What are the steps to obtain a police clearance certificate for a NON-O visa in Chiang Mai, Thailand?

Apr 20, 2018
7 years ago
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All,

A police clearance certificate is required to apply for NON-O visa (retirement). I am in Chiangmai and prefer not to go to Bangkok for this if possible.

I called a lawyer and he asked 25000 THB for this service, it sounds a bit too much.

Can anyone please recommend a service or a well priced lawyer who can do it for me ?

Thanks in advance
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A police clearance certificate is required to apply for a NON-O visa in Thailand. Residents in Chiang Mai can apply for this certificate at the RTP headquarters instead of traveling to Bangkok; it costs around 100 THB and takes approximately two weeks. Many expats share tips on doing it themselves or seeking cost-effective advising services. Recent discussions indicate that a police clearance is necessary primarily for retirement options, while other NON-O categories may have different requirements. Always check latest guidelines and consult directly with the relevant authorities.
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.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Case Closed. Went to Promenada today, got a list of documents and an appointment date. No police certificate is required. Thank you everybody for your kind messages. Special thanks to
@Tod ********
and
@Ashley **************
🙏
Tod *********
I'm sure you know this but when you apply for that 90 day Non-O you will need to meet the financial requirements of either 800K baht banked in a thai bank account in your name only for 60 days before you apply for the Non-O. You'll need the letter from the bank and to update your bank book on the day you apply

OR

A letter from your consulate stating you get 65K baht a month in income

OR

A combination of the two that totals 800K for the year.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
yep I'm aware of this
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Appreciate you reply Ashley Malaichaisong

When you say "get an extension" what do you mean by that? I only know about tourist visa extensions, not sure what it has to do with NON-O ?

you say "to hand in your change of applocation " is that TM30 you talking about ? I've been there recently and only saw information on TM30 and Residence certificate.

Did you do all the submission, and document check on the 1st or 2nd floor ?

Thanks so much Ashley, that's very helpful info!
Ashley ***************
Oh ok sory just read tods comment. Yea if u already have enough time on ur current stamp/ visa. No need to do any extension. Just go straight to the 2nd floor and get your appointment date :) if they need you do do anything further or need more time they will tell u. They will give u a sheet with all info you need to prepare your application and instructions aswell so u have a checklist. Good luck!
@Lina *****
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ashley ***************
U need to extend ur tourist visa so u have enough time for your change of visa process. Roughly 50 days i would say ( 21 for visa processing + 30 days or so for the scheduled appointment to hand in the visa application (the change of visa. ) as that is what you are tying to do. *change visa * which is an application process.

No ,i Never mentioned anythig about a TM30 .

Yes all submissions and document check was on the 2nd floor. After u get your intial tourist visa extension u wont have to deal with that section of immigration any furter/ wait in lines ect.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I see!
Tod *********
@Lina *****
because Chiang Mai requires 21 days for the "under consideration" part when you apply for the Non-O many people don't have that much time on their current stamp and have to get the 30 day extension
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for clarifying
Tod *********
@Ashley **************
, she doesn't need an extension on her current stamp because she just came back with a 60 day tourist visa stamp. She only needs to go get an appointment to apply for the Non-O because she has enough time left on her current stamp now.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
yes I understand this. Just a bit confused by the word "extension" in the beginning of Ashley's reply..
Tod *********
okay, the way it works is you FIRST apply for a 90 day Non-O visa, that goes under consideration for 21 days then you go back and get it stamped into your passport. THEN you wait until you have 45 days or less left on that new 90 day stamp you got and apply for a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).

It is a multi-step process
Ashley ***************
Very easy to do by yourself
@Lina *****
1. Go to immjgration nd get an extension 2. Go to the 2nd floor of promenadanto immigration open from10am-4. And ask them for papers information and schedule appt to hand in your change of applocation ( this wilk usually be scheduled 3-4 weeks later as they are backed up. Guves u time tonget all.ur papers together ext. 3.go back on said appt date and hand in all documents. The immigration will go over each paper and certify and u will sign each paper with them when u are there. Pay 2000 baht. And u will get another appt slip 21 days later to go back in to get visa in passport ( u will go at 10 am to hand in passport that day and collect again 3 pm with visa in passport . Very easy. Jst a bit annoying having to go back multiole times. But u dont wait in lines or anything. :)
Tod *********
@Ash***
you got a 90 day Non-O (based on marriage) at the Chiang Mai immigration office. Can you weigh in about the process for
@Li**
's situation? She needs a 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 (retirement) from Chiang Mai.
Tod *********
You could apply for the Non-O visa at the thai immigration office in Chiang Mai if you have 21 days left on your current stamp. They can do a Non-O from a 30 day visa exempt entry OR a 60 day tourist visa entry.
Tod *********
@Lina *****
it will work perfectly with that much time. Head on over to the immigration office at Promenada and get the hand out you need to get an in country Non-O. They will tell you when you can apply etc.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
will it work if my current stamp expires on the 2nd of June ?(which I can extend by the 2nd of July) I just got a 60 day tourist visa recently from Vientiane
Tod *********
@Lina *****
The critical thing is you need that 21 days on your current stamp to do it because the application goes under consideration before you go back and get the Non-O visa and the new 90 day stamp inked into your passport.

Also it doesn't require a police clearance or a medical certificate.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
thanks, I didn't know about it. I'll look into it
Tod *********
To get a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 in Vientiane now takes a police clearance and a medical certificate.
Tod *********
@Jonny ******
, It's only for 90 day Non-Os based on being over 50
Jonny *******
@T**
, do you know if this applies to any other NON-O visas (based on having a spouse, dependent children, etc), or does it only applied to visas based on retirement and being over 50?

Has anyone actually seen this requirement stated in writing officially somewhere?

Thanks
Ken *******
I thought you only needed an FBI/police reportfor a O-A long stay from your own consulate country. A non imig O (if i understand correctly - and perhaps this is for US citizens only ) doesnt require one.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Adam ********
That's exactly right :)
Adam *********
Agreed but since she’s in-country (Th) there probably looking for a Thai background check because it’s all they can require.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Russian citizenship applying for non O in Vientiane
Ken *******
@Lina *****
- So this more of a question than an answer- sorry - So you are in Thailand and applying at the thailand immigration office for a non immigrant O visa (not an O-A from your home consulate) and thai imigration requires a police report ? and if yes - what is your current citizenship ?
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It does , already been to Vientiane for this ..
Robert *******
Interesting, I just looked at the link I posted, maybe email is only if you're abroad but if you check the other options it is also possible by Postal Service, using a post office:
*******************************************************************
Robert *******
Incase type errors I found these numbers and email under the tab: Contact Us on their website.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thanks ! Will do !
Robert *******
GIve them a call: 0 2205 2168-9 or email
*******************************
or
*************************
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
that's interesting
Robert *******
Document Preparation for Certificate

For A Foreign Applicant

An applicant residing in Thailand
Robert *******
An applicant can collect the certificate at our office. By the way, for your convenience, we also provide postal service, which the postage fee is a burden for the applicant.
Robert *******
Okay, some more research on their site brings me here:
*******************************************************************
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
On page 3 it says "for applicants applying abroad only"..
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I see. Yes , that's what I thought too .. was wondering if there's a way around it ..
Martin *******
They need your finger prints so you need to do it yourself
Karan ***************
Please go to the police clearance office and they will scan your fingers and ask a few questions and thats it .. u will get it
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karan **************
thanks for the info . I feel like the rules might have changed because I'm hitting the wall with them
Karan ***************
@Lina *****
1 year ago
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karan **************
how long ago was it ?
Karan ***************
My school took me there and got it done for me .. its the self defence school .. so maybe u can ask them if they can do it for u
Karan ***************
I did it in chiangmai
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Samuel Fila chiangmai
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Karan **************
which police clearance office did you go to ? Was it called police forensic science centre?
Karan ***************
I had a actual experience for my ed visa
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks , did you have an actual experience in CM? Because they refuse to do it for me saying it needs to be done in Bangkok
Robert *******
Thai Police are so nice, the even made a website with all the information and how to apply by E-mail:
*****************************************
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks but I can only apply via email from abroad . I am in Chiangmai
Dave **********
For b3000 you can fly down to the RTP headquarters and do it.

Then b3000 more to fly down and pick it up 2 weeks later.

Did you check to see if you can get it done at the RTP headquarters in CM? B100 and 2 weeks for the result.
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dave *********
thanks Dave ! That's helpful I'll look into this
Dave **********
They want to know who it is addressed to/who needs/wants it.

Call them and ask to be sure.

And nok air has return flights cnx to dmk for <2200 return (no luggage - same day flights).
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Samuel Fila ok do I only need my passport if applying in person in Bangkok ? There is a list of documents on the website - like "letter from the embassy for request check to objectives" do they ask for it ?
Lina **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I did. Everybody is sending me to Bangkok
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