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Can I extend my O visa to a retirement visa after it expires, and will I incur a fine for doing so?

Nov 15, 2025
6 days ago
Stuart ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good morning. My six month visa ends on Jan 4th. I arrive back from the UK on Jan 1st. I now wish to extend my o visa to a retirement visa, but because of the long bank holidays, I cannot extend until Jan 5th.

a/ am I still allowed to extend? b/ do I have to pay a fine, and if so, how much?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks clarification on whether they can extend their six-month visa to a retirement visa despite the visa expiring on January 4th, especially since they will return from the UK only on January 1st and cannot extend the visa until January 5th. Additional concerns include any potential fines for the delay in extending the visa.
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.
Graham ******
Show your Visa with the 4-Jan expiry as your post makes no sense as it contradicts itself
Stuart ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sorry, my mistake, I should have said my 90 day O visa.
Ron ******
@Floyd *****
Unless you fancy extra trips to immigration and joining the hordes then it's still best to get it before coming.
Stuart ***********
As Brandon said it's unclear if you have a visa currently, did you get a re-entry permit before you left Thailand? If not you are starting again. Do you have a bank account in Thailand? The simplest and easiest route for people to retire here is: 1. Apply for 90 day non-O retirement visa online before coming to Thailand. 2. When you get to Thailand open a bank account in the first week. 3. Deposit 800,000 baht into the account. 4.Get a list of requirements from immigration to extend your stay and wait 2 months. 5. Return to immigration with all the documents on the list and apply to extend your stay. Good luck.
Floyd ******
@Stuart **********
if I have a multiple entry and I leave country before my extension expires does it still expire or am I allowed to come back in and request an extension or do I have to start over
Ian **********
@Floyd *****
If you have an METV then you can return the day before in runs out and you will be stamped in for another 60 days which you can extend for a further 30 days. Be aware that each new entry requires a new TM30 if you wish to extend. So to sum up, if you time your exit and entries correctly you can get a stay of almost 9 months from a METV.
Stuart ***********
If you have a 1 year extension and purchased a re-entry permit, as long as you come back to Thailand a couple of weeks before your extension ends you should be fine (allowing yourself enough time to apply for the next extension).
Floyd ******
@Stuart **********
I don't think I'll be able to do that I mean come back in time so I'll probably have to get a non o again I've already got the bank account with money in the bank and proof that it came from the states so I'll just have to reapply when I come back
Stuart ***********
@Floyd *****
if you've got the bank account etc already, you can enter Thailand visa exempt and apply for the non-O again inside Thailand, but I'm not sure that makes it any easier. Good luck.
Floyd ******
Stuart ***********
@Floyd *****
so it's a multi entry tourist visa? Or is it a 1 year extension based on retirement and you have multiple re-entry permit?
Brandon ************
The only 6 month visa I know if is the multiple entry tourist visa. A non-O visa is only a 90 day visa.

So I really have no idea what type of visa you had or have, and what's actually in your passport as far as permission to stay in Thailand?
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