What are the financial requirements and calculations for the Thai O-A visa related to monthly income and bank deposits?

@Roberto **********

Happy that works for you. I've weighed the options carefully, and for my wife and self definitely ok with Thai Bank deposit method. If we used your method, for my wife and self, that would be 130K Baht (65K x 2)/month, and we currently are living comfortably on only about 25K-30K/month for both of us. So, were we to do it your way, we would have substantial excess of monies "tied up" anyway. And, not "tied up forever", as we can always change our mind and withdraw. FYI -- you also fail to account for the additional hefty application fees for your alternatives versus ordinary 1yr Retirement Extension of only 1900 Baht/pp.

@Roberto **********

Certainly an "Option", though whether it is the "preferred" on is highly debatable. The "O-A" Option requires additional expense of mandatory insurance, which the Non-O does not. In addition, if you are like many Ex Pats, 65K/month is FAR more than you need to live comfortably in Thailand. So, the extra monies you are transferring every month (especially the full year prior), would likewise wind up being "tied up" in a Bank here. Same Same.

To avoid the 800,000 "dead money" process, take the OA visa (where money stays in your home country), which effectively gives you two years with just one border bounce. Commence the 65k per month transfers at your leisure, and towards the end of your second year, leave the country, visit an embassy which sells the non-O (50+) visa, re-enter on this, and after the 90 days, you can extend on the basis of the 65k per month regime. Keep in mind the 65k per month is money you can spend immediately, whereas the 800k is tied up for as long as you remain in Thailand. Financially the 65k is the preferred method.

Dominique Em: STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND (Must be over age 50): i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must promptly open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), Must be Over Age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.

Let's say that one gets pension of Thb / month. That would be 0 Thb / year. So the needed amount to deposit would be Thb. -> 0 Thb combined. (Embassy affidavit of pension required.)

The OA doesn't require any money to be transferred into a Thai bank account, and you can get two years out of it with one border bounce.

Not quite sure I understand your question(s). But, first, what is your Nationality? Can you afford to deposit the 800K Baht at one time? If yes, then I would suggest Non-O rather than "O-A". And, can provide simple Do-It-Yourself Instructions to getting your Non-O and Retirement Extension, after arrival in Thailand.