Can I apply for a Non-O Retirement Visa in Thailand upon arrival?

How to get from the “single entry 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa” to the 1-year extension of the stay permit, which most people refer to as being the “retirement visa” (which actually is not a visa but a stay permit)

You apply to the “90 days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” by the E-Visa online system of the Thai embassy /consulate in your home country. You will need to fulfill the requirements that are listed for this visa

The visa will be mailed to you as a .pdf document, which you need to print out, in order to show it to the Immigration officer when entering Thailand

When you enter Thailand with a 90-day non-Imm-O retirement visa, you will receive a stamp that says “admitted stay until” and a date given in blue ink. This stamp is a 90-days stay permit.

Since November 1, 2023, the financial proof for applying for a visa in the online e-visa system in most countries must either be evidence of a balance of the equivalent of 800,000 THB (approx. 21,500 GBP) in your bank account,

OR

a proof of income at least the equivalent of 65,000 THB (approx. 1790 GBP).

For the application to the initial 90-days Non-O retirement visa, it doesn’t matter where the account is located. The most important is that the documents you upload to the application show that the account is in your sole name

You enter with the 90-day single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa, and will receive a 90-days stay permit

As soon as 30 days (45 days in Bangkok and Chiang Mai) are left from the initial 90-days stay permit, you can apply for the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement” (EOS)

Most people call the EOS a “retirement visa” and Immigration calls it a “visa extension”, although they do not extend any visa but just extend a stay permit. It can be a bit confusing regarding this technically wrong terminology

You will need to prove finances for this application on Immigration. The way to prove it on Immigration, differs a bit from what you needed to prove in the E-visa system in your home country

In case you seek to provide proof of finances for the application for the “1-year extension of stay” with a balance of at least THB 800.000.- THB, you must open a Thai bank account in your sole name ASAP after you have entered the country on a Non-Imm-O visa

If you use a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB as financial proof, then you must have your income “legalized”, i.e. been issued an “affidavit of income” from your embassy in Bangkok or from one of the honorary consuls

NOTE: British, Australian and American embassies don’t issue this income affidavit any more, thus citizens of these countries will need to go by the 800.000.- THB deposit method (at least in the first year)

You are free to use an agency for opening a Thai bank account for you, without much hassle. An agent can also assist you with your further application. Of course, you can also do this entirely on your own.

To apply for the 1-year extension of stay permit at immigration inside Thailand out of a Non-Imm-O retirement/over 50-visa, you do NOT need to provide proof of health insurance.

However, it is recommended, in your own interest, to have a health insurance for the duration of your stay in Thailand.

The documents required to apply for the “1-year extension of stay permit based on retirement/over 50 years old” from a Non-Imm-O visa are:

(The exact documents may vary depending on the immigration office you are dealing with. Most immigration offices have a handout with a list of the documents you need to bring with you. You need to visit them and ask for the handout before you apply)

Proof of meeting the financial requirements

EITHER

with the “deposit method”:

a certificate from the bank that you got a balance of a minimum of 800.000 THB.- that have been in the account for at least 2 months on the day of application.

This must be proven with a same day (some immigrations accept up to 7 days) "bank letter of guarantee" (in Thai: "rab roong thanakan") as well as an updated bank book and a receipt for a withdrawal from the ATM on the same day.

The 800.000.- THB must remain in the account for a further 3 months after the one-year Extension of Stay Permit has been issued, and an amount of 400.000.- THB must not be less than 400,000 THB for the rest of the year. Then 2 months before the new application for the next “1-year extension”, a minimum of 800.000.- THB must be deposited again.

OR

with the “Income method”:

an income certificate (affidavit of income) from the embassy or a honorary consul of the country which’s passport you hold, of a monthly income of at minimum of 65,000 THB

and the following documents:

***Copies of the relevant pages in your passport:

***the pages with personal details.

***The page with the entry stamp.

***A rental agreement (if available), the blue house book and the Thai ID card of the owner of the place that you are staying

On some Immigration offices you can also provide proof of finances using a THIRD method: the combination method

A mixture of income and deposit.

NOTE: Most Immigration offices require a minimum deposit of 400,000 THB deposited.

Combined with the monthly proof of income, the total must be ABOVE the required 800,000 THB per year.

You have to be careful with the income part, as a sudden change in the exchange rate can ruin the calculation - if you fall below the income level, you would immediately be in "overstay". So you need a "buffer"

For example, a deposit of 420,000 THB and a monthly income of 1000.- Euro (35,440 THB) is sufficient for the combination method.

35,440 THB x 12 = 425.280.- THB

plus 420,000 THB

would be 845.280 THB

The 45.280.- THB are the exchange rate buffer. The higher the buffer, the safer you are (my original text contains Euros, you, as a British citizen, should do the math accordingly in GBP.

If you are planning to use the combination method, you will need to visit your Immigration and ask whether they will allow you to use the combination method in the first year how much they require for the deposit

For the registration of a foreigner at a place in Thailand, you should visit immigration together with the landlord, because a landlord is required to register you by TM30 within 24 hours of your arrival at the place of accommodation.

The landlord can also TM30 you online, in case he already has registered the accommodation in the TM30 system.

NOTE: without a TM30 residence registration, you will most probably not get serviced on Immigration!

***A completed TM7 application form for extension of the stay permit (the form is available at immigration, but you can also download it from the internet)

***a handful of passport photos (most immigration offices now take the photos digitally, but it doesn't hurt to have a few current passport photos on hand)

*** all copies of the documents must be signed by you in blue ink (!)

The 1-year extension itself costs a 1900 Baht fee

As soon as you got issued the 1-year extension of stay permit, you should buy a “re-entry permit”, because in the event that you suddenly have to leave the country or if you generally want to leave the country for a holiday elsewhere, the “re -entry permit” keeps the “1-year extended stay permit” alive.

A single re-entry permit is 1000.- THB, and a multi re-entry permit is 3800.- THB

Michael Thomas . . . you will have a problem to open a bank account on a touristic entry. You should apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa in your home country's online E-Visa system and enter Thailand on this visa. On this visa you can get a bank account opened

Better get a nonO at the next Thai embassy before entering the country. That gives you time to transfer the 800k and let them settle.

Read the rules at the homepage of any Thai embassy.

You need a o-visa (now electronic on online only)with this you open a bank account within the first month (they will try and tell you to gether insurance of them, )which is a small thing if it gets a bank account, put your money in it fast ,all within the first month, now can extend the o-visa for one year at a time,you have to do a 90days reporting to the immigration office do not forget (two weeks before or one week after, you must do it ,at the last month of the yearly extention, re,extend it ok,

a lot of work to get it ,it's great to be here long-term ,and cheap 👍

E VISA NON O, OPEN BANK ACCOUNT 1 ST THING. EXTENSION AFTER SEASONED FOR 60 DAYS. (I WOULD PUT AN EXTRA 1K IN CASE THEY DECIDE TO SEND YOU TEXTS. 15 BAHT EACH TIME. I HAD EXTRA IN MY ACCOUNT I WAS LUCKY. I HAD THEM STOP THE TEXTS AFTER SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT WAS THE REASON WHY THEY WERE TAKING OUT.) THEN EXTEND AFTER THE ACCOUNT SEASONED. GET ALL YOUR REQUIRED DOCUMENTS READY AND COPIED. THE DAY YOU GO FOR YOUR EXTENSION , STOP AT BANK FOR CERTIFICATE AND UPDATE PASSBOOK.

As a 66-year-old British national residing in Egypt, planning to retire in Thailand, it’s important to understand the visa process to ensure a smooth transition. Here’s a comprehensive guide to assist you:

1. Visa Application Process:

You cannot apply for a Non-Immigrant “O” Retirement Visa upon arrival in Thailand. This visa must be obtained prior to your arrival. Typically, applications are submitted to a Thai embassy or consulate in your country of residence or nationality. Since you’re residing in Egypt, you should contact the Royal Thai Embassy in Cairo for specific application procedures. Alternatively, if you plan to visit the UK before traveling to Thailand, you can apply at the Royal Thai Embassy in London.

2. Financial Requirements:

You’ve indicated possession of the required 800,000 THB, which is excellent. Ensure these funds are transferred into a Thai bank account after opening one upon your arrival. This amount must be maintained in the account for at least two months before applying for the retirement visa extension within Thailand. Alternatively, if you have a monthly income or pension of not less than 65,000 THB, you can provide proof of this instead. 

3. Accommodation and TM30 Reporting:

Booking accommodation for the first month is a prudent step. The TM30 form is a notification from landlords or property owners to the Thai Immigration Bureau about the presence of a foreigner staying on their premises. Ensure your accommodation provider completes this form upon your arrival. When you secure permanent residence, your landlord should also file a TM30.

4. Onward Travel Requirement:

While not always enforced, Thai immigration regulations stipulate that travelers entering under the Visa Exemption Program should possess a confirmed return or onward ticket, indicating departure within the permitted stay period. To avoid potential complications upon arrival, it’s advisable to have a return ticket or proof of onward travel. 

5. Additional Considerations:

• Health Insurance: Some embassies or consulates may require proof of health insurance covering your stay in Thailand. It’s advisable to check specific requirements with the embassy where you plan to apply.

• Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended date of entry into Thailand and has sufficient blank pages for visa stamps. 

• Application Timing: Visa processing times can vary, so it’s recommended to apply well in advance of your planned travel date to accommodate any potential delays.

By following these guidelines and preparing the necessary documentation, you can facilitate a smooth relocation to Thailand for your retirement.

Good be much better if doing for the non-o via the evisa system before you arrive. You'll then have 30 days to open a bank account and deposit the 800k. Much easier process than applying after you arrive.

@Michael *******

can I ask about Egypt? I’m visiting Cairo in Oct for 2 days is it safe? What’s a good area to stay? I’m planning to hire a tour guide to go to the popular tourist attractions around Cairo/Giza, I wish I could get down to Luxor but don’t have time

You need an e-visa first. Look at the app. E visa Thailand.

Formally you’ll need an onward ticket within 60 days for visa exemption entries and especially your airline might ask for it. It could by a cheap ticket to a nearby destination.

If you don’t manage to get a Non O before you come, you might need to use one of the bigger companies in Bangkok -as the owners of this site- to assist you with the Non O visa process including opening a bank account.

You need the bank account. So get visa before you arrive so you can open bank account.

You will need the Thai bank account to get your Non-O in country so get your Non-O before travelling if possible