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What are the best visa options and strategies for a 60-year-old retired Canadian planning to stay in Thailand longer than 90 days?

non-O visaretirement visavisa extensionThailand immigrationhealth insurance requirementsborder runin-country visa applicationDTV visafinancial requirements for visaCanadian expats in Thailand
Sep 20, 2024
a year ago
Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all..Really appreciate any advice on the following - I am 60, retired, financially well Canadian. Applied for the O-non imgrant retirement visa from Canada and after submitting all of the docs and paid so much fees (incl 2 health insurance) didn't get too far. The Embasy asked for more docs based on their forms which I didn't see or know when I went though the on-line application. Now I am in Europe and plan to fly to Thailand Oct 1. I understand the visa 2 + 1 months, but wish to stay longer. What would be the best way to achieve this while within Thailand? I am keeping all of the health coverage, criminal checks, etc. Would love to here from westerners who are gone through this and got any long-term stay visas. Thanks all.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the challenges faced by a retired Canadian expat applying for a non-O retirement visa from Canada. After submitting extensive documentation and receiving a request for additional papers from the embassy, the individual seeks advice on extending their stay in Thailand beyond the initial 90 days provided by their entry visa. Community responses suggest possible strategies, including switching to the non-O visa while in Thailand, utilizing a Visa Agent for assistance, or completing a border run to activate a new visa. They also advise on necessary financial deposits for the non-O visa, the option of a long-term DTV visa based on language or cultural studies, and share various experiences and recommendations for dealing with Thailand's immigration process.
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Tr *****
I thought the non-O visa was for a year at a time ?
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Tr ****
 No, 90 days on entry then apply for the 12 months Extension of Stay
a year ago
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Tr *****
@Graham *****
 👍
a year ago
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Tr *****
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Henrik *****
Do NOT count in months, it may lead to confusion.

About visa always count in days.
a year ago
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Paul ***************
Go to an agency
a year ago
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Steve **********
1st Don't panic.

' This Is Thsiland '

If your visa hasn't been rejected, go to immig and talk to one if the IO volunteers at each office, they'll walk you through it.

'O' doesn't need health insurance.

Crim record...I think no more.

The forms are easy if you understand IO's love to fluster farang ( a power thing ), if finances ok as you say, it's just deal with frustration for an hour (or 3 or 4 ).

Went thru it over 20 years ago, renew yearly . Don't know why, but they add or subtract a form yearly, or req more Than 1 copy if you have one. If you give them 2, they shake their head and give one back.

It's a game..keep smiling, be respectful.

Good luck, it's worth it..Avoid Agents
a year ago
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Øyvind *************************
I all ways say welcome to Cambodia ..thailand is difficult
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Øyvind ************************
 how easy is Cambodia? And is it fun" like Thailand?
a year ago
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Kevin ******
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Terary **********
I would come, visa exempt, then when you are here work out your future plans. I have a buddy that has a retirement visa. He tells me its better to get those in-country because of insurance reasons... That may not apply to you, now, but I am quite sure you can get a retirement visa while you are here. If you have a few extra dollars and don't want to be bothered, you can hire a visa agent to do it for you..
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Terary *********
 there are no insurance reasons. I don't know if any embassy that requires insurance for the non-O anymore. It's better to get the non-O before you travel to Thailand so you can open a bank account much easier.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 i though you cannot do the non-o from outside Thailand?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Kevin *****
 what made you think that? You can get it at any Thai embassy that allows foreigners to apply. Or at your home embassy.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Kenneth *******
Come here on the 60-day stamp and go to Immigration in Bangkok and have all your documents with you. Retirement Visa is easier to get in Bangkok.
a year ago
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Jo **********
just come in visa exempt 60 days extend 30 days total 90 days
a year ago
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Kalaya *********
Just go another country and go back to Thailand much more better
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kalaya ********
 tried it last year, did not get a renewed 30 days and got charged at exit for 3 extra days
a year ago
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Kevin ******
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Dennis *********
could just go to Thailand 60 days visa exempt, then find a local agent, does cost a bit, but quite easy and painless. They'll also get you setup with a bank account.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dennis ********
 just chatted with an agent. Close to 50k bht
a year ago
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Kevin ******
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Jason **********
Easiest semi long term visa for you would be the DTV. Use a thai soft power activity like thai language, muai thai or cooking. You only need to show documents from the school and the equivalent of 500,000 baht in a bank account. The visa is multiple entries for 5 years. Each entry stamp is 180 days and you can leave and come back for a new stamp. This would give you lots of time to figure out your retirement visa while already living in thailand. The visa application fee is only 10,000 baht like $300.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I did that 2 years ago to Vietnam and stayed for a week. Got back to Thailand and when left Thailand had 3 days over the old 30 days visa. Got charged 1500 bht, so this is not guaranteed and at the discretion of the immigration officer
a year ago
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Duncanc **********
Just border bounce
a year ago
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John *********
The non OA visa can only be completed from your home country. You can apply for the non O visa whilst in Thailand. You will need to deposit
*****
0thb in a Thai bank after you get the non O visa approved. The money must be in a Thai bank for 2 months. At the end of the 3 months you go to immigration and get a one year non O visa approved. Check immigration website or talk to immigration as to what you need to give them at the end of the 3 months.
a year ago
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Tony **********
@John ********
 ฿800k must be in bank Scott to apply for non-o in country. That's why it is already best to get your non-o through evisa while in your home country.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@John ********
 The 800k is needed to apply for the in-country Non-O, not only for the Extension of Stay
a year ago
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Graham ******
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Judy *******
Better to apply within the country
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I got the Siam Legal internation offering to help with opening bankaccount. Should I trust them? And what is typically the fees for this thing. If I show proof of income over 65k boat, do I still need to open a bank account?
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Judy ******
 how?
a year ago
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Ian **********
@Kevin *****
 Apply in country. You don't need health insurance or CRC. The hardest part is opening a bank account
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Ian *********
 Health insurance or CRC are also not required for a Non-O obtained from outside Thailand
a year ago
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Ian **********
@Graham *****
 I know. The poster is already in Europe and you can only apply for a non-O from your country of residence. He was applying for an OA retirement visa in his home country that requires CRC and health insurance.
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Ian *********
 You can only apply for a Non-OA in your country of residence
a year ago
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Ian **********
@Graham *****
 I know and that is what he did but he didn't complete it so he asked for options.
a year ago
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Ian **********
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Stuart ***********
@Kevin *****
 don't use an agent (other than maybe to open a bank account) it's easy.

Once your bank account is open, deposit 800,000 baht, ensuring it shows as an international transfer (if using Wise use the code to state you are buying property, this changed recently).

Go to immigration and ask for their requirements for a non o retirement.

Supply the information they request and pay the fee.

2 months later apply for a 1 year extention.

It will likely be the same documents plus some information from your bank.

Repeat the final (extention) once a year.

Good luck.
a year ago
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Judy *******
@Kevin *****
 easier
a year ago
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Judy *******
@Kevin *****
 use an agent
a year ago
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Judy *******
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Tony **********
You can still submit the additional docs as long as your application has not been rejected. If it is rejected, you can get a non-o (not OA) while here. You will probably need to use an agent to get a bank account opened and you'll need to deposit 800k before you apply. Even if your evisa is approved AFTER you enter Thailand, you can border bounce to activate it.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
How much agent typically charges?
a year ago
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Kathy ************
@Tony *********
 police check done at police department

Family doctor

The doctor has a right or some staff usually can notarized

Banking information from your bank manager

Then when you come here with application filled in properly

You can do it all yourself

Proof from local to confirm deposit and balances on your Thailand accounts

If your lucky 🍀

Welcome to Thailand

There’s footwork

Agents are in for the $

Sometimes you are tied to them for renewals

Some times easier

Just saying 🤷🏻‍♀️🙏😊

Welcome to Hua Hin

☀️⛱️🐚

Good luck
a year ago
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Tony **********
@Kathy ***********
 you can't apply for non-oa in Thailand. However, he can shoot for non-o here without medical, insurance or criminal checks.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kathy ***********
 went to policy, they told me do it on line, and I did it, sent to embassy and they told me not a capable. Pain..after pain. The doctor letter is not a capable. I have to test for 4 disease and have my doctor fill the Thai form confirming I am clear. Again, pain since I am outside Canada now
a year ago
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Tony **********
@Kevin *****
 you can also apply for non-o from Canada through evisa. You just have to show either ฿800k in bank or show ฿65k in monthly income. No need for insurance, criminal check or medical certificate
a year ago
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Tony **********
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
 I and do the non O-A visa while in Thailand??? How do I get the medical and.police docs notarized or completed on the Thai forms
a year ago
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Simon *****
@Kevin *****
 You don’t do the non OA visa in Thailand, you do the non O visa when in Thailand. To apply non O in Thailand is much more simple than apply non OA in your home country.

When you enter Thailand with your Canadian passport, you will get a stamp to stay 60 days under visa exemption scheme. You then open an account with a Thai Bank, remit 800,000 baht to your Thai account. Go to immigration to apply for a non O retirement visa, which is initially a 90 days visa when granted, then before this visa expires, go to extend it for 1 year. Thereafter, extend it every year for another year.
a year ago
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Helen ********
@Simon ****
 as a Canadian
@Kevin *****
 doesn't need to do the deposit since he can still get an affidavit of income from the Canadian Embassy in BKK or Consulate in Chiang Mai. Easy to do and still accepted by immigration.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Helen *******
 Thank you. Does the Canadian embassy/ consulate provide this kind of service if i go and ask for it?
a year ago
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Helen ********
@Kevin *****
 yes. You just need to contact whichever one you plan on going to and ask them what documents they want. We've used our proof of income that we print from CRA. In Chiang Mai you make an appointment, it's 1250 and they give you a letter to take to immigration.
a year ago
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Helen ********
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Kim *********
@Kevin *****
 sorry to butt in but Tony said non-o NOT non o-a
a year ago
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Kim *********
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
 i have a friend's friend who works at one bank. Can she do that for me instead of agents? Not sure if I can trust agent.
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
@Kevin *****
 the advice Tony gave is excellent.

Ask your friend if they can help you open an account here, they are the only person that would know. If not, and you are not on a long term visa in Thailand, chances are you would need to use an agent, but you can find a reputable one and would go to the bank with them to open the account, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. I think it costs about 5,000 baht. There are advantages with applying for the non o instead of the oa (you don't need to use the insurance companies stipulated and don't need to leave Thailand). Good luck
a year ago
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Stuart ***********
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Brandon ************
Sounds like you didn't apply for the non-O but you applied for the non-OA instead. The non-O doesn't have any insurance requirement and is not expensive. The non-OA has a large insurance requirement, and requires many documents like a criminal history check, health certificate, and costs significantly more money.

But since you already paid, if you're able to get the non-OA visa, it gives you 1 year in Thailand instead of the 90 days of a non-O.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Was this through the embassy website, or the thai immigration website?
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Kevin *****
 neither. It's through the Thailand e-visa website, the only place you can apply for a visa through Thai embassies in Canada. The only place you could have applied for your visa originally
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
The embassy in Canada told me that if i want the non-o i have to apply to immigration office, no embassy
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Kevin *****
 Don't know why they told you that when I can clearly and easily choose the non-O retirement visa when using e-visa to apply through Canada.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thanks! My issue is not the insurance or expenses, I will need the insurance regardless, but I just checked the O-A visa and it have the same requirements regarding criminal record certified, and the medical certification. I have obtained and submitted both through on-line and the embassy in Ottawa sent me their forms to be redone/refilled by the doctor and the Police in Canada. I am now in Turkey and will fly to Thailand, so almost impossible to get these done per the embassy requirements.
a year ago
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Chris *******
@Kevin *****
 the 90 day non-o does not require health ins ,criminal or medical.

Only OA does.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Kevin *****
 you could try asking the embassy if they can switch your application to non-O. It's a long shot but worth a try since they could likely issue that based on what you already submitted.
a year ago
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Kevin ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 totally 2 different government organizations. This will not work.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Kevin *****
 embassy is embassy. I don't know what you're saying
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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