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Can I stay outside Thailand for up to 6 months on a Non-O retirement visa without affecting my renewal?
NON-O visaretirement visare-entry permitextension of stayThailand immigration rulesexpat life in Thailandvisa renewal processforeign pensioner regulations
Feb 19, 2025
a year ago
Bill **************
ORIGINAL POSTERI'm 2 year in on a non o retirement visa from the UK. I've been going home a few times a year with reentry permit. My visa is due for renewal in December my question is I want to go home for an extended stay possibly up to 6 months in May....is this possible or is there a time limit I can stay outside of Thailand before it affects my visa ? From what I've found out 45 days is the limit ....is this right ? What would be the best way round this ? I have the 800,000 Bhat in a Thai bank....Thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is on a non-O retirement visa that has been extended and wants to know if they can stay outside Thailand for six months without it affecting their visa. Users clarify that there is no official limit to how long one can stay outside of Thailand as long as they have a re-entry permit and return before their extension expires. Several users share their own experiences of extended stays abroad without issues, contradicting a claim made by an immigration officer about a 45-day limit.
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.
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Paul ********
I go back 5 months every year for the last 7 years no issues. 90 day reporting resets on arrival and that's it.
Stuart *********
As an aside. What happened to Ben?
Reply to
Bill **************
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Steve ********
I was in the states for 55 days during October, November, and December back in 2023 and had zero issues coming back. So…
Peter **********
are you a uk pensioner?
Bill **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peter *********
yesPeter **********
@Bill *************
then I assume you know this. living here your pension is frozen but for the time you are in the UK you will get the full uplifted UK pension if you tell DWP internstional.Reply to
Peter **********
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Tim *********
There is no limit, except the end of your visa. If it expired without you being here to extend it you would have to start again. Meanwhile wherever you found the reference to 45 days is nonsense
Nongnuch ********
@Tim ********
his "visa" already expired when he entered 2 years ago 😉. He is on a 1-year extended stay permitTim *********
@Nongnuch *******
Now you're splitting hairs, but you're right of course 🤣🤣Nongnuch ********
@Tim ********
I can't split hairs any more, I am as bald as Yul Brynner 😂Reply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Bill **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tim ********
I went to Khon Kaen immigration yesterday and the officer there told me I could only stay out of the country for a maximum of 45 days ! As far as I was concerned as long as I have a reentry permit and come back in time to extend my visa all was good !Tim *********
@Bill *************
Not helpful when officials make it up as they go along. It's bad enough that Facebook members do 😉Nongnuch ********
@Bill *************
must have been a rookie officer. Myself I am on a "1-year Extension of Stay based on Retirement" which needs to be re-applied for on January 4th every year, for the past 17 years. I always spend 6 months in my home country and the other 6 months in ThailandBill **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
this is something I was considering to do too...thanks for letting me knowReply to
Bill **************
Reply
Jan ******************
As well stated by several, there’s no limit and the 90 days report will be suspended as it’s only for 90 consecutive days in Thailand.
Pete *******
The only limit is the expiry date of your extension of stay.
Nongnuch ********
@Pete ******
his "visa" already expired when he entered 2 years ago 😉. He is on a 1-year extended stay permitPete *******
@Nongnuch *******
amendedReply to
Pete *******
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Stuart *********
The only thing that matters is the day your next extension is due. Come back even one day after that and you’re back to square one needing to apply for a Non O again.
Lay *******
@Stuart ********
good info thanks.Bill **************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
....I went to Khon Kaen immigration yesterday and the officer there told me I could only stay out of the country for a maximum of 45 days ! As far as I was concerned as long as I have a reentry permit and come back in time to extend my visa all was good !Steven ***************
@Bill *************
. Stuart is right. The IO at Khon Kaen has nothing to do with re entry. Passport control officers do. I've had 3 reentry permits on non o yearly extension and all had expiry dates matching the expiry of my yearly extension. One was 9 months. Officials here sometimes prefer to make shit up on the spot than look foolish by admitting they don't know . I've had 3 different answers from 3 different IOs same day about extensions. Re entry permits would have 45 day expiry dates if that clown was correct.Stuart *********
@Bill *************
They’re feeding you bullshit.Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Nongnuch ********
there is no time limit for stays outside of Thailand. You just must make sure to have a re-entry permit for the remaining time, and you must be back in time before your "Extension of the Stay Permit" (which you wrongly call a "visa") expires, because you need to apply for the next 1-year Extension of Stay
Michael ********
Your extension of stay expires when it expires.
You can be out of country all year if you so wish
You can be out of country all year if you so wish
Stuart *********
Couple of things. You’re not on a Non O visa anymore. You have an extension of stay granted for one year based off the initial Non O and subsequent extensions.
There is no time limit of how long you can be out of Thailand. You can get your extension and a re-entry permit on day one, fly out then and come back on the date your next extension is due if you like. Although I wouldn’t recommend the latter part.
There is no time limit of how long you can be out of Thailand. You can get your extension and a re-entry permit on day one, fly out then and come back on the date your next extension is due if you like. Although I wouldn’t recommend the latter part.
Reply to
Stuart *********
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