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Do I need a background check from the USA or the Philippines for a Thailand OA retirement visa?

Jul 31, 2025
2 days ago
Paul ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am a US citizen living in the Philippines for the last year. I am moving to thailand based on the OA retirement visa. Do I need a background check from the USA or just a clearance from the Philippines. Or maybe non at all?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen moving to Thailand on an OA retirement visa inquires about the necessity of background checks. Based on community feedback, it's suggested to apply for a regular 90-day Non O visa which does not require a police check. Moreover, for the OA visa, if the individual lacks permanent residence in the Philippines, they may not qualify for the OA visa and would then be required to undergo additional checks, including health insurance and medical certification.
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.
Jan ******************
If you plan to move to Thailand the best option is to apply for a regular 90 days Non O visa which don’t require any police check up. And if you don’t have a permanent registered residence in the Philippines at date you can’t apply for a Non O-A visa anyway, which in fact requires a further police check up, a mandatory Thai health insurance and a medical certificate.
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