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How can my Swedish friend obtain a Thai retirement visa while currently in Sweden?
Retirement VisaNON-O VisaVisa Application ProcessFinancial RequirementsVisa on ArrivalVisa Exempt EntryThai Bank Account80k Baht RequirementImmigration Rules
Jan 15, 2026
4 months ago
Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI have a Swedish friend who is married to a Thai national and wants to apply for a retirement visa. He is over fifty and complies with all finantial requirements.
He is at present in Sweden and plans to return to Thailand in the the middle of February. The one problem I can see that he’s already used his two visa on arrival entitlement for twelve months. I’m a bit concerned he will be refused entry if he doesn’t have the appropriate visa. Advice please on how he can feturn to Thailand and obtain the appropriate visa. Will he have to obtain a visa in Sweden prior to returning to Thailand. Thanks in advance.
He is at present in Sweden and plans to return to Thailand in the the middle of February. The one problem I can see that he’s already used his two visa on arrival entitlement for twelve months. I’m a bit concerned he will be refused entry if he doesn’t have the appropriate visa. Advice please on how he can feturn to Thailand and obtain the appropriate visa. Will he have to obtain a visa in Sweden prior to returning to Thailand. Thanks in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A Swedish citizen married to a Thai national, wishing to apply for a retirement visa, must obtain the 90-day NON-O visa before returning to Thailand, as he has exhausted his visa-on-arrival entitlements. It is crucial for him to have a Thai bank account with 800,000 baht deposited for at least two months or consider a marriage-based extension requiring 400,000 baht. Applying for the NON-O visa in Sweden is recommended to facilitate his entry and retirement visa process in Thailand.
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Ian **********
First of all, he doesn't qualify for a visa on arrival, so I expect you are referring to a visa-exempt entry. There is no two-entry rule, but if your friend wants a retirement visa, then he can apply in Sweden for a Non-O visa based on retirement and take it from there. He needs to have 800k baht in a Thai bank in his name only for at least two months before he can apply for the 12-month extension. If he comes to Thailand and enters visa-exempt then he must already have a Thai bank account with 800k baht before he can get a Non-o, so best to get the Non-o before he comes. It is quite a simple process, but he could go down the married extension route as you only have to have 400k in the bank.
Alf ***********
Does he receive a state pension?
Unless he does he won't get a non-immigrant O-visa based on being over 50 years old from the Thai Embassy in Sweden.
Unless he does he won't get a non-immigrant O-visa based on being over 50 years old from the Thai Embassy in Sweden.
Jan ******************
@Alf **********
As I understand them, it’s still possible to apply for a Non O based on retirement as passed 50 years without a pension if you can prove a lump sum.Alf ***********
@Jan *****************
, according to a Swedish visa group, you can't. Even with a lump sum in your bank account you still need to show that you have at least some state pension (this may have changed recently).Probably the reason so many swedes have the O-A visa.
Jan ******************
@Alf **********
Okay, that is probably correct. Otherwise it would be quite inconsistent, but in that case the statement from the embassy is somewhat misleading.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alf **********
I don’t know where your getting your information from, but I’ve just Googled the question and they say you DON’T need to be in receipt of a state pension before applying a 90 day None O visa for Thailand. Perhaps you can confirm the source of your information.Jan ******************
@Frederick ********
He is right regarding pension. I found it so unusual that I actually emailed them at one point and got it confirmed. But as I understand them it still should be possible to apply based on a lump sum regardless of pension.Alf ***********
@Frederick ********
, the embassy in Stockholm doesn't.But by all means, just try...
The options are either an O-A visa or non-immigrant O based on thai wife.
Nongnuch ********
@Frederick ********
he might be correct. SOME Thai embassies, for example the Royal Thai Embassy of Vienna, Austria, does only issue a Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, if you are already a "real" pensioner. If you are not, they tell you to apply for the Non-Imm-O/A visa instead. I would write an email to the Royal Thai Embassy Stockholm and ask them what their stance isReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alf **********
do you know if your comment is 100% correct.Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you
Alf ***********
@Frederick ********
, yesReply to
Alf ***********
Reply
Johan ***************
I am not sure if it matters here, but please figure out if he has used visa-on-arrival or visa-exempt two times in the last year. Those are different things, and you might get completely wrong advice if you have that wrong. The number of days stayed last year might matter too.
Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Johan **************
he used the one where you get sixty days and then extend for another thirty days. Perhaps you can tell me which one this is as I’m not 1000% sure.Johan ***************
@Frederick ********
That is NOT "visa-on-arrival" (I believe max 15 days), it is "visa exempt" (60 days, possible to extend once by 30 days).You (and/or your friend) should look for solid information on the relevant embassy web pages. Unfortunately the Stockholm embassy is not great on providing reliable information (and sometimes are hard to deal with by phone/email).
I believe the Washington embassy to have much better web pages about this.
******************************************************************
Frederick *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Johan **************
yes it was a visa exempt so it appears he’s not entitled any more as he’s had two in the last few months.Reply to
Frederick *********
Reply
Nongnuch ********
@Frederick ********
this is the "visa exemption". A "visa on arrival" will only grant 15 days stay permit, and is only issued to citizens of three dozen countriesReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Deepak *******
Just get a non-o visa for a family visit.
Alan **********
He gets the 90-day Non-O in Sweden, and goes through the retirement process while in Thailand.
William ***********
Best option. Apply for the non O before leaving Sweden
Peter ********
Why can he not write by himself/ hvorfor kan han ikke selv skrive ?..... Er du værge for ham ?
Alan **********
@Peter *******
Why do you care ? Would the answer change ?Reply to
Alan **********
Reply
John **********
He won't be able to open a bank account on a tourist visa these days so unless he has one already he needs to get the 90 day Non-O visa before he travels. He can then open an account and transfer in the 800k baht required funds for the 12 months extension of stay
Mikkel *******
@John *********
he is Swedish, he doesn't have to transfer in 800K as the Swedish embassy still does income verification affidavits. He can just use that.Reply to
Mikkel *******
Reply
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