Is it better to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then apply for a retirement visa with an agency?

Thai visa centre...they are excellent no hassle and quick...I would rather pay the money then mess around doing it yourself

Sonny Peterson . . .. well, and since you said you don't have own funds, then your next option is arriving on a tourist visa or visa-exempt, and buy the "full package" from an agent, so you can get around all existing rules and laws.

This means: get a bank account opened, the agent parks the required funds for a few minutes, applies for the initial 90-days visa, and applies for the 1-year extension.

The price for such a service starts at 45,000 THB and can reach 80,000 THB.

The downside: you will have to use the agent again and again, for all yearly extensions, because you are constantly violating against the rules for the upkeep of funds you don't own. You need to pay agents and Immigration to ignore it.

I would think it is better to get the 90 day Non-O based on Retirement at Home Country before coming to Thailand

Seeing as you come from a police state I can understand why you think you need an FBI background check. You don't and the FBI holds no sway in Thailand in any case.

Up to you

@Mick, Aynsley

"You’ll need flight details (I also had a cheap onward flight"

That is not correct. With Non O 90 days retirement visa, no need for onward flight. Indeed, how would one know when they are exiting Thailand if they are on a 3 months Non O visa and then get 1 year extension?

To apply for the non-o 90 day retirement visa in your home country you just need to show the equivalent of 800,000 THB (£) in your home bank account's latest statement (which you must do quite quickly to travel first of October). The evisa website application process is a bit fiddly but if you get problems you can ask for help on here. Don't apply for an OA as that means compulsory insurance forever!

You better do it from your country. Check the web site of the thai embassy.

Avoid paying. Ask here.

I think many are missing the point of the OP’s post. He said, “I don’t have $25 grand to dump in bank. I get $5500 dollars a month. I’ve got 20g put back to cover housing expenses etc. does the non- o require that money in bank to stay a year? Honestly forgive me I’m new to this trying to figure it out. My trip is for October 1. Thanks.”

There are several roads leading to the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa and to the subsequent “1-year Extension of Temporary Stay Permit based on retirement”, which is a long-term stay permit

MIND YOUR WORDING:

you do not apply for the “retirement visa” on Immigration after you have entered Thailand on the “90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa” you obtained through the E-Visa online system outside of Thailand.

When you enter Thailand on the 90-days “Non-Imm-O retirement visa”, you get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. The visa itself will become invalid or “used”. It cannot get “extended”. This is technically just not possible. Don’t fall for the wrong wording used by Thai Immigration, for whom a visa and a stay permit erroneously are the same thing.

I am talking about the most common misunderstanding regarding the rules for applying for the “retirement visa” and the subsequent “one-year extension of stay permit based on retirement”. Misunderstandings happen because a “retirement visa” can mean seven (!) different visas and stay permits, but please let’s remain on topic. The most erroneous wording is from people who call the 1-year extended stay permit a “retirement visa” – a mistake that always makes me cringe.

*** The best way is to show up in Thailand on a “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement/over 50 visa”. It will get you stamped in for 90-days stay permit. Within this 90-days period, you have plenty of time to arrange for the application to the “1-year extended stay permit”.

The important fact is, that entering on this visa-type enables you to get a Thai bank account opened. If you enter on a tourist visa or visa-exempt, you cannot get a Thai bank account opened any more since February 2025. Only a handful of agents offer a service around the law, and it costs up from 45,000 Baht and I have already been quoted 90,000 Baht.

There is NO mandatory health insurance or a police record check or a medical checkup required for the Non-O visa-type. These are requirements only for the application to the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa, which is a completely different visa-type.

You will need the Thai bank account in case you want to convert the 90-days stay permit into a “1-year extension of the stay permit”.

You can theoretically fly on a one-way ticket because this visa allows you to receive a long-term stay in Thailand. Some airlines might not accept this explanation and will ask you for an onward travel proof out of Thailand within these 90 days, that’s why you should communicate with them by email and see what they say.

In order to apply for the “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” through the online E-visa system at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country or any other country, you can

EITHER

use proof of income of a monthly minimum of 65.000.- THB, by using your original pension or other income documentation,

OR

you can use a deposit of a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in your home country currency, or on your home bank account, or on your Thai bank account (if you got one), or just anywhere in the World – as long as it is in your sole name.

Most Thai embassies will require 3 months of account statements. You need to check the website of the embassy you will use for the exact info.

ATTENTION! . . .For the application inside Thailand to the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement”, the financial proof will be slightly different. You cannot use any original income/pension documents from your home country.

If you are a citizen of a country whose embassy in Bangkok does not issue a certified “income affidavit” any more –

(which are the embassies of USA, Canada, UK, Norway and Australia)

you would need a “12 months bank statement” showing that for the past 12 months, you have been transferring from abroad to your Thai bank account a minimum of 65,000 THB, consecutively month for month, not missing a single month.

If your embassy still issues a certified affidavit of income, you can use it for the financial proof. You would need a monthly income or pension of a minimum of 65,000 THB.

For British, Canadian, Norwegian, Australian and U.S. citizens, in the first year there is no other way around than depositing a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account - at least in the first year

The alternative would be, if you don’t have that kind of money or are not willing to deposit 24,000 Dollar in a Thai Bank account, is paying an agent to “arrange” the requirements to get around the law.

As soon as you have accumulated 12 consecutive months of 65,000 THB transfers, month for month, you can apply for the next 1-year extension of the stay permit, using the 12-months bank statement. After been issued the next extension, you can theoretically take your 800,000 THB out of your bank account.

There is a fee of 1900 THB for the application to a 1-year extension, and you can theoretically do it all by yourself. You are free to accept the help of an agent for the simplified legal service.

NOTE: It is income OR deposit.

There is a third method, called the “combination method”: A combination mix of income and deposit.

Some immigrations don’t allow the combination method in the first year.

And some Immigrations want the deposit part to exceed a minimum of 400,000 THB.

The combination method means that the sum of the deposit AND the monthly income exceeds 800,000 THB in one year.

But let’s continue with the “normal method” (visa issued in your home country, followed by the application to the 1-year extension inside Thailand):

On the day of application to the 1-year extension, the 800,000 THB must have “seasoned” in your account for two months, and this has to be confirmed with the “bank letter of guarantee” (in Thai: rab roong thanakan).

After been issued the “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, the 800K need to remain in the account for 3 more months. After these 3 months, the deposit shall never go under 400,000 THB. And before the application for the next “1-year Extension of Stay”, a minimum of 800,000 THB must have seasoned in the account for two months, again.

On the day you get issued the “1-year extension of stay permit”, you should buy a re-entry permit.

A re-entry permit will keep your 1-year stay permit alive and valid in case you want to travel around and exit Thailand before the expiry of the extension.

A single re-entry permit is 1000 THB on Immigration. A multi re-entry is 3800 THB. On a multi re-entry permit stamped, you can exit and re-enter as many times as you wish during the whole 1-year stay permit period.

Again, watch your wording, because many people fail in doing so: the re-entry permit is not a “re-entry visa”. It is just a permit.

For an in-country "change of visa type" from the tourist visa or visa-exempt entry to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, you need an already existing Thai bank account with 800,000 THB minimum already sitting in it on the day you apply on Immigration for the "change". Unless your embassy in Bangkok still issues an income affidavit over a minimum of monthly 65,000 THB – then you won’t need the bank account to apply for the “change”.

The problem is: on touristic entries, you cannot get a Thai bank account opened any more (unless you are willing to fork out a large sum of money (up from 45,000 THB) to agents who are willing and able to get around the law)

That’s why it is recommended to arrive on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa you acquired outside of Thailand, as on this visa you can easily get a bank account opened, and will be able to apply for the “Retirement Extension of the Stay Permit” as soon as the deposit has seasoned in your account for 2 months

You are going to get a lot of smart ass comments from som of the people in this group, mainly because they let anyone join. As a fellow vet I recommend joining a vets group as your primary help, and use this group as secondary guidance.

The better way, not the only way, is to obtain a 90 day non o visa from your countries Thai embassy based on retirement. It’s all done on line and you’ll need to show proof of address plus some other documents as well as having 800k bht (equivalent) in your bank account. You’ll need flight details (I also had a cheap onward flight) and an address in Thailand. Can be a hotel. Once you’re here look for a short term rental of 3 months. It can be longer and you can look for a place before you travel on the various FB pages. Don’t sign anything though and view the place once you’re in Thailand. Then you can open a bank account and sort out health insurance. I use AIA. Then I contacted

@THAI *****************************

who sorted out my 12 month extension again based on retirement. Another way, if you have time, is to apply for the retirement visa from your home country. Then the same process but you won’t need an agent until you need to extend 12 months later. For this you will need the police and health report which you don’t need for the other method. If you come in on a tourist visa or visa exemption I think it’s a bit more complicated but can be done using an agent. There are many agents but I’ve only used Thai visa Centre as they were recommended to me. This was all done in Bangkok which is now my home. If you’re doing it in pattaya I’m sure someone can recommend an agent there. Bit of a long reply but hope it helps, all based on my experience. You’ll get a lot of people saying don’t use an agent just do it yourself. I believe you can but a good agent makes it easy and I don’t mind paying for the convenience.

I got one if you need one they’re helping my wife and I out

We offer an in-country retirement package that handles the entire process, including the 3-month Non-O visa, bank account opening, and 1-year retirement extension.

This package starts at 45,000 THB.

However, if you have the time and qualify, we generally recommend applying for the 3-month Non-O yourself through the Thai eVisa website before coming to Thailand.

Depending on the country and consulate, the government application fee is usually around 2,000-15,700 THB. Once you arrive in Thailand with the Non-O visa, you will also normally be able to open a Thai bank account yourself.

If you complete those two steps before coming to us for the yearly extension, you can save approximately 15,300-29,000 THB compared with using our full in-country package, including the visa application fee.

So our general recommendation is simple: if you have enough time and qualify for the eVisa, apply for the Non-O yourself first.

If you cannot do that, or you need everything handled quickly, we can complete the entire process for you in Thailand, including the Non-O, bank opening, and yearly extension, in as little as 7 hours. It is considerably more expensive, but it is the fastest and most convenient option.

You have everything you need, do the non-oa at your local consulate and then come here. It's $200 USD but it's multiple entry and good for a year once you get here.

You need a 3 month Visa made in your Country then make the Long Term Visa in Thailand

Sonny-do more research

Don’t come till you have ALL of this and all the options figured out.

Otherwise you’ll just keep going round and round revolving doors.

Yes it’s confusing but if you can’t figure this simple thing out you’re going to be a sitting duck here in Thailand.

And yes just when you have it all figured out they may change all the rules on you … again

No. If you want the O you don't even need all of that and can do it online. If you want an OA you've got most of it done. The question is if you want the mandatory health insurance or not. I did my own OA app online myself. I say try to do it and if you find it's overwhelming then contact an agency.

If you come here in voa without non o Take an Agent... They Change y Visa to non o and extend 15 mth...do it in BKK immi instead of country Side..all y Thing finished smooth 1 day...but price is high.... If you want to do all the Hassel okay you can make it sheep come with non o oh Visa.. try open bank account, send money here run around and will be Cheap only the official Fee.. but believe me taken Agent not Hasel with bank not Hasel with immigration and all finish 1 day with the right agent.only Change voa to non o is 17k .füll pack55

Sure anything is possible if you have deep pockets and are willing to pay the money to get it done using an agent.

The way to do it is to get your non o visa in your home country then come to Thailand then do the set up for your Thai bank account and deposit the 800'000 Thai baht to season for the 2 months to then get the 12 month extension that's the usual route most people take.

If you have extra money, that's what I would do

Why did you do a background check. I would understand if you applied for non oa. If you already did this unnecessary check then do a non oa

Need help getting over there?

Best plan is to get the 90 day non '0' visa in your home country before you arrive.

No, get the visa in your home country

Sure, that's a plan if you enjoy throwing your money down the drain. The price for the package for everything from tourist is much higher than if you arrived with a non-O visa already and then used an agent.

The non-O visa is what gives you the ability to open a Thai bank account and to apply directly for the 1-year extension. If you arrive as a tourist then you have to pay the agent to get you a bank account which you're not eligible for as a tourist, and then to get you a non-O visa, and then to get you a 1-year extension. Whereas if you just get the non-O visa from the Thai embassy you've cut out 75% of the problem.