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What are the best visa options for staying in Thailand for one year with minimal hassle?
Visa OptionsRetirement VisaNon-O VisaNon-OA VisaSTV VisaHealth InsuranceCOVID-19 RequirementsThai ImmigrationExpatriate GuidesThailand Visa Application Process
Oct 5, 2021
5 years ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERVisa advise please. Its to complicated for me to understand. Im 51 years old and want to stay in Thailand for 1 x year with my Thai GF. This will be my fourth visit and I want to have a good look around before I decide to move for a long time. It seems that the AO retirement visa is the best option??? Id like other options please without all the hassles so can this be done and is it easier and cheaper to apply whilst in Thailand lets say on a 30 day holiday pass..Im also assuming that Health insurance including Covid is std these days? Also is a police report from your home country for real? I thought applying in Thailand excludes this?. Then will I need need to meet all the requirements to get the certificate of entry from the Thai embassy, with includes covid-19 insurance, quarantine hotel booked, flit to fly certificate, and covid-19 test at least 72 hours before you fly. Thank you in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user seeks assistance in understanding the visa options for a one-year stay in Thailand with their Thai girlfriend. They mention prior visits and express a preference for a straightforward visa process, considering the Non-O retirement visa as a possible choice. The responses detail various visa types such as Non-O and Non-OA, including requirements like financial proof, health insurance, and conditions for applying within Thailand versus from abroad. There is also mention of the STV visa, which offers a short-term stay but may not meet the user's long-term intentions.
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.
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Philip **********
Paul it also depends on your age and what country you’re from. Because there’s other options.
Criteria for Consideration
Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM).
Must be 50 years of age or over.
Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month; or
On the filing date, the applicant must have account deposited (saving / fixed account) in a bank in Thailand of no less than
Baht 800,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a
deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 60 days prior to
the filing date; or
Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht
800,000 as of the filing date.
An alien who entered the Kingdom before October 21, 1998 and has been consecutively
permitted to stay in the Kingdom for retirement shall be subject to the following criteria:(a) Must be 60 years of age or over and have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in
a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 200,000 or have a monthly income of
no less than Baht 20,000.(b) If less than 60 years of age but not less than 55 years of age, must have an annual fixed
income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht
500,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 50,000.
Documents to be submitted
Application form
Copy of applicant’s passport
Evidence of income such as a retirement pension, interest or dividends; and/or
Account deposited (saving / fixed account) certificate issued by a bank in Thailand and a copy of a bankbook
Only in the case of Criterion (6), the applicant must submit documents equivalent to Clauses 1-4
stated above.
Criteria for Consideration
Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM).
Must be 50 years of age or over.
Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month; or
On the filing date, the applicant must have account deposited (saving / fixed account) in a bank in Thailand of no less than
Baht 800,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a
deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 60 days prior to
the filing date; or
Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht
800,000 as of the filing date.
An alien who entered the Kingdom before October 21, 1998 and has been consecutively
permitted to stay in the Kingdom for retirement shall be subject to the following criteria:(a) Must be 60 years of age or over and have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in
a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 200,000 or have a monthly income of
no less than Baht 20,000.(b) If less than 60 years of age but not less than 55 years of age, must have an annual fixed
income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht
500,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 50,000.
Documents to be submitted
Application form
Copy of applicant’s passport
Evidence of income such as a retirement pension, interest or dividends; and/or
Account deposited (saving / fixed account) certificate issued by a bank in Thailand and a copy of a bankbook
Only in the case of Criterion (6), the applicant must submit documents equivalent to Clauses 1-4
stated above.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you Phillip for the comprehensive information. Very much appreciated for your efforts.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks, I lived in Alberta. Go Wayne Gretzy.
Philip **********
@Paul ******
Yw Paul. I was in the same situation. But I was unaware of the $65,000 Bhat a month income. People here don’t tell that. I needed a verification letter from my embassy. Canada is one of the few that issues it. Reply to
Philip **********
Reply
Reply to
Graeme **********
Reply
Graeme **********
Things you need to know about the Thai retirement visa:
Thailand retirement visa is the popular term for "Extension of Stay Based on Retirement”. It is an extension of a Non-Immigrant O Visa or Non-Immigrant OA Visa.
The visa can be valid either for a single entry or multiple entries.
This is a long term Thai visa that entitles the holder a stay of uninterrupted 1 year period in Thailand.
The visa is renewable every year and the renewal process can be done inside Thailand (requirements for the visa renewal still apply).
Qualifications
Applicant must be 50 years of age or over
Must meet any of the financial requirements:
Security deposit of THB 800,000 in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to the visa application
Monthly Income of 65,000 THB
Combination of security deposit and annual income with a total of 800,000 THB
Supporting documents are as follows:
In case of security deposit, you will provide an updated bank book or passbook together with a bank letter stating that the money had been deposited to the account from an overseas source for not less than 2 months.
In case of income, a letter from your embassy in Thailand verifying your monthly income;
In case, your embassy does not issue an income letter, you will provide a 12-month bank statement showing a regular deposit of 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account.
Other documents that may be required to be presented:*
Police Clearance
Medical Certificate
Health Insurance
* These are not usually required if the visa application is submitted inside Thailand, though there are rare cases, however, when an official from the Thai embassy or consulate may ask for them before issuance of the visa.
Thailand retirement visa is the popular term for "Extension of Stay Based on Retirement”. It is an extension of a Non-Immigrant O Visa or Non-Immigrant OA Visa.
The visa can be valid either for a single entry or multiple entries.
This is a long term Thai visa that entitles the holder a stay of uninterrupted 1 year period in Thailand.
The visa is renewable every year and the renewal process can be done inside Thailand (requirements for the visa renewal still apply).
Qualifications
Applicant must be 50 years of age or over
Must meet any of the financial requirements:
Security deposit of THB 800,000 in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to the visa application
Monthly Income of 65,000 THB
Combination of security deposit and annual income with a total of 800,000 THB
Supporting documents are as follows:
In case of security deposit, you will provide an updated bank book or passbook together with a bank letter stating that the money had been deposited to the account from an overseas source for not less than 2 months.
In case of income, a letter from your embassy in Thailand verifying your monthly income;
In case, your embassy does not issue an income letter, you will provide a 12-month bank statement showing a regular deposit of 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account.
Other documents that may be required to be presented:*
Police Clearance
Medical Certificate
Health Insurance
* These are not usually required if the visa application is submitted inside Thailand, though there are rare cases, however, when an official from the Thai embassy or consulate may ask for them before issuance of the visa.
Lisa ********************
Are you eligible for the STV visa? They've started issuing again. 90 days which can be extended twice x 90 days.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi Lisa , appreciate you feedback. That's the beauty of technology and social media. I've looked through the TR and STV options and have to say, I tick all those boxes. I'm happy to do a 6 max duration , not a year. I can settle with this and will give it a go. Thank you.
Lisa ********************
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lisa *******************
Thank you again. Ill give him a buzzReply to
Paul *******
Reply
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERIts confirmed. She built a new house on grandmas property for us. She will get all the documents of proof and state this in a letter or what ever is needed in three weeks. I plan to stay with her.
Garrett ***********
@Li**
STV is an awful option, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone without a current house in Thailand. You need 90 days of accomodations pre-booked AND health insurance for the duration of the stay, including each 90 day extension. Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTERFrancesco Marescotti yes. My partner has a house in Thailand. She lives by herself. I figure this can help me somehow.
Reply to
Paul *******
Reply
Lisa ********************
No need for fit to fly cert but with OA you need doctor to sign the health declaration re TB, syphilis etc.
Garrett ***********
Paul, there's 2 types of retirement visas, Non-O and Non-OA.
The Non-O can be gotten outside of Thailand or inside thailand and is 90 days, but you can extend it inside the country for 1 year, however you need 800,000 baht in a thai bank account for 60 days before you apply for that extension. There is no background check or health insurance required for it (besides the current covid entry requirements).
Then Non-OA is a 1 year visa that you can ONLY apply for in your home country. You cannot apply for it in thailand. The Non-OA does not require money in a Thai bank account, but is does require specific health insurance.
The Non-O can be gotten outside of Thailand or inside thailand and is 90 days, but you can extend it inside the country for 1 year, however you need 800,000 baht in a thai bank account for 60 days before you apply for that extension. There is no background check or health insurance required for it (besides the current covid entry requirements).
Then Non-OA is a 1 year visa that you can ONLY apply for in your home country. You cannot apply for it in thailand. The Non-OA does not require money in a Thai bank account, but is does require specific health insurance.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Garrett **********
the non O sounds like the best option. Because 1 year is the maximum duration I want. Plus doing it in Thailand sounds easier. Just open a bank account when I arrive, wait a month and applie. Sounds like regardless I need to have *****
0 spare to dump into a thai account. I'm guessing just empty it when I know I'm leaving . I'm going to be renting my house in Aust so I can't be stuck without a house if I need to return because of visa issues. Greg ********
@Paul ******
There is also the option of paying an agent and notputting any money in a Thai bank account.Garrett ***********
@Gr**
If you want to break the law. Greg ********
@Garrett **********
Never ever known anyone get pulled up about it. Up to them. I do not particularly care either way. Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg *******
yes. Worth considering Greg ********
@Paul ******
I know guys who did it as did not want to move lump sums into Thai banks etc. I think cost was 26k THB for 90 days plus 12 month extension. Add on 4k for multi-re-entry. Just made it easier for some. I think renewal was 12k.Reply to
Greg ********
Reply
Garrett ***********
@Pa**
If you aren't planning on staying more than a year, you could take the money out right after you get the yearly extension. You just wouldn't be able to extended it next year, you'd have to start the process over by getting a new Non-O if you wanted to stay another year. The Non-OA doesn't have that requirement, you just have to show that you have the equivalent amount in your home country's bank account when you apply. The biggest downside to the Non-OA is the health insurance requirement.
Reply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
Graeme **********
@Garrett **********
the OA as a minimum requires a monthly deposit of 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account from an overseas source for the duration of the visa IF you want to extend itGarrett ***********
@Gra***
That's not true at all. Graeme **********
@Garrett **********
it is if you want to extend it for a further 12 monthsGarrett ***********
@Gra***
Stop copy and pasting random stuff off the internet. If you want to link an article then copy and paste the web address so people can read the source. Also, try and keep your thoughts to single comments. It starts to look like spam when you post 6 comments in a row and just copy and pasted text, no one is going to read it. Graeme **********
@Garrett **********
I’ve done a check and you’ve ticked all the boxes. Turns out you’re a wanker…congratulations😝😝Garrett ***********
@Gra***
I know that's what you said, but you're mistaken. Reply to
Garrett ***********
Reply
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