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What are the Differences Between Thailand's Non-O and Non-OA Retirement Visas?

Visa OptionsNon-O VisaNon-OA Visa
Jun 24, 2020
4 years ago
Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Folks, I am confused like hell about that plethora of long-stay visas. I have lived in Thailand for 30 years, am over 50 and plan to retire next year in Thailand. As I can see from the research I have basically two options: non-O and non-OA. I suppose the "non" means that you get a temporary 90 day visa in your home country which can then be extended into a one year retirement visa. As an non-O visa requires that you leave Thailand every 90 days, I would suppose that non-OA would be the best way to go but I hear different things about this. Sometimes I wonder whether non-O is better. My legal adviser in Thailand speaks about arranging a non-O retirement visa for me (even though there is really not such a thing as a retirement visa). I will discuss with him but for now can somebody clarify why a non-O visa would be better than non-OA and why these two options? Both require health insurance and both require 90 day reporting. I have also found out that you don't really need Thai health insurance. Foreign health insurance is ok.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The Non-O and Non-OA visas are both long-stay options for retirees in Thailand, but they have key differences. The Non-O visa typically offers a single entry and a 90-day stay that can be extended for one year based on retirement. However, it requires the holder to leave Thailand every 90 days. In contrast, the Non-OA visa allows for multiple entries, is valid for one year from the beginning, and can be renewed for another year under certain conditions. Notably, the Non-OA visa requires health insurance from a Thai provider, while the Non-O visa does not have an insurance mandate. Choosing between the two largely depends on personal preferences regarding banking, immigration processes, and future travel plans.
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.
Max *********
Convert your current visa into non-immigrant O for the purpose of retirement. Few thousand bath fee, 800k required in the bank, no need for insurance and no need to leave the country.
4 years ago
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Tod *********
The real question is
@Marc ********
, how did you live/work in thailand for 30 years and NOT manage to acquire permanent resident status? That's a LONG time to have been in country and not gone down that road to PR.

I was just curious was all..
4 years ago
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Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I worked for the UN and didnt pay tax so not qualifies for residency. From your answers it seems non OA is better but you can only get it in your home country right? No problem with that.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
@Marc ********
 I came from the US on an O-A in 2017. At that time I would say that it was better. When they implemented the insurance requirement I think it is no longer better than a non-O. It really depends on looking at the requirements and process of the various options and deciding based on your particular circumstances.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Tod *********
This goes over the differences between what are commonly called "retirement visas"

The choice is yours, and there's no one on the group that is chose for you. :)

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4 years ago
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Tod *********
@Marc ********
 that you can't see the benefit of getting an O-A visa from the thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here does not mean other people do not see the benefit of it.

Just a few of the benefits are, you don't need money banked or transferred into thailand instead you use your bank account in your country, you get unlimited entry/exit for the validity of the visa and every entry gets you stamped in for a whole new year. IF you work the bounce out and back correctly (by exitingre-entering just before the VISA expires you get another whole new year entry stamp in essense giving you TWO years of stay out of a visa that is good for only a single year. AND you don't deal with the immigration office here about anything but 90 day reporting..
4 years ago
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Mike *********
I think Non O the better option and then buy multiple or single re entry. No health ins requirement yet on Non Immigrant O

I think you first need Non O 90 day visa then apply for 1 year extension based on retirement.

Both 90 day Non O and 1yr extension based on retirement can be obtained inside Thailand. Of course deposit and or income requirememt or combination of the two must be met. 800,000 bt deposit or 65,000 bt monthly income or combination.
4 years ago
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Bill *********
@Mike ********
 you mean its 65,000bt Monthly income mate 👍
4 years ago
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Mike *********
@Bill ********
 yes of course.
4 years ago
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Mike *********
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Ekkehard *******
@Mike ********
 A Non-OA cannot be obtained inside Thailand.
4 years ago
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Mike *********
@Ekkehard ******
 I know I only talked about

NON O.

You obtain NON O A in your home country and it requires Health Ins.
4 years ago
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Mike *********
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Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have worked on a non-immigrant visa arranged by the UN which gives me a stay permit of 3 years. Of course this is now going to end. I still don't know why both non-O and non-OA exist. What is their purpose? If non-O is easier, then why would anybody go for non-OA?
4 years ago
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Marty *********
Both visas can lead you to the same 1 year extension. For most people living here full time that is the goal. If you have been here 30 years then that should be your goal. You probably are comfortable with the Thai banking system. A non-O will get you to a one year extension more quickly. Insurance is not required. Of course you can have insurance but that is your choice separate from any immigration requirements.
4 years ago
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George ******************
One point about a non O and Oa. The Oa, allows you to keep your money in your home country, but it still has to be the equivalent of āļŋ800,000. Remember what may be āļŋ800,000 today, may not be āļŋ800,000 next year. Keeping āļŋ800,000 in a Thai Bank gives you exchange rate security.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
@George *****************
 The OP has been here for 30 years. I assume he has some money in Thailand and is familiar with the banking system. We don’t know but I doubt he is concerned about keeping his money in his home country bank to qualify for an O-A.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Kevin *********
@Marty ********
 why do you think a non o will get you an extension more quickly? On a non oa if you stamp out and back in before your one year original enter before date you automatically get a one year stamp I thought. Doesn't get much easier than a reentry before your visa expires.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
@Kevin ********
 Yes you can get 2 years on an O-A. I got an O-A in 2017. Then I got my 1 year extension . You can get the same one year extension after 90 days on a non-O. The OP has been here 30 years. He just wants to continue living here. All the other features of an O-A are probably irrelevant not to mention the difficulty of returning to his home country during this time of travel restrictions.
4 years ago
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Marty *********
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Alan ********
Note that if your non-immO-A visa was IMMEDIATELY preceded by a business visa, health insurance is NOT required.
4 years ago
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Robert *******
Try to explain what you mean, which Thai Embassy issues a No Immigrant O-A visa without insurance?
4 years ago
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Robert *******
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Bobby ********
If you're planning a trip home every two years, OA is the way to go.
4 years ago
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Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
What is the motivation for Thai immigration to grant non-O rather than non-OA. I have health insurance so I can apply for both. I still don't know what is the advantage of one over the other. As a Dutch I am also qualified for a non-OX but again I can't find the advantages of that.
4 years ago
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Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I work for the UN and have not paid taxes. As a result I am not eligible for residency permit. I am only going to retire next year so before I had no interest in retirement issues as it changes all the time. I still wonder, if non-O has no requirement for health insurance and no medical or policy check isn't it preferable to non-OA?
4 years ago
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Stuart *********
@Marc ********
 Non OA is obtained only in your home country, requires financial requirement that can be in your own country. You can get 2 years out of it. You require police background check from your home country, a medical and health insurance that satisfies a minimum of
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0 baht inpatient and
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baht outpatient. The non O requires money to be shown in a Thai bank, no health insurance and no medical or police check.
4 years ago
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Robert *******
Motivation is that the Non Immigrant O-A visa is a multiple entry visa and Immigration Office only issues a visa without entries as you are already inside Thailand.
4 years ago
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Marc *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
 but if I get non-O I can always buy a separate re-entty visa no?
4 years ago
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Ručman ***********
@Robert ******
 Im confused, if he is 30 years in Thailand, why he cant apply for residence permit?
4 years ago
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Steve *********
@Ručman **********
 should of applied along time ago . Living in Thailand for 30 years and don't know what to do ???? Very strange
4 years ago
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Steve *********
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Marco *****************
AFAIK the Non-O doesn't need an insurance.
4 years ago
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Robert *******
There are a few differences,

The Non Immigrant O visa is most of the time sold as single entry, gives you 90 days and after 60 days you can apply for a 1 year Extension of Stay but therefor you need money in Thailand,

Some people do not like to transfer money into Thialand,

The Non Immigrant O-A visa is valid for 1 year and multiple entry, with some timing you get 2 years of stay out of it, but a health insurance is needed. In case you can not travel, strange things happen to people or the world, and you need to apply for an Extension of Stay, you need the insurance from a Thai company,

Some people do not want to support Thai companies,

Choice is yours.
4 years ago
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Marco *******
is not only about the visa anymore. they want also a covid-19 cover
4 years ago
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Kevin *********
Thai insurance that meets the government insurance requirements is available relatively inexpensively. I would rather pay that than move a lot of money into Thailand.
4 years ago
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Marco *******
@Kevin ********
 what is the name of the insurance? link? merci
4 years ago
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Kevin *********
@Marco ******
 I use cnx insure and they can set up for you through the government's required insurer
4 years ago
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Marco *******
@Kevin ********
 thank you. do you have any contact from CNX insure? are they in chiang mai?
4 years ago
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Kevin *********
@Marco ******
 yes in chiang mai but can do insurance for Thai requirements for anyone anywhere. Cnx insure talk to
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4 years ago
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Marco *******
@Kevin ********
 merci
4 years ago
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Marco *******
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Marco *******
i have a non-o with multiple entrys.
4 years ago
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Robert *******
@Marco ******
 Thanks and....
4 years ago
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Robert *******
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