This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Do I need to buy an airline ticket before applying for a NON-O visa online in Thailand?

NON-O visa Thai visa application flight details visa requirements expat advice

Nov 25, 2025

14 hours ago

Greg *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Trying to non-o visa online. Question requires flight details. Do I need to buy airline ticket before l receive visa. Was hoping to get visa first then get airline ticket.

2,549

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

To apply for a NON-O visa online in Thailand, you do not need to purchase an airline ticket upfront. You can submit flight details such as an estimated arrival date and flight number without a confirmed ticket. However, it's recommended to at least make a reservation to demonstrate your travel intentions. This information helps authorities ensure the visa request aligns with your travel timeline and to avoid applying too early. Users in the community have successfully received their visas without having a booked ticket, with approvals occurring quickly after submission.

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.

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted Retirement Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Michael ********

Yes at least have a reservation . They interested that you have booked a flight return

12 hours ago

Graham ******

@Michael *******

no they are not

6 hours ago

Greg *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

why do you need a return flight. Want to extend 90 days to a year.

11 hours ago

Reply to

Greg *****

David **********

they need to know flight details to assess

Dylan ********

to assess what?

David **********

the visa

Dylan ********

oh the Visa? I thought we were talking talking about dating.

13 hours ago

Reply to

Dylan ********

James *********

I gave them my flight number and date of December 3… And my non-o 90 day visa got approved yesterday… So they used yesterdays date (Nov 24) so my Visa will expire 90 days after this date

btw….. I got approved in four days, which was surprising. I heard it can take up to three weeks.

14 hours ago

Dylan ********

@James ********

AI is not the final authority, but this is what it says:

AI Overview

+2

The 90-day period for a Thai visa starts on the day of entry into the country, not the day of approval. You must enter Thailand within the visa's validity period (usually 90 days from the issue date for a single-entry visa), and your 90-day period of stay begins on the day you enter.

Day of Entry: The 90-day count starts once you are physically in Thailand.

Day of Approval: The date the visa is approved or issued is not when your 90-day stay begins. This date is a deadline for you to enter the country.

13 hours ago

James *********

Great! Happy to hear that

So if that’s correct… And now I think it is… I don’t need to rush to get into Thailand. I’ll just go with my original plan and hope I get 90 days from entry date.

Thank you for posting!

13 hours ago

Reply to

James *********

Dylan ********

@James ********

mine took about six weeks. And they didn’t approve it until I was already in the country. I had to enter on a 60 day visa exemption. I will have to leave and come back to activate the 90 Day non-o.

14 hours ago

James *********

Wow… did you have some other issue they were looking at?

Happy to hear at least it got approved

So now you had 60 days… Plus a new 90

Hope that worked out well for you

13 hours ago

Dylan ********

Also, if I’m not mistaken, you have 90 days from approval to enter the country. your visa actually starts on the day you arrive. And this might seem like a small detail, but the day you arrive is day one.

13 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@Dylan *******

"your visa actually starts on the day you arrive" , , what a complete nonsense this is ! . . . . . The visa has a 3 months validity, this validity starts on the day the visa gets issued. When you enter on this visa, the 90-days STAY PERMIT starts on the day your enter, and the visa itself EXPIRES, it becomes "used", void, invalid. On the day you arrive, your STAY PERMIT starts and the visa is finished for further use. . . a "visa" is a only permit to enter, it becomes void when you enter. A stay permit is the permit of how long you can stay in the country after you entered

11 hours ago

Dylan ********

It’s working out fine actually. I was going to take a trip to Vietnam anyway and now I’ve been invited to Laos.

I don’t know what the holdup was. I showed proof of funds and then they wanted to see proof of income, which I submitted pretty much right away. And then I don’t know what happened, but they did eventually approve it.

13 hours ago

James *********

Sounds like it’s working out great… Vietnam is awesome. I’ve been there many times. I love Laos. Only went once… But I have a feeling it’s going to get more and more popular.

Enjoy the adventure!

13 hours ago

Dylan ********

@James ********

thanks! I’ve never been to Laos. I’m excited.

13 hours ago

James *********

I don’t think so… Day one is the day it’s approved

Mine is November 24- Feb 21. That’s what it states right on the Visa itself.

I’m not even there in Thailand yet.

Unless they adjust the date from the day you arrive… I hope that’s the case

13 hours ago

Paul *******

@James ********

you are wrong. Day 1 is the day you enter Thailand. You have to enter Thailand 90 days from the date on the visa.

12 hours ago

James *********

I think that’s what was decided here if you read the comments

11 hours ago

Reply to

James *********

Dennis *********

I think they must also use it to make sure you’re not requesting the visa too early and it would expire before you enter Thailand

14 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@Dennis ********

the embassy website clearly instructs applicants that one should not apply for the visa more than 3 months before the intended entry. Because most common visas are issued with a 3 months validity

11 hours ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Will ************

Just an estimate of date of arrival and flight number put departure date within 90 days of estimated arrival date

14 hours ago

Michael ********

Just give them a proposed flight of when you want to come. There more looking how urgent your request is

14 hours ago

Greg *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Won't let me proceed to next stage.

10 hours ago

Greg *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Compulsory. Just going to give a flight number.

10 hours ago

Yngve ***********

@Michael *******

I think departure date is optional...You don't have to...

13 hours ago

Michael ********

@Yngve **********

yes departure date not required for Non O application

10 hours ago

Reply to

Michael ********

Harry ********

I was asked one time by IO for my boarding pass when I came through passport control that was a visa on entry

14 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@Harry *******

you didn't get a "visa on entry" . . not for you. You arrived without a visa and received a stay permit stamp

11 hours ago

Kevin ********

@Harry *******

yes you are suposed to keep your boarding pass for imigration

13 hours ago

Reply to

Kevin ********

Dylan ********

I did not buy a ticket. I looked up a flight and just gave them the flight information. I don’t think they check.

14 hours ago

Dave **********

@Dylan *******

just asking did you get health insurance for the 90 days and where did you get it if you don't mind thanks

Richard *********

not required.

Tom *******

I got travel insurance thru Virgin Money

Get annual Gold policy and it covers trips up to 93 days

I have to declare high blood pressure and cholesterol

Good value at £240 per year

10 hours ago

Dave **********

@Tom ******

thanks for that

9 hours ago

Reply to

Dave **********

Ossie *********

@Dave *********

you only need health insurance for an OA visa not an O visa but it’s wise to get travel insurance

11 hours ago

Reply to