Answered2 years ago
What are the advantages of processing a retirement visa in Thailand versus the UK?
Advice please: What are the advantages of going through the retirement visa process in Thailand when i get there, as opposed to doing the process in the UK before i go to Thailand, if any?
Answer summary
It is recommended to process the retirement visa in the UK by first applying for a 90-day Non-O visa, as this simplifies the subsequent steps needed in Thailand. Applying for the visa in Thailand can lead to complications, including multiple trips to immigration, difficulties in opening a bank account, and potential delays that require returning to the immigration office. In the UK, applicants can avoid immediate insurance requirements associated with the retirement visa in Thailand.
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Tracy *****************
Following
Steve ****************
do the 90 day at home and process the retirement visa here to avoid insurance requirements.
Stuart ***********
@Steve ***************
there is no insurance requirement with the non O visa, you are confusing it with the non OA (hardly anybody uses that anyway). The non O - 90 day is the retirement visa, once here he can extend his stay by 12 months, but this is an extension based on retirement and not a visa.Steve ****************
@Stuart **********
well, if he's talking about the possibility of processing a retirement visa in his home.country it's an OA. he's asking what's the difference. I just went through this in NovemberStuart ***********
@Steve ***************
me too, sadly opening bank accounts in Thailand is much more difficult now.Steve ****************
@Stuart **********
I actually opened my bank account back in 2022 on a 45 day stamp in my passport. I have a thai wifeStuart ***********
@Jim ******
yes, the Non O visa is for 90 days and is not a tourist visa, that's the reason you can open a bank account with it.Stuart ***********
@Steve ***************
me too. I did it before it became impossible to open a bank account in Thailand without paying an agent. Much easier now to get the non O before you come to Thailand.Steve ****************
@Jim ******
yes you apply online through the thai embassy in your country for a 90 day
Jim *******
@Steve ***************
Is there such a visa for 90 days? Maybe a tourist visa.60 days as of now (March 25 2025) and you go to Immigration to get next 30 days extenssion. During that time (after 60 days and extension) you can apply for a Non O, visa.
Steve ****************
@Stuart **********
i have the non O. Im an American came on the 90 day visa and appliedStuart ***********
@Steve ***************
there is a choice in your home country;1. Non OA (requires insurance, criminal checks and medical)
2. Non O does not require any of the above, but you must deposit 800,000 in a Thai bank account to be able to extend your stay when you get here.
Seems like you probably chose the wrong visa, most people choose the Non O.
Ian *********
OP@Steve ***************
thank you! 🙏
Michael ********
Bank account
Brandon ************
There is no advantage to doing it in Thailand. It will require 2 additional trips to immigration, possibly spending all day there for the first trip. And it's basically impossible to open the required bank account you need first in order to apply for the visa in Thailand if you don't already have a long-term visa.
You should apply for the 90-day non-O visa while you are in the UK through the e-visa system. Then when you arrive in Thailand you'll already have a long-term visa which should assist you in opening a bank account which you'll need to do as soon as possible. Once you get the bank account open, transfer your required funds into the bank account. As soon as the money has been in the account for 2 full months you can go to immigration and apply for the 1-year extension. That extension should be granted during that trip and you are good for the next year.
If you try to do it coming to Thailand you will struggle to open a bank account to start with. Then once the money is transferred you'll have to go to immigration and apply to convert to non-O. You'll receive an "under consideration" stamp which will require you to return to the office in a few weeks to get the actual visa. Then 2 months after that you'll have to go to immigration again to apply for the 1-year extension.
You should apply for the 90-day non-O visa while you are in the UK through the e-visa system. Then when you arrive in Thailand you'll already have a long-term visa which should assist you in opening a bank account which you'll need to do as soon as possible. Once you get the bank account open, transfer your required funds into the bank account. As soon as the money has been in the account for 2 full months you can go to immigration and apply for the 1-year extension. That extension should be granted during that trip and you are good for the next year.
If you try to do it coming to Thailand you will struggle to open a bank account to start with. Then once the money is transferred you'll have to go to immigration and apply to convert to non-O. You'll receive an "under consideration" stamp which will require you to return to the office in a few weeks to get the actual visa. Then 2 months after that you'll have to go to immigration again to apply for the 1-year extension.
Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
thanks for the info. I actually already have a thai bank account and i have transferred the 800k baht already too. So i am thinking of going through the process in thailand as i fly there in a couple of weeks. 🙏Brandon ************
@Ian ********
the London embassy usually issues visas in 2-3 days. It's always going to be better to get the visa before you travel for many reasons. No worries about needing onward travel ticket. Save a ton of time at immigration. Don't need to worry about proving your 800,000 was transferred from abroad.Ian *********
OPIan *********
OP@Brandon ***********
thank you 🙏
Greg *********
Brandon ************
@Ian ********
For a retirement visa there is no maximum, there is no minimum, just make sure you are in Thailand when your extension is going to expire each year to apply for the next one, or you'll have to start over. And you'll need to apply for a re-entry permit if you leave the country so your stamp isn't cancelled.Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
last question, i promise! :-) is there any limit on the amount of time i spend out of Thailand when i have my retirement visa? 🙏 would i for example, be able to be out of the country for 6 months in a year and then return?
Jo ******
@Brandon ***********
thank you 🙏Brandon ************
@Ian ********
Use your Thai bank account... I clearly said "or" in my comment.Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
i have just transferred my 800k to my thai bank account, do does that mean i cannot now apply for the non imm O in my home country, as i do not have that amount in my uk account?Ian *********
OPBrandon ************
@Ian ********
They are vastly different. The non-O is a 90 day single entry visa, the best for long-term stay in Thailand because the requirements are very low. Just need to show 800,000 baht or equivalent in your home country currency basically. Then you can apply for annual extensions in Thailand showing 800,000 baht in a Thai bank and a little paperwork.The non-OA is a 1-year multiple entry visa. It has very high requirements including a medical check, criminal background check, mandatory insurance, and others. The non-OA only makes sense if you really don't want to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank but instead keep it in your bank at home. You'll have to pay for the mandatory insurance forever, from a Thai company. And you'll have to go home at least once every 2 years to apply for a new one from your embassy. If you want to try to get an extension in Thailand, you will have the exact same requirements as the non-O extension, except you'll also need the mandatory insurance, making it the worst of both worlds in that regard.
Brandon ************
@Jo *****
You can apply as often as the embassy will allow you. You would have to ask your embassy that question.Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
what is the difference between the OA visa, and non imm O? And when is the OA a requirement? 🙏Jo ******
@Brandon ***********
Hi Brandon if you just want the Non-O for a 3 month stay how often can you apply for these? Thank you for any information ✌️Brandon ************
@Ian ********
yes. Choose non immigrant visa, retirement (pensioner not more than 90 days)Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
do i just apply through the e-visa website?Brandon ************
@Ian ********
No. The OA visa needs criminal record check, health certificate, mandatory insurance. Non-O requires none of those.The 800k can be in any bank for an embassy application.
Ian *********
OP@Brandon ***********
thank you again for your advice, but dont they also need a criminal record check, which takes quite a time to get? And does the 800k have to be in a uk account, and the statements to prove cant be digital... difficult to get physical bank statements these days? Or am i wrong about that? And would proof of insurance also be required? 🙏Activity
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