Answereda year ago

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

Visa Extension Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Thailand Immigration Visa Expiry Bank Holidays

Stuart ************

asked Nov 15, 2025

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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?

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.

12 repliesnewest first

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Graham ******

Show your Visa with the 4-Jan expiry as your post makes no sense as it contradicts itself

a year ago

Stuart ************

Sorry, my mistake, I should have said my 90 day O visa.

a year ago

Ron ******

@Floyd *****

Unless you fancy extra trips to immigration and joining the hordes then it's still best to get it before coming.

a year ago

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.

a year ago

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

a year ago

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.

a year ago

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 ***********

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.

a year ago

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

a year ago

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?

a year ago

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?

a year ago