Ask question

What are the steps to retire in Thailand regarding visa application and return tickets?

Thailand retirement visa NON-O visa visa application process expat living in Thailand bank account requirements one way ticket policy

Nov 22, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

We are hoping to retire to Thailand in April 2023.  Am I correct in thinking we need to apply for a 90 day visa here in the UK and then apply for our retirement visas once we are in Thailand and have set up a bank account with the relevant funds in place?   Also would we need to purchase return tickets from the UK, even though we wont be coming back (or at least for sometime). I am sure I have read it is not possible to buy a one way ticket.

1,165

views

2

likes

35

all likes

18

replies

0

images

6

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

To retire in Thailand, you can apply for a 90-day NON-O visa either in the UK or Thailand. If applying in Thailand, ensure you have the required funds in a Thai bank account beforehand. For arriving on a NON-O visa, airlines typically do not require onward travel proof, whereas for tourist visas, you may need to show a return ticket.

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.

Renaud ***********

You need to apply for o visa , contact me for details

Like

Reply

Neil *********

Hi Dana dm me I will give you all the information you need

Like

Reply

Steve *******

Buy the Non Imm O visa based on being 50 or over, commonly known as a 'retirement visa' from the RTE London via the evisa system. This gives you 90 days on entry to Thailand enough time to open a bank account and season your 800k bt for 2 months. You then apply for yearly extentions of stay based on 'retirement'.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

Absolutely possible to buy one way tickets. Never been to Thailand on a return basis.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

I assume as you want to retire to Thailand then you have been before and understand the visa exemption process. As far as I am aware and I am sure there are many more people that can assist you here, changing visas in country are either not possible or difficult. There are many visa agency’s in the uk that can assist you in this process. Thailand is notoriously a difficult place to understand that amount of different visas. I wish you good luck.

Like

Reply

Dana *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

UK - I am trying to understand which visa we can get in the UK that will allow us to travel on a one way ticket and allow us in when we get to Thailand !!! We will then apply for our retirement visas in due course.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

No. if you are one of the many countries that Thailand allow in on visa exemption then you get stamped in on entry. Where are you?

Like

Reply

Dana *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

was the visa exemption issued in the UK ?

Like

Reply

Paul ********

to date in the last 16 years I have always gone to Thailand on a visa exemption. Stamped on for 30 days. You can then do up to 2 land border crossings in one year, unlimited air crossings plus you have the choice to buy an extra 30 days at immigration.

Like

Reply

Dana *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

what sort of visa where you travelling on ?

Like

Reply

Reply to

Dana *******

Reply

Brandon ************

You can buy the 90 day non-O in your home country or in Thailand. You'll be required to have the money in a Thai bank account before applying in Thailand though, which can be difficult to get on a tourist visa or visa exempt.

Some embassies require proof of insurance for the 90 day non-O though so if yours does, the only way to get around that is to buy the visa in Thailand.

If you fly with a non-O your airline won't require you to show proof of onward travel since a non-O is a long term visa.

If you fly on a tourist visa or visa exempt, your airline may require you to show proof of onward travel within the number of days you'll be initially stamped in for.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

@Brandon ***********

not saying it doesn’t just highly unlikely. And you only need proof of onward travel out of Thailand and that can be a simple bus ticket into Cambodia.

Like

Reply

Brandon ************

I read every post that comes through this group and it's happened to many people. Just because you've never experienced it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

@Brandon ***********

if you are travelling visa exempt the chances of proving an onward ticket are practically zero

Like

Reply

Paul ********

@Brandon ***********

utter rubbish.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

I did however come across this situation travelling from NZ to Chili where unbeknown by us we should of had an inward ticket. They were great at check in and told us to just book the cheapest way out. All they wanted was proof we were leaving. We bought a bus ticket to La Paz in Bolivia, we even ended up using it.

Like

Reply

Brandon ************

no. There are many airlines that will not let you board if you do not show a ticket or they will force you to buy one on the spot at the counter in order to board.

Like

Reply

Paul ********

@Brandon ***********

but highly unlikely seeing as a vast majority of tourists are travelling on to Cambodia or Laos with no idea on how they are getting there. In theory yes they could ask but I’ve made dozens of trips and was only asked once at Heathrow how long were we intending to stay in Thailand and obviously you say 30 days max. Or 45 at the moment.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Paul ********

Reply

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

What are the requirements for obtaining a Non-O retirement visa from the UK?

14 comments

a month ago

Do I need a return flight booked for a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand?

38 comments

6 months ago

Is it a problem to travel to Thailand on a one-way ticket while applying for a retirement visa?

51 comments

7 months ago

Is it acceptable to arrive in Thailand on a one-way ticket with a Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement purposes?

7 comments

a year ago

What type of visa should I apply for to stay 90 days in Thailand while setting up my retirement?

19 comments

a year ago

What type of visa allows a one-way flight to Thailand for retirement and how does it work?

7 comments

2 years ago

What are the steps to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand, and do I need to open a Thai bank account prior to applying?

83 comments

2 years ago

Do I need to show a return flight when applying for a retirement visa in Thailand after getting my initial visa?

6 comments

2 years ago

What are the steps and requirements for obtaining a Thai retirement visa for a couple from the UK?

12 comments

2 years ago

What type of visa do I need to retire in Thailand and when should I apply for it?

12 comments

2 years ago

What steps should I take to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand after arriving?

6 comments

2 years ago

Is it easier to apply for a retirement visa in the UK or Thailand?

66 comments

2 years ago

Do I need proof of onward travel when flying to Bangkok on a tourist visa for retirement?

6 comments

2 years ago

What is the correct procedure to obtain a retirement visa for Thailand as a UK passport holder?

31 comments

3 years ago

What are the steps to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand for a UK expat married to a Thai citizen?

42 comments

3 years ago

What visa should I apply for when retiring to Thailand, and do I need a return ticket?

14 comments

3 years ago

Can I apply for a Non-O visa based on retirement while only booking a one-way flight?

38 comments

3 years ago

Do I need a return ticket to apply for a Non O visa to enter Thailand as a UK passport holder?

3 comments

3 years ago

Do I need a return ticket for my O retirement visa application in Thailand?

38 comments

3 years ago

Which visa should I apply for if I want to retire in Thailand with a one-way ticket?

17 comments

3 years ago

What visa do I need to retire in Thailand and do I need a Thai bank account for my retirement?

61 comments

4 years ago

What is the best visa for a UK retiree to live in Thailand while meeting the financial requirements?

5 comments

4 years ago

Can I Apply for a Retirement Visa Upon Entering Thailand as a UK National?

5 comments

4 years ago

What should I do regarding my return ticket while applying for a retirement visa in Thailand?

15 comments

6 years ago

Do I need to show a return flight booking when applying for a retirement visa in Thailand from Australia?

19 comments

7 years ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.