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What are the key differences and considerations when comparing Non-Immigrant O, OA, and Marriage Extension Visas for retirement in Thailand?

Non-Immigrant O VisaNon-Immigrant OA VisaMarriage VisaRetirement VisaVisa ExtensionsVisa RequirementsFinancial Requirements for VisaHealth Insurance for VisaRe-entry PermitsThai Immigration Policy
Nov 3, 2021
3 years ago
Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am currently comparing 3 different visa options for my upcoming retirement in Thailand (next July).

Based on some information gathered from some previous threads in this and other forums, I have built a comparison table.

I may not have understood everything correctly, so I would appreciate feedback on this table.

* Does the information in the table appear correct?

* Are there any comparison elements which I have overlooked?

The three visa options (or extensions thereof) that I am comparing are:

1. Non-Immigrant O ("Retirement Visa" - Based on Age Criteria)

2. Non-Immigrant OA ("Retirement Visa" - Based on Age Criteria)

3. 1-Year Extension of Stay Based on Marriage (extension to Non-Immigrant O visa).

I will update the table based on all comments that I get and will re-post.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the comparison of three visa options for retirement in Thailand: the Non-Immigrant O visa (Retirement Visa based on age), the Non-Immigrant OA visa (also a Retirement Visa based on age), and the 1-Year Extension of Stay based on Marriage. The author asks for feedback on their comparison table regarding correctness and additional elements to consider. The comments raise various issues, including visa definitions, health insurance requirements, financial proof for retirement income, and the specifics of re-entry permits. There is also discussion about the nuances between obtaining these visas inside and outside Thailand, the requirement of having funds in Thai banks, and differing opinions on health insurance necessity.
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Robert **********
@Michael *******
 If I understand correctly, it appears that anyone entering Thailand now must have $50,000 USD for health insurance including Covid and other diseases for the length they will be stamped in. If you were coming on a visa exempt or tourist visa which you will convert to 90 day non O retirement, which then can be extended year-by-year you just need the insurance for a short time. However, if you come in on a reentry permit Early in your extension term, you may have to get the insurance for almost the whole year. If you are in your older retirement years, this insurance will be expensive, difficult to get, and almost worthless for coverage. This is a huge issue that they have slipped in just within the past month. I would love to hear any other comments or, hopefully some of you can tell me that I am wrong.
3 years ago
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Jaz ************
@Da***
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
Updated chart will be appreciated…it will help those who consider going to Thailand to retire a lot
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone for your comments and corrections. I will make a major update of my comparison table to integrate all these comments. I will then repost again. I will also research further some of these points, as some of the comments seem to contradict each other.

Thanks again. I have learned a great deal from everyone's input!
3 years ago
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Meno *****
@Piero ***********
 ... Would be great if you could include the health insurance requirements too 🙏 for each column

As well, what would be very helpful is the requirements for visa extension for each of the 3 columns with requirements...

Why Thai immigration doesn't have this is completely insane!?!?!?! TIT...
3 years ago
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Meno *****
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David ***********
Col 1 and 3 should be essentially similar. You have visas and extensions mixed up. Extensions always require a visa beforehand; Visas never require a visa beforehand. There should be five columns (not three) and they should all be for visas (extension come afterwards)

1. O from home (marriage)

2. O from home (retirement)

3. OA from home

4. O from Thailand (marriage)

5. O from Thailand (retirement)

#2 is not available in all countries.

Also, re-entry permits are also available for 3800 baht for unlimited entries.

Reporting is every 90 days (89 actually) - not very three months.

You should have an extra row to specify the length of the visa (90 days or one year). And one more row for the price of the visa (2000 baht for the ones obtained in Thailand). And one more row to answer the question, "Do the funds have to come from abroad to obtain this visa in Thailand?" Answer: "Yes, for retirement. No, for marriage. Or N/A."

Another error: the security deposit does not have to be in a Thai bank for that O-visa obtained in your home country.

Rather than the question being "Permitted to work in Thailand", it should say "Allowed to get a work permit".

Lastly, the combined method for marriage visa/extensions is on the books, but it is not actually accepted. You could also have trouble using the combined method for retirement at many offices.
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@Daffyd **********
 thank you!
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Marlene *****
 You should be able to get non-O (marriage or volunteer) in your home country. But non-O (retirement) depends on which country. For example, USA: "yes"; Australia: I think "no".

I think these are all 90-day visas. You do not have to do any border run when extending. Once you have arrived on such a visa, it is just the same as if you had obtained it inside Thailand. i.e. you can easily extend it every 12 months.

There is(was) another type of O-visa (marriage) that was obtainable in Savannaket and HCMC that was a one-year visa with 90-day stay each time. So that visa pretty-much required a border run every 90 days.
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@Daffyd **********
 question…..can you obtain non o in your home country and do you have to do a border run when you extend visa in Thailand after a year?
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Daffyd **********
 : Thanks. Great comments and suggestions!
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Phill *****
 Yet again. Another 30 days. Total BS.
3 years ago
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Phill ******
oh , your back hey . long time in jail ?
3 years ago
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Phill ******
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Phill ******
@Piero ***********
, did you consider an elite visa ?
3 years ago
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Chris ********
Is there a minimum time limit for how long you need to be married before you can apply for "marriage visa" and is a work permit guaranteed? Thanks
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Chris *******
 There is no time limit for how long you have been married. If you qualify for a work permit then you will get it ... nothing is guaranteed.
3 years ago
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David ***********
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David *******
2 errors.

First, Health insurance. Although it is now required for the initial application for Non O ‘for Retirement’ in your home country it is NOT required if you get it in Thailand NOR is it required for each subsequent Extension of Stay.

Second, the 800k location is the same for Non O and Non O-A. It DOES have to be in a Thai bank for Extensions of Stay.
3 years ago
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Meno *****
David Cymru ... So I started with the OA Visa.

Then, I got an extension for the OA Visa last Dec 2020 where I needed to have a Thai govt approved health insurance package +800K in a Thai bank.

So you're saying it's possible to get ANOTHER OA Visa EXTENSION before Dec 2021 with another health insurance package + 800k in bank again without leaving Thailand?
3 years ago
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David ***********
Also note that for O-visa(retirement) the 800,000 baht must have come from overseas.
3 years ago
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David ***********
@David ******
 And the money has to be in the account on the day you apply for the visa too. Please note this
@Marlene *****
.
3 years ago
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David ***********
@David ******
 Years ago, the rule was changed: the money has to be in the account two months before all subsequent extensions: not three months.
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@David ******
 thanks…appreciate
3 years ago
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David *******
@Marlene *****
 2 months before the first extension, 3 months before subsequent extensions. It also has to be there for 3 months after the extension and not fall below 400k for the rest of the year. Basically, you need to ‘park’ 800k and forget about it .
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@David ******
 thanks a million….Also..when do you have to put the 800,000 in the bank account? Before the extension?
3 years ago
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David *******
@Marlene *****
 No. You can stay permanently in Thailand. You get an Extension of Stay every 12 months and never have to leave. The same thing is true if you start with a Non O Visa ‘for Retirement’.
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@David ******
 ok let me try again. If I want to extend my OA visa which I get in my home country..do I have to do a border run before I extend it in Thailand?
3 years ago
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David *******
@Marlene *****
 I’m sorry, I still don’t under the question. This visa is for long term stay in Thailand. You get 12 months on entry. If you leave and re-enter just before the original visa expires then you can ‘stretch’ the visa to nearly 2 years BUT there’s no way of avoiding Extensions of Stay after that.

The only other option is to go back to your home country and get a brand new visa.

Border runs are used by people who can’t get long term visas but want to ‘cheat’ the system by getting multiple visa Exempt entries. In any case, land borders are currently closed.
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@David ******
 I was asking about a border run if you applied for extension of stay with OA long term retirement visa…in Thailand
3 years ago
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David *******
@Marlene *****
 For what? We’re talking about the Non O-A long-term retirement visa!
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
@David ******
 border run?
3 years ago
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Marlene ******
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Phill ******
you left out the best visa of them all ,elite visa . no hassles ,no money in the bank and no insurance . would suggest you go back and do your research again .
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Phill *****
 You can extend by 15 years for only 400,000 - not 600,000.
3 years ago
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Phill ******
@Michael *******
 ok lets ask him then .
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Phill *****
 not really did you read it properly, he has whittled the list down to three and was asking if all the info is correct.

Sure with that amount of work he has done he is fully aware of elite visa and all that goes with it.

He was only asking about OA O retirement and O marriage
3 years ago
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Phill ******
@Michael *******
 , he asked about comparisons . or did you miss that bit ?
3 years ago
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Roger ********
@Phill *****
 That'll be me, then.
3 years ago
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Phill ******
@Roger *******
 , its not for cheap charlies .
3 years ago
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Phill ******
@Roger *******
*****
0thb for 5 years , and you can extend for another 15 years for the same amount .
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Phill *****
 he said he was only comparing those three there are shit loads of different visas elite, investment the new wealthy retirement etc etc.
3 years ago
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Roger ********
Cost of Elite Visa is ...... ?
3 years ago
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Roger ********
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Kool *******
Your second to the last line no longer applies to marriage extension. It has to be 400k deposit, or 40K transferred in every month. They haven't allowed a combination totaling 400k for a number of years now. This is also true from my knowledge for the non O retirement extension. Also, there are two options for re-entry permits, a single re-entry permit at bt1000, or a multi re-entry permit at bt3800 a year.
3 years ago
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Wannikea *********
@Kool ******
 yes no one mentioned the multi-entry which comes with OA visa sticker.
3 years ago
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Wannikea *********
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Ben *********
Piero, excellent format. My comment is about health insurance. I have an "non-O, retirement visa" that I get yearly since 2013. Never required to show health insurance on my yearly renewal and 90 day reporting. I used to include a multiple entry too but now I seldom travel especially during this pandemic so, I opted not to include my multiple as it is not worth it, I'll just pay as I go per travel for my re-entry requirement. Does anyone out the has the same as me, no medical insurance? Appreciate any comments for clarification.
3 years ago
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Ben *********
@George ********
 likewise, stay safe close to home. I'm home in bangkok
3 years ago
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George *********
@Ben ********
 I concur with everything you say. No insurance required and never use an agent. Just pay 1900 baht, Jump through the often unnecessary hoops, and only get re entry when required.

I was due to go uk in April 2020 but the Chinese virus put a stop to that.

Still not gonna go back til easier to enter Thailand
3 years ago
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George *********
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Ben *********
Following.
3 years ago
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David ***********
We really don't need to know.
3 years ago
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David ***********
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Patrik ********
***************************************************************************************************
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Piero ***********
 That is typical of the misinformation spouted by visa agents and immigration lawyers here. Very unprofessional. There are numerous errors of fact on that page.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Patrik *******
 : The information on that site is not entirely consistent with what has been stated here. Specifically, it says that OA can be applied for in Thailand, which is not what has been reported in this forum by people familiar with the visa process.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
According to one site I checked:

Additionally, the foreigner on a Visa Exemption stamp or a Tourist Visa can still apply for a Thai marriage visa inside Thailand as long as the foreigner has already met the requirements for the non-immigrant O visa and the one year Thai marriage visa applications. This can be done at the local Thai immigration office in the province where the foreigner and Thai spouse are residing.

I don't know if the above is valid. But if it is, it seems to imply that you can get enter Thailand with a visa exemption. Within Thailand, you can then apply for the extension of stay based on marriage.

Is this a viable scenario? If so, then it means that the extension of stay, based on marriage, is not based on prior obtention of a non-immgrant O Visa?
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Daffyd **********
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Michael *******
 *90 days
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 : Yes, that makes perfect sense to me. Thank you.

I had to check, because it seems to me that this other web site implied otherwise.
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Piero ***********
 you will get 3 month non O first even in country then an extension of stay. You cannot extend a visa when you dont have one
3 years ago
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Michael ********
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Alan *********
Not sure if need health insurance on Non-0. You do on Non-0A
3 years ago
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Jeff **********
@Alan ********
 only on O-A
3 years ago
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Jeff **********
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Luis ***********
good job on the chart
3 years ago
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Wannikea *********
For OA reentry, you have N/A you might consider the word included instead.
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Frank *******
 But this not about extension of stay; it is about the visa. "Included" is correct.
3 years ago
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Frank ********
@Wannikea ********
. For extension of stay based on OA: Reentry possible (1000 Baht).
3 years ago
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Frank ********
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Jim ********
Thanks
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
One item that I am still not clear on is regarding the financial proof based on retirement income. One of the scenarios I am looking at is to have my embassy (Canadian) issue an affidavit certifying that I meet the income target (ex. 40K in the case of a "marriage visa").

Does this revenu have to be deposited into a Thai bank account, or is it sufficient just to have the affidavit stating that I am receiving this income (whether deposited in a Canadian bank or other).

Thanks for your help!
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Brandon ***********
 Every country that has an embassy here issues those letters, except for Australia, USA, and UK. Canada later stopped issuing the letters too.

Denmark also stopped issuing the letters, but if you are on a Danish social pension, the Danish embassy will stamp it "Document confirmed genuine" after they check with the Danish social pension office.

I think for Canada and Denmark it'd be best to check the current status.
3 years ago
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Stenbjorn *********
@Piero ***********
 I have done this for several years using a document from the Swedish embassy showing my pension. Will attempt this again when I return after the worst pandemic hurdles are gone.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 : I was told by other Canadians on this forum that they did not require the deposit (800K for retirement / 400K for marriage) if they had sufficient monthly pension income (65K for retirment / 40K for marriage).

The Canadian embassy can provide an affidavit which proves that you meet the income requirement target. They require a statement from your pension fund and you also need to sign a sworn declaration.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
@Piero ***********
 does Canada issue these? Most people stopped being able to use the affidavit method when almost every embassy decided to stop.
3 years ago
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Brandon ************
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Kuan ******
Sorry to jump in your post - but for marriage visa - can the person work in Thailand? And must he also get a work permit as well in addition to the marriage visa ?
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Piero ***********
 Yes, the answer is there, but it is wrong, A work permit is required.
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Kuan *****
 has to apply for work permit which you can do on marriage visa but not on retirement
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kuan *****
 : No worries. Please check my summary table. You will find the answer there.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
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Michael ********
Good chart, but extension of stay is not a visa as such. For marriage you enter on a non O then apply for the extension of stay.

(Or apply non O in country)
3 years ago
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David ***********
@Piero ***********
 There is no health insurance required to "renew" any type of O visa ... only OA and OX.
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Piero ***********
 Could have worded it better insurance that includes covid cover.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 : I have read something about this online. I think it came into effect since Nov. 1 as part of the "re-opening". Covid insurance is no longer required, but everyone needs to have a general health insurance of 50K. This applies to people coming exempt, tourist visa, as well as renewal of most other visas (O and OA I believe).
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Jonas ************
 news to me it doesnt there are no changes. I have been coming in and out post covid times, with new visa and re entry stamps since july 2020 and only ever had to show covid insurance
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 : I was told by other Canadians on this forum that they did not require the deposit (800K for retirement / 400K for marriage) if they had sufficient monthly pension income (65K for retirment / 40K for marriage).

The Canadian embassy can provide an affidavit which proves that you meet the income requirement target. They require a statement from your pension fund and you also need to sign a sworn declaration.
3 years ago
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Jonas *************
@Michael *******
 This is news to me that non-o would only need a covid insurance? Has this changed today? Do you have any pointer to official announcement regarding it?
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Piero ***********
 you can apply for Non O based on marriage from Canada. Extensions are in country only.

Not sure with your embassy but some proof of funds is required which can be from your local bank account. Usuallys it equivilant to the 800,000/- for retirement and 400,000 for marriage
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 : Thanks Michael. I am not sure that I understand correctly. Do you mean that I could apply for the marriage extension to an O visa from my country (Canada)?
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@David ******
 only covid insurance is compulsary if entering in on non O not full health insurance
3 years ago
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David *******
With non O health insurance is required for your initial tourist/ exempt visa period only...ie short term.

Following approval of your non O visa it is not mandatory for annual extensions.
3 years ago
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Jonas *************
Initial non-o visa is 90 days, you can then extend for:

- retirement reason (your first column) for 1 year, or

- marriage

Also, if you're female marrying no money is needed....

It is possible to enter on visa exempt and before 15 days left of your legal stay apply to transition to non-o visa. The money needs to be in the Thai bank already (transferred). After the money has been "seasoned" for 2 months can apply for 1y extension.

Not sure how easy it is to get non-o abroad. I know it's listed but never heard of anyone gotten it and how (speak up!).
3 years ago
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Michael ********
@Piero ***********
 Can also apply non O for marriage in country as you have already put for non O retirement.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 : Thanks Michael. I will update my table to reflect this change and will re-post.
3 years ago
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Piero ************
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