Do I need to be in Thailand for visa purposes after receiving a Non-O visa (retirement)?

Non-O Visa Thailand Retirement Visa 90 Day Reporting Visa Extension Re-Entry Permit Immigration Rules in Thailand

May 30, 2024

7 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi. Once you have your initial 90 day Non-O visa (retirement), is there ever a time when you must be inside Thailand for visa business? How does the initial 1 year extension or 90 day reporting get done if you're outside the country? Thanks.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

After obtaining the initial 90-day Non-O visa for retirement, you must be in Thailand to apply for the 1-year extension before the visa expires. Once you have secured the extension and a re-entry permit, you can leave Thailand without needing to stay within the country for a specific number of days during the extension period. For the 90-day reporting requirement, if you are outside Thailand, you do not need to report until you return; the next report will be due 89 days after re-entering.

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.
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Jim ********

I haven't filed a 90-day report since covid restrictions were lifted, because I never stay 90 days in Thailand in one hit

7 months ago

Tod *********

Once you get the initial 90 day Non-O visa, obviously you have to be IN thailand before that runs out so you can apply for the year extension of stay. 😉

Once you get the extension (and a re-entry permit) you can leave all you want.

There is no "must be inside thailand xxx days during the extension.

As long as you get back to apply for a new yearly extension next year you're fine to stay out

As far as 90 day reporting, when you're out of the country you don't do it, and when you come back your next 90 day report is due 89 days from the date you stamp in

7 months ago

Jim ********

@Sarah *********

It's to make life easier. I have a non-O "retirement" visa (It's actually a visa based on being over 50 years of age - there's no requirement to be retired), but I travel a lot. I'm probably in Thailand for 7-8 months of the year, the rest of the time I'm travelling. However, rather than live in Thailand on a succession of tourist visas, or free entry stamps (which annoys the crap out of immigration officers), I simply have the one visa (or actually extension) which does me for the year. I always extend about six weeks before expiry, so if there's any sudden need to leave, I'm covered to leave and return. It's great flexibility

7 months ago

Bob ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks. So if I were to get the one year extension in a given month, say June, how does it work if I'm out of the country during that time the following year?

7 months ago

Marty *********

@Bob **********

Depending on the immigration office you can apply for your 1 year extension 30 or 45 days before the extension expires. You do have to be here in that time window so pick your 1st extension month to be convenient for you to be in Thailand.

7 months ago

Jim ********

@Bob **********

If you're in Bangkok and I believe CM you can get a new extension 45 days before expiry. Most offices are 30 days, but Tod can clarify that

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Bob **********

you lose it

and you start all over from scratch when you come back

7 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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