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Can I apply for an O-A visa if I'm not yet retired but over 50?

O-A visa Thailand visa options expat visas immigration rules retirement visa

Aug 5, 2025

2 days ago

Bigd **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have been on paid administrative leave since February 1, in a DOGE deal to retire September 30 (thank you US taxpayers!) I have not worked since February but receive full pay and benefits. I will have all my O-A visa paperwork ready next week. I will arrive BKK October 25. I don't see anything that says I must already be retired. Consulate says "This type of visa may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for a period of not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working. Holders of this type of visa are allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited."  Do they mean working in Thailand? I'd like to submit my package early September but maybe I wait till Oct 1?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is in a position to apply for an O-A visa, as they are over 50 and meet the application criteria. There are no specific requirements regarding being retired, although the visa is colloquially known as a retirement visa. The key restriction is that holders cannot work in Thailand. Various comments from other users confirm that it's possible to apply for the visa without having officially retired, and they advise on submitting the application early.

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.
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John ********

This should work out great for you!

You didn’t work at your job (DOGE proved that) and now you can’t in Thailand.

How many years have you been collecting benefits and didn’t do a thing?

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Jeff *************

I agree paid this guy since Feb full salary and benefits what a joke

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Bigd **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jeff ************

It makes up for all the free-time I worked over 34 years!

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John ********

@Bigd *********

Why would you have worked for free? Whose fault was that if it’s true?

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Bigd **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

some people have a good work ethic for the mission. No fault, good attitude.

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John ********

@Bigd *********

Apparently The Dept. of Government Efficiency saw it differently.

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John ********

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Darren ******

No comments mentioned wanting to work in Thailand

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Jeremy ********

If you want to work in Thailand you have to have a work permit

You can’t work in any capacity on a retirement non-o visa

If you want to work in any capacity you will have to change your visa type

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Max *************

@Jeremy *******

Or get married to a Thai.

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Jeremy ********

@Max ************

even if you get married you still need a work permit

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Max *************

@Jeremy *******

The easiest way to work in Thailand is via a marriage to a Thai. Period.

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Jeremy ********

@Max ************

you still need a work visa…no matter how easy it is

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Max *************

@Jeremy *******

No "work visa" is needed when you're married to a Thai and on a Non-O based on marriage. Just the work permit.

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Jeremy ********

@Max ************

I want you to read very very very slowly what you wrote

Read it until you understand it

I’ll wait patiently for you to understand and reply

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Max *************

@Jeremy *******

A piece of advice, learn the correct terminology before you comment anything.

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Max *************

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Steve ***********

I'm in the same boat arriving 2 days later

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Pete ******

I will do the same thing. I have a contract with my company that says if I work until Feb 28 before I retire, they will give me six months salary continuance and six months paid benefits. I plan on calling myself retired. I also plan on going back to Thailand in March to live. I will get a type O visa here in the US before I leave.

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Peter *******

You might want to check the requirements for an O-A visa from the U.S. and an O visa obtain in country. Last I knew, there were different, with the O-A having more requirements.

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Donald **********

- You can get an O from outside Thailand. Just have to drill a little deeper into the visa options rather than pick O-A or O-X

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Pete ******

it's my understanding I can choose type O or OA while in the US.

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Graham ******

but the main requirement is being over 50 so mai pen rai

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Peter *******

I have not checked for a while but it used to be an O-A from the U.S. required continuous proof of medical insurance in Thailand while the O in country did not.

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Peter *******

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Kevin *********

Hey Bigd, I am on the same program that you are on. The family and I are flying out on September 2nd. You will be fine 😀. Congrats on your retirement.

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Bigd **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kevin ********

Kevin, did you choose retired or employee on application?

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Bigd **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kevin ********

thx! Congrats and enjoy!

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Bigd **********

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Roberto *********

As Brendan has said, although the O, OA and OX are colloquially referred to as "retirement visas", there is no requirement at all to be retired, only that the applicant is over 50. As with most visas in Thailand, employment in Thailand is prohibited. Many FIFO workers use the "retirement" visa as it's more convenient when making multiple trips to Thailand (where many have homes, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends), and the retirement visa means they don't ever get hassled by immigration when entering

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Jo **********

@Roberto ********

excellent response

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Jo **********

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

Although referred to as retirement visas, they are actually visas for people over 50, and the law that created them doesn't mention retirement at all.

The work prohibition for these visas is that they are work restricted for Thailand.

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Terje ***************

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

Sorry to hijack this post, but I have a question regarding work in Thailand that I need a clear answer to; I am retired due to disability, but have an online business in Norway that I work with when my health allows me to. If I work with that, even when I'm in Thailand, would that be illegal?

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

@Terje **************

It's a grey area. Are you allowed to work? Not really. Is there any way for anyone to know you are working or to enforce it? Not really. A LOT of people work remotely without being on a visa specifically for that. A lot of people volunteer while on a visa that does not allow work. The odds of anything happening to you are incredibly low. Just don't advertise to everyone that you are doing it and you'll be fine.

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Dan ***********

@Terje **************

no

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Kim **********

@Terje **************

you cannot work in any form IN or FROM Thailand without a valid visa. You don’t need a work permit for remote work but you need either a dtv or ltr visa

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Max *************

@Terje **************

Maybe you should look into the DTV. It covers digital nomads.

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Terje ***************

@Max ************

That was not the question. I'm aware of the DTV, but for the time being that don't apply to me and my situation.

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Max *************

@Terje **************

Then the official answer to your question is yes. Thats why they came up with the DTV.

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Max *************

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