What are the key differences and advantages of the O-A visa compared to the Non-O visa in Thailand?

If you are planning to live full time in Thailand there are no real advantages to the Non O-A but a huge disadvantage in that it requires specific Health Insurance for each Extension of Stay.

If you are planning to travel between your home country and Thailand on a regular basis then the Non O-A might have advantages in certain situations.

following, thanks for all the clear information

Thanks Stuart. To renew a Non-O based on Retirement after the first year, must you leave Thailand or can you renew from inside the country? At any time during its' one year coverage, must you leave Thailand?

This question is impossible to answer as it subject to the individual situation of the applicant, in relation to travelling habits, and investment strategies. There is no official "retirement visa" - all four colloquially called "retirement" visas (O, OA, OX, LTR), are actually visas based on being "over 50 years of age". Many people on these visas are still working (a buddy of mine works FIFO in the mines in WA, and uses an OA to come in and out of Thailand whenever he pleases). There is absolutely NO REQUIREMENT for the applicant to be retired, he/she merely has to show they are over 50, and meet the savings/income/insurance requirements of the respective visa. If all you want to do is come to Thailand and stay for the rest of your life, the O is best, if you're in and out of the country (returning to your home country on a regular basis - at least once in any two year period) OA is the best. If you're Australian, have good savings/income and don't want to be continually thinking about visas, the OX is best. If you're not Australian but meet the finance requirements of the OX, then the LTR is best.

Therefore this question cannot be accurately answered.

There are three types of “retirement” visas. None have a requirement that you’re actually retired, but none allow you to work in Thailand. A “retirement” visa basically means you are over 50 years old.

Skipping the OX as it’s very rare (but can be obtained). You have the Non OA visa or the Non O based on being over 50.

The OA requires no funds in Thailand but does require funds at home and health insurance at the time of applying for the visa and for entry into Thailand. It also requires a police background check. It’s a multiple entry visa valid for a year. On each and every entry you’re stamped in for a full year (providing you have insurance for that long). If you time things right you can eek out almost two years from that visa, providing you have the required insurance. Bounce out and in just before it expires and you get a second year - albeit the second year will need re-entry permits if you leave.

The Non O visa can be obtained abroad or in Thailand. Some embassies or consulates using the evisa system require insurance for the issuing of the visa, although none is required for entry, nor subsequent extensions off of it.

You get 90 days off that visa. To obtain the visa abroad you’ll need funds in a local bank. To obtain a year extension off of it you’ll need funds in a Thai bank account in your name only - or if your embassy issues an affidavit of income you can use that instead. UK, US or Australia embassies won’t issue those.

To obtain the visa in country you’ll need 800k transferred from abroad. You need 21 days left on a current stamp to apply (some offices allow 15).

To get a year extension off of a Non O using funds in a Thai bank there are two options. The first is 800k deposited for 2 months prior to application. That has to stay in for three months after and the balance may not go down below 400k for the remainder of the year. It would need to be back up to 800k prior to your next years application.

The second option is to have 12 x monthly international transfers of 65,000 baht or more in to your bank. Once in the bank you can spend the funds at will and there is no minimum balance required.

Some offices may allow a combination of the two methods, but you’d need to check with your office whether they will allow and under what conditions.

For many the OA is an ideal visa for not requiring funds in Thailand. For others the Non O is a better option for not requiring medical insurance - which can be difficult and expensive to obtain if you’re approaching or over 70.