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How soon should we start the Non-O Retirement Visa application for our move to Chiang Mai?

Non-O Retirement Visa Thailand Visa Application Visas for Expats Chiang Mai Moving to Thailand Retirement in Thailand Thai Bank Account Requirements

Apr 30, 2026

a day ago

Vicki **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

My husband and I are planning to retire and move to Chiang Mai, arriving on Sept 1st. I know we need to apply for the Non-O Retirement Visa and that we should do the application in our home country (United States). My question is: how soon in advance of our planned arrival should we start the application process online with the Thai embassy? I understand we’ll have 90 days to complete the process once we apply and I know we’ll need to open a Thai Bank account and deposit 160,000 Baht once we get there. Any guidance on timing and order of operations would be helpful as I wasn’t entirely clear on this from my research. Thanks in advance for the advice!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is inquiring about the timeline for applying for a Non-O Retirement Visa to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, specifically how soon before their arrival on September 1st they should initiate the application process at the Thai embassy in the US. Responses suggest starting the application 6 to 8 weeks in advance of their planned departure to allow for any necessary adjustments, as the visa is valid for use within 90 days of issuance. Additionally, there's clarification needed on the bank deposit requirement for the visa.

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Cliff *********

6-8 weeks prior to your planned departure.

Side Question: have you ever visited CM before?

20 hours ago

Wannikea *********

Where do you live in the US? That determines which consulate will handle your application. I'd say about 6 weeks before you intend to arrive.

a day ago

Brandon ************

The visa is valid to use for 90 days once the embassy issues it. That means you can submit the application anytime within 90 days of your trip to Thailand. Probably best to do it about 60 days before your planned departure date so you leave yourself some flexibility if needed.

Once you arrive within the 90 days the visa allows, you'll receive a 90-day entry stamp into Thailand. I'm not sure if you putting "160,000 baht" is a typo or what, but it's 800,000 baht per person.

a day ago

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Brandon ************

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Can I apply for a Non-Immigrant O Retirement visa earlier if I plan to move to Thailand in November?

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