How can we apply for a long-term holiday visa in Thailand without secured accommodation?

@Nongnuch *******

You may be right .

But it is there rules .

@Robert ********

is what I am saying: 6 months, no problem. But if someone starts to squeeze the maximum of 9 months out of the METV every year, Immigration won't allow you to play

@Todd ********

what is funny about getting lucky? Believe me I've also had bad luck. But financial wise I didn't do much. Extremely lucky investments.

@Wayne *******

clearly you dont understand their question critical thinking is a must.

They have not been here and dont understand terminology.

They are looking for a 1 yr visa and they exist. Its called a retirement visa and I know many people who only stay in thailand 3-5 months of the year with a Non-o A visa for "holiday" reasons to escape winter back home. Again critical thinking is a must

@Nongnuch *******

Exactly who was talking about Non O/A visa. Sabrina’s post certainly wasn’t 🤷‍♂️

@Wayne *******

you are dead wrong and Sabrina is wrong, too . . . . . the Non-Imm-O/A visa is a "Longstay Visa". . . . The "retirement visa" can be SIX different visa and extensions.. . . . . . You should read what I wrote above!

@Nongnuch *******

O/A, read Sabrina’s post

@Wannikea ********

only because it is referred as a "retirement visa" from barstools and pubs in Thailand, it doesn't make it more true. There are 6 different visa and extensions that can be referred to as "retirement visa" . . . . . with regards and thanks to Robert Lagas, who wrote this!

Once more, because people try to give advice based on what they think is a "Retirement Visa"

First of all, you DO not have to be retired to apply for this visa. You however need to be 50 years or older

Second is that all options have DIFFERENT rules, regulations and requirements.

So please read and try not to give incorrect advice by using the requirements for a different type of visa or extension of stay.

What is a retirement visa?

It is a phrase used by foreigners and Immigration and it could be 6 different types of visa or stay permits, with different rules, regulations and requirements

OR

it could even be an 1 year Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age and willing to sit out the rest of their life inside Thailand.

It is easy to type “retirement visa”, but very difficult to understand which option the person refers to

Options are:

1. Single Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age

2. Multiple Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age (it got discontinued by October 2023 and is not available any more)

3. Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age without entry by conversion at local immigration office

4. Non Immigrant O-A visa (Long Stay)

5. Non Immigrant O-X visa

6. Long Term Residency (LTR) visa

7. Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age and willing to sit out the rest of their life inside Thailand (stamp from Immigration, which is not a visa)

ONLY for options 3, 5 and 7 the applicant needs a bank account in Thailand or a Certificate of Income from their Embassy.

Option 2 cannot be applied for any more, since all Thai Embassies and Consulates took it out of the E-visa program.

Option 3 is applied for by conversion of your Visa Exempt Entry or Tourist Visa at your local Immigration Office inside Thailand.

Option 6 is applied for with support of BOI Thailand

Option 7 is applied for at your local Immigration Office AFTER you used a Non-Immigrant visa.

Other options are applied for at a Thai Consulate OR for those countries who are legit, on-line.

Thanks for reading this long explanation.

@Nongnuch *******

yeah I wrote retirement/50+ because it's pretty much talked about colloquially as a retirement visa

@Andrew *******

yeah I read your word salad. Before and now. Suggest you give it up. OA hardly fits anyone as a tourist visa alternative. You got some DJT genes?

@Keryn *****

the discussion helps people. Andrew inane onslaughts of virulent stupidity helps nobody

@Todd ********

it helps every one!! There is no need to be disrespectful and rude to anyone. Some comments on this site are straight out nasty. People come here for advise. Not to be ridiculed or verbally abused. Scares people away from asking questions. Especially when keyboard warriors step in. Not just this post but most of the posts on this site. I was always taught. If you can’t say something nice. Don’t say anything at all.

@Andrew *******

in all fairness, Stuart has handed you your ass here again. It's like you came to a gunfight armed with toothpicks. I don't know how much more of an online ass kicking you can take without just hiding your head for awhile in humiliation. Take a breather, do some reading. Look for a personality while on your break.

@Keryn *****

who does that help?

@Stuart ********

why do you not ban Andrew Romine from this group? He is rude and disrespectful.

@Andrew *******

You are obviously just in this group to show how much of an asshole you are. If someone asks for apples you tell them to buy oranges and then try to explain your misguided reasoning behind doing so.

@Max ************

the Non-Imm-O is the "retirement visa". . . . The Non-Imm-O/A is the "Longstay" visa. Are you able to read? What do you see in the above post ?

@Nongnuch *******

The O-A was also for many years known as a retirement visa at several embassies in Europe. The 50 year of age requirement has nothing to do with the official retirement age in western countries.

@Max ************

the Non-O/A visa is not based on retirement. Because you needn't be retired to obtain this visa. You just have to be 50 or older. The Non-Imm-O/A visa is called "Longstay Visa" by every Thai embassy

@Andrew *******

Yes, but it's not s tourist visa,it's a 1 year visa based on retirement. How people are using it is totally irrelevant. Correct terminology is important when discussing different types of visa.

@Regina *********

There are idiots of every nationality.

@Regina *********

he is unfortunately.

@Andrew *******

it's not a tourist visa meathead. Why are you such a prick?

@Andrew *******

you are completely wrong. The Non-O/A Visa is neither a tourist visa, nor is it a retirement visa. The Non-Imm-O/A visa is called the "Longstay Visa" by all Thai embassies. Now you better show some character and apologize for your part, to

@Stuart ********

@Andrew *******

American?

@Andrew *******

You are so darn rude.. and just to let you know that your conceited tone is not a good look! Especially when you are wrong about being right! The OA wanted a 1-yr tourist visa and Stuart is absolutely right when he says it doesn't exist. There are numerous visa's that may allow you to stay in country for a year.. but not as a tourist.. the immigration website is clear on this fact.. so please refrain from your playground antics and show some respect to a guy that regularly goes out of his way to help people.. enuff said!

@Sabrina *********

to answer your question - no, you don't need a long term lease as a requirement for a visa. That being said, you do have to meet certain other requirements (age, financial, etc) to be approved for any of the multiple visas that everyone has mentioned.

@Sabrina *********

Stuart Cummings works for immigration so trust his advice. The other guy, Andrew, is just a foolish guy likes to argue.

@Andrew *******

Are you seriously kidding me, questioning

@Stuart ********

, the moderator of this group and one of the most well-known expats for visa advice in Thailand. As he mentioned, he even works for the Phuket immigration office. You look moronic questioning his credentials when he has been around forever helping tens of thousands of people with very good advice, often better than any other expat due to his role working for immigration. You owe him an apology when he is correct that the O-A is a non-immigrant visa, which most definitely is not a tourist visa. It's closer to being a long-term residence visa than anything else. He's been far kinder to you than most people would be when you accuse one of the actual experts on Thai visas and immigration of not knowing better.

@Andrew *******

holy crap you are a dumbass. Is English your first language?

@Andrew *******

You're a bit wrong about the O-A visa. It's not a tourist visa. The only existing tourist visa is the 60-days visa you can apply for back home.

@Andrew *******

You are 100% correct that I am not in Thailand. I arrived in Australia today on holiday. I have however lived for the best part of the last 37 years in Thailand. I also work for immigration in Phuket. But you can think that I don’t know what I am talking about if you like.

@Andrew *******

The OP asked about a tourist visa for one year. They didn’t specify their age, where they were applying for one or whether they had a police check or a medical. Why would I suggest a visa that I have no clue whether they could or possibly couldn’t obtain?

I told them that a one year tourist visa doesn’t exist.

@Stuart ********

when people ask questions you answer them they are looking for a 1 year visa that does exist later in comments it was explained what visa they can get as tourist i explained what 1 yr visa exists for further information if they qualify for.

Perhaps you need to stop using google to respond to people or listen to what they are asking. They are interested in a 1 yr visa there is an option. I know people with the 1 year visa for exactly what they are looking for.

Just stop this is the 3rd time I have proven your wrong with yoir Google info helps of you are actually in thailand

If you are in thailand you are purposely giving out wrong info in here

@Sabrina *********

its ok the guy responding to me isnt in thailand and only goes off limited google info.

@Andrew *******

A non immigrant visa is not a tourist visa. There’s various different types for varing lengths but they are not considered tourist visas.

A typical tourist visits for a week or more and returns home. They have visas for those type of people (many don’t even need a visa).

Yes a Non OA allows a stay for a year but that’s considered a “retirement” visa (one of various ones that are called that). Completely different from a tourist visa as it requires that the applicant is over 50, has health insurance, has a police background check and a medical. Not something a typical tourist would either have or could be bothered to do.