What are the best options for obtaining a long-term Thai visa and what are the associated requirements?

Thai Visa Non-O Visa Visa Extensions Retirement Visa Thai Immigration Rules Expat Advice Health Insurance 90-Day Reporting Re-entry Permit

August 9, 2024

2 months ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Long Thai Visa current best options ?

Any recent shared experience is welcome 🙏🏻 

Looking at

Conversion from my Non-immig O visa

For 90 days (valid until late Aug)

>50 y.o. & using pension funds with qualifying 

>B 65,000 / month income showing 

And have a long lease ✅ (flexible)

It’s mainly preparing for later and for long stays 

but NOT for full time stay just yet 

Maybe in 1-2 years time

I’m Preparation, wondering on latest info

Q1. What’s the cost of 1 yr Visa all up/yr ?

Q2. Is Health insurance required ?

Q3. Is 90 day reporting required ?

Q4. does 1 yr visa lapse if away for extended times /90 day reporting / are multi entries ok?

Q.5 do I need to do one extension within Thai before applying (online or in person extension?)

DTV option is on the table now, since my initial Non imm O visa granted

But I’m hoping on something more secure

For multi entries and longer stays in Thailand 

Probably still less than 180 days to save any potential bureaucracy obligations 

Many thanks to Crew here 🙏🏻

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is exploring options for converting their Non-Immigrant O visa into a long-term visa in Thailand, specifically focusing on retirement qualifications. Key queries include the cost of a one-year visa, health insurance requirements, the necessity and implications of 90-day reporting, and conditions for visa validity during extended absences. Community responses highlight that extensions cost 1900 baht and may require either embassy-certified income or savings in a Thai bank. They advised renewing the visa directly at the immigration office and clarified that the non-O visa cannot be renewed but can be extended if conditions are met.

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.

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you 🙏🏻

So at bare minimum to prevent confusion at arrivals…?

If I return flight to Thailand just a few days before my

Non immigrant O 90 day visa expires (I have a re entry permit),

Can I just renew non O

For another 90 days (can show deposits last 2 months

of B18k / week (65k mth)

At

Airport arrivals ?

Any Immigration office?

Or I just skip the fuss

And get a 60 day tourist visa

On arrival (all I really need for now)

And prepare better for long stay when time is right?

(Australian)

a month ago

John **********

@Da *****

you can only extend by 12 months and by showing you have 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 2 months before you apply for the extension. Your embassy doesn't issue income affidavits so you need a full 12 months of a minimum of 65k baht each and every month transferred from overseas to use monthly funds

a month ago

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

@Da *****

You cannot renew your non-O. The only thing you can do with that is apply for a 1-year extension of stay. Nothing else. Deposits won't do anything for you. You either show embassy certified income of 65,000 baht per month, or 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. Those are the only options.

You apply at the immigration office that matches the TM30 that is filed for where you are staying.

If you have a re-entry permit you cannot enter visa exempt (not a tourist visa) because they will stamp you in on your non-O visa entry stamp. If you do not get a re-entry permit, then you can enter using visa exempt and receive a 60 day entry stamp.

a month ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

I So much appreciate your clarity and help sir 🙏🏻

(Averted a possible mess,

Hopefully get proper ground work for attempt No. 2 later)

a month ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

So it sounds best

that I wait until AFTER

non O visa expiry date

(after 20th august)

THEN arrive at Bkk airport

as a 60 day tourist

Otherwise I must leave by the 20th august it appears?

(Or have full notorized documents prepared for compliance for 1 year visa)

🙏🏻

a month ago

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

@Da *****

Correct

a month ago

Reply to

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

John **********

You can't convert to anything else from that 90 day non-o. You either extend it using the same reason it was issued or you leave the country by the expiry date

2 months ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

do you know the turnaround time to get another non O 90 day extension/renewal ?

a month ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I’m outside Thailand

Returning within 7-10 days

Just not sure on best visa I should now re enter on? 🙏🏻

Non O 90 days expires on the 20th August

I had posted below ….

sorry to double up

Thank you 🙏🏻

So at bare minimum to prevent confusion at arrivals…?

If I return flight to Thailand just a few days before my

Non immigrant O 90 day visa expires (I have a re entry permit),

Can I just renew non O

For another 90 days (can show deposits last 2 months

of B18k / week (65k mth)

At

Airport arrivals ?

Any Immigration office?

Or I just skip the fuss

And get a 60 day tourist visa

On arrival (all I really need for now)

And prepare better for long stay when time is right?

(Australian)

a month ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

a month ago

John **********

@Da *****

you can't get another 90 day anything. You can get a 12 month extension based on your existing 90 day non-o by meeting the criteria, which will vary depending on the reason the 90 day non-o was issued. Best to visit your local immigration office and ask them

a month ago

Reply to

John **********

Ken ***********

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

just to clarify, when I converted my visa exempt entry to a 90 day Non O based on retirement, the only 2 options were THB 800,000 in a Thai bank or a letter from my embassy (if the embassy still processed income verification). The THB 65,000 deposited into my Thai bank account was not accepted.

However, when extending the 90 day Non O, the monthly transfers were accepted.

2 months ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ken **********

I’ve added to my post(below), any thoughts,

Eg: which immigration office is efficient etc?

a month ago

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

@Ken **********

yes, but that's over a year away for the op so not if any use in this case

2 months ago

Reply to

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

What passport do you have? You can only do the 65,000 a month method if your embassy in Thailand does income verification, and many embassies no longer offer this. If your embassy doesn't offer it, it means you would need 800,000 in a Thai bank account.

1) All extensions in Thailand are 1900 baht paid to immigration

2) No insurance for a non-O visa and extensions

3) There's only one visa that doesn't require 90 day reporting, and that's the LTR visa

4) 90 day reporting has nothing to do with the validity of your visa/extension

4) You can do multiple entries if you purchase a re-entry permit

5) You start with a 90 day non-O visa. You can get this online through the Thai embassy in your home country if they have adopted e-visa. You can also get it in person in Thailand. The extensions are all done in person in Thailand.

2 months ago

Da ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

thanks so much 🙏

I got the 90 day non immigrant O visa in aust

Via eVisa app,

Required proof of income letter >65k mth for this Initial application Sent via eVisa portal upload and non imm O visa (retirement) 90 days granted.

Guessing it should still be on the system

I have

-paper copy >65k income

-lease 1 year

-have deposited 18k week into Thai bank account (as a back up in case requiring verification)

But Australian bank statements can work I’ve read

Any thing else I wonder?

So is it only a 1900b

Fee to convert to 1 year retirement visa?

Have I missed something?

Seems better than DTV?

2 months ago

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

@Da *****

whatever you have showing 65,000 per month doesn't matter. It will not be accepted by immigration in Thailand for the 1-year extension. The ONLY thing immigration will accept is income verification from your embassy, or proof of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account in your name only.

2 months ago

Reply to

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

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What are the best visa options for long-term stays in Thailand (retirement or spouse visa)?

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