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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 Visa Visa Application Process Financial Requirements Thailand Visa Rules Visa Extensions Expat Experiences

Oct 21, 2025

20 hours ago

KruJoy ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi. 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.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking guidance on helping their mother-in-law obtain a Non-O Retirement visa outside of the UK, considering applying in Vietnam. They are particularly concerned about proving her financial requirements of having 800,000 baht in a UK bank account. Community comments suggest that applying for the visa outside of Thailand is possible, and bank statements from foreign accounts, like hers, should meet the requirements as long as they comply with the embassy's stipulations. They share personal experiences of obtaining the visa in Vietnam, providing useful tips and observations.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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James **********

800,000 has to be in a Thai bank not a UK bank

17 hours ago

Graham ******

@James *********

That is for the 12 month extension not for the 90 day Non-O from an Embassy or Consulate

17 hours ago

Reply to

Graham ******

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.

18 hours ago

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.

18 hours ago

Shaughn ***********

@Jim ********

for the yearly extensions it does need to be in Thai.

18 hours ago

Reply to

Shaughn ***********

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.

19 hours ago

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.

19 hours ago

Ian ******

I did mine online using the Jakarta embassy with statements in my uk bank without problems. Good luck 🤞

19 hours ago

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?

16 hours ago

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.

16 hours ago

Reply to

Dylan ********

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.

19 hours ago

Reply to

KruJoy ****************

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.

19 hours ago

KruJoy ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank 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.

19 hours ago

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!!!

16 hours ago

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 informing

10 hours ago

Reply to

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 airport

18 hours ago

Reply to

David **********

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.

20 hours ago

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.

20 hours ago

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.

18 hours ago

Graham ******

@Abu *******

Not if on a long term visa ;)

17 hours ago

Abu ********

@Graham *****

, for any kind of visa opening a bank account is almost impossible. Please check for accurate information. Thank you.

16 hours ago

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.

15 hours ago

Graham ******

@Abu *******

My post is accurate ;)

16 hours ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Charlie ***********

Why you not contact British embassy in Bangkok

20 hours ago

Peter **********

@Charlie **********

Or the Azerbaijan embassy in Cape Town… 🤣🤣🤣

10 hours ago

Charlie ***********

If it's simple why you don't help her with her problem because it seems you know alot about this thing

14 hours ago

Jon *****

@Charlie **********

Why would you even need an embassy for something so simple?

15 hours ago

Lyndon ************

@Charlie **********

probably because she's needing advice about Thai immigration, not immigration into the UK.

19 hours ago

Charlie ***********

@Lyndon ***********

but the embassy in Bangkok they can help you

18 hours ago

Dennis *********

@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.

16 hours ago

Brook ********

@Charlie **********

embassies barely assist anyone anymore. They exist to charge fees and host cocktail parties for diplomats.

18 hours ago

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.

16 hours ago

Charlie ***********

@Brook *******

when I needed them they always helped me

18 hours ago

Reply to

Charlie ***********

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.

20 hours ago

KruJoy ****************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you so much, Stuart. She'll be so relieved.

20 hours ago

Reply to

KruJoy ****************

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