This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Can I apply for a one-year visa while in Thailand or must I apply from my home country?
Non-O VisaOne Year ExtensionRetirement VisaThai ImmigrationBank Account RequirementsVisa Application Process
Oct 14, 2025
7 months ago
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello , can I apply for one year visa once I’m in Thailand or do I need to apply home country,,
My self 60 my wife 58 , passive income from my company in USA
Any help would be appreciated
My self 60 my wife 58 , passive income from my company in USA
Any help would be appreciated
TLDR : Answer Summary
You can initiate your visa application either from your home country or while in Thailand. It’s recommended to apply for a Non-O visa based on retirement from the Thai consulate in your home country. Upon arrival in Thailand, you can open a Thai bank account and meet the financial requirements, such as depositing 800,000 THB, to apply for a one-year extension. Note that opening a bank account on a tourist visa is difficult, so obtaining the Non-O visa beforehand is advantageous. There are discussions about the details and requirements for both the Non-O and Non-OA visas, including the necessity of health insurance for the Non-OA.
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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Sean **********
Get a Non O visa and apply for 1 year extension. Follow the requirements.
Keith ************
The sticking point for most people is getting a Thai bank account, which you need to have. It's now very difficult, if not impossible, to get a bank account on a tourist visa. That's why many people are suggesting you get a non-o visa before you come to Thailand. That makes it easier to open a bank account and deposit the funds and season them for the required 2 months so you can get a year extension.
Maitin *******
90 day Non O, apply out of Thailand online. Make sure you put all the bank statements in one file ( can only upload one file per section of the application
Then do a one year extension ( retirement ) in Thailand
You want the Non O not the Non OA. Non OA requires health insurance and criminal background check.
Then do a one year extension ( retirement ) in Thailand
You want the Non O not the Non OA. Non OA requires health insurance and criminal background check.
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTERReply to
Mike ********
Reply
Wayne ********
You have 90 days to use the visa that you receive. Once you get to Thailand, you will be stamped in for 90 days. so you would have 30 days to get your money in the bank and to be properly seasoned before you apply for your Extension 
Michael *******
do it online with local embassy show evidence of funds, you will get an O-A for 1 year, + 1 year………and once you have local account move funds and switch to O Visa after 2 years which has no insurance requirements although it’s always good to have some form of health insurance depending on your circumstances.good luck ……
Wayne ********
No such thing as one year visa. IMOP I would apply for a NonO visa based on retirement, then prior to the expiration of the visa apply for the 1yr extension. Of course there are financial requirements that must be meant prior to applying for the one year extension..
Peter ********
download the grok app and ask it this. trust me it will look in 1000s of points of data , kind of like GPS .
Robert *****
Get a 90 day Non O Retirement visa from the Thai consulate nearest your US home. Enter Thailand. Open a bank account. Deposit 800K. Wait 2 months. Get a bank statement notarized. Go to Immigration. Get a 12 month extension. Now you're good for 1 year. Wife needs to do the same. Separate accounts, 800K each.
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ****
None O retirement is that online visa or do I need to go to embassy And why are these visa places online in Thailand saying you can do all this in country
Robert *****
Agent charges around 40,000 if you enter as a tourist with no bank account, only 14,000 if you have a non O and your own account
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ****
sent you DMMike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ****
sent you demReply to
Mike ********
Reply
Robert *****
@Mike *******
using a visa agent is another way to get it done, but it's still easier and cheaper to get your first 90 day pass before you enter. Agent will then get you the 1 year extension. Agent will charge you triple if you enter as a tourist and do not have an existing Thai bank account.Robert *****
@Mike *******
online evisa submit photos of your docs, they'll take a couple days to approve and then send you the visa by email.Reply to
Robert *****
Reply
Colin **********
What visa are you considering? And do you have a Thai bank account? If you dont and need to keep money for seasonings, you can not open a bank account as a tourist and therefore need to get your visa in the USA
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
well we live in Portugal now and moving to Thailand Prefer not to go back to USA and hang out and Waite there , I thought we could come in to country and apply in a round about way
Ivan ************
@Mike *******
you can probably apply in Portugal, certainly you can if you are legally resident there, possibly can otherwise also. Some consulates will want proof of legal residence, some will deal with anyone physically in the country.Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ivan ***********
thank for the info , yes legal residency, I think permanent residency not a temporary residency ,, I mean I own a home here and so on , but still just my temporary residency.. It’s ok I’m hitting hiccups every where I turn lol , finally figured out my wife can use her 401k to use for the financial part , me , I might be screwed, I’m self employed and I only have one bank account and that is my business account but it has my name in it plus my business name , but not sure they going to except it , I was going to do the
*****
baht of 12 months statements instead of the 800k baht I think we do 800k a piece that’s about $
*****
for both USDAnd my company is in USA, so think I would have to apply from USA because that’s where my biggest accounts are , not sure
Ivan ************
@Mike *******
I don't think you will be able to do the 65,000 starting out, need to start with the bank deposit and then can move it later, after the first 12 month extension. Usually the money needs to be in an account in your name, not a company. It may depend on whether you get the O or O-A. Advantage of the O is no health insurance required but it's only a 3 month visa. Then you need to extend in country and for that you need the 800k deposit.
O-A gets you one year and you can leave and come back at the end, for almost two years. Possibly if you start the 65k transfers immediately and keep them up for 12 months some immigration offices might let you have your first extension on that basis, if you were O-A. You need specific Thai health insurance in that case.
Residency is not the same as permanent residency, I don't think you necessarily need PR. Consulates will generally process anyone legally in the country who isn't a tourist. The thing they say about not accepting a specific temporary residency I think relates to the status Ukrainian refugees are on.
What visa are you on for Portugal? I'd at least ask the embassy, with what proof you have of your residency.
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ivan ***********
I dm you I just called the embassy here in Portugal 🇵🇹
You have to be a citizen not a temporary resident
I have to do from home country
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTERsome visa places in Thailand are saying you can do it while in country and of course a huge fee like $1800 per person lol
I think the person in charge of this page is the one quoted me this
I will call embassy in Lisbon today and see if we can apply from Portugal 👍
I think the person in charge of this page is the one quoted me this
I will call embassy in Lisbon today and see if we can apply from Portugal 👍
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ivan ***********
we are on the d7 visa temporary it’s good for three years then renew I think you need to be citizen to apply from Portugal, I think American passport is what they might go off of not sure
Ivan ************
@Mike *******
you don't need to be a citizen. You need to be "resident". D7 Visa should qualify, from Google it suggests that once in Portugal you apply for a residence permit- this is likely what the consulate would want to see:"This type of visa allows its bearer to enter and remain in Portugal for 120 days and request a residency permit with AIMA. This visa is valid for 120 days with 2 entries and, in most cases, comes with an automatically scheduled appointment with AIMA."
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ivan ***********
yes I been here three years just got my renewal after my first two yearsI’m thinking since I’m self employed I might also qualify under digital nomad ??
Colin **********
@Ivan ***********
a web search says you need to apply at VFS in person.Ivan ************
@Colin *********
it's handled through the online system. You need legal residence in Portugal:"1. WHO CAN APPLY FOR E-VISA THROUGH THE ROYAL THAI EMBASSY, LISBON?
- Portuguese citizens and those with legal residence status in Portugal may apply for e-Visa through
*************************
Proof of residency are required."**************************************************************************************************
Colin **********
@Ivan ***********
Yes I think you canReply to
Colin **********
Reply
Graham ******
@Mike *******
you can if you have a Thai bank accountReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
not sure but we would be looking one year visa I think while visiting you can apply for visa and if taking a while I guess a boarder run
But we would be buying a place , so not sure on how all this works
Colin **********
@Mike *******
are you over 50?Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
yes 60 and wife 58Colin **********
@Mike *******
best to go for a over 50 non o (retirement) visa, you will both need 800kthb in a Thai bank for 2 months before you apply. Unless you have a Thai bank account you should apply for your visa in the USA, assuming your wife not Thai.Reply to
Colin **********
Reply
Chris ********
You can do it either way. I thought doing it here was easier.
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI think you need proof of residency a rental agreement or something
Or a Thai drivers license
Or a Thai drivers license
Colin **********
@Mike *******
you now need a permanent visa like non o ovrr 50Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
yes but thought I would come into country on like a 90 day visa then apply using a agentGraham ******
@Mike *******
you don't need an agent as a Non-O Visa will allow you to get your bank account needed for the extensionColin **********
@Mike *******
the bank financial regulation have been tightened this year, I doubt an agent can bend the rules like they did, and less the visa is obtained legally you might find your have troubles later. Its a different world now.Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
I am seeing this now. There’s no need to actually go to the embassy. It’s an online process so I can probably just apply to my embassy in San Francisco.I’m sure the documents come in an email form
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Colin *********
so your saying go back to USA then apply for none ORetirement visa
Waite for ever then come to Thailand
Reply to
Mike ********
Reply
Bob **********
@Mike *******
get your non-o visas in the US then you can open separate bank accounts here get your 800k baht in each one seasoned for 2 months and get the one year extensionReply to
Bob **********
Reply
Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Chris *******
I would think so , embassy in USA, take long timeGraham ******
@Mike *******
if doing it in Thailand is easier how do you get a Thai bank account?Mike ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
chris is the one that said easier, I was the one asking the question lolReply to
Mike ********
Reply
17 comments
8 months ago
14 comments
10 months ago
20 comments
a year ago
24 comments
a year ago
13 comments
a year ago
97 comments
a year ago
3 comments
a year ago
26 comments
a year ago
28 comments
2 years ago
16 comments
2 years ago
99 comments
2 years ago
1 comments
2 years ago
36 comments
2 years ago
1 comments
2 years ago
21 comments
3 years ago
19 comments
3 years ago
Can you obtain income approval for a retirement visa in your home country before moving to Thailand?
2 comments
3 years ago
83 comments
3 years ago
30 comments
4 years ago
4 comments
5 years ago
25 comments
5 years ago
4 comments
8 years ago
17 comments
9 years ago
12 comments
9 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.