Answereda year ago

Can my wife apply for a Non-O retirement visa before turning 50 to facilitate her banking needs in Thailand?

Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Thai Banking Regulations Visa Application Expatriate Immigration Financial Requirements for Visa

Anthony ***********

asked Jun 22, 2025

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I’m English and my wife is Polish, I’m already in Thailand on Non O retirement visa and building a home ready to move my wife and dogs once completed.

My wife has Polish and soon UK passport and turns 50 on September the 1st.

I have Thai bank account and she doesn’t. 

With new banking regulations I see the only way for us to get the bank account open is to apply for 90 day Non O in the UK, I assume once she’s turned 50 or could we do it before? Then open her a bank account once she’s here, deposit the 800,000 and apply for the extension after 2 months? 

Sorry if any of my terminology is incorrect.

Answer summary

An expat on a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand is inquiring about the process for his Polish wife to obtain a Non-O visa and open a Thai bank account. The key points discussed include that she must be 50 years old when submitting her application for the Non-O visa, which can be applied for in the UK. Once in Thailand, she can open a bank account, deposit the required 800,000 baht, and apply for a one-year extension based on retirement after two months. Additionally, an alternative option is suggested where she could apply for a visa based on visiting a Non-Thai family member, which has no financial requirements.

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Robert *******

You might want to choose for the alternative and let your wife apply for the Non Immigrant O visa based on visiting Non Thai Family which has NO financial requirements and once in Thailand she can apply for matching Extensions of Stay based on your Extension of Stay, which for her does not have financial requirements.

They love to call it the "piggy back visa" on this page

a year ago

Ellie *******

@Robert ******

, doesn't seem to be able to apply for this with the main foreigner on retirement visa/extension.

RTE London says: This category of visa is issued to applicants who are spouses, children, and parents of the applicants working in Thailand.

a year ago

Robert *******

@Ellie ******

Why you not check before you post?

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a year ago

Robert *******

@Ellie ******

Because I give advice which is correct and not stop with some examples of why a visa could be issued

a year ago

Ellie *******

@Robert ******

why not check the first part of the same page?

a year ago

Ellie *******

Q. I assume once she’s turned 50 or could we do it before?

-> One of the requirements is that you must be 50 years old as of the day you submit your Non-O retirement visa application through the embassy.

Q. Then open her a bank account once she’s here, deposit the 800,000 and apply for the extension after 2 months?

-> Yes. She enters Thailand on a Non-O retirement for 90 days. Then deposit 800K baht into her Thai bank account as soon as possible.

Once funds are in an account for a full 2 calendar months, she can apply for a 1-year extension based on retirement (before the first 90 days are up).

a year ago

Gill ************

@Ellie ******

is it possible for them to initially have a Thai joint account, with the 800,000 x2, thus for each of them?

a year ago