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What are the best visa options for a 75-year-old USA citizen seeking a four-month vacation in Thailand?

Retirement VisaNon-O VisaTourist VisaOA VisaVisa ExtensionsThailand ImmigrationExpat Visa OptionsLong-Term StayFinancial Requirements
Sep 8, 2021
3 years ago
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have been retired 21 years and spend 3 or 4 months in Thailand ever winter. My last trip before covid, I had a 60 day tourist visa that I extended 30 days and then went to Laos for a week and returned on a 30 day visa wavor.

I'm eligible for a retirement visa but don't want to keep 50,000 USD in a Thai bank so I could vacation in Thailand.

I am a 75 year old USA citizen. What is my best option for an annual 4 month vacation in Thailand?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster, a 75-year-old retired USA citizen, seeks options for a four-month annual vacation in Thailand without maintaining a large amount of money in a Thai bank account. Responses suggest considering the OA visa, which requires medical insurance and offers a one-year validity without needing funds in a Thai bank. Alternatively, the Non-O visa, obtainable prior to arrival, provides a 90-day stay with an option for a one-year extension under specific financial conditions. The tourist visa can be a short-term option with a 60-day stay extendable for an additional 30 days. Discussion includes clarifications about these visa types and the associated requirements.
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.
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Tod *********
You got some good answers, You can get a 90 day single entry non-O visa in your country before you wing your way here based on being over 50 and it will give you 90 days when you show up <- BUT it can only be extended for a year inside the country (by banking the 800K baht for 2 months before you apply) there is no other extension on that visa type)

OR

You can buy a single entry tourist visa which will get you stamped in for 60 days when you arrive and you can extend that once for 30 days for 1900baht at the immigration office.

BOTH are viable ways for you to stay 90 days <- that's about all you're gonna get without a lot of hoop jumping or meeting financial requirements for a long term visa/extension :)
3 years ago
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Steve *******
A single entry Non Imm O visa based on being over 50 will get you 90 days. No hassle, no money needed in a Thai bank.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Steve ******
 yeah but the OP said they wanted to stay for 3-4 months. A non O visa will only allow for 90 days. It can only be extended for 1 year if they have the right financials in a Thai bank account.
3 years ago
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Jeh *****
@Stuart ********
 immigration has been providing 60 covid extensions for 60 day visa, ongoing. Couldn't he simply use this option?
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Jeh ****
 the option for applying for those runs out on the 27th September. Whether that date will change is speculation at this moment.
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Jeh ****
 that program is set to expire on the 27th of Sept (if they don't extend it again)
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Steve *******
@Stuart ********
 Yep 3-4 months. Unless Im missing something 90 days is a about 3 months
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Steve ******
 yep. A bit short of 4 months. By 30 days or so.
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Stuart ********
 FFS! Lucky I mentioned it then. Seems like a viable option for the OP.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Steve ******
 not if he wants 4 months as his original post.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Bill *********
@Steve ******
 huh, im confused . i thought two options one is non imm. a o gotten out of country for the one year. and the non imm o visa gotten in the kingdom for a year..........the one gottten in kingdom u put monty in the thai bank. now u mention a non immi. o visa that is only ninety days ??? if i could get a 90 day visa, somehow and i could extend it 30 days (1900 baht ) then that gives me or the op the 4 months he wannts
3 years ago
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Steve *******
@Bill ********
 The norm is to get the Non Imm O in your own country before you enter Thailand, that gives you the option to stay for 90 days and then leave or apply for a 1 year extention of stay. The 90 days gives you ample time to transfer and season the funds for a yearly extention of stay based on being over 50.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Bill ********
 you can get a non O visa based on retirement (being over 50) from most embassies (except Australia). It will give you 90 days on arrival. It can only be extended for 1 year if you have the right financials in a Thai bank account.
3 years ago
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George *************
@Bill ********
 only a year extension is allowed based on a non-O (90 day) visa whether acquired inside or outside Thailand.
3 years ago
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George *************
@Bill ********
 you can't extend a Non-O visa (90 days) for 30 days the only allowable extension you would have is a year retirement extension that comes with financial requirements, such as 800k in a Thai bank.
3 years ago
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George *************
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Paul *******
Stuart’s correct I did it as well

Best of luck.
3 years ago
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Chris ****
$24.5K USD
3 years ago
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Lisa ********************
If you need help with insurance, contact
@Arawan ******
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
Depending on timing you could work out two years of visits on that visa.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
For an example, say you apply for the visa at the end of March. You get the visa and arrive the beginning of April. You stay 4 months and go home. The OA visa is multiple entry and valid for a year, so as long as you re-enter Thailand before the end of March the following year you’ll get another stamp for one year (if you have the insurance).
3 years ago
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Bill *********
@Stuart ********
 that is interesting. but they change around visas so much the next year idea might be mute
3 years ago
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Brett **********
@Bill ********
 this one been around for ages. Many people seem to be out off by having to pay for the insurance, which you don't if you convert to retirement visa in Thailand. But as insurance is a good idea and this doesn't tie up cash in Thailand it's a pretty good option. Also, I think you meant moot
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Bill ********
 no. They don’t. That visa option has been around for years and years.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Marie ********
@Stuart ********
 how much does this visa cost please?
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Marie *******
 that’s up to your local embassy/consulate to determine. You’d need to check their website to see prices. Generally you need a medical certificate, insurance and a police clearance to get one.
3 years ago
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Marie ********
@Stuart ********
 wow, thats great to know..Thank you so much👍
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
As an example it’s $300 Australian dollars from their embassy. It may be cheaper or not from yours.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Kathy ****************
@Stuart ********
 how sure are you of this..
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Kathy ***************
 100% sure.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
As long as you enter the day the visa expires (or before) you’ll get a stamp for 1 year - as long as you have medical insurance for that timeframe.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
The second year is not multiple entry, so if you wanted to leave and come back you’d need to buy a re-entry permit to keep your stamp alive.
3 years ago
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Frédéric ******************
@Kathy ***************
 I did it, as many others.
3 years ago
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Frédéric ******************
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Stuart *********
You can apply for an OA visa, which is valid for a year and you get stamped in for a year on arrival - if you have medical insurance for that long. Funds for that visa do not need to be in a Thai bank account.
3 years ago
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Stuart *********
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