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How can Australian couples successfully obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa Type O Retirement Visa for Thailand?

Non-Immigrant Visa Type O Retirement Visa Visa Application Process Bank Requirements for Visa Financial Requirements for Retirement Visa Expat Experiences in Thailand Immigration Advice for Expats

Mar 10, 2024

9 months ago

David ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am an Australian citizen, aged 56, and my spouse is 50. We are currently in the early stages of applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa Type O Retirement Visa, which allows for a 90-day stay with the option to renew for up to one year. I would appreciate any insights from couples who have recently successfully obtained this visa.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An Australian couple aged 56 and 50 is seeking advice on the process of obtaining a Non-Immigrant Visa Type O Retirement Visa for Thailand. They are currently in the early stages of their application and have received insights from others who successfully navigated the process. Key points include the necessity of having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a period before applying for the visa extension, and the importance of bank statements and potential assistance from locals during the application process.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

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Mary ********

@David ***********

- hubby and I went through this last year (Jan 23) from Australia. It's a pretty straight forward process. If you are doing like we did and each applying for for the non O (no trailing) make sure you have your 800,000 baht in the bank to season. It does help if you have a Thai friend to help navigate through but you can do it on your own if needed.

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Mary ********

As a side note - feel free to send a dm if you have questions as to how we did ours. It may help others if you state where you are applying from and what area you plan on settling in

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David ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

oh ok, so you initially just entered on a normal entry visa?

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Mary ********

@David ***********

yes, visa exempt, extended for an additional 30 days to give us time to applying from within Thailand, opened the bank account immediately upon arriving which gave us the time needed for it to season

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Jan ******************

Visa exemption gives you 30+30 days, just time to open a bank account and transfer immediately. Tourist visa gives you 60+30 days. But nowadays it’s not easy to open a bank account in Thailand without a Long stay visa. An agent might help you, but if you apply for 90 days Non O visa before you go you’ll have no problems with opening an account and transfer the needed amount to your bank.

@David ***********

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Mary ********

@Jan *****************

at the time we arrived we got 45 days (Jan 23) we extended ourselves 30 days and did not use an agent.

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Jan ******************

Yes I know it’s possible but not easy. I’ve had an account in both Bangkok Bank and Krungthai Bank opened on visa exemption nine years ago, but now they didn’t even let me open a second savings account within the same bank unless I had a Non O visa.

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Mary ********

@Jan *****************

Like anything here, sometimes it is who you know, but we've had no issue at all. I think it depends on the branch itself and each bank branch does have different rules. It actually surprised me at how easily we had it.

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Jan ******************

Yes you had 🎯at once. And I know some people who also managed in Pattaya Christmas time. But as you say it varies between different banks and even branches within the same bank. If the manager is more liberal you can hit 🎯. An agent might also help you for a price. (4-6K thb).

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Mary ********

@Jan *****************

I think it is hit and miss, we lucked out as we found the right one on our own so did not need an agent. I do think too it helps how you approach them and what their mood is on the day.

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David ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

thx Mary. So it was Thai Navi accounts you used? Two accounts, each with 800k or just one joint account?

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Mary ********

@David ***********

We did the 800K in a joint account (Bangkok bank) It does help to have someone to assist you in opening a bank account (We had a friend help us)

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Mary ********

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David ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

thx Mary, we will be organising the visas while still in Australia and plan to come to Thailand/Huahin in November this year.

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Mary ********

@David ***********

we did ours in Hua Hin 🙂 stayed there 3 months before heading further south to PKK

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Mary ********

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Jan ******************

You use your bank statement at home when you apply for your 90 days visa. Within one month you’ll have to open a bank account in a thai bank in order to apply for your first year extension stay. Both of you -unless not a trailing spouse- have to put 800K in your accounts two months before you apply and the money have to stay in your bank three months after your extension is issued. For your second year you can use your bank statements in Thailand to proof your income min 65K a month transferred over sea for twelve months.

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David ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jan *****************

Thx Jan.

So we both need accounts seperate accounts with the 800k? Total for a couple 1.6m?

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Jan ******************

@David ***********

Yes, there are some special regulations if one of you apply as a trailing spouse, I don’t know for sure. But I think this mostly is for couples with a spouse working in TH. As I’ve understood here several times, most couples retiring need to apply and for fill the requirements individually.

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Chris *******

@Jan *****************

sorry but completely wrong.

The primary applicant has to deposit 800k in Thai account.

A "trailing" spouse can apply from your home country for a 90 non-o dependant visa based on retirement.

(Once the primary has their visa.)

"Visiting family living in Thailand "

Then you both enter with a non-o and extend for 1yr.

So in short:

1 gets non-o based on retirement 800k money

1 gets non-o dependant no funds needed.

Check with your local embassy to be sure they offer it.

SEA embassies no longer offer it.

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Jan ******************

As I wrote, there’s some regulation regarding trialling spouse which I don’t know for sure. Most couples who retire together in Thailand both have to put 800K in a thai bank if they apply from Thailand or for the first year extension of stay if your embassy doesn’t provide a letter to confirm your income in Thailand.

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Jan ******************

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