Answereda year ago
Can I change my tourist visa to a 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa for banking purposes while in Thailand?
I’m hoping to retire to Thailand in April 2026 or January 2027, funds permitting. In December I will be traveling there for a holiday on a tourist visa.
My question is, while I’m there, will I be able to change my tourist visa to a 90 day visa to allow me to apply for a bank account, and start transferring my current savings in time for my retirement. We rent a house in Bangkok and are buying a house in Ubon, my name isn’t on either at the moment, but can be if required to support my application for a bank account.
I look forward to seeing any serious help and advice.
Thank you
My question is, while I’m there, will I be able to change my tourist visa to a 90 day visa to allow me to apply for a bank account, and start transferring my current savings in time for my retirement. We rent a house in Bangkok and are buying a house in Ubon, my name isn’t on either at the moment, but can be if required to support my application for a bank account.
I look forward to seeing any serious help and advice.
Thank you
Answer summary
The original poster plans to retire in Thailand and is inquiring whether they can change a tourist visa to a 90-day visa to open a Thai bank account during a holiday in December before their retirement. The responses clarify that it is not possible to change a tourist visa to a Non-O visa in Thailand and that a Thai bank account cannot be opened on a tourist visa. The recommended course of action is to apply for a Non-O visa from their home country prior to traveling to Thailand, which would then allow them to open a bank account and manage their finances in preparation for their retirement.
55 repliesnewest first
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Ian **********
Speak to Brian Ramsden of Lawyer for Expats (Thailand) who will grant you a cost-free initial consultation. With your intended plans he will be able to help you avoid the potential bananas skins.
Nigel ********
The Best thing to do is actually talk to the immigration office Your will be dealing with.They can provide a letter to open a bank account. Based. on a non o retirement permit some people who have used an agent to try and get around this have had their bank accounts frozen, just be careful.
Holger **************
Tourist visa cannot be changed in a non o
Anyway ...you can stay on visa exemption for 60 days and extend in thailand for another 30 days.
But with this you cannot open bank account.
Hope your house in Ubon is far from cambodian border 🙏
Anyway ...you can stay on visa exemption for 60 days and extend in thailand for another 30 days.
But with this you cannot open bank account.
Hope your house in Ubon is far from cambodian border 🙏
Stephen *********
OP@Holger *************
Thanks for your concern. Our house is approximately 1 hour from the boarder. What I am concerned about is. The house is approximately 1.5KM from a Thai artillery and infantry base
Graham ******
@Holger *************
You can convert from a Tourist Visa or Visa Exempt to a Non-O as long as you meet the requirements including the Thai bank financials
Art *******
Your rental or future house are in Thai citizen name?
What happens if you never make it there full time for whatever reason?
Curious because I know someone with similar plans…
What happens if you never make it there full time for whatever reason?
Curious because I know someone with similar plans…
Stephen *********
OP@Art ******
Que Sera, sera. I’ve had a good run of more than 10 years, and it’s been a lot cheaper than using hotels.
Mark ***********
Just go to a agency pay the extra they will sort everything you also now need a thai driving licence
Steven *********
Following now
David *****
Does putting your name on your wife’s property help with getting a visa? I’m retiring in Thailand in 2027 too and just assumed there was no reason to try to put my name on the home we buy.
Ken **********
@David ****
Check getting a Fructuary on the back of your deed just to be safe.Marianne ********
@David ****
No, it has no relevance to your visa application.
Marty *********
@David ****
You will need a residency certificate but the property is your wife’s. I was able to get a yellow book for my wife’s house but there are other ways to get a residency certificate.Stephen *********
OP@David ****
I’m not sure, but I know when I’ve got my Thai driving license, proof of me staying at our address has helped. So I just assume it would helpAnna *********
No get a non O visa before you leave home
Stephen *********
OP@Anna ********
what documents would I need to submit to obtain this visa. I’ve looked on Google, and it states documents such as medical records, criminal records if any etc etcAnna *********
@Stephen ********
not technically but to get the 12 month extension based on retirement you need 800 K THB in a Thai bank for 2 months prior to applying for the extension and 3 months after with the balance not dropping below 400KI am sure this is explained more fully on the official visa website
Marianne ********
@Doug ******
Seems you are in the US.You'll see the financial requirements all the way at the bottom of the provided website.
I don't think there is any seasoning on this. Just prove you have the money or the monthly income, and you're good.
*************************************************************
Doug *******
@Marianne *******
I am shocked by the info you have offered. For months I’ve been reading and researching obtaining a 90-day non O retirement visa and until now thought the 800,000 baht requirement was not relevant until AFTER the visa is issued and you decide to apply for a 12 month extension. So I have to provide proof of having 800,000 baht in my home bank account in order to obtain a 90-day non O retirement visa BEFORE entering Thailand? And does that money have to be seasoned also? Thanks for this essential information.Graham ******
@Anna ********
the requirements are on the Embassy websites but put simply it is either the equivalent of 800k or 65k a month for retirement or 400k or 40k a month for marriage, the proof being a download of any bank statement in your name.Marianne ********
@Anna ********
Ok. Then you ow know the requirements are the same to get the actual visa. Both inside and outside Thailand. Just outside Thailand you don't have to have the funds/income to Thai bank account.
Anna *********
@Marianne *******
I’m fully aware of the THB requirement for extensions thank youMarianne ********
@Anna ********
The requirements are the same as the extension. But yo can use bank statements or proof of income accepted by the embassy in the country you apply in. For Non-O based on marriage ( to Thai woman ) it's 40 000 baht a month in income, or 400 000 baht in your bank account.
For Non-O based on retirement, it's 65 000 a month in income, or 800 000 baht in your bank account.
The only difference when extending is that the money needs to be in a Thai bank account in your name. And you can only use the monthly transfers method on your second extension.
Anna *********
@Marianne *******
all I can find is the same 20k that is required for visa exempt so can you please explain exactly what the financial requirements are for non o visa ( not the extension)Thanks
Marianne ********
@Anna ********
That is incorrect. The Non-O has financial requirements.
Unless you are a woman married to a Thai man. No financial requirements there for extensions at least. Not sure how they do it when you apply for the visa outside of Thailand for that one.
But likely not relevant to the OP anyway.
But all other versions of the Non-O visa has some sort of financial requirement.
Anna *********
@Marianne *******
and ?Marianne ********
@Anna ********
You wrote in a comment that now seems to be gone, that the non-o did not have any financial requirements.Anna *********
@Marianne *******
can you please explain what’s incorrect about my reply thanksMarianne ********
@Stephen ********
What @Anna ********
says is incorrect. There is always a financial requirement for the Non-O. But if you apply from your home country, you can use proof of income or bank savings in your home country as documentation that you fill these requirements.
The amounts required will depend on if you are applying for the Non-O based on retirement, or Non-O based on marriage to a Thai national.
There are other Non-O visas, but retirement or marriage seems to be the most likely path for you, so not mentioning the others.
Stephen *********
OP@Anna ********
thank you 🙏Anna *********
@Stephen ********
no thats a Non O A visa look for non o on Thai visa website NOT googleStephen *********
OP@Anna ********
thank you 🙏Marianne ********
Stephen *********
OP@Marianne *******
is there a financial requirement for the Non O visa?Stephen *********
OP@Marianne *******
thank you 🙏
Steve ***********
Don't buy anything, ever
La **********
They having a war right now hopefully everything settle
Stephen *********
OP@La *********
Is not quite an all out war just yet. Hopefully it will settle down real soon. My home in Ubon is very close to the military bases at WarinMarty *********
@Stephen ********
A friend near Kantharalak said the bombs were shaking his house 2 hours ago. He is evacuating.Probably still missiles being launched from the Cambodian side.
Benjamin *******
Come with a Non O from your home Country easy peasy no hassle here than.
Nongnuch ********
@Stephen ********
“My question is, while I’m there, will I be able to change my tourist visa to a 90 day visa to allow me to apply for a bank account”This needs an explanation, because you like to do step two before you haven’t finished step one
You cannot apply for the “change of visa type” to a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, without already having a Thai bank account.
And you cannot open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa or on a visa-exempt entry.
In order to get a bank account opened, you need to arrive on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa which you got issued in your home country.
On this visa you get stamped in for 90 days, and you are able to get a Thai bank account opened. You are free to use an agent service to smoothen and ease the process, it should cost around 5000 THB.
You needn’t apply for the 1-year extension, you can fly back before the 90-days stay permit expires. And return by next year on the same visa, again
Nongnuch ********
@Wayne *******
should somebody tell you that he opened a bank account on a tourist visa with a so called "letter from Immigration", then this was a glitch, an absolute anomaly, a mistake of Immigration and the bank involved. The system does not allow it any more since February 2025.Nongnuch ********
@Wayne *******
if you don't have a Thai bank account yet, you cannot get the Non-Imm-O visa inside Thailand. If you want to apply for the 1-year extension of stay permit based on retirement in Thailand, you will need to enter Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa you have been issued outside of Thailand, open the bank account and transfer a minimum of 800,000 THB onto it. As soon as the money has "seasoned" for 2 months, you can apply for the 1-year Extension of the Stay PermitNongnuch ********
@Wayne *******
sorry I think you have misunderstood the process: you "change the visa type" on Immigration from a tourist visa or visa-exempt entry to an initial 90 days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa on Immigration, for 2000 THB. It is number 9 on the list from this Immigration website. Click on number 9, a .pdf will open and show the requirements needed for the change. You however will need a Thai bank account with 800,000 THB already sitting in it for this application (!!) Without you already having a bank account, you cannot apply for the change" to the 90-days Non-Imm-O visa *******************************************
Stephen *********
OP@Nongnuch *******
makes sense. I think
Ant ***********
In short
No
You will need to apply for an appropriate Visa in your home country ,
Also It would be better to apply for the Visa when you know when you will come over full time .
No
You will need to apply for an appropriate Visa in your home country ,
Also It would be better to apply for the Visa when you know when you will come over full time .
Brandon ************
No. You need to show money in a Thai bank account in order to convert to a non-O visa, and you cannot open a bank account as a tourist. If you are going to Thailand in December, then apply for the non-O visa from the Thai embassy online before you travel. That may allow you to open the bank account on your trip.
Sean **********
@Brandon ***********
agree 100%, I have been here three years but if I was starting today this is exactly what I would do.I would apply for the NON-O visa and not the NON-OA visa which has additional requirements.
Stephen *********
OP@Brandon ***********
I’ve looked into that, but the site crashes more times than a test dummy every time I try.
Brian ********
@Stephen ********
are you using Google Chrome to use the Thai visa websiteStephen *********
OP@Brian *******
thank youBrian ********
@Stephen ********
yeah I've found Google Chrome works better, good luckStephen *********
OP@Brian *******
Google but not the chrome option
Anthony ********
@Stephen ********
I literally got my visa yesterday … took just over a week to get… and never crashed once BUT was very slow loading certain pages… hope this helpsBrandon ************
@Stephen ********
I've used the site dozens of times to take screenshots to help people. It has never crashed on me once. Are you trying it on a computer?****************************
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