What are the considerations for switching from a Non-OA retirement visa to a Non-O visa in Thailand?

You can definitely change the "reason" of a 1-year extension which you got out of a Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, the very moment you have 30 days left on your extension and are about to apply for the next 1-year extension, from "retirement" to "marriage with a Thai wife".

You can also change the "reason" vice-versa - from marriage to retirement.

You can do this as long as you fulfill the financial requirements and those document-wise.

However, you cannot change the "reason" of a 1-year extension you got out of a Non-O/A visa, to another "reason" that can only be obtained based on a Non-O visa type.

From "O" to "O", yes, you can.

From "OA" to "O", no, you can’t.

In order to be able to apply for a Non-O Visa, you first need to invalidate the stay permit you got stamped out of the Non-O/A Visa. You cannot do a “reason change” even if you are already on a 1-year extension of stay.

with the marriage visa you don't currently need insurance, which I fine as I pay as I go, last year with kidney and gall bladder stones did about 7 hospital visits, plus MRI scans ,Xray's and whatever they suggested . All up plus 2 nights at private hospital 18,000 baht then the 2 night in local hospital private room 3,000 baht. So costs not to bad. Then with marriage visa you can also apply for a work permit if you so want plus money in bank is 400,000 baht or letter from embassy showing income from source back in old country. Apart from that when you apply for extension there are a few hoops to jump but when sorted pretty easy. Where di you get married, Thailand makes it easier for the local Amphur to issue letter stating yes you are married and your passport is correct. My wife and I got married in NZ 20 years ago had the marriage cert translated but Amphur were not interested said wife still single in Thailand. So we had a company in Bangkok go to embassy for my NZ passport translated marriage cert, went to Thai Internal affairs got the paperwork certified to show , yes we are married, think it cost about 3,000 baht all up . then back to the local Amphur all happy letter issued says we are married for Immigration extension. Also for our first extension Immigration visited our home had something to eat talked to our 2 witnesses, lucky 1 was village 2ic so knew what questions Immigration were asking about us. So lived here 5 years no problems with Immigration do 90 day reports in person as day out in the big smoke.

You might want to check with Tod Daniels (one of the moderators on this site) but if you extend you OA visa as married then you may not need health insurance.

If you're going to marry your fiance and in the end want a marriage visa you'd rather have a O Visa anyway

The Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa and the subsequent one-year extension of the staypermit based on retirement, has no disadvantages. It actually has the advantage that you are free from a mandatory Thai health insurance. You have freedom of choice to contract an international health insurance, or use your U.S. ss-benefits or self insure

You have two options, and both of them need you to exit Thailand without a re-entry permit, because this is the only way to invalidate your O/A stay permit.

***Option ONE is applying for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa outside of Thailand, re-enter and get stamped in for 90 days, and up from 30 days before the 90 days are up, use the bank letter that confirms the 2-months seasoning of 800,000 THB to apply for the 1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement.

*** EASIEST is Option TWO: it means re-entering Thailand visa-exempt, you get stamped in for 60 days, and visit Immigration to apply for the "change of visa type" from the visa-exempt entry to the initial 90-days Non-O visa.

For this application, you need to show that you already have a minimum of 800,000 THB sitting in your Thai bank account, and you need a proof that the money came from abroad.

And you will - at least on most Immigrations - need a rental contract.

Check the requirements under number 9 of this list on the Immigrations’s website regarding the “change of visa type”.



Visit your Immigration before you make the move, make sure they are accepting applications for the “change” and make sure you meet THEIR specific requirements for the “change”.

None o marrige visa is what I'm going to apply for.

My Thai wife and I are presently living in UK.

We are leaving this year to retire in Udon Thani

My monthly income will allow for not having the 400,000 baht tied up.

Go for it.

Just the advantage of not having to buy insurance

Other than you need to leave Thailand without a re-entry permit and should apply for the 90 day Non-O wherever you travel to before returning I can't see any downside