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Is the B800k requirement for the OA visa truly a voluntary bond, and how does it compare with the Elite Visa in terms of residency?
Thailand Visa RulesOA VisaNon-O VisaElite VisaRetirement VisaResidency in ThailandFinancial Requirements for VisaExpat Life in Thailand
Jun 16, 2023
3 years ago
Rob *******
ORIGINAL POSTERNot sure if this has been asked .. The B800k for OA visa looks like it's. voluntary bond. You need to leave it there for renewals etc.
So am I right in saying that you never really get access to it unless you go down marriage and PR path?
If that is the case then the Elite Visa is a viable option, but it has no path to residency.
Thoughts, comments?
So am I right in saying that you never really get access to it unless you go down marriage and PR path?
If that is the case then the Elite Visa is a viable option, but it has no path to residency.
Thoughts, comments?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the B800k financial requirement for the OA visa, which many users believe acts as a voluntary bond. Users point out that these funds remain inaccessible to the applicant unless they transition to a marriage visa or apply for permanent residency (PR). It is clarified that neither the OA visa nor the Elite visa provides a direct path to residency. Some participants acknowledge options such as switching to the income method (65k/month) for financial sustenance instead of keeping the lump sum in a Thai bank. The conversation also touches on varied personal experiences, complexities in the requirements for extensions, and the implications of financial proof.
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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Bim *******
I used to have the elite and all I can add is the yearly extension of stay is much easier with my O and banked money. Although if you live in Bangkok the elite team will do it all for you for a fee.
David *********
I just got the LTR visa, easy peasy!
Marty *********
@David ********
I also got a pensioner LTR. The application is easy but people should know it requires an $80,000/yr pension.Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Bonnie *********
For OA, you can just document income.
Steve ********
@Bonnie ********
For initial OA you use funds in your home country. For extensions in Thailand you need to show either 800k in Thai bank account or 65k/month international transfer for the past 12 months.Bonnie *********
@Steve *******
I got my initial OA in my own country and just documented with my bank information. As we know, everything is a whim.
Marty *********
@Steve *******
I think the first 1 year extension of an OA requires that you use the 800,000 baht method. Then you can use the income method.Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
Ben *********
Im on a retirement "O" visa with 800k in my bank never been touched. My pension is 2100 USD monthly, I need advise how to switch from 800k to be on a monthly direct deposit? Looks complicated but I know it can be done. Any help be appreciated TIA.
Marty *********
Ben Sevilla To use the money income method of 65,000 baht/month you must show 1 year of monthly deposits. The deposits have to be code as coming from outside Thailand. Showing that they are foreign deposits is the complicated part. $2,100 is currently 74,000 baht. This qualifies but you must keep track of the exchange rate. Much of the last 6 years the exchange rate varied between 29-33 baht/$. Your pension is cutting it close if the exchange rate drops. If you deposit less then 65,000 baht for even one month you will lose your visa.
Ben *********
@Marty ********
, thanks. What convoluted process to do it and to maintain. It is what it is. Appreciate. I wish there is an easy transition. I'll just do what I do. Cheers.Reply to
Ben *********
Reply
Paul ********
asking about aud 35k in thai bank, go home
Todd *********
@Paul *******
right. Nobody would actually bring 800k baht 😂😂. Get an agent and get on with your life in happinessReply to
Todd *********
Reply
Steve *******
There's no requirement to leave 800,000tb in a bank account once you've received your Non Imm OA visa. You can glean around 2 years from this visa with one border bounce. You will, however need 800k in a Thai bank account seasoned for 2 months in order to obtain a one year extention of stay after your initial 2 years.
Mark ********
@Steve ******
Can't you just step out of the country eg fly to KL return and get stamped back into Thailand for another 12 months and not need to show 800K? Or has this changed since the last time I did it.John *********
@Mark *******
You can literally fly out and straight back in. It's the entry that reactivates it, as it's a multi entry visa. You can go out and in as often as you want within the 1 year validity. It's the insurance that determines the length of stay.Example, you enter Thailand first time with insurance and are stamped in until the end of your insurance (approximately 1 year). Then you leave after 3 months to go Vietnam for a few hours or a few weeks. Then you go back to Thailand and you get a new stamp which should match the exact same leave date as your last stamp.
The trick is, leave Thailand just a few days before the visa issued in your country expires. Then come back with a new 12 months policy.
John *********
It's just a particular quirk of the O- A visa. Me and my wife have O-A. Personally, we have no problem leaving 800k in Thailand to get the O visa but our immigration office makes it extremely difficult to do what any other foreigner, for instance, someone living in Bangkok, takes for granted. We can't get the 90 day under consideration in our province, which means we have to leave Thailand to get one and we need that to get the 1 year extension.
Each Thai Embassy (consulate) outside Thailand has their own requirements for the 90 days under consideration. I got mine in KL. I had to get a medical, insurance, police check. Whereas, Phnom Penh required none of this.
Don't ask why I chose KL, long story of no relevance.
Each Thai Embassy (consulate) outside Thailand has their own requirements for the 90 days under consideration. I got mine in KL. I had to get a medical, insurance, police check. Whereas, Phnom Penh required none of this.
Don't ask why I chose KL, long story of no relevance.
Reply to
John *********
Reply
John *********
@Mark *******
Yes, if you have insurance for another year and you leave and return before the original visa expires (the one you got in your country), you will be stamped in to the end of your insurance policy.Bill **********
@John ********
as a pending USA based retiree, bound for the Kingdom in September, might you amplify these comments? I have not seen this method previously?John *********
@Bill *********
So your O-A lasts 12 months from issue. When you enter Thailand, insurance is required on this visa to enter. You are stamped in until the expiry of your insurance. If you leave Thailand before the expiry date of the original visa date (not the expiry date given on entrance) and re-enter before it expires, and you have another 12 months insurance, you will get a stamp until that insurance expires. This is a one time deal, so after 2 years, you have to go home to get another.Bill **********
@John ********
thanks John. Any idea on how long you need to stay out of the Kingdom after the initial 24 months?Steve *******
@John ********
True but the OP never mentioned insuranceReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Steve ********
You can switch from the 800k method to the 65k/month method. The 65k you can access and spend as soon as it hits your bank account. I've been doing it this way for years
Keith ************
With a non O, you can eventually switch to the income method. You transfer money in monthly, but don't need 800k in the bank.
Ruth *******
I’m curious if even the 800K baht with non-O visa is even a path to residency.
Rob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ruth ******
I read that 3 consecutive years on non-o can lead to marriage visa .. 10 years marriage can lead to residency.Marty *********
@Rob ******
There is a Facebook group devoted to Thai citizenship and residency. I once heard that marriage could lead to residency but that appears not to be the case. Paying taxes for 3 years seems to be necessary. I think there is a list a requirements with a point system. Being able to speak Thai is among the requirements.Incognia **********
@Rob ******
10 years marriage can lead residency or citizenship?Reply to
Incognia **********
Reply
Kool *******
@Ruth ******
the very basic requirement in order to apply for permanent residency is that you work for at least three years, making at least bt80,000 a month, and paying your Thai income taxes on it. There are other requirements, but nothing you can't accomplish, as long as you meet the work requirements. You can not legally work on any retirement visa extension.Terry ********
@Kool ******
that’s not very fair, is it? Very few Thais make 80,000 per month.Kool *******
@Terry *******
it's not a matter of being "fair". It is a matter of dealing with the millions that want to stay in Thailand permanently after just one, or two visits. What a Thai makes has no bearing on the requirements being "fair". Thais work and contribute all their life. You want to do the same thing, but in only three years, so you must make more in wages to make it equitable with a Thai's lifetime of work and wages.Terry ********
@Kool ******
that doesn’t really make any sense. Thais have citizenship at birth, not after a lifetime. If someone is living and working here and wants citizenship, and if they’re younger, we can assume they will keep working and contributing for a long time.Zoe ******
@Terry *******
getting citizenship is hard in almost any country and there are very good reasons for it. The Thais want to protect their own people and there's nothing unfair about it and makes 💯 sense. Almost all other countries in Asia don't even offer retirement visas or any other long term visas for foreigners.Kool *******
@Terry *******
whatever. You want citizenship then do it their way, or don't do it. It is that simple. They could do what the US does, which is much harder.Terry ********
@Kool ******
of course, but I wouldn’t say that the USA is much harder. Having immigrated an ex-wife and her kids in a prior life, I should know. There is no work requirement, unless that’s something new.Kool *******
@Terry *******
if you can't adapt to Thailand then simply move on, as they aren't changing.Terry ********
@Kool ******
we’re just having a discussion here. No need to get dismissive.Reply to
Terry ********
Reply
Ruth *******
@Kool ******
the nature of the post is what threw me off.Ruth *******
@Kool ******
that’s what I thought. So, there’s no way to attain residency on a retirement visa, right?Reply to
Ruth *******
Reply
Terry ********
@Ruth ******
no, it’s not.Reply to
Terry ********
Reply
John **********
Unless you are extending an OA visa inside Thailand you don't need 800k, that's for the Non-O visa
Graham ******
@John *********
The 800k financial requirements are the same for both Non-OA & Non-O, you can only extend both in countryJohn **********
@Graham *****
yes for extensions inside Thailand with the OA also requiring insuranceReply to
John **********
Reply
Graham ******
The retirement 800k can drop to 400k for up to 7 months a year but must be 800k before you apply for your extension and for 3 months after
Wayne *********
OX visa let's you leave your money in Australia bank and 5 years for 600aud
John *********
@Wayne ********
Only available at Sydney. Nowhere else offers this.Steve ********
@John ********
The OP is an Aussie, that's why Wayne suggested itJohn *********
@Steve *******
There are other embassies in Australia, hence why I mentioned it.Steve ********
@John ********
There's only one Embassy in Australia which is Canberra. Sydney is a consulate. That's all there is.Reply to
Steve ********
Reply
Brandon ************
No retirement visa or elite have a path to residency. You have to pay taxes for a certain number of years before you can apply for that.
Steve ********
@Brandon ***********
think you mean a pr visa am I correctSteve ********
Then why do you still have to report
Steve ********
Ok
Steve ********
@David *******
had one for years old friend of mine you report once every 5 years if I'm correctBrandon ************
@Steve *******
there's no such thing as a PR visa.Steve ********
Cost 200.000 if I remember correctly
Steve ********
Permanent residency visa they grant 100 of these per year
Steve ********
@Brandon ***********
yes there isBrandon ************
@Steve *******
there's no such thing as a PR visa. Permanent residency is not a visa. It's residency.Steve ********
@Brandon ***********
you could well be correctReply to
Steve ********
Reply
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