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What are the best visa options for a New Zealand couple planning to retire in Thailand, considering one spouse is under 50?
Non-O Retirement VisaNon-O Dependent VisaED VisaDTV VisaVisa Exempt EntryThailand Immigration RulesVisa ConversionExpats in Thailand
Jul 12, 2025
10 months ago
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone, my wife (44 years old) and I (51 years old), both New Zealand citizens / residents are planning to retire to Thailand in a couple of months and wanting to sanity check our approach with this group given my wife is under 50.
Firstly I'll apply for the Non-O Retirement from New Zealand so that I can easily open a bank account in Thailand upon arrival, deposit the THB 800k, and then apply for the 1 year extension.
As for my wife, the two options based on advice from visa agencies and forums appear to be as follows:
Option 1. Travel to Thailand visa exempt, apply for ED granted for a stay of 90 days, extend once for a further 3 months, then apply to change to a Non-O dependent (on my Non-O Retirement).
The issue we're finding with the ED is that schools seem to be catering only for DTV now and not supporting ED. I expect we'd also not be able to leave the country and travel until the conversion to Non-O dependent is complete and immigration appear to be taking a dim view of people on ED visas travelling when they should be studying. But the ED duration is intended for only 6 months so that's not really an issue.
Option 2. Apply for the DTV from New Zealand based on Thai soft power activities. The 5 year duration of the visa will be sufficient to cover the period until my wife is 50 at which point she can apply for the non-O Retirement.
The concern with the DTV is the soft power category seems to have a lot of problems with immigration based on the forum posts, particularly when reentering the country. This creates the risk she will be denied entry.
Greatly appreciate your expert opinion as to the best approach given the current lay of the land in Thailand right now. Thanks!
Firstly I'll apply for the Non-O Retirement from New Zealand so that I can easily open a bank account in Thailand upon arrival, deposit the THB 800k, and then apply for the 1 year extension.
As for my wife, the two options based on advice from visa agencies and forums appear to be as follows:
Option 1. Travel to Thailand visa exempt, apply for ED granted for a stay of 90 days, extend once for a further 3 months, then apply to change to a Non-O dependent (on my Non-O Retirement).
The issue we're finding with the ED is that schools seem to be catering only for DTV now and not supporting ED. I expect we'd also not be able to leave the country and travel until the conversion to Non-O dependent is complete and immigration appear to be taking a dim view of people on ED visas travelling when they should be studying. But the ED duration is intended for only 6 months so that's not really an issue.
Option 2. Apply for the DTV from New Zealand based on Thai soft power activities. The 5 year duration of the visa will be sufficient to cover the period until my wife is 50 at which point she can apply for the non-O Retirement.
The concern with the DTV is the soft power category seems to have a lot of problems with immigration based on the forum posts, particularly when reentering the country. This creates the risk she will be denied entry.
Greatly appreciate your expert opinion as to the best approach given the current lay of the land in Thailand right now. Thanks!
TLDR : Answer Summary
A couple from New Zealand plans to retire in Thailand, encountering challenges regarding visa options as one spouse is under 50. The husband intends to apply for a Non-O Retirement Visa, while the wife considers two options: applying for an ED visa upon arrival and later converting to a Non-O dependent, or applying for a DTV from New Zealand. Concerns arise about the ED visa's limitations and potential issues with the DTV's entry. Community members offer varied advice on both options, suggesting alternatives like multi-entry tourist visas or checking for dependent visa availability in different Thai embassies. Overall, the couple seeks the most efficient pathway to their retirement in Thailand.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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.
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Jason **********
Your wife could get the thailand elite visa to last until she's over 50.
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jason *********
do you think there’s a risk that someone with a DTV based on soft power activities will be denied reentry to Thailand if the soft power activities have been completed and not ongoing?For example if someone enrolls in a 12 month Muay Thai class in year 1 of their DTV and completes the course. Then they travel overseas in year 2 and upon return immigration deny reentry because they’re not longer actively enrolled in any Muay Thai classes.
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jason *********
thank you sir but too pricey for my liking.Jason **********
@Innes *****
I don't think it's worth the price just convenient. I think the DTV is a much better value just a little future uncertainty surrounding it with how the government tends to flip flop.Reply to
Jason **********
Reply
Chris *****
I wish you and your wife all the best and hope all works out well 🙏🏼
I was in the same situation as you. I was 54 and my wife was 43. In the end, we decided to let an agent handle our situation and we pay 💰💸😄
I was in the same situation as you. I was 54 and my wife was 43. In the end, we decided to let an agent handle our situation and we pay 💰💸😄
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Chris ****
thank you! Would you mind sharing or PM me with the agent details?Reply to
Innes ******
Reply
Chris *******
Just to throw a bit of an idea that you would need to confirm.
The embassy in Canberra, Australia may still offer a non-o dependant visa, alongside the 90 day non-o. Based on retirement.
This was just a few months ago.
See attached:
You can apply for a Non-Immigrant "O", "O-A", "O-X"/ Retirement Visa and her husband can apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" to follow his wife to stay in Thailand. Please visit this website for further information about Thai Visas:
Kind regards
Visa and Consular Services
Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra.
__
Location and Postal Address:
Royal Thai Embassy
111 Empire Circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
website:
image
The embassy in Canberra, Australia may still offer a non-o dependant visa, alongside the 90 day non-o. Based on retirement.
This was just a few months ago.
See attached:
You can apply for a Non-Immigrant "O", "O-A", "O-X"/ Retirement Visa and her husband can apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" to follow his wife to stay in Thailand. Please visit this website for further information about Thai Visas:
****************************
Kind regards
Visa and Consular Services
Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra.
__
Location and Postal Address:
Royal Thai Embassy
111 Empire Circuit
Yarralumla ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
website:
*******************************
image
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Chris ******
very interesting, thank you, will look into this further. NZ definitely require the primary to apply for the Non-OA.Heading to Australia to apply isn’t really ideal from a logistics perspective, we’re moving our lives in 6 suitcases from NZ to Thailand so better to fly direct rather than stop over in Australia for a few weeks to apply for the visas but will check it out!
Reply to
Innes ******
Reply
David *******
What a pleasure to read a well researched question and relevant answers. So much better than the ‘rubbish’ questions from so many anonymous posters.
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ******
thank you much! Indeed have been researching how to make this move for quite some time now and this forum has been a great source of information. There have been a few posts where one half is over 50 and the other half under 50 which seems a complex situation to solve and each circumstance is slightly different and therefore requires a tailored approach.If only Thailand allowed the spouse to trail on the Non-O Retirement as is the case with retirement visas in so many other countries!
Reply to
Innes ******
Reply
Kool *******
You are trying to make your wife's initial entry into Thailand too difficult. Get a multi entry tourist visa for your wife, an METV. This visa is multi entry for 6 months, getting a 60 day stamp on each entry, that can be extended for 30 more days. Exiting the country, and returning for another 60 day stamp that can be extended for 30 more days. This puts you at six months with just one exit and return. If that is not enough, then about a week before it expires leave, and come back for another 60 day stamp that can be extended for 30 more days, taking you to almost 9 full months, which should easily be enough time. This is the smartest option with the intention of her being on a dependent long term entry in the end.
Brandon ************
@Kool ******
way too expensive to get an METV from New Zealand. I wouldn't even consider this option. You can pay an agent for what it would cost.Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
thanks, I hadn’t considered a METV.Are you saying that a METV can be converted to a Non-O Dependent visa? I didn’t think that was possible.
John **********
@Innes *****
No tourist visa can be converted to a Non-O dependent visa inside Thailand. The only way to do it inside Thailand is to get a Non-immigrant visa for some other reason, get an extension of stay based on that visa and when that extension is running out you can change the reason for extension when applying for the next extension (the first extension must always be for the purpose the visa was issued).Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
I think the answer is yes, however can I please confirm that a person can arrive in Thailand on visa exempt and then apply for a ED visa within Thailand? Thanks 😊John **********
@Innes *****
they can, with the required paperwork from the school they will attend. Note they will have to attend or the extensions will not be forthcoming.Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thank you, that’s exactly what I thought and the reason for starting my wife off on an ED visa, extend for one time, then convert to Non-O dependent.Brandon ************
@Innes *****
as I said previously, there is no "converting to non-O." If you start with the ED visa then she's already on non-immigrant status which is the entire season for getting the non-ED. She can't convert to something she's already on. You would simply be changing the reason for her extension from education to trailing spouse. There is no visa involved at that point.Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
I appreciate the clarification regarding the process. I’m still learning!Kool *******
@Innes *****
or you can just cross the border at savanaket, apply for her dependent visa. It doesn't take very long at all. Figure which is more cost effective.Brandon ************
@Kool ******
no Thai embassy in SE Asia sells trailing spouse visas.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Henry ********
I’m studying at a language school on an ED Visa. They don’t do DTV for learning Thai (at least not my school).
My school has several programs with different lengths. I took the complete 14 months program because I want to speak, write and read Thai.
They are pretty strict on attendance, but with a reentry permit you can do weekend abroad in neighboring countries for example.
My school has several programs with different lengths. I took the complete 14 months program because I want to speak, write and read Thai.
They are pretty strict on attendance, but with a reentry permit you can do weekend abroad in neighboring countries for example.
Jesper *******
@Henry *******
what language school are u attending now? Is it in bkk? I already have nonO retirement visa so I don't need ED visa just need to brush up my thai languageHenry ********
@Jesper ******
yes it’s ALA near Nana. I have absolutely no regrets choosing this school.Reply to
Henry ********
Reply
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Henry *******
thank you. My wife would prefer a Thai cooking school for the ED but would consider a language school if that was the only option. I hear that if you are studying the Thai language under an ED, then immigration may test your skills when reentering the country.Henry ********
@Innes *****
indeed they can ask you a couple questions. But nothing to really worry about if you’re actually learning the language.Reply to
Henry ********
Reply
John **********
One thing for you to consider is getting your wife a Non-O dependent visa (Non-immigrant O (Spouse/Family) - To stay with a family member who is residing in Thailand) before winging your way to Thailand. It's not clear if your embassy will do this if you have a Non-O based on being over 50, but if you go for the Non-OA I think they will. It would be worth calling the embassy and seeing if they will support either or both options
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
I’ve been communicating with the Thai Consulate in NZ regarding this option and it requires me to apply for the Non-OA which I would prefer to avoid given the additional requirements which continue ongoing so long as I’m on the visa. I’d much prefer to be on the Non-O.Reply to
Innes ******
Reply
Brandon ************
#1 should work, assuming you can find a school. And you are correct that it would be best not to leave the country until your wife made the switch to the trailing spouse extension (would not be switching to non-O, just changing reason for extension).
#2 would also work, but I would suggest not applying in New Zealand. The Thai embassy there charges about 5-10x the price for all visas as compared to other Thai embassies in the rest of the world.
#2 would also work, but I would suggest not applying in New Zealand. The Thai embassy there charges about 5-10x the price for all visas as compared to other Thai embassies in the rest of the world.
Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thank you. Agreed on the Thai Consulate prices being very high compared to other countries, the Non-O itself costs NZD 800 / THB 15,600.The concern with my wife applying for the DTV from Vietnam (for example) is that if she gets denied, then I’m in Thailand on the Non-O most likely with a condo lease, and she can’t enter the country. Applying for the DTV from NZ gives us confidence that we know where we stand before traveling to Thailand. Also when you compare the flights to a neighboring country and accommodation for a couple of weeks to apply for the DTV, it’s comparable to the cost of applying for the DTV from NZ.
Brandon ************
@Innes *****
if your wife has a NZ passport she can enter Thailand visa exempt. If that's the only thing preventing you from doing it that way, it's not a good reason.Innes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
yes she has a NZ passport so will enter visa exempt.So under this scenario we travel to Thailand together, myself on a Non-O Retirement and my wife on visa exempt. My wife then travels to Vietnam to apply for the DTV whilst I stay in Thailand to complete my 1 year extension. If my wife is denied the DTV, she may not be able to enter Thailand as it could appear like a visa run because she was just in Thailand on visa exempt when we both travelled there together.
It’s not ideal for me to travel to Thailand whilst my wife travels separately to Vietnam to apply for the DTV.
Or sorry am I missing your point?
Brandon ************
@Innes *****
a second entry wouldn't be an issue. It's also much more about how long you've been in Thailand than number of entries. If she goes to Vietnam a month after you arrive to Thailand there won't be any issues getting back inInnes ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
that’s good information thank you.Yes I expect she’d be in Thailand for about one month initially so we could look for a condo together, then head to Vietnam to apply for the DTV whilst I remain in Thailand to complete my 1 year extension.
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Innes ******
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