Can I apply for a retirement visa (Non-O) in Thailand after arriving on the 30-day visa exemption?

May 4, 2024
6 months ago
Shai ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All, My plan is to apply for a retirement visa non-o in Thailand.

Can I arrive with the 30-day visa exemption and then start the process? Will they give me a kind of extension to the 30 days till my non-o is done? What are your suggestions? TIA.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on applying for a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand after arriving on a 30-day visa exemption. Responses indicate that it is possible to start the Non-O application process while on a 30-day entry, but there is no special extension for this visa exemption. A standard 30-day extension can be obtained for 1,900 baht, allowing for a total of 60 days. It is advised to open a bank account to meet the visa requirements and ensure that funds come from abroad. Additionally, obtaining a 90-day single-entry Non-O visa before arriving is suggested as a more convenient alternative.
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.
Tod *********
and on that note we are done.

People PLEASE do not hi-jack threads and ask questions that are unrelated ๐Ÿ˜• Make your own posts

good luck to
@ ************
n in their endeavors (y)
Robert *********
@Shai *******
be aware opening a Thai bank account is no longer an easy process
Jonas *************
In Bangkok the requirement to get the non-o 90 days is that you have at least 15 days left of your legal stay (can be extension), and you need to have 800k in bank account, and money needs to come from abroad (wire transfer).

That money comes from abroad isn't requirement everywhere apparently, sic.

Best to immediately open bank account and visit your local immigration to get a list of all the rules that apply at that office.
Bill ********
When you first arrive it's important to open a bank account in your name only asap and deposit a minimum 800k baht so it's seasoned as per requirements for application of Non-O based on retirement.
Daniel *****
@Dev **************
it worked for me in the main branch in Silom.
Dev ***************
@Jonas ************
any particular branch that is recommended?
Jonas *************
@Dev **************
bangkok bank, ask for rules, other banks are more difficult as tourist.
Ellie *******
@Bill *******
, most offices don't have the requirement of funds to be seasoned for an initial in-country Non-O retirement visa. you can use a bank account even one day old. Only Jomtien and one or two offices have seasoning requirements.
Bill ********
@Ellie ******
Thank you for the clarification.
Tod *********
๐—–๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—œ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฟ๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐˜„๐—ถ๐˜๐—ต ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ-๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜† ๐˜ƒ๐—ถ๐˜€๐—ฎ ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐—ฒ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ป ๐˜€๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐˜ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—ฝ๐—ฟ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜€?

no issue at all coming in 30 day visa exempt and starting the process to get the in country 90 day Non-O issued

๐—ช๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐˜† ๐—ด๐—ถ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ ๐—บ๐—ฒ ๐—ฎ ๐—ธ๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฒ๐˜…๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป ๐˜๐—ผ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐Ÿฏ๐Ÿฌ ๐—ฑ๐—ฎ๐˜†๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ถ๐—น๐—น ๐—บ๐˜† ๐—ป๐—ผ๐—ป-๐—ผ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐—ฑ๐—ผ๐—ป๐—ฒ?

There is no special extension if that's what you're asking, you can get one 30 day extension on a 30 day visa exempt entry for 1900baht at the immigration office.

So that's 60 days to get your act together, get the requirements met and apply. Actually you have only about 45 max because of the processing time for the Non-O at the immigration office (15 days at most offices).

๐—ช๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ด๐—ด๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€?

I would say get a single entry tourist visa from the thai consulate in your country before you come here. That will stamp you in for 60 days and you can get one 30 day extension on that giving you 90 days which is plenty of time to do the process and even leaves a buffer in case things come off the rails a bit.

OR

Get the 90 day single entry Non-O visa in your country before you come here.
Shai ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Just to be sure I understand the process: so first I apply and get the 90 days non-o, and during that time I can open Thai bank account to transfer the required 800k for the 12 months extension.?
Tod *********
@Shai *******
IF you are applying in country for the Non-O visa you need to have the bank account and the 800K of funds already in it

IF you're coming in on a Non-O you get in your country, then you get 90 days and have to get the bank account open, get the funds in and let it season 2 months before you apply for the year extension
Shai ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
So conversation from tourist visa to a non-o, within Thailand, is impossible if you don't already have that 800k in a local bank? Yet you can't open bank account based on a tourist visa...

So is it better start the process in Thai embassy in my home country? I thought I could avoid that...
Ellie *******
@Shai *******
, depends on your nationality. If your embassy in Thailand would issue an income affidavit, you can use that as proof of funds.

If your embassy wouldn't do it, you have to have a bank account in Thailand with the balance to be able to apply for an in-country Non-O visa.
Shai ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Thanks a lot for this detailed information.
John *************
@Tod ********
Very sound advice!
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