Is it better to arrive in Thailand on a 60-day visa and then apply for a retirement visa?

You could definitely get a conversion from a touristic entry, for a fee of 2000 THB, to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa on Immigration inside Thailand.

It is however, only possible if (!) your embassy in Bangkok is still issuing an income affidavit, confirming you make more than monthly 65,000 THB of income.

Using the income affidavit renders superfluous the need having to get a bank account opened, which is not possible on a touristic entry.

The embassies of USA, Australia, UK, Sweden, Canada and Norway have discontinued to issuing income affidavits. Citizens of these countries would need 800,000 THB sitting in an already existing Thai bank account.

You would need a rental contract of a minimum of three months on most Immigration offices.

Then armed with the initial 90-days visa, you could get a Thai bank account opened.

You can apply for the one-year extension of stay before the 90-days out of the initial Non-Imm-O visa expire. You would again need another income affidavit from your embassy. The fee of this application is 1900 THB.

*** However, since your embassy isn't issuing an income affidavit anymore, then only two options are open:

EITHER

use an agent and buy the "full package" (costs up from 45,000 THB to 80,000 THB) the "full package" meaning the opening of a bank account, initial 90-days Non-O visa and subsequent 12-months extension, by circumventing existing laws and rules.

OR

apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa outside of Thailand, or better, in your home country using original documents in your home country's language, enter Thailand, open the Thai bank account as soon as possible and transfer your own funds of a minimum of 800,000 THB into it.

As soon as the deposit has matured in your account for two months, apply for the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement”, for a fee of 1900 Baht.

60 day tourist visa u cannot open bank account so get a Non O

The Non-O 90 retirement visa is a t start but, Due to the tight window including having the 800K sit for 60days. they have to get the bank account opened and loaded in the first two weeks. The banks can be a problem. Avoid the stress and pay an Visa Agent to do it while you can focus on accommodations and fun.

It's a bit like buying the car and then doing the driving license. As others said, it definitely makes more sense to apply for the non-o instead of the tourist visa.

Not the best way unless u already have a thai bank acct OR agent assistance.....most ppl apply for 90days nonO retirement in the thai embassy outside of thailand and enter with it....its the main requirements for applying for a thai bank acct

No, get your Non–O E–Visa based on over 50 Years old "Retirement" from a Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate Before traveling to Thailand

Simple answer - NO!

Unless you already have a Thai bank account with at least 800k THB, you're going to have to pay around 50k THB to convert from a tourist visa to Non-O in country. Much easier to apply BEFORE arriving in Thailand.

No. Silly idea. Why apply for the wrong visa then try and change it.

I would recommend applying for your Non-O Retirement Visa before you depart your home country. That will give you a 90-day visa. If you are planning to stay in Thailand for more than 90 days, then shortly after arrival you must open your Thai bank account and deposit the required 800k THB. Let that deposit "season" for 2 months, then you can apply for your 1 year extension before your initial 90-day visa expires. Do NOT let that initial 90-day visa expire before you get your extension. That's why you must open your bank account and deposit the 800k as soon as possible after arriving in Thailand.

They don’t have 60 day Visa any more

A grade, get your non-o before arriving, and get all your facts lined up, including your cash, before arrival.

Then start the plural process of trying to open a bank account, and your immigration application.

Technically, they want three months of seasoned cash, but the Non-o only gives you two months.

Still, if you can open the account, that’s half the battle.

If you want to stream line, or improve your chances of success, I would suggest contacting an agent for some consultative adevice.

Often the advices free, but they will certainly improve your odds of success and getting your retirement visa

@Onestop *****

is the location. I always referred to.

No, get your Non-O first