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Can my mother-in-law apply for a Non-O Retirement Visa from Vietnam using her UK bank account?
Non-O Retirement VisaVisa Application ProcessFinancial Requirements for VisaThailand VisaExpats in ThailandThai Embassy in VietnamExperiences with Visa Applications
Oct 21, 2025
6 months ago
KruJoy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERHi. I'm currently trying to help my mother-in-law obtain a retirement visa. She doesn't want to go back to the UK as she no longer has a home there. Some people mentioned that it can be done in countries other than your home country, so we want to know if anyone has had success recently (without using an agent).
We're considering applying for a Non-O Retirement (90-day) visa in Vietnam, then applying for an extension in Thailand. But I'm not sure how we can prove that she meets the financial requirements -she has the 800k in her UK bank account, which she can access through her app. She could print out the bank statements herself, but they wouldn’t be verified by any British authority. I'm planning to contact the Thai Embassy in Vietnam soon, but I’d also like to hear about people’s actual experiences.
We're considering applying for a Non-O Retirement (90-day) visa in Vietnam, then applying for an extension in Thailand. But I'm not sure how we can prove that she meets the financial requirements -she has the 800k in her UK bank account, which she can access through her app. She could print out the bank statements herself, but they wouldn’t be verified by any British authority. I'm planning to contact the Thai Embassy in Vietnam soon, but I’d also like to hear about people’s actual experiences.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is helping their mother-in-law obtain a Non-O Retirement Visa while residing in Vietnam. They have inquired about applying from outside her home country (UK) and whether the £800,000 financial requirement can be fulfilled with her UK bank statements. Community responses have confirmed that it's possible to apply from Vietnam and that bank statements don't necessarily need verification by a British authority, though opinions differ on whether the funds must be held in a Thai bank.
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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Nigel **************
Thai Visa Centre ask for Grace
James **********
800,000 has to be in a Thai bank not a UK bank
Graham ******
@James *********
That is for the 12 month extension not for the 90 day Non-O from an Embassy or ConsulateReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Jim *********
Just a question if I may. Can the 800,000 TB equivalent be in Foreign bank for Non-O retirement. I taught it had to be in Thailand bank.
David **********
@Jim ********
for the initial 90 day non-o visa it can be in any bank. The 90 days gives you time to open a Thai bank account and transfer the money.Shaughn ***********
@Jim ********
for the yearly extensions it does need to be in Thai.Reply to
Shaughn ***********
Reply
Donald **********
I applied in Kazakhstan a couple of months ago while I was working there. I showed details of the 800,000 baht equivalent in a U.K. bank and 3 months of statements (maybe not necessary but created and downloaded the PDF for use anyway.) I supplied my passport entry stamp for Kazakhstan and they got back to me asking for a copy of my Kazakhstan work visa which I supplied them with. I received the Non-O visa for Thailand within two working days.
Mike *******
Vietnam, HCM city was responsive and helpful. I go a non-imm O visa there about a month ago. You should stay for about two weeks to come in on the new visa. I had to rebounce because I only stayed 8 nights. Your visa there is limited by your asserted trip length. BTW, if you go to Phu Quoc, you are visa exempt.
Ian ******
I did mine online using the Jakarta embassy with statements in my uk bank without problems. Good luck 🤞
NeL *****
You don't need to apply for a local Thai bank account? to transfer UK pounds to local Thai bank account, afterward to submit for your retirement visa application?
Dylan ********
@NeL ****
you don’t need a Thai bank account for the initial 90 day non-O Visa. In fact, you probably can’t get a bank account unless you have that.  the ฿800,000 in a Thai bank requirement is for the one year extension.Reply to
Dylan ********
Reply
KruJoy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ian *****
She's going to be so happy to know that she doesn't have to go back to the UK. Thank you, Ian.Reply to
KruJoy ****************
Reply
David **********
We had no problem getting our 90 day non-o retirement visa in Vietnam. We used the Ho Chi Minh city embassy because we were in Da Nang. It took 5 business days. A little tip - keep your boarding pass from your flight to Vietnam - they asked for further proof of location and this is one of the things they asked for.
KruJoy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you so much for your advice. She's going to be so happy to know that she doesn't have to go back to the UK.
NeL *****
Thanks for raise out your post to ask for the end-user opinions and their experience, I have read their messages feedback to you, he said that only to prove your UK bank account has 800K of equivalent money, that means to say that you don't have to transfer UK money to local Thai bank account, that's too greatly! We knew that put
*****
UK pounds in most UK bank, we got at least 3.85% of interest rate rewards, if transfer *****
pounds to local Thai bank account, we loose the interest rate!!!David **********
@NeL ****
you do have to transfer the 800k to a Thai bank within the 90 days to get the 1 year extension (unless you use an agent) I'm not advising for or against agents, I'm just informingReply to
David **********
Reply
David **********
@KruJoy ***************
If she hasn't booked anywhere yet I highly recommend Da Nang. 30 minutes away is Hoi An - a beautiful historic city and Da Nang has everything you need including a very modern international airportReply to
David **********
Reply
Shaughn ***********
The next step for her after arriving on her 90 day will be to getting the yearly extensions. There are a lot of posts on here for doing that.
KruJoy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Shaughn **********
Thank you. I hope they will let her open a bank account - during my last conversation with Krungri Bank, they asked for a one-year Non-O, but other banks or branches might be more relaxed. Fingers crossed.Abu ********
@KruJoy ***************
, opening a bank account in Thailand by a foreigner nowadays is very difficult or even impossible. Many foreigners' bank accounts are frozen for a screening process due to prevent illegal activities. However, please check before you move. Best wishes.Graham ******
@Abu *******
Not if on a long term visa ;)Abu ********
@Graham *****
, for any kind of visa opening a bank account is almost impossible. Please check for accurate information. Thank you.Shaughn ***********
@Abu *******
seems partly accurate. Tourists visas opening now almost impossible. Have seen posts recently of a mixed bag for opening accounts with these non-O visa types depending on bank and branch visited. People just need to be prepared to visit at least a couple of banks before one accepts them.Graham ******
@Abu *******
My post is accurate ;)Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
Charlie ***********
Why you not contact British embassy in Bangkok
Peter **********
@Charlie **********
Or the Azerbaijan embassy in Cape Town… 🤣🤣🤣Charlie ***********
If it's simple why you don't help her with her problem because it seems you know alot about this thing
Jon *****
@Charlie **********
Why would you even need an embassy for something so simple?Lyndon ************
@Charlie **********
probably because she's needing advice about Thai immigration, not immigration into the UK.Charlie ***********
@Lyndon ***********
but the embassy in Bangkok they can help youDennis *********
@Charlie **********
The British Embassy in Bangkok has nothing to do with issuing a Non-O Thai Retirement Visa. They would be unable to do anything this woman requires.Brook ********
@Charlie **********
embassies barely assist anyone anymore. They exist to charge fees and host cocktail parties for diplomats.Dennis *********
@Brook *******
Embassies have requirements they need to meet and perform as government representatives of their country. They are not there to meet each whim you might have and think they should provide.Charlie ***********
@Brook *******
when I needed them they always helped meReply to
Charlie ***********
Reply
Stuart *********
When you apply for a visa outside of Thailand you can use any bank around the world so long as their statements meet the requirements set by that embassy or consulate.
Therefore having the equivalent of 800k in a UK bank would be fine. The statements don’t have to be stamped or signed.
Therefore having the equivalent of 800k in a UK bank would be fine. The statements don’t have to be stamped or signed.
KruJoy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you so much, Stuart. She'll be so relieved.
Reply to
KruJoy ****************
Reply
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