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If I am on an O Retirement visa, am I considered a resident in Thailand?

retirement visa Thai residency NON-O visa tax residency expat living in Thailand

Sep 23, 2025

3 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Would like to know .if I’m on o retirement visa am I considered a resident ?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A person on a retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O visa) in Thailand is considered a resident in terms of living in the country but is not classified as a permanent resident. While living in Thailand for over 180 days makes one a tax resident, it does not confer other residency rights.

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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Phil ******

No

you are a non resident

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Daniel ******

LTR 10 years tax exempt! Nice!

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Roberto *********

I'm retiree so rest of my life tax exempt! Nice!

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Roberto *********

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Mike ******

Define what you mean by the word resident first. Without doing so hard to give meaningful answer.

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David ******

No and you never will be.

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Rob **********

yes you can qualify for Thai permanent residency, it is not as hard as many people think.

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David ******

how many people do you know who have it? 99% never will that's for sure.

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Rob **********

I know at least 15 people who have achieved it and of that 8 have gone onto get citizenship.

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Rob **********

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

it is for someone on a retirement visa. Impossible, actually.

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Rob **********

@Brandon ***********

correct Brandon, I should have said if you qualify it isn’t a hard process. I have 15 friends that have achieved it , and I will be doing it myself next year, after 46 years traveling and living here, and being married to my Thai wife for the last 37 years and having had a work permit for the last 6 years.

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Rob **********

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Roger ********

The only possible answer is No - you do not want to know. Ignorance is, after all, bliss.

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Simon *********

For tax, yes, everything else no

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Graham ******

@Simon ********

The visa you have does not determine tax status (except LTR)

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Simon *********

length of stay does... Which is determined by visa...

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Todd *********

@Simon ********

your visa determine max length of stay. Not length of stay

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Graham ******

@Simon ********

Agreed but a Non-O retirement visa is 90 days so that does not make you a tax resident

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Simon *********

the average joe doesn't know the intricacies of a retirement visa and an extension of stay based on retirement...

Since 90 days isn't much of a retirement and considering the context of the question, it's safe to assume the OP is referring to longer term stay...

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Graham ******

@Simon ********

Seems clear to me "I’m on o retirement visa"

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Simon *********

if you think someone might consider a 3 month stay as residency...

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Simon *********

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Pete *******

The Non Immigrant visa confirms you as resident for the purposes of the Land Transport Act, that’s about it.

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Colin ***************

Non resident.

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John **********

What kind of resident do you mean? If are here 180 days or more in any calendar year you are automatically a tax resident but other than that have no particular residence rights

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Stuart *********

As in living here yes. As in Thai residence (permanent) no.

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Stuart *********

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