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Is it easier to obtain an OA visa in Thailand if I come on an initial Non-O retirement visa?
Thailand VisaRetirement VisaNon-O VisaOA VisaVisa Application ProcessExpat Life in ThailandImmigration Rules Thailand
Apr 15, 2022
4 years ago
Stuart ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, I am retiring to Thailand at start of May. When I looked for advice on Visa types, it was suggested that getting a 3 month tourist visa first and then apply for a retirement o visa in Thailand. So I got the tourist visa, but it seems easy to apply for the o visa from UK. Is it easier to get the OA visa in Thailand if I come on an initial retirement o visa or are there other advantages/disadvantages please?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the visa options for retiring in Thailand. The user initially obtained a tourist visa and seeks to understand whether switching to an OA visa in Thailand is easier if they start with a Non-O retirement visa. Comments highlight three choices for obtaining a Non-O: applying from home or converting a tourist visa to a Non-O within Thailand. Each option has pros and cons regarding proof of funds, duration of stay, and requirements. The OA visa, which requires health insurance and financial proof, seems favorable for those avoiding large fund transfers and needing continuous coverage. Many commenters share personal experiences and the bureaucratic nuances involved.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Graham ********
I have just arrived in Thailand on a Non O-A retirement visa from my home country (Australia). This involved months of preparation and organisation (medical, health insurance from a Thai provider, police clearance check, Thai pass etc). The process was time consuming but simple. I am now stamped in for 12 months with no requirement to have large sums of monies transferred to a Thai bank account apart from what I need to financially live here in Chiang Mai.
Bobby ********
David Broadfoot. It's surprising how many people (even many who have an OA visa) don't know how to "work" it to its optimum advantage (which is one day short of two years).
Tod *********
David Broadfoot which if he uses that visa correctly won't be for almost 2 years, so I'd say he has some time to sort it out 😉 :
Bobby ********
Graham Mayger. Next time you're in Aus, get the OX visa from Sydney Consulate and get stamped in for five years, extendable a further five years.
Graham ********
Non O-A visa requires health insurance to match the validity of the visa. For example I was able to get stamped until 31 March 2023 which is when my insurance runs out for the initial 12 month period.
Kevin *********
Heres what you need for an O. See point 5.if you get an income verification from an embassy you don't need transfer $800,000 baht and you would then only require insurance for your initial sixty day visa if you went that route. Far cheaper. But not all embassies still provide this service.
Tod *********
@Kevin ********
the O/P posted he's from the UK so he can't get an income affidavit from his embassy here. he does banked money or he doesn't get a Non-O or yearly extension in country.Bobby ********
@Kevin ********
. US, UK and Australian embassies do not provide this service unfortunatelyReply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Geoff ********
Thank you for the Information and options. Is a Non-O an available Visa in the USA before arrival?
Tony ********
Do it here.
Tod *********
CHOICE THREE:
Come in on a 60 day tourist visa <- once you're here you'd open a bank account, transfer in 800K baht from abroad, then when you have 30 days or less you'd go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht. It will go under review for 2 weeks then you go back and get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in
Once the funds have been in the bank account for 2 months you'd go apply for a yearly extension based on retirement for 1900baht
Come in on a 60 day tourist visa <- once you're here you'd open a bank account, transfer in 800K baht from abroad, then when you have 30 days or less you'd go apply for the 90 day Non-O visa for 2000baht. It will go under review for 2 weeks then you go back and get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in
Once the funds have been in the bank account for 2 months you'd go apply for a yearly extension based on retirement for 1900baht
Stuart ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
thanks for your replies, really comprehensive. I think I will do option 3 use the the tourist visa for 2 months and then apply for the o visa instead of extending the tourist visa for 30 days. Much appreciated advice 😊Kevin *********
@Tod ********
you don't need the $800,000 if you provide an embassy income verification correct?Ellie *******
@Kevin ********
If your embassy would issue letter/affidavit, you don't need 800K thb (not dollars) in a Thai bank account.Kevin *********
@Ellie ******
correct but word is US UK and Australia no longer do so seeding funds the only way for an O making an OA the single option to avoid deposits of 800,000Ellie *******
@Kevin ********
, That's why I said "If".Reply to
Ellie *******
Reply
David *******
@Tod ********
This is what I did in Phetchabun, fairly easy and straight forward but as with all things in Thailand lots of signed copies of documents required and a map of how to get to our house from the immigration office for a O retirement visa. Strange.Reply to
David *******
Reply
Bobby ********
OA has the advantage of not having to transfer a large sum of money into a Thai bank account. Some people perceive it to have a disadvantage of having to have Thai health insurance for in-country extensions. However, if utilised in the manner described by Tod above, you can use home country insurance. Basically, if you intend visiting your home country every 18-24 months, the OA is a clear favourite.
George ********
@Bobby *******
As long as your home country insurance will cover you in Thailand. This can be tricky. Some insurance does, some doesn't and some only provides limited (e.g. 60 days) coverage.Bobby ********
@George *******
. And some cover for twelve months renewable! It's like anything, you get the product that fits your needs!Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
Bob **********
You can't get an O-A in Thailand only in your home country and a TV is only good for 60 days and you can extend for 30 more for 1900 baht I'd apply for a non-o in Thailand
Tod *********
CHOICE TWO:
Get a 90 day Non-O in your country <- meet the proof of funds in your country with a bank account there. Does not require back ground check or a medical certificate, or 3 million baht in insurance.
You would get stamped in for 90 days when you show up, during that time you'd need to open a bank account and transfer in 800K baht. Once it was in a thai bank account in your name only you could apply for a yearly extension based on retirement for 1900baht.
Get a 90 day Non-O in your country <- meet the proof of funds in your country with a bank account there. Does not require back ground check or a medical certificate, or 3 million baht in insurance.
You would get stamped in for 90 days when you show up, during that time you'd need to open a bank account and transfer in 800K baht. Once it was in a thai bank account in your name only you could apply for a yearly extension based on retirement for 1900baht.
Roger *********
@Tod ********
This is exactly what we did in January, as our previous visas/extensions expired during Covid. 90 day O eVisa based on retirement, (UK residents, UK passport and wife German passport). eVisa applied for Sunday evening, a query received Monday and answered, and eVisas issued Tuesday. All very painless. 43 days before expiry of the 90 day, went along to Phuket Immigration and applied for, and both received, an annual extension. Straight in and out; no queue and processed together in about 15 minutes. Next day at 1pm collected our passports and another 30 minutes to get a multi-reentry stamp. In our case, we used Thai bank accounts that we already had for both the 90 day and the subsequent annual extension.Nick **********
@Tod ********
I've noticed that the Thai embassy in UK seems to have very "relaxed" requirements for the non-immigrant O based on retirement as opposed to Dutch and (even more so) Belgian Thai embassy.So I understand that opposed to a tourist visa which in general has rather uniform rules between many Thai embassies, the non-immigrant O retirement has a lot more specific requirements on your place of residency where you have to apply ?
George *************
@Nick *********
i think that's true.Reply to
George *************
Reply
Daniel *********
@Tod ********
couldn't you show an income of at least 65,000 baht per month instead of *****
0 in the bank?Tod *********
@Daniel ********
not from the US, UK or Australia you can't 😕 The embassies of those countries here don't issue income affidavits so in order to use the monthly income method if you're from one of those countries you need to transfer IN to the country from abroad into a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht a month, each month, every month for the preceding 12 months before you apply for your extension. <- this means you can't use monthly income to apply for the in country 90 day Non-O visa OR the first year extension because you don't have 12 months of incoming monthly transfers.You have to use banked money method for the in country Non-O and the first year extension.
Daniel *********
@Tod ********
this is helpful, thank youReply to
Daniel *********
Reply
Tod *********
CHOICE ONE:
Get an OA in your country <- meet the proof of funds in your country with your bank account there. Requires back ground check, medical certificate and 3 million baht health coverage for a year to get issued. You would get stamped in for a whole year when you arrive AND if you used the visa correctly you could get close to 2 years of stay out of a visa valid for one year (if you exited and re-entered just before the visa expired and had another year of health insurance too)
Get an OA in your country <- meet the proof of funds in your country with your bank account there. Requires back ground check, medical certificate and 3 million baht health coverage for a year to get issued. You would get stamped in for a whole year when you arrive AND if you used the visa correctly you could get close to 2 years of stay out of a visa valid for one year (if you exited and re-entered just before the visa expired and had another year of health insurance too)
Peter **********
ok as he is in the UK I thought I'd just point him in the right direction re; police.
Tod *********
@Peter *********
yep, good to do, because different places have different rules about how to you get them, Thanx (y)Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Peter **********
Think you also may need a police clearance certificate from the Metropolitan Police as well. This may take 6 weeks. Can be from anywhere in the greater London area. I used Feltham as it is on the outskirts and not busy. Personally I'd go for the non-O as future extensions don't require health insurance.
Tod *********
@Peter *********
i mentioned it requires the background check (which is controlled by the country you apply for the visa in) but thanx (y)Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Tod *********
The decision to get the Non-O in your country, or the Non-OA in your country (you can't get it here) OR come here on a 60 day tourist visa and convert that to an in country 90 day Non-O and then a year extension based on retirement after that is a personal one. There are a LOT of factors to consider
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
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