Can I travel outside Thailand for 6 months while holding a Non-O retirement extension?

Apr 17, 2024
7 months ago
Lay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Non-O retirement extension: I'm getting my first 12 months extension in about 4 weeks. Would it be ok if I travel outside of Thailand for 6 months consecutively? What are the rules governing the amount of days/months that you have to stay per year in Thailand before you lose your non-o status?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
With a Non-O retirement extension, you can travel outside of Thailand for up to 6 months, as long as you obtain a re-entry permit before leaving. There are no minimum stay requirements, but you must return before your extension expires to apply for the next one.
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Ananya *********
Im interested in this too.Where is the re entry permit purchased,,.,local immigration prior departure?,,,or airport?
Aake **********
No
Bob **********
No rules just get back before your extension expires and make sure you have a re entry permit
Bart **************
There is no minimum stay required to keep your non-O. Keeping it requires presence shortly before expiration in order to do the extension, but in all the rest of the year you can just go wherever you like.
Ruth *******
@Bart *************
why does one need to be present 1-2 months before expiration, as opposed to just in time to do the extension?
Bart **************
@Ruth ******
I was unclear, thanks. I changed wording slightly.
Ruth *******
@Bart *************
thank you. You made me a bit nervous. You were saying something new that I had not heard. I do a lot of traveling and that would have created problems.
Nongnuch ********
@Ruth ******
one needs to be back in Thailand around 15 to 30 days before the expiration of the extension, in order to apply for the next 1-year extension. Why minimum 15 days ahead of the shot? Because you never know what Immigration might want to see paper document wise. You might need the time
Ruth *******
@Nongnuch *******
did you miss the part about the fact that he changed his original wording?
Bart **************
@Ruth ******
yeah it was unclear. You need to be there shortly before the expiration. If you can't make that, a little sooner than the expiration still works (depending on immigration office could be from 45 to 30 days in advance) but longer in advance does not. Then you have to let it expire and start over.
Carsten ************
The extension is valid for 1 year. You don't have to stay here. Just get a re‐entry permit everytime before leaving.
Ruth *******
@Carsten ***********
or a multiple re-entry permit
Brandon ************
Once you have the 1-year extension in your passport, as long as you buy a re-entry permit, you only have to be back before your extension ends to apply for the next extension.
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