeah, in regards to bank account it seems to vary a lot, a friend of mine who is 36 did it on his own on a visa exempt about 3 months ago, so it's not impossible just need to maybe try a few places, for him he got first place he tried and didn't need to get any extra insurances, so it does really seem to depend on the mood of staff any given day

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Stuart *********

You DON’T NEED medical insurance for a Non O visa

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Andrew *******

@Stuart ********

so I decided to look online and confirm or deny and from what I can find you DO require medical insurance to apply for a non-O or non-oa now since 2021, this is from several sites, TIT they change the rules a lot and don't always update people, so like many things in Thailand it seems it can depend on what agent you ask, so like many things it's as clear as mud

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

as they have said you DO NOT need medical insurance for the Non-O retirement visa. You DO need it for the Non-OA. I know this because I just came here on the Non-O.

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Brandon ************

Regardless of what you are finding online, 99% of embassies do not require any insurance for the 90 day non-O visa.

99% of embassies don't update their websites in a timely fashion though.

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Stuart *********

Look at the Thai Embassy in London website.

******************************************************

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Stuart *********

You do need insurance for a Non OA and for subsequent extensions from it. You don’t for a Non O. Any websites that you see that requirement are probably going back to the Covid era when it was mandatory. It isn’t now.

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Andrew *******

So I feel like my original statement is true, if apply in country with an agent it seems they get around the insurance part, but if you apply from UK you would need it, please can you provide a source or link to where it specifically says you don't need insurance for either visa, not looking to argue or annoy just trying to understand

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Andrew *******

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Stuart *********

There is no insurance requirement if you apply for a Non O visa from the UK. There is if you apply for the Non OA/OX.

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Andrew *******

@Stuart ********

ok, but then if you need insurance to apply for the first part of the process then technically that does mean if you are starting that process from the UK then you would require medical insurance to apply for the retirement extension visa from the UK, or am I missing something?

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Andrew *******

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John **********

Yes, just make sure your local immigration office can do the visa exempt to Non-O conversion, there are a small number that can't

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

they told us that we would have to go to Cambodia and re-apply for the retirement visa. Once again it’s just nearly impossible to get the same answer from two different agencies and since I can’t speak Thai I have to rely on my wife to translate. Her English isn’t bad but………not sure I’m getting all the info right.

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John **********

I've yet to come across an immigration officer that doesn't speak at least some English but a lot can get lost along the way. Just get your wife to ask them if they allow people on visa exempt stamps to apply for a Non-O visa. Don't complicate it with mentions of Cambodia. (The form you need to complete is a TM87 if that makes it easier)

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

you are correct they did speak some English. But as you might suspect this matter is of fairly large (huge) importance to me so speaking “some” English is not good enough. I want to be as sure as possible before my next move, as I did make a mistake on the last one. That’s why I come here for answers. Thank you for your help!

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Wannikea *********

don't complicate it, as John said go to the office and ask if they will convert visa exempt to non O, if yes bounce out to Cambodia and back on visa exempt (don't use Poipet crossing) then go to your local office with bank statement and buy a non O based on being over 50. 2 months after that apply for the extension.

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Wannikea ********

if we go that was the crossing we planned to use. Is there a problem with that one?

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Wannikea *********

Absolutely. The worst choice of land crossing in Thailand.

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Wannikea *********

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Marianne ********

Out of curiosity, what mistake was made?

Why do you need to change to retirement instead of marriage?

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Rick *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Marianne *******

we didn’t get our US marriage license stamped by the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles before we came here. I didn’t see anywhere in the process that it was a requirement. Now that we are here they say that it has to be stamped in The US.

There is no way to get that done without flying back to Los Angeles and I am NOT doing that the flight freaking kills me. So……..there it is.

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Gerg **********

William has the best option for you. Just go to the local amphur and married legally in thailand. It’s just paperwork.

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William ***********

why not just get married again in Thailand.

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William ***********

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