Can I enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then apply for a retirement visa?

Jack Wilbur and what if the OP's don't already have Thai bank accounts?

Jack Wilbur you would have to do a Visa run in this case

Jack Wilbur well, for this BOTH of them would need a minimum of 800,000 THB already (!!) sitting in each one's Thai Bank account in their sole names. . .just give it a quick thought before you accuse others of being wrong. It is advised to FIRST get the 90-days Non-Imm-O visa before they wing their way to Thailand. Unless they want to start on the wrong foot and use an agent to get around the law. This would cost each of them from 60,000 - 90,000 THB

Shelly Anne FWIW Non-Os tend to be approved within a week or so if your documents are correct. I had to submit documents a second time and mine was still granted in 8 days or so.

Shelly Anne Well, in case you wish to use both your income or pension, instead of making a deposit of 800,000 THB in Thai banks account, each of you, there is a way for citizens of countries whose embassies in Bangkok do not issue income affidavits anymore, to get around the requirement to deposit 800,000 THB into a Thai bank account for the first year extension of stay.

But you have to read the following very carefully, and if you don’t understand, it is okay to ask the group.

Imagine a path that lets you keep the 800,000 THB in your home bank account earning a good interest, and never have to park this kind of money in a Thai bank account.

By following my advice, you fully legally can use the 12-months of 65,000 THB transfers method, to apply for the 1-year extension of stay out of a Non-Imm-O Visa.

HOWEVER, you must FIRST start out on a Non-O/A Longstay Visa, which you apply through the online E-Visa system of the Thai embassy in your home country.

People who first start out on a Non-Imm-O/A, leaving their 800,000 THB equivalent in their home bank account earning interest, will enter Thailand, get a Thai bank account opened and then they must start to transfer 65,000 THB minimum, every month, month for month, not missing out a single month.

Before your stamped stay permit expires (this would be a date outside of the 365-days visa validity of the Non-Imm-O/A Visa), you must exit Thailand.

You could fly back home but also have the theoretical option to complete the next process in a neighboring country, if you use the 800,000 THB equivalent in your home bank account as proof of finances for the coming visa application. Remember, applying outside of Thailand, your original income documents will not be accepted.

Check your recent entry stamp. Look at the date in blue ink. You must wait until after this date, to be able to apply for another visa. You now apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, re-enter Thailand, and all the while you must keep going on with the monthly transfers of a minimum of 65,000 THB.

Now, for the application to the 1-year Extension, you can use the 12-months bank statement of continuous transfers of 65,000 THB every month.

There are so many people who wish to get off the O/A Visa to escape the mandatory insurance AND simultaneously avoid to park 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account for the first year extension of stay. For them, this is a viable option.

By this way, US, UK, CDN and AUS citizens NEVER have to park 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account

But keep in mind, you would have to start out on a 365-days multi entry Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa, which requires a police check, a medical check, and an approved mandatory health insurance, and of course the equivalent of 800,000 THB in your home bank account, OR use your original (!!) income source as the financial proof for the application to the O/A Visa