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How can I make an appointment at the Thai Embassy in Laos for my visa application?

Thai EmbassyVisa ApplicationTourist VisaNon-O VisaImmigration ProcessExpat AdviceLaos TravelVisa Rules
Aug 8, 2025
a day ago
Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi, I found out I can’t convert my tourism visa to a o visa, I want to go to Laos to go to the Thai embassy, when I go to the website in Laos to make the appointment to meet like the website says to do, the website provided comes up blank? Does anyone know how to make your appointment at Thai Embassy in Laos how I can do that
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking assistance on how to make an appointment for a visa application at the Thai Embassy in Laos after being unable to convert a tourism visa to a Non-O visa in Thailand. Various comments provide insights, stating that all applications must now be done online, and the need to visit the embassy in person to pay the application fee after completing the online application. Some users discuss the complexities of changing visa types and mention financial requirements, while others share experiences and suggestions regarding visa agents and procedures.
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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Andy **********
********************************************
17 hours ago
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Andy **********
Like others have suggested, you can convert from a tourist visa, to a non O inside Thailand, but it seems you need to do it as a "package" with an agent, they will complete the whole process for you, from opening the bank account, to obtaining the non O visa, and then getting the 12 month extension, if you use your own money, to meet the financial requirements, you can do the extension yourself next year, try agents in Pattaya first they are usually cheaper, or the "thai visa centre" in Bangkok have recently said it can still be done.
17 hours ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Jeff ************
 you can exit Thailand at Nong Khai, book a hotel in Vientiane that has a good & reliable WiFi. You will need to apply for the single entry 90-days Non-Imm O Retirement Visa through the E-Visa online system of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane. You can check the requirements for this application on their website. You will have to pay the application fee personally at the embassy in Thai Baht (!), because they do not accept credit card payment. You then wait and stay in Vientiane until the application has gone through or not. The processing time the website states is 4 to 10 days. We have had some reports from people telling that they received their visa after 5 days
a day ago
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Nongnuch ********
the owner of this group is a visa agent. They can get a bank account opened for you, if you buy their complete service for the application inside Thailand to the 3 months Non-Imm-O Visa and the 12 months Extension of Stay. You can contact them and ask for the price
a day ago
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Maureen *********
Just going to Singapore to convert mine to O retirement visa. Had to do the paperwork ahead in Malaysia. 60 days is finished. Have to go out and come back in for my 12 month visa. Go through an agent.
a day ago
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Graham ******
@Maureen ********
 you will not get a 12 month visa in Singapore as Non-O Visas now are 90 days
20 hours ago
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Maureen *********
@Graham *****
 no. It’s my bounce . My visa activated upon arrival here
7 hours ago
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Maureen *********
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Pete *******
You can convert a tourist visa to a Non-O by yourself if you already meet the requirements. If not then there are plenty of agents that can do it for you, only you can decide if it’s worth the cost.
a day ago
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Anselm *********
@Pete ******
 what's a Non-O visa?
21 hours ago
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Pete *******
@Anselm ********
 A Non Immigrant Visa, can be issued for various reasons.
21 hours ago
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Pete *******
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
 not without leaving Thailand, they changed all the rules this year, you can not open a bank account on a tourist visa anymore
a day ago
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Pete *******
@Jeff ************
 you yourself cannot but agents can.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete ******
 even agents cannot do it, I have tried
21 hours ago
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Teddee ********
@Jeff ************
 this isn't true. My mom recently opened an account at Krungthai on her tourist visa, facilitated by an agent. It's being converted now to a retirement visa by her agent as well without her leaving.
13 hours ago
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Pete *******
@Jeff ************
 from Grace Thai Visa:

@everyone

⚠️ Bank Account Opening Misinformation ⚠️

There has been a lot of confusion in this group, with some people claiming our agency cannot help retirees on a Tourist Visa or Exempt Entry open a bank account.

This is NOT correct. We regularly assist retirees with bank account openings in Thailand, provided they intend to apply for a Non-O visa. Also there is no need to leave the country for this process.

While some agencies may not offer this service, we do.

Currently, we offer this service only in Bangkok, and the process typically takes just 1–2 days.

If you are outside of Bangkok, you can make a short trip to the city to complete the process.
21 hours ago
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Pete *******
@Jeff ************
 simply not true. Agents are regularly opening bank accounts for people on tourist visas.
21 hours ago
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Pete *******
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Kevin *******
@Pete ******
 15k with an agent ! I had to do it during covid ! Painfull
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kevin ******
 a lot has changed since Covid sir, a lot has changed since February of this year, it’s impossible to change from a tourist visa to a o visa without leaving Thailand
a day ago
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Pete *******
@Jeff ************
 not true, it can be done without leaving Thailand.
a day ago
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Pete *******
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Kim **********
@Kevin ******
 it’s no longer 15 most want 60 or 70
a day ago
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Pete *******
@Kevin ******
 in today’s environment you will be paying many multiples of that figure.
a day ago
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Pete *******
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John **********
You travel to Laos. You apply for the visa you want online. You go to the consulate to pay the application fee. You wait in Laos until the visa completes
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 hi can I make a appointment at the Thai embassy in Laos to meet and get visa in a couple days
a day ago
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John **********
@Jeff ************
 no, you apply online from inside Laos then you go to the consulate and pay the fee in person then you wait for them to approve your application. The visa will be emailed to you
a day ago
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Reply to
John **********
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 can I apply for it online before I get to Laos? I have my app ready to submit, I’m in Thailand right now. How do I get a appointment to meet in Laos with the Thai embassy
a day ago
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Graham ******
@Jeff ************
 no because you have to show your current location which will be your Laos entry stamp in your passport. Complete the application up to that point then submit as soon as you get it.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 ok so as soon as I get to Laos I can submit and then I can make a appointment at the Thai embassy to meet and get visa in a couple days? That’s what I have read
a day ago
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Greg ***********
@Jeff ************
 the visa, if approved, will be sent to your email address. It will be a .pdf file. You need to print it and show it to the Immigration official at the border when re-entering Thailand. After having uploaded everything and submitted, make sure you also check your email spam folder. There are print-shops in Vientiane
a day ago
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John *******
@Jeff ************
 not sure what you are reading, but all Thai embassies moved to e-visas since Jan 2025. The embassy in Laos is a little different in that you still need to go in person to pay though.
a day ago
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Graham ******
@Jeff ************
 no, after submitting you print out the receipt and go the following day between 9 and 11 to pay then wait for the electronic approval, no appointment necessary
a day ago
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John **********
@Jeff ************
 No, once you have submitted your application in Laos you need to go to the consulate and pay the fee in person. Then you wait for them to process your application
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
18 hours ago
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Jeff *************
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Jo **********
@John *********
 exactly
a day ago
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Jo **********
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Max *************
You can only change from tourist visa (or visa exempt) to a 90 days Non-O at an immigration office in Thailand. There are also financial requirements.
a day ago
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Anselm *********
@Max ************
 Financial requirements?
21 hours ago
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Max *************
@Anselm ********
 Yes,what she said.
21 hours ago
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Marianne ********
@Anselm ********
 800k baht in a Thai bank account in your name.
21 hours ago
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Marianne ********
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 this cannot be done now, maybe you could do it 7 or 8 months ago, go check
a day ago
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Chris *******
@Jeff ************
 you absolutely can change. As long as you qualify on all counts.If you do not have a bank account, you don't qualify. If you do not have enough time left on your stamp usually around 15 -21 days. There are reasons that they tell you to leave and do it out of country. But your experience, possibly lost in translation, or too much info at once.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris ******
 as of February this year you can not open a bank account in Thailand and Bangkok bank will not open any bank account for a foreigner
21 hours ago
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Chris *******
@Jeff ************
 what's your point? You don't qualify without an account so you have to get it outside and then get an account. That's a banking issue NOT an immigration.
21 hours ago
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Chris *******
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 you can’t change a tourist visa to a o without leaving Thailand, immigration told me we had to leave to do it then come back pay them and they will do bank account and year extension
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 that’s correct for a Non-OA
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 I changed from Visa exemption to non -O retirement last week
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg ****
 where and how, I’ve been to immigration in Nakhon Sawan and Jometian both said to change from tourist to non o I had to leave Thailand
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 that would be a Non OA Retirement that they where talking about, not a Non O Retirement.. quite a few differences
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 I did send you the step by step details in messenger of the 2 day visit
a day ago
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Dave *********
@Jeff ************
He did leave Thailand, that's what he said.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg ****
 from in Thailand without leaving? Where did you go
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 I left after non B work contract expired and left only to return under tourist exempt
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 Khon Kaen
a day ago
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Kim **********
@Greg ****
 how did you get the bank accounts
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Kim *********
 I’ve had a bank account for 10 years and 800k deposited. I came off a Non-O work visa and had to leave the country, so returned on a tourist exempt
a day ago
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Greg *****
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Garrett ***********
@Jeff ************
 You absolutely can change from a tourist visa to a Non-O in country. That's how most people do it.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 please tell me how, I don’t have a bank account and you can’t open one without a o visa
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 agent
a day ago
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Greg *****
@Jeff ************
 Non OA you can.. that’s why you are being told to leave the country as this is 1 of 2 ways to open a bank account on retirement.. the other is to use an agent (and don’t go to Bangkok bank I would recommend )
a day ago
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John **********
@Jeff ************
 you can't do it anywhere in Thailand without a bank account unless you can get an income affidavit from your embassy
a day ago
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John **********
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Max *************
@Jeff ************
 Yes,you can.That's a standard quite straight forward procedure at immigration. You listened to wrong immigration officer. I guess he wanted you to pay for the change of visa incl the 1 year extension.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Max ************
 when did you change yours over, what do I need to tell immigration to change visa from tourist to non o without leaving? What do I need to do? Please
a day ago
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Marianne ********
@Jeff ************
 You need a bank account.

That is your problem.

You can't get a bank account without a Non-O.

And you can't convert to a Non-O in country without a bank account and the seasoned money.

So in your case, you will need to go out of country to get your Non-O, because you do not fill the requirements to do the conversion in country.

And when you get back in with the Non-O, you'll have to get the bank anyway because the extension of stay requires it.
a day ago
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John **********
@Jeff ************
 firstly you need to open a bank account and put a minimum of 800k baht in it. You appear to be American so you must do that. Without a bank account you won't be able to get a Non-O anywhere inside Thailand
a day ago
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Reply to
John **********
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Marianne ********
@Jeff ************
 I changed from Visa Exemption to Non-O last year.

Should be possible with Tourist Visa as long as you have enough time left and you actually fill the requirements of the visa you are wanting to change to.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 you can't open a bank account on a tourist visa as of February this yr
21 hours ago
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Marianne ********
@Jeff ************
 Exactly.

You don't have a bank account. So you can not change to Non-O inside of Thailand.

If you had a bank account, with the seasoned money, there would be no problem changing visa inside of Thailand.
21 hours ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 new rules since last year
a day ago
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Jeff *************
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John **********
@Max ************
 not all immigration offices
a day ago
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Maxim ***********
If you don't have the 800k, you can do it with an agent.

10k for Non-O, 15k for 12 months extension.

Maybe more expensive the first time around.
19 hours ago
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Max *************
@John *********
 Please tell where you don't need for example 800k in a Thai bank if you change from tourist visa to a 90 days Non-O based on retirement. Isn't that a financial requirement?
a day ago
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John **********
@Max ************
 yes sure, what I was trying to say is that not all immigration offices are allowed to process in country conversion from a tourist visa to a Non-O visa. In which case the only option is to leave the country and apply for the Non-O elsewhere
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 what immigration office do I need to go to, I’ve been to Nakhon Sawan and Pattaya’s both same answer
a day ago
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Spencer *******
@Jeff ************
 I believe I have read online that it is only possible to do the conversion in country at I think and I could be wrong here Bangkok number 1. There is however one specific office in Thailand ( Bangkok) that will convert your visa subject to meeting the requirements for the visa you wish to change to.
a day ago
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Max *************
@John *********
 Yes, you're correct.But I wasn't talking about an immigration office out in the sticks in Isaan. 😎
a day ago
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John **********
@Max ************
 which is exactly the position the OP is in. He lives in Isaan.
a day ago
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Jeff *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I live in Nakhon Sawan and we went that immigration and to the Pattaya immigration both said the exact same thing, I have to leave Thailand to change visa
a day ago
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John **********
@Jeff ************
 Pattaya immigration won't do it for you because you don't live in their catchment area.
a day ago
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Max *************
@John *********
 Where in his post does it say he's staying in a province in Isaan?
a day ago
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John **********
@Max ************
 his previous post said he was in Nakhon Sawan. So maybe not strictly Isaan but definitely out in the sticks
a day ago
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Reply to
John **********
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Stuart *********
No embassies allow walk in applications anymore. It’s all done online.

************************


In Laos you do go in person to pay for the application after everything has been submitted online.
a day ago
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Stuart *********
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