Answered3 years ago

What are the best visa options for an Australian looking to retire in Thailand from Europe?

Thailand visas NON-O visa Retirement visa Aussie passport holders Bank account requirements Visa extension

Paul *********

asked Aug 8, 2023

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Hi Fellow expats and travellers 😊

I’m after some helpful tips on the beat way for me to move forward. The more I look on Thai embassy website or Facebook the more confused I get🤣

Will give you a bit of a rundown on my situation.

Looking to move to Thailand in around two months, initially to Chiang Mai but no idea yet long term as there are so many beautiful places to choose from.

I am an Aussies passport holder but currently in Europe and will not be heading back to Aus before entering Thailand, so I believe that limits my visa options.

This is what I am thinking so far but appreciate and advise that will make things easier and more streamlined.

I think my best option is to arrive on a 30 day visa exemption and extend for another 30 days while I try and sort out my retirement visa as I am over 50. When I apply for the retirement visa, I think it’s O visa, is that issued and then I have the 90 days from then to open the bank account and season the 800k for two months? Is the 90 day retirement visa multi entry or is that a special requirement.

TIA for any help and guidance.

I’m sure many people have been through all this before so no point me reinventing the wheel so after as many helpful tips I can get.

Cheers,

Paul

Answer summary

The user, an Australian citizen currently in Europe, is planning to move to Thailand and seeks guidance on the best visa path. They consider arriving on a 30-day visa exemption, then extending it for another 30 days, while applying for a retirement visa (NON-O). Community replies emphasize the importance of having an Thai bank account with 800K baht for two months prior to applying for the NON-O visa, as well as looking into a potentially advantageous 10-year OX visa from the Thai consulate in Sydney.

14 repliesnewest first

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Wannikea *********

The non O visa or subsequent extension inside Thailand has no entry/reentry, since you're already in Thailand, you can buy a re-entry permit single or multiple at immigration once your full extension is inked in.

3 years ago

Tod *********

@Paul ********

you need to go to the Sydney Thai Consulate Website and see if you can meet the requirements for the 10 year OX visa.

The visa gives you a 5 year entry stamp and is unlimited entry for the validity (10 years from the date of issue)

That consulate is the ONLY ONE in the world with the requirements set as low as they are. If you can meet them and get that visa you're in good shape.. A LOT of Auzzies have gotten off their retirement visas (from inside thailand and gotten that OX visa from Sydney. You apply online, get the approval, then mail the application, documentation, passport and include return postage paid envelope and they send the passport with the visa back to your address in Oz..

It's the way to go IF you can qualify for it.

3 years ago

Paul *********

@Tod ********

Thanks Tod, that sounds great but do I need to be in Australian to apply for that?

3 years ago

Tod *********

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3 years ago

Tod *********

ONE final time people,

This IS NOT a group on the trials and tribulations of opening a bank account in thailand. There are NO NEW LAWS, controlling foreigners opening an account. (no matter what you're being told at a bank) the policy on whether a bank will or won't allow a foreigner to open an account on a free 30 day entry stamp OR a 60 day tourist visa is set by the branch manager

3 years ago

Dean **********

@Tod ********

sorry

3 years ago

Russell ********

Youll have a blizzard of advice on this, so ill just say: its a NON O visa: you have to apply additionally for multi entry: and the 800K needs to have been in the bank for at least 2 months when you apply at the start.

3 years ago

Ellie *******

@Russell *******

, two months seasoning requirements for 800K banked money for an initial visa is only in a few provinces offices such as Jomtien. Most don't require your funds in a bank account for two months for an initial visa.

3 years ago

Russell ********

@Ellie ******

thanks Ellie. As you say, best to check locally

3 years ago

Graham ******

@Russell *******

No the 800k doesn't need to be seasoned for the initial Non-O, not at many offices, Jomtien being one exception

3 years ago

Russell ********

@Graham *****

it certainly varies, 2 to 3 months i heard. Best always to get local advice.

3 years ago

Ellie *******

As an Australian passport holder, you need to have a bank account with Thai bank first to apply for an initial in-country Non-O visa based on retirement/being over 50. You put 800K baht in the bank, then can apply for a Non-O visa. After keeping 800K for 2 months and your stamp from that visa remains less than 30 days, you can apply for a 1-year extension. These in-country visa and extension are "zero entry", you need to buy a re-entry permit once you granted those if you want to travel abroad.

Attached is a brief summary of the in-country visa and extension procedure. You NEED to get the latest handout of requirements for an initial visa AND extension from your local immigration office where you would live.

3 years ago

Ellie *******

As most immigration offices would require you to have a long-term agreement on lodging for an application for an initial in-country Non-O visa based on being over 50, you may want to have a Single Entry Tourist Visa to enter Thailand to find the place you want to stay still have enough time to apply for an initial visa.

3 years ago

Ellie *******

Opening a bank account is out of the scope of this group, BTW. We are not going into that in detail. But you might be on the long way to get one. Be prepared.

3 years ago