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What are the steps to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand after being on a tourist visa for three months?

Jul 11, 2025
3 days ago
David ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've been in Thailand and my third month is approaching at the end of July.

Im trying to work out how to get a retirement Visa,do I need to leave the country then return and get another stamp for another month then what do I need to do ?

Im putting 1,500,000($70,000 aud) into my Thai bank account next week,question is how can I get

a retirement Visa,my passport has my current address and stamped,

Help would be very much appreciated

Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking guidance on obtaining a retirement visa (NON-O) in Thailand as they approach the end of their tourist visa. They need to deposit 1,500,000 THB into a Thai bank account and inquire whether they need to leave the country first. Comments suggest visiting the local immigration office for specific requirements, confirming that a minimum of 15 days is usually required on the current visa stamp to apply for the NON-O visa. It's noted that the funds need to remain in the bank for at least 60 days for the 1-year extension, and hiring a visa agent is advised for a smoother process. There are discussions about varying requirements based on different immigration offices.
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.
Taleporos ********
Can I pay the hotel bill with cash card?

Is better paying cash?
Taleporos ********
Can I get money from the ATM?

What is the commission if I withdraw 200 euros?
Mark *********
@Taleporos *******
Should be 220 baht per transaction, + whatever fee your home bank charges.
Taleporos ********
@Mark ********
thank you my friend.

I will invite you for dinner in Bangkok.
Mark *********
@Taleporos *******
Yindi krap (You’re welcome)!
Ken ********
Tum Visa..

She can help attain the visa you require I've been with her 5 yrs now with never an issue with immigration..

0865485636..good luck
**********
*****
*****
..good luck
Kelley ******
Alek *****************
Alek *****************
What is the problem?
Vijay *****
You may want to check out DTV visa...
Bob **********
If your applying in Jomtien you haven’t enough time as they require 2 months seasoning for the initial non-o so you would have to do a border bounce and even that is becoming a problem now ,Cambodian borders are closed so fly somewhere for a few days return and after your money has been in your Thai bank for two full months apply if it’s another office just go apply
Ben *******
Must apply from outside the country and remain in the country you apply until get results
Jan ******************
@Ben ******
Not correct, you can apply for a Non O visa inside Thailand too on a TM.86 for tourist visa and TM.87 for visa exemption.
Jesper *******
If u do already have a thai bank acct ....bank in 800k go to the immigration office near you to apply for 90days nonO (most office doesn't need seasoned for 2mths except jomtien) u need to have a least 15days or more on your current stamp in order to apply mainly u need TM87 lease agreement Bank letter Bank statement bank book (updated to application date)..etc depends on the immigrations offices
Nongnuch ********
First of all, you need a Thai bank account in order to be able to apply for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa inside Thailand. You already got a Thai bank account which makes things super easy!

You can apply for the "change of visa type" from the 60-days tourist visa or the visa-exempt entry, to the "90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa", as soon as possible after having opened the Thai bank account.

You need a bank letter confirming that the 800,000 THB are sitting in the account and a proof that they came from overseas.

You need a rental contract and you will need a minimum of 15 days stay permit left on your entry stamp in order to apply.

This application costs a 2000 THB fee, the 90-days visa will be issued for 14 days "under consideration". After 14 days you visit Immigration again and pick up the stamp

And as soon as the money has seasoned in your bank account for two months, you can apply for the "1-year extended stay permit based on retirement" (which some people call "retirement visa" but which is NOT a "visa" but a stay permit). (it doesn't have to be in your account for 70 days, like Ant W Tailor here told you - this was a WRONG advice)

This application costs another 1900 THB fee

Keep in mind, in order to get any service from Immigration, you need to be properly registered in your accommodation by the TM30 registration system

Visit Immigration and askfor the handout list of requirements of the application to the"change of visatype" from a touristic entry to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa. Open this Immigration website and click onto number 9, this shows the official police order for the "change" . . . . . .
*******************************************
Jan ******************
@David *******
The complete and perfect answer.
Jim *******
Trolling?

The money, providing you have a Thai bank account, has to sit (season) for 2 months. Not clear how you could have Thai bank account at all.

No passports in the world have residential address (I have Aus passport).
Nongnuch ********
@Jim ******
wrong. wrong. wrong. For the application to the "change" to the initial 90-days visa, the 800,000 THB just need to sit in the Thai bank account. And one must prove the money came from abroad. Only for the application to the "1-year extension of stay" in 60 days later, the bank must issue the "bank letter of guarantee" that the money has been in the account for two months. . . . . . . . . . Only Jomtien/Pattaya Immigration requires a two-months seasoning also for the initial 90-days visa. Which is against formal police order regulations. They love to pull out of their noses absurd regulations, to force you into the fangs of agencies, so they can earn their share of tea money
Jim *******
Nothing different to what I said.
Jim *******
2 months before applying, 3 months before extension, 800K THB in place.
Nongnuch ********
@Jim ******
wrong again! "2 months before applying for the Extension, and 3 months AFTER the Extension has been issued, 800K THB in place" would be the correct advice! . . . . . . . . But now you have left the topic. . . . . . . . We were talking about the application inside Thailand to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. There is NO seasoning requirement for the 800,000 THB at this point (only on crooked Pattaya Immigration, they want to see a 2-months seasoning for the application to the visa - these crooks will pull out of their bandit noses their own requirements, to enforce you use an agent to whom you need to pay tea money to get things done)
Graham ******
@Jim ******
There is no seasoning for the initial Non-O except at Jomtien - very different to what you said
Jan ******************
@Jim ******
Only Jomtien/Pattaya Immigration requires two months seasoning also for the initial 90 days visa against formal regulations.

For the first year extension it’s two months seasoning.
Jan ******************
Depends on the immigration, but they require minimum 14-21 days left on you current stamp to apply for a Non O in country.

If you need more time you should consider to do a border bounce with a professional transport company in order to get another 60 days visa exemption.

Do as Peter says, visit your immigration and get a hand out list of requirements for a Non O in country.
Ant ***********
@Jan *****************
If he doesn’t have a retirement Visa & is applying for it in Thailand - he will need a minimum of 30 days as

I have just done it this week
Nongnuch ********
@Ant **********
officially he needs to have a minimum of 15 days left on his current stay permit, because the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa will be issued for 14 days "under consideration". On day number 15 he needs to visit Immigration and pick up the visa stamp. The 90 days stay permit will start on the day he applies for the "change", though!
Ant ***********
@Nongnuch *******
I have just done it all at pootaya / Chonburi immigration

I was required to have minimum 30 days left

Pootaya immigration has changed a lot 😎
Nongnuch ********
@Ant **********
yes, Pattaya Immigration is a bandit nest. They try to enforce you to pay bribe money to a agent to circumvent the absurd rules they made on their own. Their requirements are against the standing police order! . . . . . . . . . . . there must be a minimum of 15 days left on the current stay permit not the "visa" this is the typical BAD Immigration English) THIS HERE is the official police order
Jan ******************
@Ant **********
Ok, normally it’s 14-21 days on your current stamp and there’s more than 80 immigrations in Thailand. Chiang Mai requires 15 days.
Ant ***********
If you already have a Thai bank account that’s half the battle done ✔️

As mentioned go to the nearest immigration & ask for their requirements for a

Non-O retirement Visa

Yes you will need a minimum of 800K baht to sit in a Thai bank account for a minimum of 60 days

If it all seems a bit confusing

A visa agent can help for a price $$
Nongnuch ********
@Ant **********
your advice is not correct
Ant ***********
@Nongnuch *******
?

The poster doesn’t have a retirement Visa

He will need funds in a Thai bank for the first 3 month
Nongnuch ********
@Ant **********
no he doesn't. Read my explanation on how to apply for the "change of visa type" from a visa-exempt entry to an initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa on Immigration inside Thailand. He only needs a minimum of 800,000 THB sitting in his Thai bank account on the day he applies for the "change". There is no seasoning requirement at this point. Only 60 days later, for the application to the 1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement, the 800,000 THB must have been in his account for two months (NOTE: you just need the funds in your account at the date you apply for the change, shown as an international transfer, unless you apply at Jomtien immigration. Only in Jomtien they pull their own absurd rules out of their noses, trying to force you into the fangs of agents)
Jan ******************
@Ant **********
Generally you just need the funds in your account at date shown as an international transfer, unless you apply at Jomtien immigration. For the extension of stay you’ll need two months seasoning.
Ellen *************
Have you been accepted by a local bank yet? Seems to be getting quite difficult. Hire an agent it’s worth it. I can’t remember the one that’s super legit- perhaps someone will come along and post it.
Jim *******
@Ellen ************
I got my eVisa 90 days over the net, from Japan, before even setting my foot into Thai. Then, used an agent and my 1 year extension is in my passport, with another stamp for multi entry. Bank account, bank passbook and ATM card with me. Took 2 business days.
Bob **********
@Ellen ************
Agents are having trouble opening banks
Nongnuch ********
@Ellen ************
he already has a Thai bank account
Ellen *************
@Nongnuch *******
no he didn’t, he said he is ‘putting it in a bank next week’ - that’s not the same as already having an account. Some new people think it will be easy and they will just open an account, so I asked to be sure he has already found one for sure.

I’m really ok without a translator 😉

I asked- he may or may not answer, but my question and my advice were both meant to be helpful.

People come here for help and the experience of other foreigners… if he wants to answer or explain that I didn’t fully understand, he probably will.
Nongnuch ********
@Ellen ************
he wrote "into my Thai bank account" and this clearly indicates he already got one 😉
Robbie *******
@Nongnuch *******
, if I ever get into trouble in Thailand I want you as my attorney 🤪
Nongnuch ********
@Ellen ************
you have completely misunderstood the proceedings, so here AGAIN:

He already HAS a Thai bank account and he only needs a minimum of 800,000 THB sitting in his account ON THE DAY he applies on Immigration for the "change of visatype" from a touristic entry to an initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa.

There is NO seasoning requirement for the funds at this point.

So, if he deposits 1.5 million Baht into his account by next week, he can apply for the “change of visa type” theoretically on the same day the bankbook update shows the funds in his account and the bank issues a statement

The only downside is – he needs a minimum of 15 days left on his current stay permit stamp to be allowed to apply for the “change”

In case he can’t meet this timeline, he will need to do a border bounce using a reputed Visa-Run Agency to receive a new 60 days stay permit
Pete *******
Go to your local immigration office and ask for the handout that lists the requirements. Follow the list.
Dwayne ********
@Pete ******
you would think he would’ve done that in the first 3 months rather than
****
, doing the red-light bars.
ฉันเป็นทางของประชาชน *********
@Dwayne *******
we all been in that position 😂😂time just goes by
Dwayne ********
@ฉันเป็นทางของประชาชน ********
I never have did all my research before even traveling out, before even ever having a social media account. Everything was so much more easy before Facebook groups and smart phones.
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