Answered3 years ago
Can I apply for an OA retirement visa in Thailand with a Thai bank account and health insurance?
I Have a Thai bank account with over 800,000 thai baht. Can I apply for the OA retirement visa when I enter Thailand assuming I have health insurance already?
Answer summary
The discussion clarifies that the OA retirement visa must be applied for in the home country before traveling to Thailand. Once in Thailand, an expat over 50 can apply for a NON-O visa, which does not require health insurance initially and can be converted to a 1-year extension based on retirement. The Thai bank account must have at least 800,000 baht, which needs to be in the account for at least 2 months prior to applying for the extension.
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Gregor **********
@Robert ********
Apply for a Non-Imm-O Retirement visa in your home country – insurance needed for the whole duration you get with this visa (90 days or 365 days) and proof of 5000.- Euros in your bank account. No insurance needed anymore when going from the visa to the Extension of Stay Permit Apply inside Thailand for a “change of visa type” from a Tourist Visa to a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa – NO insurance needed but need to show 800,000.- THB in your Thai bank account. No seasoning time needed. However when going from the visa to the extension of stay permit, the 800K must have been in the account for 2 months
You can apply for a 365-days Non-imm-O/A visa only in your home country. You will need insurance for a full year after entry, and you will need to show 20.000.- Euro in your home country bank account
Lars ********
If you already have the health insurance, I dont see why you shouldnt go with O-A. Easy to get the first time. You dont have to worry about visa/going to immigration office for 2 years roughly. Financial requirement is showing a bank statement with 800k baht. It does not have to stay there for months. It does not have to be a Thai bank. Note that this is how it works the first time you get the visa - after 2 years you can choose again what is best for you.
Judy **********
Apply for non immigrant O not OA.
Mark ********
Hello everyone. If this has already been answered, im sorry, new to this. So, is showing monthly retirement income per bank statements and option verse the 800k in an account? Or has things changed where the only acceptable option is the 800k for retirees applying for the retiree visa?! Also, can I do this at my embassy in the US?
Richard *********
@Mark *******
you cant do the 65,000/month the 1st year as u need show immigration 12 month of the 65,000 deposits, you can the 2nd year
Graham *******
Yes, you don't need the health insurance! you will need to have somewhere to stay to generate a TM30, you might need some additional funds as you will have to give your passport to immigration!
Stephen *******************
School tomorrow?
Steve **********
@Stephen ******************
not in ChiangmaiStephen *******************
@Steve *********
Not in Mukdahan too 👍Stephen *******************
Steve Mccarthy
Just waiting for the ok for the Airport to be agreed and we have the lot
Macro, Big C, Lotus, Robinsons and loads of
Not a bad retirement place 👍
Just waiting for the ok for the Airport to be agreed and we have the lot
Macro, Big C, Lotus, Robinsons and loads of
****
’sNot a bad retirement place 👍
Steve **********
@Stephen ******************
ah ! Mukdahan, the cleanest Province in the Nation.
Ruth *******
I’m curious how you got your account and money transferred before going to Thailand.
Graham ******
@Ruth ******
The OP posted above "The 800K will be in the account 4 months before I return to Thailand."Ruth *******
Graham Seal I see that is added now.
Brandon ************
@Ruth ******
would have been in Thailand before. It's the only way
Grant *******
Apply in your home country for Non OA Then get a 12 extension in Thailand. Much easier.
Steve ********
@Grant ******
You can get two years from an OA before you need to extend, just with a simple border bounceGrant *******
@Steve *******
yes. Or get a non o retirement. You don't need so much medical insuranceSteve ********
@Graham *****
You just nip back home, rinse and repeat. Before The Plague I lived in Thailand for nearly eight years on OA. Slip back home every 18-24 months get a new OA. No need to transfer money, no need to visit an immigration office. The Golden YearsGraham ******
@Steve *******
that will be for the extension at the end of the 2nd yearSteve ********
@Grant ******
But you need 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account!
Jae *******
Your 800K needs to be in your Thai account for 2 months before applying.
Robert *********
OP@Jae ******
The 800K will be in the account 4 months before I return to Thailand. The question is will I still be required to apply for the 90 day O visa first or can I apply directly for the retirement visa??
Nick ************
@Robert ********
you apply for 90 days first at the end of which you apply for 12 month extension stamp. All done within Thailand but give yourself plenty of time on your initial 30 day Visa exempt entry.
Tony *********
@Robert ********
there is no such thing as a retirement visa. It's a one year long stay non-o visa with yearly extensions based on retirement.Tony *********
@Chris ******
yeah that's correct. It's not a Visa and it's based on the 90 day non O. It's an extension based on retirement.
Chris *******
@Tony ********
no it is not.It s 90 day non-o visa based on retirement.
Then you apply for a 1 year extension of stay, not a visa.
Tony *********
@Robert ********
since you qualify financially don't go and waste your money on an agent. Do it yourself. The process is very easy. If you're returning on a 30-day visa waiver go to immigration and convert your entry stamp to a non-O visa. Then go back in a couple of months after the money has seeded and get the one year retirement extension. Even though the money will have been in for 4 months you will still have to seed it from the time you apply for the non-O. But you can just relax for 2 months before getting the extension.Robert *********
OP@Tony ********
Thank you for clarifying it for me.
Bruce ***********
@Robert ********
The 90 day O visa is the retirement visa
Philip ***********
@Jae ******
it only needs to be on the same day you apply for NON O but has to stay untill you get the retirement extension ( +/- 2-3 months after the NON O )Steve **********
But your only 11 !
Dave **********
No need to apply for an OA non immigrant Visa. Apply for the non o Visa . No health insurance requirements.
Bob **********
Apply for the non-o and extend no insurance or medical or police report needed you’ll be much happier,you can only apply for a O-A in your home country
Rob **********
You can only apply for the OA visa from your home country.
Richard *********
Over 50?
Enter on a visa exempt or a tourist visa and than You can convert to a NON O visa< than apply for a 1 year extension.
Dont need health insurance
Enter on a visa exempt or a tourist visa and than You can convert to a NON O visa< than apply for a 1 year extension.
Dont need health insurance
Mark ********
@Richard ********
Health insurance is actually quite affordable for the OA. 7950baht for one year thru AXA Thailand.
Dave *********
@Mark *******
AXA kicked me out two years ago because of my age.
Christopher *************
@Mark *******
tell him about the excess though as that policy covers nothing until big excess paid firstSteve ********
@Mark *******
And a smart move too!Steve ********
@David ********
Exactly! With an OA you don't need to transfer 800k into a Thai bank account. You can keep it in your home country earning a reasonable interest rate. In Thailand you're lucky to get 0.5%
David *********
@Steve *******
800k in the bank and health insurance have nothing to do with each other.Mark ********
Yes my thoughts also
Mark ********
@Christopher ************
Yup 300 000 baht. Its really just to gget you across the line for the OA visaSteve ********
@Christopher ************
Still cheaper than tying up 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account!!Brandon ************
You can only apply for a non-O visa in Thailand.
You can ONLY get a non-OA from your home country before you travel to Thailand.
You can ONLY get a non-OA from your home country before you travel to Thailand.
Grant *******
@Brandon ***********
you can get a non o in your country as well. I have.Brandon ************
@Grant ******
I mean you cannot apply for the non-OA in Thailand, only the non-OActivity
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