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Do I need to maintain a balance of 800k THB for 2 or 3 months before applying for my second year extension of my O retirement visa in Thailand?
O visa extensionThailand retirement visa800k balance requirementvisa rules Thailandexpat visa advice
May 27, 2025
a year ago
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi - I am on my first year extension of stay after having a type O retirement visa. I maintained the 800k balance for 2 months prior to and 3 months after the extension was granted. And after that it can drop no lower than 400k and I have kept it well above that.
My question:
Prior to applying for the next (second) year extension, I understand the balance needs to be 800K again -
for at least 2 months prior to application for renewal?
Or is it 3 months?
Reading the sheet from the immigration office looks like 2 months, while I see 3 months stated on other web sites. There is one site that says "keep in mind the next extension requires 3 months prior, unlike the first one", while the immigration office printout only describes '2 months prior and 3 months after'
My question:
Prior to applying for the next (second) year extension, I understand the balance needs to be 800K again -
for at least 2 months prior to application for renewal?
Or is it 3 months?
Reading the sheet from the immigration office looks like 2 months, while I see 3 months stated on other web sites. There is one site that says "keep in mind the next extension requires 3 months prior, unlike the first one", while the immigration office printout only describes '2 months prior and 3 months after'
TLDR : Answer Summary
The question is about the requirements for maintaining a bank balance for obtaining a second year extension of a Type O retirement visa in Thailand, specifically whether the balance of 800,000 THB needs to be kept for 2 months or 3 months prior to the application. Comments from other users suggest that while the immigration office documentation states 2 months prior, there is some uncertainty in the expat community, with some recommending to maintain the 800k balance for 3 months to be safe. Another commenter pointed out a potential misunderstanding of the visa status, clarifying the distinction between an extension of stay based on age versus a retirement visa.
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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Rod *********
Some IO want 2 and some want 3 months so just do 3 to be safe
Paul *******
Actually, you are not on a Retirement Visa Extension at all. When you visa ran out it was finished. I think that you are probably on an extensionj of stay based on being over 50 years. That is not a vis extension.
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTERYes, I am on my first year extension (of stay) of a type O retirement visa, which has the requirements I am inquiring about.
Tony *****
@Alan ******
perfect. I hope it goes wellNongnuch ********
@Alan ******
you are on an "extended stay permit based on being retired", not on a "retirement visa". The visa you used to get the "1-year stay permit" out of, already became invalid upon entering ThailandAlan *******
ORIGINAL POSTERI understand that. Next time I ask about the 800K balance requirements I will write it all out like that. Thnks
Reply to
Alan *******
Reply
Tony *****
Just a quick question for you. Are you in a position to use the 65K a month option? Thanks
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tony ****
yes I have also been doing 65k a month for the year in hopes to transition to that only for the 2nd year and on.Reply to
Alan *******
Reply
John **********
2 months prior to applying officially. My immigration office also asks for it 3 months prior to applying for the second and subsequent extensions so get the handout from your immigration office and see what it says
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
the handout from Chaeng Watthana only includes 2 mnth prior and 3 after application approval as in the first year, but i don't see anything about following year being different for the full balance requirementsGerg **********
@Alan ******
Do you happen to have a photo of that handout?Gerg **********
@Alan ******
Thanks!Reply to
Gerg **********
Reply
John **********
@Alan ******
then it won't be any different if that's the office you will use, that's the normal scenario. My immigration office is a bit of an outlier in this regard, they can all vary slightly which is why it's always best to get the handout from the office you will useReply to
John **********
Reply
Jack ********
Easier to just keep ฿800K at all times and not have to worry about it
Roberto *********
@Jack *******
Easiest of all is the 65k monthly transfers! You can use it as soon as it hits your bank accountAlan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roberto ********
yes! I aim to do that when applying for the 2nd extension. I will be able to show the 12 months of deposits, and I am guessing it will be during the application process that I request to use the 65k monthly method for the 2nd year, as I have not seen any forms for it, etc. Any basic advice on that? ThanksRoberto *********
@Alan ******
You don't apply to use that method. When you next extend you just show the 12 x 65k transfers. Make sure there is one for each calendar month, and make sure they are denoted as international transfer in your bank book/bank statementAlan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roberto ********
Thanks - that's all I could understand so far. As I understand it in the first year you have to do BOTH the 880k plus the 65k /month in order that the following year(s) you can just do the 65k/month only... I just hope to hear them say that and perhaps something in writing...Nick ************
@Alan ******
that is correct, I did it in February. The only complication was that even though my Thai bank book and statements showed 12 international transfers the IO wanted proof of where they had come from. I had to provide my UK bank statements and they spent a long time checking money out matched money in. They did not ask for Wise transfer documents but I had them available in case.Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nick ***********
great pointer to have home-country bank records in hand too. I know my bkk bank prints the international transfer notation, so good with that too. ThanksNick ************
@Alan ******
I used the Bangkok bank statements ordered from my banking app which I printed out. Immigration was fine with them not stamped or anything.Roberto *********
@Alan ******
Go to your immigration office. They might have a handoutAlan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roberto ********
yes - I refer to the handout in my post. The issue is interpreting it correctlyReply to
Alan *******
Reply
Alan *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jack *******
yes, not worry would be great, but as noted, I did drop below during the allowable time period, which for me made things a little easier.Peter *********
@Jack *******
exactly 💯Reply to
Peter *********
Reply
Stuart *********
2 months prior to your next application date.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
Do I need to have 800,000 Baht in the bank for two months before extending my NON-O retirement visa?
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