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Should I apply for a retirement visa (Type OA) in California or a Type O visa in Thailand, and how do I meet the financial requirements?
Thailand retirement visaType OA visaType O visavisa application processThai bank account requirementssocial security paymentsvisa renewal frequencyfinancial requirements for retirement visa
Apr 10, 2025
a year ago
Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, I am researching and planning my retirement to Thailand and I am undecided on whether to apply ahead of time while still in California (Type "OA" visa) or while already within Thailand (Type "O") via a tourist visa. From my research I am still not clear on a few topics:
1) To prove that I meet the 65k baht monthly soc. sec. payments.
Is this requirement for showing monthly deposits to my US bank
or to a Thai bank account?
2) If I need a Thai bank account to have my soc. sec monthly direct
deposit set up, how is it possible to open a Thai bank account
ahead of time? Is it possible to open a bank account on my next
vacation trip by using an agent?
3) For applying for a type "O", why is it required to have a return
flight itinerary? I imagine that I will need to make sure the return
flight is refundable when I book my flight to Thailand.
Thanks in advance for any help with the above,
Carlos
1) To prove that I meet the 65k baht monthly soc. sec. payments.
Is this requirement for showing monthly deposits to my US bank
or to a Thai bank account?
2) If I need a Thai bank account to have my soc. sec monthly direct
deposit set up, how is it possible to open a Thai bank account
ahead of time? Is it possible to open a bank account on my next
vacation trip by using an agent?
3) For applying for a type "O", why is it required to have a return
flight itinerary? I imagine that I will need to make sure the return
flight is refundable when I book my flight to Thailand.
Thanks in advance for any help with the above,
Carlos
TLDR : Answer Summary
Carlos is seeking guidance on applying for a retirement visa to Thailand, specifically the Type 'OA' while still in the US or the Type 'O' after entering Thailand. He has questions regarding the requirements for proving income through Social Security, the process of opening a Thai bank account for monthly deposits, and the necessity of having a return flight itinerary when applying for the Type 'O' visa. Commenters provided insights on the challenges of using Social Security for visa applications, differences in visa types, and suggestions for managing financial requirements.
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- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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- 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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Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTERIf I decide to apply for the retirement type "O" visa while already in Thailand, what type of visa is recommended to do the initial entry to Thailand? Coming from the US as a tourist we are given a 30 day visa exemption. Is that enough to allow me to then apply for the "O" retirement visa?
Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI am also confused about the required renewing frequency between the Type "O" visa and the Type "OA" visa. The "O" visa is stated as being a 90 day visa, while the "OA" is 1 year visa. If I plan to retire using one of these two visas, the "O" does not makes sense if I need to renew every 90 days.
Steven *********
Following
Wannikea *********
You will not be able to use a monthly income method for the first year. During that first year you will also deposit 65,000 baht minimum each and every month into a Thai bank account. You must follow all the financial requirements of the initial year plus do the monthly deposits and in the following year you can apply using the monthly income method.
Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wannikea ********
Can you confirm where in the Thai Embassy/Consulate website it states that one cannot use the monthly deposits 65k baht from a pension for the initial "O" or "OA type visa?Wannikea *********
@Carlos ********
well you actually can for the first year if you have the income verification certificate from your embassy, but there are only a handful of embassies still giving those. The monthly deposits are to qualify for the extension, not the visa. Keep in mind, what the MFA who run the embassies thinks is gospel to get a visa, is not gospel with immigration who grant extensions inside the country, and vice versa. So don't rely on either when it comes to jurisdiction of the other. What you've shown is Embassy/MFA criteria.Reply to
Wannikea *********
Reply
Stuart *********
1. As a US citizen you can’t use social security as income as the US embassy wont issue an income affidavit.
For the first year visa and first extension you’d need 800k in a Thai bank.
After that you could switch to the 65k per month international transfer method.
A Non OA doesn’t require funds in a Thai bank for the initial visa but it requires (as do subsequent extensions) mandatory health insurance that some over 70 struggle to get. A Non O doesn’t require that.
Getting a Thai bank account is a struggle these days. An agent is probably the way to go.
For the first year visa and first extension you’d need 800k in a Thai bank.
After that you could switch to the 65k per month international transfer method.
A Non OA doesn’t require funds in a Thai bank for the initial visa but it requires (as do subsequent extensions) mandatory health insurance that some over 70 struggle to get. A Non O doesn’t require that.
Getting a Thai bank account is a struggle these days. An agent is probably the way to go.
Richard ********
@Stuart ********
You do not need an embassy verification letter for the 65k baht if you are applying from within the US. I applied for my OA in December using my SSA benefit letter. No questions asked, no problem getting my Visa. Opened my bank account once here but did need residence letter, etc. I have a multiple entry visa. I will extend my insurance before I leave and when I return, I will get another 12 months on the OA before I need to extend.Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard *******
Thanks for this valuable information!! I do have a few other questions that you may be able to answer....Once you recieved your "AO" visa approval while still in the US, does the Thai consulate provide "OA" visa for you to travel and move to Thailand? After receiving the "OA" visa and moving to Thailand, what are the final steps to complete the process? Also, when does the 12 month renewal time clock start on the "OA" visa? Does it start once it is approved while in the US or after you arrive in Thailand? Lastly, did you have any obstacles in getting the health/medical form filled out by your doctor? Thanks in advance!!Reply to
Carlos *********
Reply
Carlos *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Stuart ********
I am bit confused about the monthly Soc. Sec./pension to cover the 65k monthly income requirement alternative to the 800k option. The Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate website states that one can utilize a certified monthly pension income of no less than 65k baht.Stuart *********
@Carlos ********
Yes. Some countries’ embassies still issue an affidavit of income which you can use instead of monthly deposits or banked money. US, UK, Australia and Canada (probably others) will no longer issue these. So the only option if your embassy won’t issue one is to use 800k banked money for the initial visa and first year extension and after that can switch to 65k monthly transfers.
Alfred ***********
@Stuart ********
agreed most embassies now refuse to give out confirmation on income letters. I am lucky in that I have a number of passports and with two of them one being Irish, my embassies still do these letters. But yes I agree just put the 800k on your account first. But as I will point out although this is a visa page you will be taxed on remitting those funds to Thailand as of 1st January 2024. Unless you had those savings prior to that date.Reply to
Alfred ***********
Reply
Alfred ***********
@Stuart ********
I wouldn't bother tbh. I've lived here 6 years. Do not retire to Thailand. Find somewhere else. I'm leaving too. You'll be subject to thai progressive tax system up to 35% of your income.Stuart *********
@Alfred **********
Tax issues are outside of the scope of this group, but afaik you only are subject to tax on income brought in to Thailand. Many countries have dual tax treaties with Thailand and that means you’re not taxed twice, but you really need to get advice from a tax expert or accountant to work out any potential liabilities.
Alfred ***********
@Stuart ********
I'm sorry but the tax issues were an aside to my LTRV visa.Reply to
Alfred ***********
Reply
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