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Can I enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then apply for a Non-O retirement visa using cash for the 800,000 baht requirement?
Non-O VisaRetirement VisaVisa RequirementsThailand ImmigrationBank Transfer RulesCash DeclarationThai Bank AccountVisa ExtensionShort-term VisaTourist Visa
Mar 19, 2022
4 years ago
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERQuestion: For nonO retirement visa entering on tourist visa can I bring mostly cash for the 800,000 baht requirement! Thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
To apply for a Non-O retirement visa while entering Thailand on a tourist visa, the 800,000 baht must be transferred from overseas into a Thai bank account in your name. Cash alone may not suffice for proof of funds unless properly documented. If you have a Non-O visa before entering, you can deposit the funds in Thailand, but they need to remain in your account for two months before applying for an extension.
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.
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Tod *********
Okay, I deleted the bad info and the off topic comments
IF you are going to come here and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement using banked money method the 800K baht has to be transfered IN to your thai bank account in your name only from abroad. Period, end of story, there is no wiggle room on that and it specifically states that on the hand out they give you for the 90 day non-O requirements based on retirement.
IF you are going to buy the 90 day Non-O visa in YOUR country from a thai consulate before you wing your way here you show proof of funds in your bank in your country.
Either way, once you have the 90 day Non-O visa you need to have the funds season in your thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for your yearly extension based on retirement AND at that stage (getting the year extension) there is no proof of origin of funds required.
IF you are going to come here and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement using banked money method the 800K baht has to be transfered IN to your thai bank account in your name only from abroad. Period, end of story, there is no wiggle room on that and it specifically states that on the hand out they give you for the 90 day non-O requirements based on retirement.
IF you are going to buy the 90 day Non-O visa in YOUR country from a thai consulate before you wing your way here you show proof of funds in your bank in your country.
Either way, once you have the 90 day Non-O visa you need to have the funds season in your thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for your yearly extension based on retirement AND at that stage (getting the year extension) there is no proof of origin of funds required.
London *****
Tod for seasoning of 800k is it 2 months or is it 60 days:. I deposited 4th Feb. when can I get in Pattaya?
Tod *********
@London ****
two months date to date, which WOULD mean Feb 4 to April 4th BUT
they're gonna burn you for feb (because it's not 30 days 😛 )
so I'd say any time after the 6th of April you should be good
John **********
@London ****
it's 2 calendar months so 5th AprilReply to
John **********
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Dickie ********
@Tod ********
immigration in Phuket don't check. I topped up my K bank from my B Bank to get to the 800k and it did not matter as long as i had the 800k in there. .John **********
@Dickie *******
that's fine for an extension of stay but not for applying for the initial 90 day Non-O visa inside ThailandDickie ********
Reply to
Dickie ********
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Tod *********
@Dickie *******
which is good for you and I have no idea why they accepted it BUT
it is not the policy to get an in country 90 day Non-O visa.
It says right on the paper they hand you listing the requirements that it has to be transferred in from abroad.
Reply to
Tod *********
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
thank you sirReply to
Jim ********
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Mikkel *******
You can, if you buy a non o before coming here. If you come on tourist visa, or visa exempt, and want to buy the initial 90 day non o inside Thailand, you will have to prove an 800k international transfer to an account in your name only. Customs declaration and anything else wont work. Only an international transfer showing up in your bankbook/bank account. If you already have the non o when entering Thailand, you can just deposit the funds at a bank, in an account in your name only, and have them there for at least 2 months for seasoning before applying for the year extension.
Bim *******
@Mikkel ******
so If I apply for a Non O in the UK they won't ask for an international transfer?Eze ********
@Bim ******
financial requirements for a Non-O for the purposes of retirement, from the UK embassy website:"Financial evidence e.g. A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000"
However, their website is out of date so it's best to contact them to check first if you want to go this route.
Having said that, I think these have been the requirements for that visa for some years.
Bim *******
@Eze *******
thank you. Does it include a Thai bankEze ********
@Bim ******
do you mean, will they allow you to show funds in a Thai bank account when applying for the visa in the UK? If that's the question, then I can tell you that in the past the UK embassy was amenable to this idea when issuing other visas and their only concern was making sure that the bank information was current. i.e. statements from 2 months ago wouldn't cut it.
It's almost 3 years since I discussed this with them so I don't know what the situation is now.
I suggest you contact them and ask them and if you have a way to get statements that are current, I suggest that you tell them that too at the outset to forestall any objections around the age of the age of the statements.
Bim *******
@Eze *******
yes that's what I mean. We moved our money over to Thailand over 9 years ago. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.Eze ********
@Bim ******
you're welcome.Please let us know how you get on with this and what the embassy says, if you do decide to try to use money in a Thai bank account to apply for the visa in London.
London has moved to the e-visa system and you no longer have to submit your passport or original documents to the embassy, so this may make it easier to use money in a Thai bank since you could even apply when you are in Thailand (if you were going to return to Thailand during the validity period of the visa - the risk there is that COVID rules could change to something stricter again and you waste the visa application fee).
Reply to
Eze ********
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Mikkel *******
@Bim ******
so check with your thai embassy.Bim *******
@Mikkel ******
thank you I will.Reply to
Bim *******
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Mikkel *******
@Bim ******
on the other hand, as I understand, not all thai embassies sells those 90 day non o, but only the year long oa, which has extra requirements of insurance for example. And I guess that's why many chose to just come on a tourist visa or 30 day visa exemption, and then buying the 90 day non o inside Thailand. For that though, you WILL need to show the 800K came from abroad with international transfer showing up in your thai account.Bim *******
@Mikkel ******
the UK issues Non O but thank you. I won't be applying for a OA. I will apply for a Non O at the embassy in LondonReply to
Bim *******
Reply
Mikkel *******
@Bim ******
you can have the money in your account in your home country when applying for the initial non o visa there, before you go to Thailand. You can then, however you want/can, get those 800k to a thai account in your name while in Thailand if you wish to apply for a year extension. No need to prove where it came from then, but it does have to be in the account for minimum 2 full months before you can apply, and then 3 months after too, and not below 400k the rest of the year, if your intention is to keep applying for yearly extensions.Bim *******
@Mikkel ******
I don't have money in the UK. I have lived her 9 years in Thailand. My friend just applied for a Non O in the UK and they didn't ask him for fundsReply to
Bim *******
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John **********
@Bim ******
correctReply to
John **********
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John ********
You will be hit by most countries EXPORT of cash. In principle tho yes ...provided converted in thailand with accompanying documentation. I did many years ago so situation may have changed.
John **********
I'd say no, as you'd have no way to prove it came from overseas
Antonio ***********
@John *********
or can ask to declare them at custom.. 😉Tod *********
I believe
@Antonio **********
that won't work, it has to show as an international transfer into your thai bank accountReply to
Tod *********
Reply
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