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What are the financial requirements for extending a Non-O visa based on retirement in Thailand?
Non-O VisaVisa ExtensionRetirement VisaThai Bank AccountIncome VerificationPension RequirementsVisa Application ProcessThailand Immigration Rules
Mar 15, 2025
a year ago
Vuthi *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, i looked on the net and could not find the answer to my question : i saw that to ask for an O visa, i just need proof (among other things) that my pension is above 2000 euros and no need to have a thai bank account (unless i mistead). Is this still the same when i ask for the 1 year extension? I saw that i might have to have a bank account in thailand just like the O-A. The goal is to avoid the hassle of opening a thai bank account which seems difficult.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is inquiring about the financial requirements for extending a Non-O visa based on retirement in Thailand, questioning whether they still need to open a Thai bank account for the 1-year extension despite not needing one for the initial application. The comments clarify that while it is possible to use an income affidavit from their embassy to confirm a pension above 65,000 THB, some immigration offices may still require a Thai bank account for income verification and the transfer of living expenses. The necessity of a Thai bank account is emphasized for long-term residents, and details about the requirements for both the initial visa application and the extension process are shared.
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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Robert ********
Either 800k once or 65k every month… must be money coming from outside into a Thai bank.
Exception is if your embassy verifies your pension. But be aware that 2000 euros maybe less that
Exception is if your embassy verifies your pension. But be aware that 2000 euros maybe less that
*****
baht one day. ;)Steve *******
If you don't want to open a Thai bank account then get the OA in your home Country, it's good for 2 years with one border bounce
Nongnuch ********
@Vuthi ******
it is absolutely NO HASSLE to get a Thai bank account opened if you enter Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. The banking regulations have been tightened for people who are on touristic entries. However on a Non-O Visaclass, you will be successful even if you try it by yourself. For your own convenience, just buy an agent's service, opening a Thai bank account for you costs around 5000.- THBThomas *******
@Nongnuch *******
that may be true for Bangkok and surrounding areas. I was there in November with a 90 Non-O Evisa and I was turned down in all but 1 bank (Krungthai) in the Nong Khai and Tha Bo district. They all wanted a certificate of residency and Nong Khai immigation won't do one unless requested and the banks won't request one. They won't even accept a copy of the CoR I got for my drivers license. I was the first Evisa they had seen and they just didn't (wouldn't) believe it was a legit long stay visa.Nongnuch ********
@Thomas ******
you seem to have forgotten that a certificate of residence from Immigration is only good for the specific purpose it gets issued for, and only valid for 4 weeks. For opening a bank account, you were supposed to apply for a new COR especially issued for opening a bank account. I don't understand why Nong Khai Immigration didn't help, since you need the bank account for the application to the 1-year Extension. That and a Thai mobile number and the Non-Imm-O e-visa plus the entry stamp in your passport would have been sufficient, at least at a Bangkok Bank branch. However I understand that in the Tha Bo district there are not many expats, so most bank employees have no idea on how to proceed if a foreigner shows upReply to
Nongnuch ********
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Vuthi *******
ORIGINAL POSTERReply to
Vuthi *******
Reply
Nongnuch ********
@Vuthi ******
. . some Immigrations, even when you use the "affidavit of incomé" as a proof that you meet the 65,000 THB requirement, will insist that you open a Thai bank account and actually transfer your costs of living onto it, coming from abroad. You actually NEED a Thai bank account in the long run if you plan to live in Thailand long term, for your own convenienceJan ******************
….and its normally no issues if you have a Non O visa or extension of stay.
Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Nongnuch ********
@Vuthi ******
***for the application to the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa in France, you need proof with original documentation of a minimum of 65,000 THB (1850.- Euro) pension/income***for the application to the 1-year Extension of Stay based on Retirement on Immigration inside Thailand, you need an “income affidavit” legalized by the French Embassy in Bangkok, over a monthly minimum of 65,000 THB income/pension
***Using a Non-Imm-O visa doesn’t require a mandatory health insurance like it is needed on a Non-Imm-O/A visa. However, it is recommended to get an insurance for your stay in Thailand
OR . . . using the “deposit method” as a proof of finances:
*** only if you use the deposit method, for the application to the 90-daysNon-Imm-O visa in France, you need a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in Euros, in any bank account, anywhere in the World as long as you can prove it is in your name
***then, for the application to the 1-year Extension of Stay based on Retirement, you will have to show Immigration a THAI (!!) bank account in your sole name, with a minimum of 800,000 THB in it, and on the day of the application, the money must have seasoned for a minimum of two months
Brandon ************
You can only use your income for extensions in Thailand if your embassy in Thailand does income verification. If not then you need to use the money in the bank.
Richard ********
@Brandon ***********
Not true.For the second extension you can use the income if you show 12 regular monthly deposits of about 70,000 over the previous twelve months.
Brandon ************
@Richard *******
I give the immediate answer, now the answer 15 months from nowRichard ********
@Brandon ***********
Firstly you use "extensions" not "first extension".Secondly, if the embassy does not verify income, then the second extension has to be planned already to use income, as it has to run over the first year in parallel to the 800k in the bank method.
This is actually not so onerous, as the 65k monthly deposits can be used immediately to pay expenses.
Nongnuch ********
@Richard *******
your advice is useless. He is a French citizen, and his embassy in Bangkok is issuing an affidavit of income, which he can use for the financial proof of his first application of a 1-year Extension of Stay and for all further yearly applicationsReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Jan ******************
@Richard *******
But OP ask about the first year extension and income method is possible for the second year as you describe.😉 (And the formal requirements are > 65K baht.)Nongnuch ********
@Jan *****************
the OP can use the income method in the first year, using the "income affidavit" of his Embassy. Some Immigration however still might want him to open a Thai bank account where he can transfer his pension ontoJan ******************
@Nongnuch *******
Yes, if he gets a affidavit letter as I understand you’ve pointed out. Some immigrations also ask to see the original dokuments used as documentation for for the affidavit letter.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Nongnuch ********
@Richard *******
he is a French citizen, his embassy in Bangkok is still issuing an "income affidavit" so he won't need any other proof of a minimum of 65,000 THB income/pensionReply to
Nongnuch ********
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