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What are the requirements and process for applying for a 1-year retirement visa in Thailand without an agent?

Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Visa Requirements Bank Account Medical Insurance Thailand Immigration Funds Transfer Seasoning Funds

Jun 18, 2025

a month ago

Polat *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I arrived in Thailand on a 3-month Non-O visa. After securing a lease and getting a letter from immigration, I was able to open a bank account. (Bangkok Bank refused me even with the immigration letter, but Kasikorn Bank accepted.)

Now I’m preparing to apply for a 1-year retirement visa. I have a few questions for those who have gone through this process, especially without using an agent:

1. Is medical insurance required for this visa?

2. How long do I need to wait after transferring the required funds before I can submit my application?

3. After the extension is granted, do I need to keep the full amount (or part of it) in the account, and if so, for how long?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses the process of applying for a 1-year retirement visa in Thailand after initially arriving on a 3-month Non-O visa. Key queries include whether medical insurance is required (it's not for Non-O), how long to wait after transferring required funds to submit the application (2 months), and the necessity of maintaining a certain balance in the bank account after the extension is granted (keep 800K baht for 3 months, then minimum of 400K thereafter). There are also comments about the conditions concerning married applicants and health insurance requirements for different visa types.

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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Michelle *****************

Can I ask then when does the health insurance become mandatory on what visa

22 days ago

James ********

@Michelle ****************

There is a health insurance requirement for the OA Visa for retirement which you apply for in your home country before you travel to Thailand

Also the LTR VISA and OX Visa have health insurance requirements.

Check the website of the Thai Embassy or Consulate where you are going to apply for a Thai Visa for it's requirements.

21 days ago

Michelle *****************

@James *******

Thankyou

21 days ago

Reply to

Michelle *****************

John ********

Question. If you are married then you just need 400k baht is my understanding. Can you also draw that down or have to keep it at 400K?

a month ago

Wannikea *********

@John *******

400K for marriage visa doesn't need to be maintained in the bank after the extension is granted, you can spend it. It does need to be back in the bank 2 months before the next extension is applied for.

James ********

correct ✅

James ********

but It's best to keep the 400k in the bank account during the Under Consideration time period and the one year extension of stay is stamped in the passport.

22 days ago

Roland *********

@Wannikea ********

married with Thai spouse

22 days ago

John ********

@Wannikea ********

thanks

a month ago

Reply to

John ********

David *******

No medical insurance required two months seasoned money in the bank in your name only I believe you have to keep it in the bank for three months after your extension is granted then you can take it down to 400,000. Don’t go below that or you will lose your visa and have to reapply and then I believe two months before your visa expires. You have to have the full 800 again for me. It was just easier to leave the 800,000 in the bank all the time for me. Welcome to Thailand up to you on the funds.

a month ago

Greg ***********

@David ******

everything correct, except you should exchange the wording "visa" with "extension of the stay permit" because he will not be on a "visa" as there is nothing such after he got issued the 1-year extension of the stay permit. The "visa" itself will already expire when he enters Thailand. When you enter on a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa, you get a "90-days stay permit" stamped, not a visa

a month ago

David *******

@Greg **********

yes I always seem to forget that. Thank you for refreshing me.

a month ago

Reply to

David *******

Shirley *********

I have a question. Do both my husband and I have to each put 65,000 into our account so 130,000 each month or ?

a month ago

Ellie *******

@Shirley ********

, depends on what reason for the extension for each of you.

a month ago

Stuart ***********

@Shirley ********

65,000 each.

a month ago

Reply to

Stuart ***********

Tod *********

𝟭 - 𝗜𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮?

no there is no medical insurance requirement for a Non-O visa/extension

𝟮 - 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

You need to "season the funds" in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months (date to date) before you apply for the yearly extension

𝟯 - 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 (𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁) 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴?

You need to keep the 800K baht in the bank account for 3 months after your yearly extension is granted and after that the balance can't go below 400K for the rest of the year (before you get it back to 800K 2 months before your next yearly extension

You should GO to your immigration office and get the hand out listing the requirements for the yearly extension based on retirement at that specific office well before you're going to go for the extension, that way you know what copies, documents, bank letter, statement, updated bank book, map, photo, etc you need to get together

a month ago

David *******

@Tod ********

I guess I did OK answering that not as thorough as yours, but I think I did it right I didn’t see yours until now.

a month ago

Tod *********

@David ******

you did just fine (y)

25 days ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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