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Do I need a police check from my home country for a retirement visa in Thailand?

Apr 19, 2025
3 days ago
Gregory ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I read on a website that you need a police check from your home country to get a retirement visa. Thats the first time I’ve read that and wanted to check that’s correct? Also wanted to check if anyone who has gone through the process got one before going to Thailand?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The question regarding whether a police check is required for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand has generated diverse responses. It's established that only the non-OA retirement visa requires a police check, alongside a health check and mandatory health insurance from designated Thai companies. Alternatively, the non-O retirement visa has no such requirements, making it more appealing for many expats. Some users have shared their experiences, indicating that a police check is indeed required when applying for the non-OA visa, while others haven't encountered such checks for the non-O visa. Prospective applicants are advised to thoroughly research the specific visa type they intend to apply for, as requirements vary.
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.
Shawn *******
Following
Greg *********
I got an OA visa before coming to Thailand. Yes, the evisa website requires you to upload a background check. I just went to the state police website (Michigan in my case) and was able to download my criminal history in a matter of minutes for $10. Wasn’t hard at all. Not sure if every state has that option.
Kevin **********
@Greg ********
Well you had to go get your fingerprints done.
Greg *********
@Kevin *********
No fingerprints. Just filled out my information.
Kevin **********
@Greg ********
that's probably why it was only $10.
Greg *********
@Kevin *********
I was happy after they refused the report from my local police department.
Willy *********
Pouvez vous traduire en français
Vincent **********
@Willy ********
monsieur..y a un clic de traduction au-dessous de chaque texto..
Charlie ********
After 4 years of flying in and out on visa exempt I finally got the non OA. The pros are if you are unable to stay all year round but want a long term visa it comes with multiple entry built in. If you repurchase your insurance before it expires then you get a further 12 months as long as your last entry is before it expires. You don’t need 800k baht sitting in a Thai bank. Cons, you need a UK address to apply, you need mandatory basic health insurance and a police check from your home country.

In reality the insurance isn’t a con because the basic requirement costs about £250 per year! TBH if you plan to live in Thailand at O50 years old without any health insurance then you might not be that clever….

UK costs

Can’t remember how much visa fee was but the Thai E Visa site tells you

Police check £66 - this is not the DBS, DBS no longer accepted it’s an ACRO certificate.

Insurance varies but I paid £250 for a year! Was directed to an approved insurer from the Thai visa site

Medical certificate varies but I paid £21 , no examination needed, answered an online questionnaire and got my certificate in the post two days later.
Gregory ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Charlie *******
Thanks, that’s really helpful and would be the best option for us. Item 4 on the requirements lists talks about evidence of the 800,000 THB bank requirement or 65,000 THB income. How did you evidence that, if you don’t mind sharing? Also how long did the application process take and did you have a limited time to enter Thailand once the visa was granted? TIA
Charlie ********
@Gregory *******
hi , I needed to show the equivalent of 65,000 Thai baht , about £1490 uk pounds in my uk bank account for the three months prior to my application. Took about 3 weeks but I uploaded a CRB and had to wait for an ACRO certificate and needed to upload digital copies of the bank statements not the screenshots I actually uploaded. I went ahead and entered Thailand on visa exemption and will leave and return this week to activate my visa
Matthew *********
Speak up if your american and submitted a back ground check and was it the fbi check
Matthew *********
Never seen a criminal background check enforced for OA or even health check. The old health was to see if you were bringing STDs into the country which in reality it should be for leaving Thailand. There is so much bullshit posted what you need and most of the time it's not even half. I tell you I never done a criminal background check for OA or health
John **********
There are a number of different visas that are all referred to as retirement visas. Some require police checks, some don't. Some require insurance, some don't. You need to research which one suits you
Wayne *****
No you don't.
Peter **********
@Wayne ****
youdo for an 'OA'
Wayne *****
@Peter *********
you don't for an "O" so the answer is NO.
Peter **********
didnt ask about O specifically
Brandon ************
It's only the non-OA that requires a police check. It also requires a health check and has mandatory health insurance from a list of Thai companies.

But most people don't want the non-OA retirement visa, they want they non-O retirement visa, which has none of those requirements.
Graham *****
@Brandon ***********
in UK most employers require

BPSS screening

Easy to do

& it's also a police check to see if you have any convictions

Hope this helps
Graham *****
Sorry DBS Check
Ho ******
@Dean ********
Interests for 800k pays health insurance? Lol?
Dany ********
@Ho *****
yes. thats like
*****
baht on a conservative 5%… in invests like s&p500 you are looking at 10%+ annually…
Nongnuch ********
@Ho *****
yes, in the USA, if you put 24,000 USD into a fixed term account, it might earn up to 5% - 6% interest every year.
Joseph ****
@Nongnuch *******
I don't think now you can get even 5%. But give You-know-who's tariffs a little longer and rates will have to go up.
Ann-Louise ********
@Brandon ***********
we are applying for Long term (LTR) police clearance certificate is required for that one. It works better for us as a retired couple. No messing ,10 years.
Brandon ************
@Ann-Louise *******
LTR doesn't require a police clearance normally. But they reserve the right to request one from you. I've never heard of anyone actually being asked.
Ann-Louise ********
@Brandon ***********
we were asked, new ruling apparently our Lawyers told us!
Ann-Louise ********
@Nongnuch *******
he is a close friend, why would he make money on this, when you have to pay to get it done from your country, he can’t do it! 🤔🙄
Nigel *********
@Brandon ***********
well explained and all correct
Nigel *********
@Brandon ***********
well explained and all correct
Chris ******
@Brandon ***********
been looking at the very same type thanks for helping other people saved me asking same friggin question normally when ask such questions get a load of idiots posting memes eating popcorn type of crap instead of a reliable answer and stupid answers
Pe ****
@Brandon ***********
What are the advantages of OA?
Nigel *********
@Pe ***
I never found any. Must pay a lot of money for useless insurance. Now I'm a non-o
Brandon ************
@Pe ***
you'll get a 1-year stamp to stay in Thailand without showing money in a Thai bank. And you can get almost 2 years in Thailand if you leave and return just before the visa expires and you purchased a new year of the required insurance. But you'll have to go back to your home country after that to apply for a new non-OA visa.
Kenny *****
@Brandon ***********
after 2 years you can apply an extension within Thailand right?
Brandon ************
@Kenny ****
Yes, but if you want to apply for extension in Thailand then you shouldn't get the non-OA. Because you'll be required to keep the mandatory insurance forever, because you started on the OA visa and you'll also have to have the money in in a Thai bank. But if you start with the non-O there is never any insurance requirement.
Dean *********
@Brandon ***********
Not true about having to leave after 2 years. I've extended 4 times now. The advantage of the OA for me is that I can keep the 800,000B in my US account and the interest it makes covers the cost of my insurance here. Bringing in minimum 56,000 Baht each month is what I do anyway. The OA made sense for me.

The background check wasn't difficult. You register online at the FBI website. Find a place that does fingerprints like some USPS branches. They upload your prints to the FBI. You get an email with the results often within hours.
Ivan ********
@Dean ********
hello, I’m currently completing my non OA visa application. I am finding the cost of the insurance policy premiums I’m being quoted somewhat ridiculous in price, some companies quoting well above 5000 USD per year , so as to comply with the OA visa requirements ( I’m from AUS, my health insurance here equates to $2300 USD pa, )

I have never applied for Visa before prior to travelling to Thailand , always getting visa on arrival. Can you suggest / share what is reasonable for health insurance under this OA visa and insurance company / broker to assist please

Reading the requirements of the non O retirement visa , it states you need to show you are receiving an aged pension. I’m not due to receive an age pension for another 10 years , I satisfy all other requirements and criteria with non O retirement visa though.

Can I apply for the Non O retirement without an aged pension ?

Thankyou in advance
Dean *********
@Ivan *******
Sorry Ivan, I can't comment about an aged pension.

To those snickering over the interest on 800,000B in a US account paying for the required OA health insurance, yeah, it has been this whole time. If you already have insurance or will pay out of pocket and don't mind 800,000B sitting in a Thai account go for the O visa.
Nongnuch ********
@Dean ********
the financial proof for the 1-year Extension of Stay is 65,000 THB, not 56,000 THB. You need a bank statement over 12 consecutive months of money transfers coming in from abroad to fulfill the requirements of the Immigration every year, because your embassy does not issue an income affidavit
Dany ********
@Graeme *****
thats not what he said
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