Can I start my retirement visa application in Thailand with an existing tourist visa and without the 800,000 baht in my bank yet?

And just to get EVERYONE clear on the process, there is no "turn it into/convert anything to a retirement visa". 😮

The process IN country works like this

1- you come in, apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 (called retirement in engrish for foreigners to understand it) for 2000baht at the immigration office by meeting their requirements (you need a minimum time left on your current stamp to do this which varies by office from 15 days to 21 days before your stamp runs out)

*** - you wait the under review period,

3 - you go back and get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in

*** - you wait 2 months until you have 30 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp

4 - you go to the immigration office and apply for the year extension of stay based on being over 50 (called retirement in english for foreigners to understand it) for 1900baht and the year extension is issued on the spot. (If you're in Jomtien or Phuket when you leave your passport and pick it up the following day with the year extension inked in.

While they might stamp an english stamp that says RETIREMENT on your passport the REAL reason they issue that visa and that extension to people over 50 in thai is called ช้ชีวิตบั้นปลาย <- live out the end of your life 😮 (now you see why they stamp "retirement" 😛 )

I did exactly the same, i come in on a 2 month tourist visa, put 800,000B in a bank account it had to be there 2 months, so did a 30 day extension, you need 14 days left on your 30 day extension, then apply for a "O" visa, id had retirement visa's before so immigration knew i lived here, it all comes down to the captain aswel, if he gives you "O" visa, after 3 months you can turn it into a retirement visa, if it all runs smoothly you don't have to leave Thailand doing crazy visa runs

I got a new UK passport, i went straight to immigration no problems they swapped my visa from old passport to new passport, but checked & checked old previous visas,

Ive never had one problem in 11 years, just yes sir, thank you sir, never argue or raise you voice, just be polite & quiet

The 800K baht has to be in a thai bank account in your name only WHEN you turn in the initial application for the 90 day Non-O visa at the immigration office here.

Some offices (Jomtien in particular) require the 800K baht be seasoned in your bank account here for 2 months before you can apply for the 90 day Non-O as well, most other offices only require it in the account on the day you apply, and some require you show that the funds came in from overseas too.

CHECK with your immigration office once you get here to see what their requirements are for the 90 day Non-O visa application

One other thing to keep in mind is most offices require you have 15 days or more remaining on your visa exempt/tourist visa entry or the 30 day extension from those but some offices require 21 days or more remaining. <- Yet another reason to check with your office once you hit the ground here