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How early can I apply for renewal of my retirement visa in Thailand?

Retirement Visa Visa Renewal NON-OA Visa Immigration Process Thai Immigration Office Long-term Visa Yellow Book Application Driving License in Thailand

Sep 23, 2025

3 days ago

Yeo **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I am currently on retirement visa applied in my home country. It is expiring on 1 December 2025. Anyone has any idea how early can I apply for renewal of the 1 year visa? I am from Singapore, so retirement visa's duration is only for 1 year. I tried calling Thai Embassy in Singapore but no one picked up the phone.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about how early they can apply for a renewal of their retirement visa, which is set to expire on December 1, 2025. They are currently living in Thailand on a retirement visa obtained from the Thai Embassy in Singapore. Community comments suggest that renewal options vary by location, with some offices allowing applications up to 45 days in advance, while others permit 30 days. It is also clarified that the original visa cannot be renewed; instead, you can apply for a one-year extension based on being over 50 years old, provided you meet financial requirements. There are discussions about the user's additional concern regarding a Thai driving license and whether they can obtain a yellow book based on their building permit.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Nongnuch ********

@Yeo *********

and watch your wording: if you entered on a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, you were stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. The visa itself expired/became invalid upon entry! You are In Thailand on a "stay permit". And the only thing Immigration will "extend for one year", is the stay permit you are on. You can apply for the "1-year extension of temporary stay permit based on retirement" up from 30 days left on the 90-days stay permit stamp. You need to fulfill the financial requirements (either bank letter proof of a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account since 2 months, or an embassy certified "income addidavit" over a monthly minimum of 65,000 THB income)

2 days ago

Yeo **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

I entered on a 1 year retirement visa issued by Thai Embassy in Singapore. Not 90 days. That expires on 1 Dec, so I am wondering how early can I start my renewal process. Can I start it in October or do I have to wait until November

2 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Yeo *********

a 1-year Non-Imm-O/A Visa is not a "retirement visa". A 1-year Non-Imm-O/A visa is a so called "Longstay Visa". A visa can technically NOT get extended. You have TWO options: Change from the current stay permit to a "1-year Extension of the Temporary Stay Permit based on an O/A Longstay Visa" by fulfilling the financial and health insurance requirements. You can start this process up from 30 days before your current stay permit expires. You need either a deposit of 800,000 THB on your Thai (!) bank account which must have seasoned by 2 months on the day you apply for the extension, OR show an embassy certified "income affidavit" over an income of monthly minimum of 65,000 THB . . . . . . OR you renew your health insurance for one more year and after this make a "border bounce" just before the O/A visa validity expires, show the proof of insurance at the border upon entry and then you will get stamped in for a last time for another 1-year (or maximum until the health insurance is valid until). If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask here

2 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Yeo **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry, I missed an important information. I wanted the long term visa to renew my Thai driving licence, which is expiring in January 2026. Also, I am building a house, expecting completion end of this year. As building permit is in my name, I am thinking of applying for yellow book with that. So, alternatively, does anyone know if I can get the yellow book just based on the building permit or do I need long term visa?

2 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Yeo *********

you can only get a yellow housebook once the building is finished and a blue housebook has been issued. The yellow housebook is just a subsidary for a foreigner for the lack of being able to get mentioned in a blue housebook

2 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Marty *********

You do not need to do a border bounce. You can extend for 1 year at Thai Immigration but you have to have qualifying insurance.

3 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Marty ********

if she entered on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa, she doesn't need proof of health insurance for the application to the 1-year extension of the stay permit. Only if she really confused her 365-days Longstay Non-Imm-O/A visa with a Non-O visa, then she has TWO options: either do the border bounce and get another 1-year stay permit stamp of for as long as her existing health insurance is still valid, or apply for the 1-year extension (which would require a Thai private tgia-listed health insurance)

2 days ago

Marty *********

@Nongnuch *******

People frequently advise those on an OA to do a border bounce to get a 2nd year. You can do a border bounce but you don’t need to do a border bounce. You can extend after 1 year on an OA.

I had an OA for 6 years. I got it before the insurance requirement. I switched to an LTR in 2023. It was helpful to have already had Thai insurance to meet the insurance requirement for the LTR.

These days I recommend the O and not the OA but everyone’s needs and wants are different. Thailand has a lot a visa options but that also makes the visa environment complicated.

2 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Marty ********

yes, you have the option to convert from the 1-year stay permit out of a O/A visa to the 1-yer Extension of Temporary Stay Permit, instead of doing a border run to get stamped into a second year. Is what I was saying! The downside of going into a "1-year extension" (EOS) is, that from now on you need the 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account, and Immigration does not accept a foreign health insurance any more (except if they acknowledge that you are under the "grandfathering clause"). And correct, I would not recommend the O/A for anyone who wishes to stay longterm in Thailand, as if you start with the Non-Imm-O visa, you keep your freedom of choice regarding the health insurance

2 days ago

Marty *********

@Nongnuch *******

You will need that 800,000฿ in a Thai bank account to get a 1 year extension of an O visa. You will need it sooner rather than later if you arrive on an O visa. You need to open a bank account that first month to season the 800k for 2 months before applying for the 1 year extension.

2 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Marty ********

exactly. The clock is running. That's why I do not recommend to waste much time running around trying different banks and meet incompetent bank staff, in vain. Get a 5000 THB agent service and you have a bank account opened within 2 days

2 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Paul *******

You cannot renew your visa. Once it reaches its expiry date it is finished and cannot be renewed, However, you can the apply to your Immigration Office for an extension of stay based on being over 50 years. There are many Immigration offices in Thailand and some have different criteria on how early you apply, so you need to seek advice from your Immigration office.

3 days ago

Graham ******

Sounds like you are on a Non-OA visa if you got it at the Singapore Embassy so renew your insurance and do a border bounce just before your Non-OA expires (not your 12 month extry stamp) to get a new 12 month stamp when you re-enter (or a stamp up to the end of your insurance if less than 12 months).

3 days ago

Stuart *********

Depends on the office you use. Some like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and possibly others allow 45 days. Most others allow 30 days.

3 days ago

Reply to

Stuart *********

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