Do I need a Non-O visa to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand and what documentation is required?

Jun 1, 2017
8 years ago
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi guys. I've now lived in Thailand for 4 years on tourist visas. I turn fifty this month and want to apply for a retirement visa. I am currently on a tourist visa that needs to be extended tomorrow. My question is do I need a non immigrant visa to apply for a retirement visa and do I need to go to the border to get it. Also I have the appropriate funds coming in monthly to my Thai bank account so do I still require letter from embassy for proof of my earnings or will the letters from the bank be enough. I know I should know the answers to these questions but I here and read conflicting advice on what the requirements are. Would dearly love some genuine advice from you all about how to achieve getting my retirement visa. Thanks in advance . Daz.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on transitioning from a tourist visa to a retirement visa in Thailand now that they are turning fifty. They inquire whether they need a Non-O visa for this application and if they can do this without leaving the country. Additionally, they ask if bank statements suffice for proof of income or if an income verification letter from their embassy is needed. The community replies with mixed experiences indicating that it's possible to convert a tourist visa to a Non-O in certain conditions, and that they may indeed need both the appropriate visa and documentation showing proof of income.
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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Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I feel special tod haha. Don't worry I've been on the other side of the coin.
Tod *********
Do report back and let us know how it works out for you. Especially seeing as your doing it in Korat (which is not the most user friendly thai immigration office in the country, except for you evidently ;) )
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for all your help yesterday guys. Much appreciated . You guys were right. All I need is affidavit from embassy . Passport and proof of ownership of condo and a copy of managers I'd card signed . For some reason they want this. Nothing from the banks. Go figure. Anyway thanks again.
Michael ********
With all the questions you are asking...get an agent.
Michael ********
Yes for sure. If the comments help and it can be done without an agent then all good. I avoid agents whenever I can. As you said yourself in your comments, Korat is known for problems. I hope he can get it without the agent. If not, then it is agent time.
Tod *********
Hmm, I thought that was the reason we had a group like this :/

It's so foreigners can share their information and experience so people don't need to pay an agent to push paper for them ;)
Stephen *******
As Tod said in the first reply, you can convert a tourist visa to a non-o in country.
Tod *********
@Gary ******
That's not quite right. You're confusing getting a Non-B inside the country with getting a Non-O. They are totally different. I know down here in Bangkok some Non-B applications can go under consideration for 30 days before you go back.

Most immigration offices that do the Non-O from a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 60 day tourist visa entry require at least 15 days on the current stamp. That's because it goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back to get the Non-O and the new 90 day stamp inked into your passport.

They can do it for being married to a thai, being over 50 and supporting children. I have never seen them issue one for a "trailing spouse" <- where the wife of someone legally working here or retired here needs a Non-O to "piggy back" onto their spouses extension.
Gary *******
Yes, but only at certain offices and in certain circumstances (including non-O for the purposes of a retirement visa) and it's tricky; but you also need to have 3 (pref. 4) weeks left on your tourist visa... and in Darren's case, he'll have to go out anyway, in which case just get a non-O visa and be done with it. If your situation is non-standard in some way, get it done professionally!!
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Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
When I extend tourist visa I will turn 50 on the 24th of this month. Can I apply for retirement visa earlier before my birthday . My tourist visa will run out about the 3rd of next month so I will not have at least 15 days as required.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks tod
Tod *********
One more thing
@Dar***
, when you apply for the 90 day Non-O using the stat-dec notary, ask if you can use the same letter again when you apply for the yearly extension.

Here in Bangkok when you apply for the 90 day Non-O using the notary letter, they have you copy it AND write on the copy that you can use it for the yearly extension.

Saves on buying two stat-dec letters. Here's what that notation looks like
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes she's a very descent lady. Asked me to notify her on my return. Very glad to see some help.
Tod *********
@Darren ******
Glad to hear that. (y) saves you a trip outta the country. When I did my first non-O based on being over 50 they wouldn't do it until I turned 50 :/ Thankfully Vientiane didn't have a problem issuing the 90 day single entry Non-O when I was 2 months short of turning 50 ;)
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi tod . I've spoken to the head of Korat immigration and she's said to return before the 14th with relevant information and she will process my application for non-o visa. She's quite aware of my upcoming birthday. Very helpful .
Tod *********
If I was a betting man I'd bet IF you're NOT going to be 50 AND don't have at least 15 days left on your current "admitted until" or "extension of stay" stamp you aren't gonna be able to do it.

I'd say "border-bounce" to get a 30 day visa exempt stamp, THEN apply for the 90 day Non-O in country.

OR

Go to a thai consulate and apply for the 90 day, single entry Non-O once you're 50 using the stat dec form.
Richard *******
extension of stay (based on the fact that you retired and meet the financial and age criteria).
Gary *******
You probably can because you don't apply for the retirement visa straight away. You only get a non-O visa and then about a month later you go in to get the retirement visa.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have everything except the letter from Australian consulate but I'm going to extend my visa tomorrow and apply for an non-o as well while I'm there. To get the non-o do I need that affidavit from consulate.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes thanks tod.
Tod *********
@Dar***
, You will need the stat-dec to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O at the immigration office so you can show them you meet the financial requirements.
Tod *********
Now
@Ga**
, you don't need to speak thai OR pay someone to push-paper to apply for a Non-O inside the country :/

Most immigration offices have a sheet in both thai & "engrish" that states exactly what you need to do a conversion from a 30 day visa exempt stamp or a 60 day tourist visa stamp to a 90 day Non-O.

Be advised, IF you're applying for the Non-O in bangkok based on being over 50 using 800K baht banked it IS a requirement that you show the money was transferred in from abroad.

You need to have a print out from your originating bank showing the swift code transfer to your thai account.

The good news is there is NO seasoning requirement when apply for the initial in-country Non-O.

That's only when you apply for the yearly extension. You could have transferred in the money yesterday and applied today as long as you can show it came from outside the country into your thai bank account.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Gary *******
I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure you have to go to a Thai consulate (outside Thailand of course) to apply for the non-O. And, yes, you will need the affidavit in order to do so. Darren, you have so many questions. Get it done professionally! It may cost a bit extra, but you'll probably save a lot of time and money in the long run....
Stephen *******
OK now I see your confusion. The income letter is valid for six month from issue until you take it to immigration for your extension. The extension of stay lasts 12 months.
Stephen *******
Australia is just a walk in for the income letter. They have stat decs there and a sample preamble. Just take your passport and proof of source.
Stephen *******
Is your income coming from an Australian source? You need the letter annually when you redo your extension. You will need the non-o visa first which you don't need to be 50 for. The income letter lasts six months. You shouldn't need an agent if you have all your docs.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I have to travel every 6 months to Bangkok to acquire another letter as proof .
Tod *********
@Ga**
, Okay, first off there is NO such animal available at a thai consulate or at an immigration office called a "retirement visa". Even though they stamp the word retirement on your extension in your passport that is the ONLY place the word ever appears.

The real clause for those visas or extensions is based on being over 50 and "living out the end of your life" :O <- that's what the thai actually says ;)

All extensions of stays based on being over 50 (retirement) are issued for a year from the date your current extension or admitted until stamp expires. You don't lose any days by applying early (in chiang mai and bangkok you can apply for a new yearly extension when you have 45 days or less left on your current stamp). My first yearly extension expired on April 5 and no matter when I've applied for the last 7 yearly extensions after that they expire on the same date just a year later.
Gary *******
The income letter is valid 6 months, which means you need to apply for your non-O visa (or renew your retirement visa) within this time. The retirement visa is usually 12 months. Some consulates only accept applications for your "income letter" by mail (which is actually much more convenient of course)...
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can get the relevant letters from my bank but they're really strict here at Korat immigration . My problem mate is that I'm not fifty yet and do not know if I can apply because of that fact.
Tod *********
I was able to apply for a 90 day single entry Non-O based on being over 50 (retirement) when I was still 49 (about two months before my 50th b-day) in Vientiane using just the "verification of income" notary from the US consulate. They did it because by the time it'd come up for me to apply for my first yearly extension I would already be 50.

I think you're NOT gonna get an immigration office inside the country to do the same thing though. They're hard as nails about you meeting the criteria, and seeing as you're not 50 yet, you don't.
Gary *******
Some people will tell you that you can do it yourself. Yes, maybe, if you can speak Thai or have someone who can do so reliably. I'd rather pay a professional agent to help you prepare everything PROPERLY the first time (remember, you also need to report your address to immigration every 90 days, either in person, by mail a month before the due date or online 15 days before the due date... if the website is functioning, that is).
Stephen *******
The income letter lasts six months.
Stephen *******
So do you have something you can show the embassy to prove your income. I guess something sourced from Australia, but your Thai bank account may suffice.
Robert *********
i recently just filled out a stat dec saying i earned x amount, it was accepted by Aust Embassy Bkk, and my visa company says fine. I recommend go to a visa company, the handle all the bs, expensive, but worth it to me
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
By the way I don't work and am not married.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes I'm an Aussie Stephen . So I'm not fifty yet until the 24 of this month. So can I apply tomorrow or do I wait until I'm fifty. Then make my move. Just confused if I can have non- o not being fifty yet.
Stephen *******
He wants to do income and not money in the bank. You need to go to your embassy. It looks like you are Australian. So am I and have a retirement extension based on an income letter. You just go to the embassy and write out a stat dec and provide something that shows where the income is sourced from. This is a new requirement. Maybe your Thai bankbook would suffice or some statement from Australia. Say a payment advice from a real estate agent if you're living off rent, etc. The stat dec only needs to be a few sentences. The embassy has a sample of the preamble that you need to state. I think the fee is 500 baht.
Tod *********
If you're going to apply for a Non-O visa inside thailand at the immigration office you need to extend your tourist visa FIRST

Thats because you need 15 days on your current stamp when applying for a Non-O in country, It goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back and get the visa stamped in.

Go get a letter from your bank, update your bank book, go to the immigration office, extend your tourist visa by 30 days and immediately apply for the Non-O.
Tod *********
David, It figures :/
Tod *********
You need to get a Non-O visa to apply for a yearly extension. You can get that from a Thai consulate or from the immigration office in your area.

if you are using banked money for the 800K baht you do not need the letter of income from your consulate
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
It's ok David I don't mind the adventure. If I knew they were coming and when I would definitely take advantage of that.
Darren *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok tod so I have monthly earnings therefore will need to make a trip to my consulate in Bangkok . Regarding my extension of my tourist visa do you think I should ask for a non-o visa tomorrow or wait till I turn fifty on the 24th. Of this month.
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