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What challenges should I expect when applying for a Non-O visa for retirement in Thailand from the UK?

Non-O VisaVisa Application ProcessRetirement VisaHealth Insurance RequirementsBank Account RequirementsPet RelocationVisa AgentsImmigration in Thailand
Jul 12, 2023
a year ago
Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all

My wife has just done a ‘dummy run’ to apply for a Non-O visa whilst we are still in the UK, already we are seeing obstacles we need to overcome

We have a joint bank account (30+ years) yet it seems to imply you need your own bank account (in the UK) when applying

It is my private pension that will be funding our lifestyle in Thailand, my wife will not have her own income until she reaches the UK state retirement age

Having 800,000thb in a Thai bank account each will not be an issue within 60 days of being in Thailand and can remain untouched throughout our time in Thailand

We will be bringing our dog with us so we appreciate the process will have to go smoothly to ensure there is no last minute hiccups or worse

It is asking for our health insurance details yet we are under the impression the Non-O does not require health insurance

It is asking for our return flight details but we will not have a return flight, we are arriving as (hopefully) retirees into Thailand with no intentions of returning to the UK

Any guidance would be appreciated from you knowledgeable people
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is encountering issues while applying for a Non-O visa from the UK, needing advice on bank account requirements, health insurance details, and ensuring a smooth transition with their dog. Comments clarify that while insurance may not be universally required for a Non-O visa, some embassies do mandate it. Guidance on using joint bank accounts and the importance of meeting individual financial requirements is also discussed. One suggestion is to apply for the visa once in Thailand to simplify the process.
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.
Dave *********
As others have said, applying in Thailand for your visa would appear to be the way forward for you, especially as due to your 'complex medical record' you do not wish to buy medical insurance (as per one of your previous postings).
a year ago
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Dawn ********
Iv just completed a o-a visa 1 yr application in uk for my partner after the documents went back and forward twice it was approved. Any help you need or questions if applying in uk just message me. Im happy to help. Iv also done the 6 month visa application with no issues. Problem was it didn’t come through in time and he ended up coming in on a 30 day 🙄🙈
a year ago
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Ken ********
Better to come over on a 30 day visa exemption during that time try to open a bank account and apply for an O visa here transfer money into your Thai bank from the UK I suggest one of the 3 banks that don't have limit restrictions wait for your money to be in your bank accounts for 60 days then apply or get an agent here to do your extension
a year ago
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Brook ********
@Ken *******
 This.

Apply for a Non O within Thailand. Use a reputable agent the first time if you prefer.

Elite visa is way too expensive.

LTR might be an option, but why.

Everyone Hass to do a 90 day reporting in. It’s easy to do online.
a year ago
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Ken ********
@Brook *******
 first one for each extension has to be done at immagration office
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Brook *******
 LTR doesn't have to do 90 day report. It's 1 year report.
a year ago
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Brook ********
@Brandon ***********
****************************
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Brook *******
 I have an LTR and have been told by both immigration and the BOI I don't have to worry about it for a year. So...
a year ago
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Brook ********
@Brandon ***********
 Up to you.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Brook *******
 not sure how you can argue with this but feel free.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Andy **********
@Ken *******
 Dog problem
a year ago
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Andy **********
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Ken ********
Joint bank account would need 1.6 mil 800k each.

Or try looking at you on retirement visa and her piggybacking on yours not sure if that changes the money situation but have heard others speak about it
a year ago
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Todd *********
This is precisely why Thai visa agents are doing a booming business.
@Thai *****************************
 can sort it out for you
a year ago
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Tulip ********
What about Thai elite?
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Tulip *******
 you pay significantly more for next to no real extra benefit. May as well just use an agent and go retirement visa route for a fraction of the cost
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 we are back to looking at the 10yr elite visa. We are at an age where we don’t want hassle/ stress/ uncertainty so we were planning on employing a visa agent to help us each year (90 day reporting etc) so looking at the cost each year, and the inevitable price increase over the next 10 years, we are thinking the 10yr visa (pay now and that’s job done for 10 years) might be the best option for us
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Linz ***********
 for 2 people for 10yrs it's what, 1.8mil for elite vs say 60,000B/yr with agents so 600,000B. Or doing it yourself is 38,000B for 10yrs. So it's significantly cheaper and there's little benefit. LTR if you qualify does have some additional advantages though.

I think you're way over estimating the difficulty of dealing with immigration here. Have the right paperwork, book an appointment and that's that. 90 day reports can be done online, very simple as well.
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alistair *********
 on the face of it, yes, you are absolutely correct and as others have said, there are far cheaper ways than going down the Elite route

But, for us here, it provides some piece of mind, it provides stability, it provides some reassurances for the next 10 years, it also means we can apply 6-8 weeks or so before we are flying, get the visa approved, pay for visa, land into Thailand and that should go relatively smoothly, for us, the initial expense could prove to be well worth it

I appreciate we all have our own unique circumstances so one size does not fit all
a year ago
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Ivan ************
@Linz ***********
 you need to do 90 day reports and annual extensions (if continually in the country) on Elite just the same as with a retirement visa, it doesn't get you out of that. Not a huge deal, but Elite does not get you out of this bureaucracy. There are some small benefits and it does get you some flexibility as to leaving and coming back with regard to not being tied to a fixed extension date, and you don't need to show a bank statement for the extension. But I think you're both overestimating the bureaucracy for retirement visa and underestimating it for Elite. It's not a big deal but you need to follow all the same Thai immigration bureaucracy with Elite. The 10 year LTR if you qualified actually gets you out of this. It even takes longer to get the Elite than a retirement visa so not sure of the benefit there either. Elite does do what it claims to do but the main rationale is for people who aren't over 50 and don't qualify otherwise for another visa.
a year ago
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Alistair **********
@Linz ***********
 I don't see how the retirement visa doesn't provide the same stability. People have been living on them here forever, it's not just going to disappear. I feel it's a massive waste, but it's your money.
a year ago
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Alistair **********
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tulip *******
 just so happens we are looking at the initial costs of the 10yr one and at the moment, that might be our best option
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Linz ***********
 make sure that you don’t qualify for LTR wealthy retiree first before pursuing EV
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 thank you,
a year ago
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Linz ************
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 we have emailed/ messaged 2 so far, one offers to get the visa sorted for us whilst we are still in the Uk (for a fee of course) the other says no, if we want to do it in the UK, we have to apply for it ourselves, we are waiting for a zoom/ FaceTime/ whatever call it is called to discuss our options
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Linz ***********
 I believe the agents can only facilitate visa within Thailand. So you can enter on visa exempt or tourist visa, and then they will facilitate 3 month non-O visa plus retirement extension for one year. Total of 15 months after the visa exempt
a year ago
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Stephen *******************
@Todd ********
 The initial OA visa is for 90 days and the following retirement visa is for 12 months total 15 months and the cost is around 30,000 baht which includes bank account and limited insurance

Never tried it but know plenty people who have had no issues using it 🤔
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Stephen ******************
 yes, that's what i'm saying also. 15 months, somewhere in the ballpark of 35k baht for the OA and retirement extension. I have used it with no issues
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
 thank you
a year ago
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Linz ************
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Stephen *******************
Broadcasting the fact you have access to 1.6 million baht+ on a Facebook forum is not such a sensible idea in the light of recent events in Pattaya….just saying 🤔
a year ago
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John *********
Insurance is now a requirement for Non O Retirement on UK Thai Embassy (scroll down)

*************************************************************************
*****
-non-immigrant-visas

If your wife is applying as dependant, she would select Non-Immigrant Type O (Visiting or staying with applicant's family resided in Thailand (more than 60 days)
a year ago
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Bill **************
@John ********
 ...I will be applying soon for a non o retirement visa at the Thai embassy in London and they assured me no insurance is required and just ignore the question on the application. It's only needed on the OA visa.
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bill *************
 good to know, thank you and best wishes 👍🏼
a year ago
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Linz ************
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John *********
Depending on your immigration office in Thailand where you decide to live, getting your own visas is probably advisable.

AXA do a cheap insurance that you can reduce further with deductibles, you can also cancel at any time for a prorata refund.

UK embassy said we could use joint account if it had double the amount in it. We each got a copy of our individual statement from the bank for the joint account (Online pdf copy is fine).
a year ago
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John *********
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David *******
RTE London are pretty good and can be flexible. If you are both applying for your own visas then you will both need to meet the individual requirements though.

You can both try submitting the same joint bank account statements and they might accept them. If you already have a pension then you can use that as proof of funds but your wife can show 3 months of least £10k in the bank.

I showed a travel insurance policy when I applied for the Non O. You only need 90 days of coverage. You won’t need Health Insurance for annual Extensions.

You can try applying without a return flight and if they insist just buy a cheap flight out of Thailand within the time frame, or one you can cancel.

You can show a hotel booking for a few days or so as proof of invite/address.
a year ago
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Andi ***********
The Non O visa can be applied for within/outside of Thailand. No insurance needed if applied for within Thailand. The OA visa has more requirements and can only be applied for outside of Thailand.
a year ago
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David *******
@Andrew ********
 that’s wrong. You can get a Non O outside of Thailand as well. I got one last November from London.
a year ago
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Andi ***********
@David ******
 Yeah, true it can be applied for outside. I have amended the post.
a year ago
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Andi ***********
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Brandon ************
You don't need a return flight for a non-O visa.

But some embassies require you to have insurance for the duration of the visa you are requesting, so if your embassy requires that they would want to see 90 days of insurance.
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 understood, thank you 👍🏼
a year ago
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Linz ************
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Michael ********
Relo4paws for dog
a year ago
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Linz ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
 thank you
a year ago
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Linz ************
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