Answered5 years ago

Can I enter Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa and later apply for a retirement extension?

Tourist Visa Retirement Visa Visa Extension Non-O Visa Thailand Immigration Rules

Jeff *********

asked Sep 18, 2021

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Hello, can I enter Thailand on a 60 day tourist visa from USA, then, after I'm settled apply for a extension based on retirement, if I meet all the requirements?

Thanks in advance

Answer summary

Yes, you can enter Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa and later apply for a visa extension based on retirement, but not directly. You must first convert your tourist visa to a 90-day Non-O visa. After fulfilling the necessary requirements, including bank account seasoning, you can then apply for a one-year extension of stay based on retirement.

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Muhammad ********

Good luck 🍀

5 years ago

Bonnie *******

Or you can fly out and come back on a new tourist visa

5 years ago

Tod *********

Actually NO you cannot 😮

You can't go directly from a 60 day tourist visa entry stamp to a year extension based on retirement 😕

You need to first apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa, THEN when that 90 days runs down and you have your funds seasoned the requisite 2 months in a thai bank account in your name only you can apply for the year extension.

In order to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa you need to have between 15 and 21 days left on your current stamp (to cover the under consideration time period)

The process works like this

Enter get 60 days

1 - go to the immigration office and apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa (there is no seasoning of the funds at this stage, you only prove that the funds came into your thai bank account from abroad) pay 2000baht

2 - Wait the under consideration period (Most offices are 14 days, Chiang Mai is 20 days)

3 - Go back and get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in (free)

4 - when you have 30 days or less left on your new 90 day stamp and your funds have been seasoned the 2 months in your account go back to the immigration office and apply for a year extension for 1900baht. They are issued on the spot.

5 years ago

Kool *******

@Tod ********

there was a slight change that went into effect on September 4th. You can now go in up to 45 days before the visa expires.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Kool ******

that actually wasn't a change either, 😮 It was a "revert back to the original policy" after their b/s "come when you have 3 days or less" policy.

Bangkok has been apply for an extension when you have 45 days or less left on your stamp for many years now.

5 years ago

Kool *******

@Tod ********

the Saturday addition is new.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Kool ******

Given only a couple offices have the 45 days or less for extensions (Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, Buriram) it's just easier to tell people that after they 30 days or less left on their current 90 day Non-O visa and their 800K baht is seasoned the 2 months to go get the year extension.

5 years ago

Bill *********

@Tod ********

im so confused. i want to stay 5 months in kingdom. i guess i just go in for two months and then start begging at immigration office.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Bill ********

there is no "stay 6 month" visa option for you. If you get a 90 day Non-O visa before you come you will get 90 days when you stamp in and then you either get a year extension or nothing, OR you get a 60 day tourist visa, come in get 60 days and extend that for 30 more days giving you 90. That maxes out the time you can be here at 90 days too.

There is no "beg at immigrations", you either meet the requirements for an extension OR you go back to where you came from

5 years ago

Terary **********

I have a few friends on retirement visas. So I am not talking from person experience,... but from what I understand.

There are a couple of ways to do the retirement visas each with different benefits and requirements. I *think* one of the big issues is insurance requirements. I would get information on both options and make an informed decision.

5 years ago