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Can I switch from a Non-OA visa to a Non-O visa while in Thailand?
Sep 25, 2025
7 months ago
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTERGood day all. Some advise please. I am on Non OA but prefer to no on Non O, thought it was possible to do the change here in Thailand but IO today says I must apply outside Thailand. I am due to travel out next month for 2 months, back for 2 weeks then out again for 2 months
Should I wait and apply out of country if they have an embassy or is there another way to do this?
British national, Thai bank opened and 800k deposit done along with 1 month 65k plus deposit made.
Should I wait and apply out of country if they have an embassy or is there another way to do this?
British national, Thai bank opened and 800k deposit done along with 1 month 65k plus deposit made.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user currently holds a Non OA visa and is seeking advice on changing it to a Non O visa while in Thailand. Responses indicate that the user must exit Thailand and apply for the Non O visa at an embassy or consulate, or re-enter under a visa exemption to apply in-country. Multiple comments clarify that changing visa types while still within the validity of the Non OA visa is not allowed, emphasizing the need to make the current visa invalid first.
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Robert *****
Better to exit and start over fresh, big advantage is that the funds can be in your home country bank. Anything u apply for in country has to be in a Thai bank.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ****
thanks. I have the funds here in Thai bank and also bring in 65k plus a month forLiving expenses. Previously in the thread it says I cannot apply until current OA expires. can i exit and return on the normal visa and apply then in country?
Robert *****
@Pete ******
is your OA single or multiple entry?Reply to
Robert *****
Reply
Jo **********
The A will not harm you
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jo *********
the A needs med insurance which for me is very expensive due to previous condition. Better to pay cash when / if neededJo **********
@Pete ******
ah ok totally understandReply to
Jo **********
Reply
David **********
Go on website for home and they a will email you non o visa
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
thanks David.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
Hi David, expand on this pleaseDavid **********
@Pete ******
when you do non o visa you do it online and they send to email when approvedPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
ok understood, when i did the OA it was online, only selection i could make was OA, could not see O even though requested from Thai embassy for O they said to do OA as they said its the same. Obviously it’s not. Can i do this before OA expires and from Thailand?Robert *****
@Pete ******
to see the non O category you first have to select 1) retirement 2) over 50 and 3) less than 90 day stay.Robert *****
@Pete ******
are you over 50 years of age? Non O is for over 50.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Robert ****
yes. 66 in Oct.David **********
@Pete ******
the difference between oa and o of course is health insurancePete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
yes. You say go on website for home, what is the website?David **********
@Pete ******
online yes request non oPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David *********
thanks, i looked when i did in SA but O Option not there, will look againJim *******
@Pete ******
I had that too. A bit confusing, from the drop down list, pick somethin that says "not staying longer than 90 days". Mods here taught me that and it worked.Reply to
Jim *******
Reply
Nongnuch ********
Pete Smith you won't be able to apply for ANY OTHER visa or able to change anything on your last stamped stay permit. No matter what you do - you FIRST need to make your existing Non-Imm-O/A visa INVALID before you can apply for another visa. This is ABSOLUTELY impossible within the O/A-visa validity, because in the first year you got a multi re-entry permit included. . . . You will have to wait until the visa validity has expired!
Jan ******************
So what
If you are already in your second year of stay based on your Non O-A visa, you can also simply leave the country and cancel the stay, provided that you have not purchased a re-entry permit at immigration.
@Nongnuch *******
is explaining @Pete ******
is that you cannot cancel your visa or stay during the first year as long as it remains valid. If you leave shortly before the visa expires, you can apply for a Non O as previously explained.If you are already in your second year of stay based on your Non O-A visa, you can also simply leave the country and cancel the stay, provided that you have not purchased a re-entry permit at immigration.
Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
not even this is fully correct . . . .Jan, keep in mind: he can't do anything, not only wait until the visa validity expires, but also has to wait until the most recent "admitted stay" stamp has expired! This could be a date a few days or weeks past the expiry of the visa validity. He can't apply for a new visa or enter visa-exempt unless this still valid stamped stay permit has expiredJim *******
@Nongnuch *******
I have a multi entry visa, Non O. Expires September 26, 2026. Whatever I want to do with my next extension, has to be before that date. No two visas at the same time.Nongnuch ********
@Jim ******
I don't think you have a multi entry Non-O visa, because they were discontinued to be issued by October 2023. You rather are on a "1-year Extension of the Stay Permit" and bought a 3800 THB multi re-entry permit for itJan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
not correct, he will not be stamped back in on the admitted stay after the visa is expired.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Wannikea *********
BTW, your Visa is good till August 26th next year and you won't be able to change to a Non 0 in country till after that date by exiting Thailand and re-entering
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
Hi, my passport stamp was until the insurance expires, 1 Jan 26, could i let it expire and then apply to Non O?CjandBrigitte **********
@Wannikea ********
Except if he does not have a multiple entry. If single the visa will be cancelled on exit.Nongnuch ********
@CjandBrigitte *********
he won't be able to apply for ANY OTHER visa or able to change anything on his last stamped stay permit. This is ABSOLUTELY impossible within the O/A-visa validity, because in the first year he got a multi re-entry permit included. . . . he will have to wait until the visa validity has expired!Wannikea *********
@CjandBrigitte *********
Its sold as a multiple entry visaReply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
Jan ******************
There should be two possible ways to do this. Leave the country and cancel your stay based on your Non O-A visa and either (1) apply for a Non O at any embassy that accepts applications from foreigners, or (2) enter Thailand on a visa exemption if you are eligible for this and apply for a Non O at the immigration office in Thailand. Since you already have a bank account with the required amount, this should be completely unproblematic. Only a few smaller immigration offices in Thailand do not process Non O applications in-country.
Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
he won't be able to apply for ANY OTHER visa or able to change anything on his last stamped stay permit. This is ABSOLUTELY impossible within the O/A-visa validity, because in the first year he got a multi re-entry permit included with the visa. . . . he is still in the first year UNTIL August 2026 - so will have to wait until the visa validity has expired, before he can proceedJan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I understood that the OP had been in Thailand on a Non O-A for some time. If it is still within the first year, he naturally has to wait until this is over before he can change, as it is a multiple-entry visa.And it’s not only a multiple re-entry permit, it’s multiple entries in the visa itself.
Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
he can't do anything, not only wait until the visa validity expires, but also has to wait until the most recent "admitted stay" stamp has expired! This could be a date a few days or weeks past the expiry of the visa validity. He can't apply for a new visa or enter visa-exempt unless this still valid stamped stay permit has expiredJan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
No, he can still leave the country and cancel the stay after one year has passed since the visa was issued, even if, for personal or practical reasons, he was stamped in with a few days’ validity remaining. It is the visa itself that grants multiple entries, not the stay it provides. That is why you must also purchase a re-entry permit even if you are in Thailand after the visa itself has expired.Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
but isn't the admitted stay stamp still valid even after the visa validity expired? Or is the admitted stay stamp connected to the multi re-entry permit, and once the visa validity expires, the admitted until stamp becomes invalid as well?Jan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
No, the stay granted by the visa is an independent right that continues even after the visa itself has expired, provided you were stamped in beyond the visa’s validity period. However, you lose your right to re-enter once the visa expires. So, if you leave without having physically purchased a re-entry permit, you will not be allowed back in, and the remaining stay will be cancelled. This is very technical, though. I don’t think we should make too much of a point about it now, as it may confuse the OP.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. AppreciatedPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
clear now. TM87, where does this comeFrom? Ref proof of 65k, would pension statements from UK military pensions office suffice?
Jan ******************
@Pete ******
TM.87 is the form you will receive at immigration when applying for a Non-O visa in the country while on a visa exemption. The monthly income option is only available from the second year, after you have demonstrated twelve consecutive months of transfers of at least 65,000 baht per month, unless you provide only an income verification from your embassy in Bangkok.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTERAppreciate all the comments and advise people.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. Will do it when I return from second trip. How long does it normally take?Jan ******************
@Pete ******
You’ll need 15 to 21 days remaining on your current stamp, depending on the immigration office, in order to apply with a TM.87. This should be quite straightforward since you already have a bank account with the required amount. Fee is 2000 baht.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. Copy is not very clear.Jan ******************
@Pete ******
Sorry maybe this is better with the requirements you’ll need to meet.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Graham ******
@Pete ******
For retirement Non-O it is normally done on the dayWannikea *********
@Pete ******
inside Thailand will only take a couple hoursJack ********
@Wannikea ********
my Non O inside Thailand based on retirement took a couple of weeks as they have to be approved by BangkokWannikea *********
@Jack *******
you likely got an under consideration stamp, and had to return in a few weeks to get the full extension inked in. Once the under consideration stamp is given it's pretty much a given that the extension is approved.Jack ********
@Wannikea ********
yes that’s correct. But it’s not a ‘couple of hours’ as you saidWannikea *********
@Jack *******
depends on the officePete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
thanksReply to
Pete *******
Reply
Rob **********
Unfortunately the IO was correct you cannot change from a OA visa to a Non O visa in county. So you must leave Thailand, and either apply for the Non O visa in an embassy/ consulate or you can come back into Thailand on a visa exempt stamp the apply here for the Non O visa.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Rob *********
thanks Rob. IO says cannot do here. Does he mean cannot do the change so means I can come back in on visa exempt then apply at the immigration office. ?Nongnuch ********
@Pete ******
you won't be able to apply for ANY OTHER visa or able to change anything on your last stamped stay permit. No matter what you do - you FIRST need to make your existing Non-Imm-O/A visa INVALID before you can apply for another visa. This is ABSOLUTELY impossible within the O/A-visa validity, because in the first year you got a multi re-entry permit included. . . . You will have to wait until the visa validity has expired!Rob **********
@Pete ******
yes you cannot change here, come back on visa exempt and then you can apply.Wannikea *********
@Pete ******
that's exactly what he just said. In your case you might as well enter Visa exempt and apply for a Non O at your local immigration officeReply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
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