What are my visa options for retiring in Thailand without being married?

Aug 10, 2017
7 years ago
Allan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've recently retired and am currently here on a 6 month multi entry tourist visa.

I was going to go home and apply for a non O with a view to converting to a retirement visa but I've been told I have to be married to get a non O. I'm not married but probably would if I really had to.

I want to live here full time-ish with a trip back to Oz every year to keep my residency status.

What would be the best visa in my situation
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on the best visa options for living in Thailand after retirement, currently holding a 6-month multi-entry tourist visa. They were informed that a NON-O visa may require marriage, but commenters clarified that individuals over 50 can apply for it without being married. The discussion highlighted several pathways, including applying for a NON-O visa from a neighboring country, converting the tourist visa to a NON-O at an immigration office in Thailand, or applying for a long-stay NON-O-A visa from their home country. Financial requirements for these visas, such as maintaining a certain amount in a Thai bank or proof of monthly income, were also addressed.
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Tod *********
There are actually 3 options you have;

-go get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa either in the US or from a thai consulate in a neighboring country

-go to the immigration office and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa (having at least 15 days left on your current admitted until stamp

once you come back into thailand on those you'd be stamped in for 90 days Getting the Non-O inside or outside the country would require you meeting the financials of either banking 800K baht in a thai bank, or getting the notary affidavit of income letter from your consulate stating you get 65K baht a month in income.

Then you can apply for a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement) at the immigration office again, by meeting the financial requirements.

OR you could

-go back to the US and apply for a year-long, multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa from either Chicago, New York, LA, or Washington DC.

That visa does require a police background check a medical certificate and financial proof (but you can bank the money in the US) It would get you stamped into thailand for a year at a time every time you enter the country for the validity of the visa itself.

Those are your options ;)
Jim *******
Allan Bell, you can also convert your tourist visa to a NON O at Bangkok immigration as long as it still has 15 days minimum validity left. It will cost 2,000 thb and be under consideration then you'll go back, pay 1,900thb and get an extension to your visa based on retirement. May suit you better and save you money.
Robert *******
If you already planned to go home, apply there for a Non Immigrant O visa based on retirement. Single Entry gives you one time 90 days or Multiple Entry gives you about 15 months.30 days before admitted to stay date apply at Immigration office for Extension of Stay based on Retirement cost 1900 Thb, you need the 800.000 Thb on Thai bank for 2 months or 65.000 Thb verified by ambassy monthly income statement or a combination of these two. If you have the extension apply directly for re-entry permit, Single Entry 1000 Thb or Multiple 3.800 Thb. With this extension of stay you have to report yourself every time you stay 90 days inside Thailand by mail, internet or in person at your local Immigration office. If you leave Thailand on re entering, due the re entry permit you get the same admitted to stay date as stamped on the Extension of Stay.
Jim *******
You can just go to an adjoining country and apply. Don't know if all issue them but I got mine in Penang 5 months ago and no problem. You'll either need
*****
0 thb in any account for 2months,or proof of income of 65,000thb per month and verified by your Embassy in Thailand.
Steve *******
You can apply for non imm O based on being 50 or over. You dont need to be married
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