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What do I need to apply for a 1-year Multi-Entry Retirement Visa (O-A) in Thailand?
O-A Retirement VisaVisa Application ProcessThailand ImmigrationVisa RequirementsChiang Mai ConsulateUSA Passport HoldersVisa Fees
May 4, 2017
9 years ago
Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERHi All,
My wife and I are USA passport holders. We are aiming for Phuket first and then Chiang Mai later this year for a holiday/vacation on a visa waiver on arrival. We want to obtain a 1yr Multi-Entry Retirement visa (O-A) while in CM. Below is the list of things I think we need for both to get the same visa.
5,000THB for the visa
3x Application form
CM USA Consulate - Cert of income and Police Check cert.
Are there any charges for these from the Consulate?
3x Photos
Medical Cert from local Dr.
Can all of this be obtained in CM or is a trip to Bangkok or outside Thailand be necessary?
Anything I've missed?
TIA.
My wife and I are USA passport holders. We are aiming for Phuket first and then Chiang Mai later this year for a holiday/vacation on a visa waiver on arrival. We want to obtain a 1yr Multi-Entry Retirement visa (O-A) while in CM. Below is the list of things I think we need for both to get the same visa.
5,000THB for the visa
3x Application form
CM USA Consulate - Cert of income and Police Check cert.
Are there any charges for these from the Consulate?
3x Photos
Medical Cert from local Dr.
Can all of this be obtained in CM or is a trip to Bangkok or outside Thailand be necessary?
Anything I've missed?
TIA.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the process of obtaining a 1-year Multi-Entry Retirement Visa (O-A) for USA passport holders traveling to Thailand. The author outlines the required documents and fees they believe necessary for the application while in Chiang Mai, and seeks confirmation and additional information from the community. Responses clarify that the O-A visa must be applied for outside of Thailand, specifically in the USA, and emphasize that certain documents and fees vary, such as the need for police checks, proof of income, and medical certificates. Additionally, there are comments highlighting misconceptions and clarifying the differences between visa types and costs.
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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Tod *********
In order not to post a novella of information I sent the O/P a personal message. BUT I want to point out (as others have too) you cannot get a Non-Immigrant Type OA (Long Stay) visa inside of thailand, period end of story.
Here is a Non-OA visa from Canberra and here is an in-country Non-O visa gotten at an immigration office along with a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).
Non-OA multi-entry visas cost about $200USD right now and a Non-O along with a yearly extension of stay costs 2000baht for the Non-O and 1900 baht for the year extension. A re-entry permit would either be an addition 1000baht for a single or an additional 3800baht for a multiple entry.
Here is a Non-OA visa from Canberra and here is an in-country Non-O visa gotten at an immigration office along with a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).
Non-OA multi-entry visas cost about $200USD right now and a Non-O along with a yearly extension of stay costs 2000baht for the Non-O and 1900 baht for the year extension. A re-entry permit would either be an addition 1000baht for a single or an additional 3800baht for a multiple entry.
Tod *********
@Steve ****
Nope, it's not that way at all. In fact if you have a thai spouse you need only 400K in the bank or 40K baht a month income. Some immigration offices don't want to issue the "trailing spouse" extensions, but it's clearly written in the rules that it can be done as a "piggy-back".
Steve *****
Wow
@Tod ********
i have friends a couple over 50 and they are trying that already for a few years. They say the one time 800 fee is only when you have a thai spouse. It is all very difficult i guess! I will tell them your story and see how they react. They are 6-8 months in thailand and the rest in their home country.Tod *********
@Steve ****
No, it sounds like you came into the country, applied for a 90 day single entry Non-O visa for 2000baht and then applied for a yearly extension based on being over 50 at the immigration office for another 1900baht. What I was saying is IF you have a foreign wife she doesn't need to have the 800K baht or 65K baht income to get her yearly extension, she doesn't even need to be over 50 either :O .
She'd just "piggy-back" onto your yearly extension based on being the wife of someone who has a yearly extension of stay here..
Steve *****
U can send me a pm if u don't want to mix up this post too much as what you said...
Steve *****
@Tod ********
sorry if my story is not correct. I only have written down to what happened to me. Do you know the difference than between the op and myself?Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks. I did get Tod's PM. FB just failed to let me know it was there. I use iPad so it's a different app unlike a pc.
Maxim ***********
Richard Lee You probably block certain FB option for stranger so u need to look at ur message request. And you can trust Tod he's better then google on visa topic.
Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks Tod. We'll take the plunge and head for the Consulate in NYC and pay out $200 each 🙂
Tod *********
If you get the yearly extensions of stays based on being over 50 (retirement) inside the country there is NO financial requirement for your spouse (she doesn't even need to be over 50 ) she'd get her extension based on being married to someone who holds a yearly extension of stay
Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERPm? Ok, I'll check. No notification of it as yet.
Tod *********
Sad to say, nope there's not. I know the P/M I sent you was long, but I tried to be as accurate as I could about what your options are
Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERBtw - we are both over 50 and each have income of more than the 800,000THB required.
Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTER..er thanks? Now I'm totally confused. So many differing pieces of info and prices. Is there a web site that lists all these options and prices in a clear way?
Reply to
Richard *****
Reply
Joe ***********
I just checked your place of residence, the closest place for you to apply for the O-A visa is the Thai Embassy in Washington, D. C. You can make a visit there but you should be able to do it by mail. Check that Embassy 's website.
Steve *******
You need to apply for the non imm oa visa in the US
Steve *****
I came to thailand on a 30 day tourist visa and after the 30 day i got in cm 3 months non-o retirement and opened a thai bank account. After 3 months i received my one yesr non-o for 1900 baht....
Tod *********
@St***
, a 90 day single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa that you buy inside the country costs 2000baht.Steve *****
I live here over 6 years and every year goes well. As i mention above my first non-o retirement single entry visa i got in chiang mai.
Steve *****
Yes i have a single entry but when i have to go outside thailand i can buy a re-entry visa for 1000 baht. The op did not mention he needed to go out of the country!
Steve *******
Steve, you didnt get a 1 year non o for 1900bt, you got an extention of stay
Steve *******
@Richard ****
1900bt is for the 1 year extention of stay, not the visa.Richard *****
ORIGINAL POSTERisnt 1900 a single entry? 5000 for multi?
Reply to
Richard *****
Reply
Joe ***********
Visas are obtained at a Thailand Embassy or Consulate. You do not normally get Visas inside Thailand. I think you could be speaking of an O-A long stay visa. The O-A must be applied for in your home country. Check the website of the Thailand Embassy in your home country. The O-A is a one year visa with multi-entry in the first year and is extendable for another year near automatically by exiting and reentering Thailand just days before the first year expiry. Generally the requirements are being age 50, have an equivalent of 800,000 baht in a bank in your home country, a police records check and a short medical certificate from a doctor.
Steve *****
The visa non o retirement means you are over 50 years of age. The cost pp is 1900 baht. You need to have proof of an income of
*****
baht per month each or show bank account with thai bank which shows 800.000 baht. This is for each person. You can use the money after 3 months and spend it. You can get a 3 months non-o already in usa and wgen you cime here open a thai account and transfer the money to that account. The first time it needs to mature for 2 months. Suc6Tod *********
Ben, I started taking my meds again :P
Tod *********
That is not totally accurate
You are correct insofar as they could get a 90 day single entry Non-O's before they come here and then go for the yearly extensions.
@Steve ****
, :/ If one of the people are over 50 they can get a yearly extension of stay based on retirement AND their spouse can get a yearly extension of stay based on being married to someone on a yearly extension without having ANY money in the bank. Plus there is NO requirement that says you can't spend the money the second you have your extension stamped into your passport. The requirement is 60 days seasoning on banked money for the first yearly extension and 3 months seasoning on it for every subsequent extension. You are correct insofar as they could get a 90 day single entry Non-O's before they come here and then go for the yearly extensions.
Steve *******
The 1 year extention of stay is 1900bt not the visa. The visa should be obtained outside of Thailand.
Reply to
Steve *******
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