Answered4 years ago

What are the benefits of applying for an OA retirement visa versus an O retirement visa in Thailand?

Retirement Visa Thailand Visa Rules Visa Types Non-O Visa OA Visa Visa for Expats

Jeff ******

asked Dec 31, 2022

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Hi all. Newbie question. 

I am deciding whether to apply for o or oa retirement visa.

US citizen. non-married, already own a condo in Thailand and frequently in country on visa exempt.

Is there any benefit to doing an OA instead of O?

Seems like O is the way to go. I've been reading lots of posts and can't see any benefit to OA. I don't mind the 30-day to one year extension process for o. I'm already at Cheangwattana frequently.

Any advice appreciated. Starting the process this month. Cheers, j

Answer summary

The conversation explores whether it is better to apply for an OA or O retirement visa in Thailand. Key points include that the OA visa offers benefits such as not requiring a bank transfer to Thailand, a longer initial validity, and no need to maintain a specific amount in a Thai bank account. In contrast, the O visa requires proof of funds through a bank account, which must meet certain financial conditions. A commenter notes that if already in Thailand, applying for the O visa is the only option, while another explains the advantages of the OA visa for repeated entries without financial restrictions.

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Brandon ************

The benefit to OA is you never have to transfer money to Thailand or show money in a Thai bank account.

It's a 1 year multi-entry visa so each time you enter Thailand during that year, you're stamped in for another year (as long as you have a year of the required insurance).

So if you leave and re-enter just before it expires, you get 2 years out of the visa without showing money in Thailand. Then you can go home and apply for a new OA for the next 2 years. Rinse and repeat.

For a non-O annual extension in Thailand you have to show the 800,000 baht in your Thai bank account and it's going to be locked up for half the year and can never drop below 400,000 the other half of the year. You lose access to this money and any potential it has. On the other hand, the non-O doesn't require insurance.

4 years ago

Jeff ******

I already have a +800k thb in a Thai bank account. i'm ok keeping just keeping that there permanently.

4 years ago

James ********

@Jeff *****

then you have your answer. .. and helpful replies with correct Advice

Comments Closed

4 years ago

Robert *******

@Brandon ***********

That benefit has an opposite side as you need money to pay your bills in Thailand. So never sending money into Thailand is nothing more than a dream scenario

4 years ago

James ********

@Brandon ***********

thank you for your helpful and correct reply 👏

4 years ago

Tod *********

if you're INSIDE thailand you can't get an OA so if you're here your choice is made for you

Apply for the 90 day Non-O, wait the under review period, go back get it inked in, wait the 2 months go back and get the year extension..

Remember you need a MINIMUM of 15 days left on your current visa exempt entry stamp or the 30 day extension from it to apply for the in country Non-O at Chaengwattana Section C-1 (visa issuing section) because the applications goes under review for 14 days before you go back to get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in.

Also your only option to get that visa (and your first yearly extension) as a US citizen is the 800K baht banked money method. You need to show the 800K baht was transferred into a thai bank account in your name only from abroad to qualify for using it as proof of funds for the Non-O at Chaengwattana.

4 years ago

Jeff ******

I can do O application on 45-day visa exempt status in Thailand? Don't need to get a tourist visa?

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Jeff *****

you can do it from a visa exempt or a tourist visa entry if you get your ducks in a row fast enough and get to the immigration office before you run out of time on your 45 day entry stamp. As I said Chaengwattana requires a minimum of 15 days left on your stamp to apply for Non-Imm visas in country

4 years ago

Jeff ******

@Tod ********

Thanks. i'm in the US frequently so could do OA there. The application process differences don't bother me much. I'm thinking which is better to have long-term (+10 years). The no insurance requirement with O is a benefit over the long-term. but they will probably change that at some point I assume.

4 years ago