Answered5 years ago

Is it advisable to enter Thailand on a visa exemption when planning to apply for a retirement visa (OA) while over 50?

Thailand Visa Rules Retirement Visa Visa Exemption Non-O Visa Immigration Assistance Expat Advice

Eugene ********

asked Jul 7, 2021

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Hi, I am from the UK and live in Vietnam (HCMC) where I have a residence card (TRC) and want to move to Thailand (CM eventually) ASAP. I am 50+ and have requisite funds for 'retirement visa'. 

My question is if i come on visa exemption is there any issue and enough time to get OA based on 50+ in country? Or should I get a visa?

Thanks in advance

Answer summary

The user, a UK citizen residing in Vietnam, inquires about the feasibility of entering Thailand on a visa exemption to apply for an OA retirement visa, determining if this method would allow enough time to complete the process. Respondents emphasize that the OA visa must be obtained outside of Thailand, suggesting that he should apply for a single-entry tourist visa upon arrival to allow time for transferring funds and applying for a Non-O visa before seeking the retirement extension.

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Tod *********

IF you can't do that, I'd say get a single entry tourist visa, come in get 60 days when you arrive and during that time get the bank account opened, get the 800K baht transferred into the account and then apply for first a 90 day non-O visa (note there is no A after the O) and then after you get that apply for the year extension based on retirement

5 years ago

Will ******

@Tod ********

can he put x amount in a month after that, like marriage visa?

5 years ago

John **********

@Will *****

yes but he will need 12 months of monthly transfers before he can use that option. To get the non-o and first years extension he's going to have to use the banked money method

5 years ago

Will ******

@John *********

good know thanks for great info.

5 years ago

Eugene ********

@Tod ********

Thanks for the speedy reply. I don't want to hang around while the police clearance is done and get the requisite paperwork from UK for the money. And risk getting infected here, without insurance. I want to go and get insured ASAP.

"I'd say get a single entry tourist visa, come in get 60 days when you arrive"

this means a 60 day visa? So the 45 day visa exempt is not possible?

5 years ago

Gregor **********

@Eugene ****************

the 60-days tourist visa actually will allow you to stay for 90 days, as you can extend it for 30 more days on Immigration. And this means it will give you the needed time to deposit the 800,000 THB in Thai bank account in your sole name, and apply for the in-country 90-days Non-Imm-O visa based on retirement, from which you can apply for the yearly extension of stay permit based on retirement . The requirement says that the 800K Baht must have seasoned in the account for two months on the day of application

5 years ago

Eugene ********

@Gregor *********

thanks!

5 years ago

Eugene ********

And for the 60 day (or the 45 day exemption) I need to have accommodation booked for the entire time I understand?

A million thanks

5 years ago

Eugene ********

@Tod ********

makes sense - just wanna avoid a trip into town to the embassy to get the visa - many thanks

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Eugene ****************

it all comes down to how fast you can get your shit together to get the bank account open, get the money transferred in and still have enough days left on your entry stamp to get the Non-O visa issued inside the country.

I said get a tourist visa because it gets you 60 days and you can extend it by 30 more .You do what ever you want to

5 years ago

Eugene ********

and a round trip ticket?

5 years ago

Tod *********

You can't get an O-A visa inside the country, you get that at a thai consulate in the country you're from or where you hold legal permanent residence.

Contact the thai consulates in HCMC or Hanoi and see if with that card that lets you live in Vietnam you can apply for the year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa there before you wing your way here

5 years ago