Do you need to convert a tourist visa to a non-O visa before applying for a retirement visa in Thailand?

Jun 4, 2023
2 years ago
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
With tourists visa , do you need to transfer to non O visa first and then do retirement visa? Thank you ahead🙏
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Yes, to apply for the retirement visa in Thailand, you need to first convert your tourist visa to a 90-day NON-O visa based on retirement. After holding the NON-O visa for about two months, you can then apply for a one-year extension, provided you meet the financial requirements, such as having at least 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account.
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.
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Do you mean transfer tourist visa to 90 days non o ?
Kool *******
@Cindy ******
you are trying to do what Thais will tell you not to do "don't think too much".

You are wanting a type O visa extension based on retirement as your final objective. The very first thing you must do is get a Thai bank account in your name only. Then you must transfer into your new Thai bank account at least bt800,000 direct deposit showing that it came from an overseas source.

Once you have the money in your bank account you can apply with immigration for the first step in getting your eventual one year extension, and that is getting your 90 day type O visa extension at a cost of bt2000 from immigration. Don't touch the money in your bank account. After it has been in there for at least two full months, and when you have less than 30 days left on the 90 day extension, you apply for your 1 year extension, and at the same time present any other documents they might ask for at a cost of bt1900. After you get your one year extension, the bt800,000+ has to stay in your account for three more months, then for the rest of the year it can never drop below bt400,000 . At least 2 months before your next one year extension the balance has to be back at bt800,000+.

It is very easy to do, and understand. The hardest part of the whole thing will be trying to get a Thai bank account on a tourist visa, but by checking every bank you find, even if it is the same bank just a different branch, still check. After getting that, the rest is very easy, and, immigration is actually lots of help when you have questions. They have a list they give you of what is needed, but your Thai bank account is the most important. Good luck
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
Thank you very much for a very informative reply 🙏 will try
Will ************
You transfer to 90day non o based on retirement, you need 800k in your bank account then around 30 days before expiry you apply for the 1 year extension
Bob **********
Yes
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
thank you 🙏
Brandon ************
I think you have things a little mixed up. The non-O IS the retirement visa. It's a non-O visa based on being over 50. You must convert to the 90 day non-O visa first, and then after about 2 months on that you can apply for the 1 year extension based on being over 50.
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I mean if one has tourist visa already and over 50 years old, can the one apply directly retirement visa?
Frank **********
@Cindy ******
no you have to get the 90 non O first based on being over 50.
Steve *******
@Frank *********
The Non Imm O IS the 'retirement visa'. The one year 'extention of stay' based on being over 50 is NOT a visa
Frank **********
@Steve ******
right that is what I really meant to say. Lol
Cindy *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
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