Can I obtain a 90-day Non-O visa in Thailand without leaving the country after losing my Non-OA visa's validity due to not having a reentry permit?

Nov 18, 2024
a month ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Richard Jenkins made this post earlier but he had his passport number visible in one of his images so I edited the image, deleted the post and messaged him to repost it.

He can't receive messages from people so he didn't see my message

Here's his thread

In July 2023 obtained a 12 month Non OA Visa based on retirement from the UK. This was multiple entry by default. To get a new year entry stamp (following advice from this group - thanks!) I renewed my health insurance and back in Junr I re-entered Thailand, presented the new insurance and the old visa and was duly given a new 1 year Non-OA Visa (14June 2024 to 13 June 2025).

Back in late September 2024 I left Thailand for the UK and then returned on the 21 October. When I got to immigration at BKK they told me that the Non-OA Visa wasn't valid because I didn't have a reentry permit. This was a bit of a shock to me because my previous Non-OA Visa was multiple entry and there weren't any extra stamps in the passport to show that.

I debated with first the immigration officer and then her superior but to no avail. They both informed me that the Visa was not valid because I did not have a reentry permit. I assume this was correct although I have to say I was pretty pissed off. So now I have a 60-day visa-free stamp in my passport issued at BKK. It expires on the 19th of December. I live in Pattaya.

Is it possible for me to obtain a 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement or even better a 12 month Non-O visa based on retirement without leaving Thailand. I meet the financial requirements, have a current TM30 and previous TM30s and also have a 12 month contract for the condo I rent. Have valid passport and can get photos.

Do I need any more documentation?

I would normally go to the local immigration in Pattaya but would happily travel to Bangkok if that made any difference.

Thanks for your advice.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their experience regarding the confusion about their Non-OA visa status after returning to Thailand without a re-entry permit. After discussions, it was clarified that the user can apply for a 90-day Non-O visa at the Pattaya immigration office using their current situation, as they meet the necessary financial requirements and other documentation. The importance of re-entry permits was emphasized, along with practical advice on the visa application process.
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Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
And what I can't do is baby sit this post until the O/P comes on and reads the comments.

I think we're done, thanx one and all for the comments

Good luck to the O/P

Know that they CAN indeed apply for a new 90 day Non-O visa at the immigration office in Pattaya for 2000baht from the free entry stamp they're now on after they lost their OA entry stamp ๐Ÿ™‚
James ********
I tried to obtain an in country Non-o at Ratchaburi and was denied. He just kept saying that I must have an exit stamp. So as they say, some offices will, some won't.
Glen *********
@James *******
you can not change an OA visa to another visa inside Thailand, you must exit and return on a different visa.
James ********
@Glen ********
There is no issue at all going to the immigration office in Pattaya where you live, getting the hand out listing the requirements of the 90 day Non-O visa (that's all that's sold inside the country), applying for it for 2000baht, waiting the 2 week under consideration period, going back getting the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in.
James ********
@Glen ********
Read Todds reply, says he can.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
they lost their OA entry stamp, they're here on a free stamp,

As for your situation IF you were on an OA entry stamp you WOULD have to exit/re-enter to be able to apply for a new Non-O visa,

You cannot go from an OA entry stamp to ANY visa inside the country.
James ********
@Tod ********
yes but you are saying being here on visa free, they can attend immigration inside thailand and apply for a new non-o visa?
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
right you can apply for a Non-O visa from either a free stamp entry (visa exempt) OR a tourist visa entry.

They won't have any issue applying for it as long as they have the minimum amount of time left on it (most offices are 15 day minimum remaining on the stamp) and meet the financial requirements
James ********
@Tod ********
So back to my original reply, Ratchaburi office will not issue these, I tried last month after reading it was an option. Ended up having to leave and come back.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
not every office will issue it, Chiang Rai/Mae Sai, and a few other's won't do it, and make people go out of the country to get them

The O/P is IN PATTAYA and Jomtien will indeed issue in country 90 day Non-O visas from free entry or tourist visa entry
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
and once you left/came back were you able to apply for the in country Non-O visa?
James ********
@Tod ********
I applied for a E-Visa while outside the country and came back in on that. So had Ratchaburi done it for me would have saved an exit/entry trip.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
well glad it worked out for you in the end ๐Ÿ™‚ I will add that immigration office to the list of offices that won't do in country conversions

Thank you for taking the time, and glad you got sorted visa wise (y)
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Glen ********
they lost their Non-OA entry stamp when they exited the country without a re-entry permit and they are now here on a free stamp (visa exempt) entry stamp <- the one that has the เธœ.60-เธก.17 code on the right.

They can apply for a 90 day Non-O visa from that at the Jomtien immigration office as long as they meet the requirements and have a minimum of 15 days left on their stamp
Wannikea *********
Yeah bummer about not knowing about the re-entry permit on the final entry stamp, triple check everything in this group in the future before you leave the country on a long term stamp that you want to keep active.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
that actually happens to a LOT of people, ๐Ÿ˜•
Brian *********
Thanks for watching out for people
@Tod ********
. ๐Ÿ‘
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brian ********
i let the post on earlier without noticing the numbers and only caught it after I'd posted the answer,

hopefully they will see this post as they're tagged in it
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
๐Ÿ˜ฎ ๐Ÿ˜ฎ Wow sorry that happened,

You weren't "renewing" anything, you were simply getting a new year entry stamp (or as long as your insurance was valid for) by bouncing out and back before the visa expired. That's what gave you that "second year" entry stamp

Sadly, once you got that "free second year" on the OA visa (when you entered just before it ran out) you would have needed a re-entry permit to keep that year stamp valid.

That's because the multiple entry permit was IN the original visa and when it expired so did the re-entry ability. By not doing that when you stamped out of the country you cancelled that entry stamp ๐Ÿ™

They were totally correct in stamping you in on a free 60 day entry stamp.

You live in Pattaya so you can't come to bangkok and apply for that visa/extension AND there's no need for you to do that anyway. They issue those down in Jomtien too.

There is no issue at all going to the immigration office in Pattaya where you live, getting the hand out listing the requirements of the 90 day Non-O visa (that's all that's sold inside the country), applying for it for 2000baht, waiting the 2 week under consideration period, going back getting the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in.

After that you wait until you have 30 day or less left on that stamp to apply for the year extension for 1900baht. Extensions are issued on the spot and as soon as you get the extension inked in you'd by a Multiple Re-Entry Permit for 3800baht which would let you exit/re-enter the whole year (and not lose the stamp ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

Happens to a lot of people, but as you meet the requirements you shouldn't have any issue switching from the free stamp to first the 90 day Non-O and then 2 months later the year extension w/re-entry permit

Sorry that happened, good luck in the process (y) Go to the Jomtien immigration office and get the list of documents, you need to apply for the 90 day Non-O visa, take it a step at a time, get that visa out of the way and when you go back to get it inked in after the 2 week waiting period get the list of documents you need to get the yearly extension two months down the road
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