This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Can I use US bank statements for the retirement visa O-A in Thailand and what do I need to do regarding the 800,000 THB deposit?
Retirement VisaNon-O VisaNon-OA VisaThailand ImmigrationThai Bank AccountVisa Application ProcessIncome VerificationExpats in Thailand
Jan 29, 2026
3 months ago
Barb ******
ORIGINAL POSTERI am TOTALLY confused, hope to move in a few months. SO! On a retirement visa O-A, I have the monthly income. Can I verify with US bank statements -- heard the Embassy no longer did verification. And when I get to Thailand, open bank account & deposit 800,000THB?
and please, no snarky answers like I've had on other sites.. thanks
and please, no snarky answers like I've had on other sites.. thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarity on using US bank statements for income verification when applying for a retirement visa (O-A) in Thailand. They also inquire about opening a Thai bank account to deposit 800,000 THB as required for their visa. Responses indicate that while US bank statements can be used for initial visa applications, they are not sufficient once in Thailand, where the 800,000 THB must be deposited into a Thai bank account for at least two months. There are suggestions to consider applying for a Non-O visa instead, as it may have fewer requirements.
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.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Thomas ***********
Get your documents apposolated you have to do in your home country or there is a imigration attorney accross street from us embacy that can handle everything for you in banfkok
Mike *************
Search on Ytube "LetsLiveinThailand Thai Retirement Visa in Minutes". It's a 19min video that walks you thru the Non-O.
I followed it on Jan 5th and rec'd approved Non-O visa 9 days later.
I followed it on Jan 5th and rec'd approved Non-O visa 9 days later.
John *********
Best way to go is Non O-A Retirement Visa.
Either 800,000THB Cash or 65,000THB income deposited in a bank for the last 12 months.
Medical insurance from a specified acredited insurer. Police Check.
Which gives you 90 days in country. Anything after is a renewal. There is NO circumventing the financial protocols. Catch 22 for you in Thailand. No Visa no bank account.
Even if you did it needs to be in that account for three months. 4 for Bangkok Bank
Either 800,000THB Cash or 65,000THB income deposited in a bank for the last 12 months.
Medical insurance from a specified acredited insurer. Police Check.
Which gives you 90 days in country. Anything after is a renewal. There is NO circumventing the financial protocols. Catch 22 for you in Thailand. No Visa no bank account.
Even if you did it needs to be in that account for three months. 4 for Bangkok Bank
Robert **********
John Kenealy O-A gives 12 months or duration of your insurance, whichever is shorter, is also muti -entry, so at month 11 renew insurance, leave and return and get stamped in for another 12 months/validity of insurance . 23 months is possible on an O-A visa. In that time you can open a bank account , deposit 65k per month for a year and do a 12 month extension of stay
Reply to
Robert **********
Reply
Brook ********
Apply for the Non-O visa instead of the OA visa.
When you arrive in Thailand open a bank account and fund it with ฿800,000 THB.
Then, with 45 days of the 90 day visa remaining, apply for a one year extension based on retirement.
The OA visa is too onerous and the Thai health insurance companies, well…
When you arrive in Thailand open a bank account and fund it with ฿800,000 THB.
Then, with 45 days of the 90 day visa remaining, apply for a one year extension based on retirement.
The OA visa is too onerous and the Thai health insurance companies, well…
James *********
Brook Powers The Immigration office will want to see that the 800k has been in the account for 2 months, not 45 days, right?
Michelle ***************
Brook Powers EXACTLY! This is how I obtained my Retirement Visa. Sweet and simple.
Reply to
Michelle ***************
Reply
Sean **********
Yes deposit 800k right away. I would deposit more than 800 k to be honest with you. You have to leave it in there untouched for 60 days untouched and they may take out 15 baht every month without you knowing they will do it. Just get Non O Visa for they do not require insurance. Then a week before your visa expires go to get eos. Extension of stay. Remember balance must be 800k for I believe 3 months before extension expires
Steve ****
Also, before you move - do the math. The dollar has slid 10% in a year and the idiot has said he is fine with it going lower.
Do a budget and do it with the assumption of another 10-20% slide, an assumption that SS will be frozen or cut.
Those things may or may not happen but best to plan just in case
Do a budget and do it with the assumption of another 10-20% slide, an assumption that SS will be frozen or cut.
Those things may or may not happen but best to plan just in case
Sean **********
Steve Wh yep. 💯
Reply to
Sean **********
Reply
John ******
I’m looking at Da Nang so much easier and you don’t need 20k in your account. They allow border runs every 90 days.
Matthew *********
John Doty sadly Thailand can't figure why people are leaving when other countries are making it much easier and not a huge amount of money. I haven't bailed yet because I have family here but my patience is running then with the circus show at immigration. The dollar is strong in vietnam. Vietnam and Malaysia is knocking Thailand out of the game. The government has had so many emergency meeting and they just think everything is made up. One official recently said all the complaints at the airport about being denied was propaganda. This why this country can't move forward
Always denial
Always denial
Reply to
Matthew *********
Reply
Bob **********
No you cannot use monthly income until the 2nd year extension the US embassy does not issue income verification you use your bank then when you arrive you open a bank account and transfer in the 800k baht must be in your bank for two months when you receive your first extension start your monthly transfers of 65k or more foreign transfer and yes I viewed your profile and I agree you are confused 😎😎😎 good luck with the retirement
Deborah *******
Bob D'Andrea not true. I’ve been here 3 months, I’m here on a Non OA retirement visa. I only showed SSA award letter which satisfies the monthly requirement. I got a FBI clearance through a fingerprinting company and got cleared in 1 hour. I got Thai Insurance from Tom at Compare Now Insurance he’s based in London. I opened my Thai account and only have to transfer 65k baht monthly. At the end of the yr for renewal I only have to show the bank statement showing income from the states for 1/yr and or a combination 400k baht to meet the requirements. I did it this way so I knew exactly what I needed to do instead of getting here and guessing. I also WANTED health insurance.
Bob **********
@Deborah ******
I’m not talking about the OA I’m telling the guy the smart way to do it no medical no police check no worthless Thai insurance for the non-oReply to
Bob **********
Reply
Peter **************
Quite a lot of questions like that...just type it in and you will find it will give you the answ..I think mainly Tod Danials would have answered that question 😉
Brandon ************
@Peter *************
Tod isn't in this groupReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Thierry *********
I got the 1 year non OA visa.
Easy online application, proof of the equivalent of a 65.000 THB minimum income on your bank account in the US (3 last months), a medical exam from your doctor to confirm that you don't have particular deceases, a criminal record (we get it online in Europe), and proof of a health insurance (list on the e-visa platform).
Less than 3 weeks after I got the visa in my emails.
A Thai bank account is not requested at all. But if you want one, it's very easy to open it with a non-OA visa.
Easy online application, proof of the equivalent of a 65.000 THB minimum income on your bank account in the US (3 last months), a medical exam from your doctor to confirm that you don't have particular deceases, a criminal record (we get it online in Europe), and proof of a health insurance (list on the e-visa platform).
Less than 3 weeks after I got the visa in my emails.
A Thai bank account is not requested at all. But if you want one, it's very easy to open it with a non-OA visa.
Frank **********
Thierry Arnould Non O is better because do not need to do all that.
Thierry *********
Frank Shevchuk
I would love to believe it but I tried both. When I see all the comments about this non-O which has to be extended after 3 months, with a need of a Thai bank with 800kTHB during a period of time, etc, etc, I understand all these comments...
Did you know that short time before the end of the 1 year non-OA visa you can get your visa extended 1 year just showing a new 1 year insurance certificate?
I would love to believe it but I tried both. When I see all the comments about this non-O which has to be extended after 3 months, with a need of a Thai bank with 800kTHB during a period of time, etc, etc, I understand all these comments...
Did you know that short time before the end of the 1 year non-OA visa you can get your visa extended 1 year just showing a new 1 year insurance certificate?
Reply to
Thierry *********
Reply
Peter ********
I think the answers to your question (s) is yes but it's difficult to tell what you are asking. I would apply in the US. Read the rules on the Thai embassy website you are applying through, yes you can use your US bank statements to obtain your visa. Once in Thailand the US embassy doesn't do much to help you, read their website so you understand what they will and will not do.
Barb ******
ORIGINAL POSTERasking which is preferable, easier
Peter ********
Barb Macy which what is preferable? That's where you are loosing me. To get the visa you need to follow the instructions on the Thai embassy in the US. Don't think about the US embassy at all, they are not part of anything unless you have an emergency after you are in Thailand.
Reply to
Peter ********
Reply
Brandon ************
Do you actually have the 1-year non-OA visa, that you had to do a background check for, medical exam, mandatory insurance, and other things for? Or do you have the 90-day non-O visa, that requires none of that?
Barb ******
ORIGINAL POSTERI have nothing yet.. that's why I'm looking for best, easiest way to go
Brandon ************
@Barb *****
Then that's the first thing you need to figure out. The non-O is what most people use because they don't want to be stuck purchasing required insurance every year, forever. But for both of them, you can use your US bank statements to get the visa from the embassy, but in Thailand your US bank statements mean nothing. You'll need to put 800,000 in a Thai bank account, at least for the first year.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
34 comments
9 months ago
11 comments
9 months ago
17 comments
10 months ago
42 comments
10 months ago
8 comments
10 months ago
14 comments
10 months ago
31 comments
a year ago
10 comments
a year ago
5 comments
a year ago
4 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
3 years ago
8 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
3 years ago
32 comments
3 years ago
11 comments
4 years ago
29 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
15 comments
8 years ago
38 comments
8 years ago
37 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.