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What are the differences in obtaining a retirement visa in Singapore compared to Thailand, and how do extensions work for tourist visas?

Retirement VisaThai Visa RulesNON-O VisaVisa ExtensionsTourist VisaVisa Application ProcessExpat Life in Thailand
May 12, 2023
2 years ago
Debbie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Two questions: 1. What's the difference between applying for a retirement visa in the Thai Embassy in Singapore and applying for it here? Has anyone done it in Singapore ? I understood that the main difference is that I can prove my 800K equivalent in an SG account instead of a Thai acct. What are the pros and cons?

2. On a tourist visa-exempt: Is that 90 days out of 180 days rule NOT including the extensions?

I came in and got 45 days in January, then got an extension of 30 days. I left for about one and a half months. Came in again recently on 30 days. Now wondering if I should go out again at the end of my 30 days or get an extension till July. However, if I do have to go out, can I come back in one more time & get 30 days -- and possibly an extension?

I am doing this to see if my other options of a visa comes through by end of July/August.

At the moment, just seeing what all my options are. Thanks for bearing with me, and the questions...
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses two main questions regarding visa applications and extensions in Thailand. Firstly, it compares applying for a retirement visa (NON-O) at the Thai Embassy in Singapore versus applying in Thailand, highlighting that funds can be shown in a Singaporean account initially but must eventually be in a Thai bank for a one-year extension. The second question concerns tourist visa-exempt entry, particularly the regulations surrounding staying and extending visas, as well as re-entry rules. Several comments provide clarifications and personal experiences, indicating that extensions can be made each time one re-enters Thailand, though scrutiny may occur depending on visa history.
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.
Bob **********
You can’t get a 1 year extension on a non-o being over 50 outside of Thailand you can get an OA visa in your home country but you’ll need all the requirements including Thai insurance
2 years ago
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Aeh **************
The Thai embassy in Singapore only accept a retirement visa application from Singaporean or PR. They won’t accept an application from other nationalities even you have the EP.
2 years ago
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Julane *******
@Aeh *************
 yes, we lived 13 years in SG on EP and wanted to retire to Thailand. The Thai Embassy would NOT give us a 90 day non immigrant O Visa. Only PR and citizens.
2 years ago
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Aeh **************
@Julane ******
 I hope you got the visa sorted out and are already retire in Thailand 😊 If so, can you pls share how you did it? We are in the same situation - my partner has been in SG for 14 years on EP and he couldn’t apply non-O visa via Thai embassy in SG 😔
2 years ago
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Julane *******
@Aeh *************
 It took almost a year, but I got a dependent pass based on my husband getting his non immigrant O extension. And EVERY immigration office is different. So you need to go specifically to a city and inquire. It took my husband 4 months. I was mostly in Singapore and the USA throughout this period and just visited him briefly a few times.
2 years ago
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Aeh **************
@Julane ******
 I see. Thanks for sharing your experience on this.
2 years ago
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Aeh **************
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Charles **********
I recently documented, on my Travel Blog, the process as it applies in the United Arab Emirates. You may find some useful tips there as the process should be similar around the world. Good Luck 🇹🇭🙏🏻
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2 years ago
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John **********
You can prove the money in Singapore for the initial 90 day Non-O visa if you apply for it there but you still need money in Thailand for 2 months before you apply for an extension
2 years ago
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George *************
If you are able to obtain a Non-O visa in Singapore, then the only difference between obtaining it in Singapore or Thailand (from a tourist visa or entry-exempt entry) is that you can show the necessary funds outside of Thailand in the first instance but the necessary funds must be shown in a Thai bank in the second instance. Ultimately, you will have to have the required funds in a Thai bank in order to get a one-year extension in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Graham *****
 Correct. And no necessity to transfer 800,000 baht Inyo a Thai bank account. That's a big plus
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@George ************
 But you can get two years from an OA, then skip back to home country, get a new OA and repeat for the next two years
2 years ago
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Daniel ********
@Steve *******
 What is OA?
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Daniel *******
 OA is a "retirement" visa (although there's actually no such thing - it's a non-immigrant visa based on being over 50 years of age). It sits alongside the "O" visa and the "OX" visa, and more recently the LTR visa
2 years ago
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Daniel ********
@Steve *******
 Awesome thanks for the explanation. I am a rookie since I recently retired and am only 39 😂
2 years ago
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Steve ********
@Daniel *******
 Which is why I say it's not a "retirement" visa. It's a non-immigrant visa based on being over 50 years of age, so don't even consider it at this time. You're better off to get an Elite Visa
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Daniel *******
 you've got 11 years until any of this is relevant to you then
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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Graham ******
@Steve *******
 Yes, with 2 years insurance plus one border bounce
2 years ago
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Graham ******
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George *************
You are allowed two land border entries per calendar year. The number of entries by air is unspecified but if it appears you are trying to live or work in Thailand then you may be questioned.
2 years ago
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Debbie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 -- so the 90 day is essentially THREE entries of 30 days -- not counting the extensions -- or do they count the extensions.... Sorry If I somehow didn't catch this answer in an earlier comment...
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Debbie *****
 there's no such thing as a 90 day out of 180 rule.
2 years ago
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Debbie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
thanks
@Brandon ***********
 for helping to clarify things. So this year I came in January and got 45 days, got an extension for 30; left again for one and half months, returned and got in 30 days and now thinking of getting a 30 day extension; after that, can I get come in again for another 30 days or have I exceeded my visa exempt quota? I'm just having to stay tourist until my actual visa/work permit situation gets organised and settled.
2 years ago
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George *************
@Debbie *****
 You get two land border entries in a calendar year and an unspecified number of air entries. If it appears you are using visa exempt entries to live or work in Thailand you may be questioned by immigration. Often you will be told to get a proper long-term visa, which you are already in the process of doing. Your recent Thailand history will not cause you a problem in gaining a visa-exempt entry by air, but if you are concerned you could use your 2 land border visa-exempt quota. The one-and-a-half-month gap helps your case for an entry by air, as immigration is more concerned with long stays in Thailand punctuated with short absences as would be typical for someone living or working in Thailand on short-term visa-exempt entries.
2 years ago
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Debbie ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@George ************
 thanks — i have been here for decades on a longterm visa but only had this predicament this year to be tourist as it’s a long bureaucratic delay to get this visa. I always go in n out by air. So shd be ok to leave after the next 30 day extension abd come in again for another 30 days
2 years ago
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Debbie ******
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Osama ************
@George ************
 Is the 2 land border entries/year limit the law?

I've looked into the Thai immigration web but could not find anything regarding that limit. Do you know where I can find it?
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Osama *************
 yes it's law. But I cannot tell you where it's published. It's an immigration guideline
2 years ago
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Colin *********
@Brandon ***********
 on one hand you said it's "law", but on the other hand, you said it's a "guideline". A guideline isn't a law
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Colin ********
 if you really want the full details and story about when it changed and how, you can message Tod Daniels. He is the one who posted the information a couple of weeks ago when I last saw it
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Colin ********
 it's published and every single immigration officer knows about it. It was published. The other group has some details about it.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
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George *************
There is no "90 days out of 180 days" rule in effect. However, when you enter visa-exempt immigration will look at your history in Thailand and if it appears you have been trying to live or work in Thailand you may be scrutinized and questioned.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
You can get an extension every time you come in
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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