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Do I need to apply for a retirement visa before arriving in Thailand?

Retirement VisaNon-Immigrant O VisaBank Account RequirementsThai Visa Application ProcessLong-term VisaVisa Extension
Apr 9, 2025
4 days ago
Diana ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am interested in applying for a retirement visa. Do I need to do that once I arrive in Thailand?

A friend said I have to open a bank account in Thailand. A few years ago, the requirement was $25,000 US for 6 months.

Can anyone advise ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O Visa) for Thailand, it is recommended to start your application in your home country at a Thai embassy or consulate rather than after arrival. This visa allows you to open a Thai bank account upon arrival, which is necessary for the deposit requirement of 800,000 THB for the extension of stay. Some have noted that opening a bank account in Thailand without a long-term visa can be challenging. It is important to have the funds in the account for at least 2-3 months before applying for the one-year extension based on retirement. Additionally, some visa options and requirements may have changed, so it’s best to check current regulations.
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.
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Keith *******
To get a visa, one needs to have THB800,000 in a Thai bank at least 2-3 months before you apply.
2 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Edward *******
WHAT ARE YOU UP AND ABOUT?? Stop posting nonsense!

You can apply for a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa in your home country. There is no mandatory health insurance, no police record, no medical proof.

Once in Thailand, you immediately open a bank account and transfer a minimum of 800,000 THB into it.

Then from up to 30 days before the 90-days stay permit expires, and the money has seasoned for 2 months, you can apply for the "1-year extended stay permit based on retirement".

I cannot recommend you start your longstay in Thailand on a Non-Imm-O/A visa.

You will regret it as soon as after two years, when you need to move from the visa to the extension of stay permit, and that's when they make you contract a worthless but mandatory Thai tgia-listed private health insurance, and that's when you will need 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account anyways.

You are ALWAYS better off to start with a 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa you got issued in your home country.

On this visa you can easily open a Thai bank account
4 days ago
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Michael ********
@Nongnuch *******
 I think OA is good way to start i have seen lots of people give up after the first year of living in Thailand. So its something I would recomend. If they truly then want to carry on can open bank account etc whilst on OA and then get an O visa. So you have insurance for 18 months thats not a bad thing when your new to the country and the delights of bugs and driving.
4 days ago
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Kurt *************
@Michael *******
 I am coming to Thailand for a 90 day visit
****
-
*****
) then returning to the US with the plan to return back to Thailand (
****
)to retire. Should I visit as a tourist and then on my follow up return to Thailand apply for the non immigrant O or should I/can I use this type of visa twice (in the time frame referred to above)?
3 days ago
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Michael ********
@Kurt ************
 You can use the OA visa for up to nearly 2 years if you get your timings right
3 days ago
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Michael ********
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Nongnuch ********
@Michael *******
 this makes absolute sense for yet undecided people, you are right
4 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Edward ********
@Nongnuch *******
 Did you get it all out of your system? Are you angry? Do you yell at children? Did I do something to anger you?
4 days ago
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Edward ********
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Greg ***********
WRONG!!! Pru Ladda Thailand . . . . "You can apply for a Non-Immigrant O-A (Long Stay) Visa either from your home country at a Thai embassy or consulate, or within Thailand by first obtaining a Non-Immigrant O Visa and then applying for the retirement extension" . . .this is complete and utter nonsense. You can apply for a Non-Imm-O/A visa only in your home country . . . . . . . .P.S. Oh I see that nonsense has been removed from this thread. Well done, admins. This person Pru Ladda is posting a truckload of wrong info every other day. You must stop her! 😠😡😠
4 days ago
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Brandon ************
It's much better if you apply for a non-O visa online from your Thai embassy back home before you travel to Thailand. You'll need a Thai bank account and if you don't have a long term visa already, you likely won't be able to open one.
4 days ago
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Greg ***********
@Edward *******
 no, that would NOT be a Non-O/A visa. That would be a ONE YEAR extended stay permit out of a Non-Imm-O visa. An "extension" is not a visa! I can cleary see you fell for the wrong and false info of this woman Pru Ladda. This person is becoming a nuisance in this group 😡😠😡
4 days ago
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Edward ********
@Greg **********
 who is Pru Ladda
4 days ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Edward *******
 a woman who played "adviser" here and got removed for posting false info. She mentioned the same nonsense like you, that stuff about a Non-Imm-O/A visa one would be able to get inside Thailand. Which simply is not true, you cannot
4 days ago
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Edward ********
@Nongnuch *******
 I didn't say that..stop twisting my words

I said you can get a non o in Thailand, it's better than a non oa that would eventually cost them more money due to health insurance requirements
4 days ago
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Stuart ***********
@Edward *******
 it's possible to also get the Non O before coming to Thailand. Most people choose this option.
4 days ago
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Edward ********
@Stuart **********
 if it's possible, that's great as long as it doesn't cost additional money, if it cost less than doing it in Thailand, by all means do so.

But I always was under impression if you got it outside of Thailand that it costs more in the long run. I just don't want them to get stuck with an oa instead of an o. I did delete my comment, not sure why I'm still getting responses on it.
4 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Edward *******
 How would it cost more outside of Thailand? And you cannot "accidentally" apply for the wrong visa. OA visa will require medical certificate, criminal background check, mandatory health insurance. Non-O requires non of those things.

If you wait until you're in Thailand you will then have to spend 12-15,000 baht for an agent to help you open a bank account, and then you'll have to spend a day at immigration applying to convert to non-O visa and get an "under consideration stamp" and return again to get your visa, and then a couple months later have to go back and spend another day at immigration to apply for the 1-year extension.

If you get the non-O visa before you go, you'll actually be able to open a bank account yourself, and you'll only have 1 trip to immigration rather than 3.
3 days ago
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Brandon ************
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Stuart ***********
The easiest way is to apply for a non O Visa based on retirement online from the Thai Embassy in your country, before coming to Thailand. This visa enables you to open a bank account when you get to Thailand and then deposit 800,000 Baht, to be able to extend your stay for 12 months.

It is virtually impossible to open a bank account inside Thailand without a long term visa these days, and I understand anecdotally even more so for USA citizens.
4 days ago
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Graham *****
@Stuart **********
 good info
4 days ago
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Diana ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stu***
,

Thank you for this advice
4 days ago
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Stuart ***********
@Diana **********
 you are welcome, good luck. The process seems a bit daunting at first, but it's actually quite easy.
4 days ago
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Stuart ***********
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