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How long does it take to obtain a Non-O visa for Thailand and what are the requirements?

Non-O Visa Retirement Visa Visa Application Process Visa Services in Thailand Bank Account Opening in Thailand

Aug 19, 2025

5 days ago

Donald **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Working in Kazakhstan and returning to Thailand soon, so decided to finally apply for a non-O as a prelude to getting a retirement visa. Been on my agenda for a while. Wanted to be able to open a bank account next visit.

1. Submitted application online on Thursday night.

2. Received a request to send a copy of my Kazakh work visa on Friday and did so on Friday evening.

3. Received my non-O visa this evening (Monday) at 21:25!

Lots of very negative people on some of these Thailand forums. Perhaps it’s the price of living through daily hangovers that causes the negativity towards Thailand? A form of alcohol induced depression, maybe not helped by their lifestyle and continually trying to beat the system? Anyway, just a thought.

How quickly would foreign people wanting to visit the home country, of many of these tourists/retirees, have to wait to get a visa granted and how many hoops would they have to jump through? 

Round of applause for the visa service of the Thai government!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user shares their successful experience applying for a Non-O visa online, which they received quickly after submitting additional documentation. They express gratitude towards the Thai visa service while contrasting their experience with complaints they see online. Some comments clarify the distinction between the Non-O visa and extension processes, suggesting that a Non-O visa is indeed related to retirement for those over 50. The conversation also touches on the comparative ease of obtaining Thai visas versus others in different countries.

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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David *******

Just to clarify. A non-O is a retirement visa. What you will get in Thailand is an extension of stay for 12 months

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Max *************

You did some editing of your very poorly written post,but maybe you should edit the last part starting with "How quickly...." Reading it and trying to understand it gives me headache.

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Max *************

With your attitude you should maybe stay in Kazakhstan. And before you click on the blue arrow read your post and check for errors, because there are a few.

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Tony *****

I’m looking forward to the follow on from this post once in Thailand and trying to open a bank account without the aid of an agent 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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Wannikea *********

A non O based on being over 50 is a retirement visa. Your next step is entering Thailand, putting 800k baht into a Thai bank in your name, waiting 2 months and applying for an extension

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Mark *********

For me it is much easier to get a Thai visa than for my wife to get one to Britain, Canada, EU or USA.

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Nongnuch ********

sure it is. You are absolutely right. It is a shame that our Thai wives are treated like criminals

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John *********

@Nongnuch *******

I am lucky that my Thai wife is smarter than the Thai women working at the US Embassy Bangkok whose job is to deny every visa.

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Mark *********

@Nongnuch *******

Yes. It took us two years, 3 applications and close to 10 thousand dollars for my Thai wife to get a Permanent Residentvisa for Canada. Last year we went to England-another 1,500 bucks for a visa. Same this year when we went to France. And even though she is a legal Permanent Resident in Canada, to go to the US, even on a cruise ship it is another visa, a few hundred dollars and a two year wait to get an interview. Yes, comparatively, Thailand is a piece of cake and very open.

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Mark *********

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Nongnuch ********

Donald Campbell . . maybe you should search for the alcoholic destitution starting with yourself. You said you applied for the Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. And then you said that you have been issued a Non-Imm-O-B visa (for working in Thailand) . . that's where you are wired: "Received my non-O work visa this evening (Monday) at 21:25!" 😂😅

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Donald **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

Well I haven’t had a drink for about 10 days as I’ve been working nightshift here. I will indeed have a beer or 10 when I get the opportunity but I won’t be moaning about Thailand while I’m in my cups.

The ‘work’ addition to the non-O was a typo by the way, that I haven’t been able to correct yet. Plain non-O.

Now you can get back onto your Sam song and relax with your farang compadres, without the requirement of having to worry about my apparent alcoholic destitution.

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Nongnuch ********

@Donald *********

and I prefer to stay alone, I live in the Isaan with my large Thai family, I avoid to mate with Farang barstool loudmouths

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Nongnuch ********

@Donald *********

Sam never song any song . . . . . . . . . that stuff is called "Sang Som", it is a typical Thai "whisky" destilled from sugarcane (so actually a kind of a "rum"). I add some brown sugar, a few drops of vanilla extract, and some drops of artificial "smoke". It makes the 289.- THB Sang Som the cheaper alternative against the 1480 THB Jack Daniels, if I close my eyes it almost tastes the same as the Lynchburg sip

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Donald **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

Prefer Cognac myself although I did drink UK dark rum in my youth. Always found JD inconsistent in comparison with single malt Scotch Whisky. Not fond of sweet mixers so used to drink the JD neat for the period of time I drank it. Some bottles were OK but some a bit ‘hot’, hence the inconsistency. Only ever had a couple of glasses of Thai Whiskey, at family events, but it is similar in taste to the spicy rums that were popular in the UK for a time. Not really my tipple. There is a big Thai Whiskey ‘distillery’ in the province and maybe 25km away. Might give it more consideration in the future, when I have time on my hands.

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Nongnuch ********

you would love a good Bourbon if you ever came across one. Jack Daniels actually is an "industry-whisky". The smokey charcoal taste is artificially added. You would love real Bourbons, like Noah's Mill or Broker's 7-years batch. Buffalo Trace, Four Roses Single Barrel, Knob Creek, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve Distillers Select. Hard to get by if you don't live in the touristic areas. If you succeed to find a Woodford's Reserve in a Thai beverage shop, I suggest to have a go for it. I once on a party overthrew on Irish whisky, and since then I can't stand the smell of it. Scotch, I prefer a good Bunnahabhaim or Coal Ila with a shot of lemon

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Nongnuch ********

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