Can someone who arrives on a visa waiver, apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa without a Thai bank account l, and then once received, open an account and season the 800,000 bht during the 90 days before applying for one year extension?
Answer summary
It is not possible to apply for a 90-day Non-O visa in Thailand without a Thai bank account if you originally entered on a visa waiver. To qualify for the initial Non-O visa, you must have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account, or an affidavit of income from your embassy. Those entering on a visa waiver should consider applying for a retirement e-visa from outside Thailand, allowing them to set up a bank account and fund it immediately upon arrival.
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Andrew *********
No. You have to leave the country have it in your home bank account and get the 90 day. Come to Thailand open a bank account transfer the money marked as an international transfer then apply for the year extension.
I am already on 1 year non-O visa. Does it mean, for extension (July 2026) I can bring in 800K THB into my Thai bank account from anywhere, even locallly, from a Thai source or cash in a briefcase?
the only time it needs to show as international transfer is when you're trying to convert from tourist to non-O visa based on retirement inside of Thailand. The one year extension doesn't have that requirement.
The best option is to apply for a 3 month retirement e-visa from outside Thailand and use funds in a bank outside of Thailand. Then arrive and first job open a bank account and then deposit 800,000 wait 2 months and apply for 12 month extension
No, if you enter Thailand on a visa-exempt for 60 days, you cannot apply for an in-country initial non-O visa based on being over 50/ retirement without a bank account in Thailand unless your embassy in Thailand issues an affidavit of income. You need 800K baht in a Thai bank account OR an embassy affidavit for an initial visa application at the local immigration office.
If you want to open a bank account for an extension, you need to enter on Non-O retirement issued from the Thai embassy/consulate outside Thailand.