What do I need to provide as proof of living arrangements when applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand?

Nov 5, 2021
3 years ago
Hello group. I'm currently in Bangkok on a 30 day visa exempt stamp that lapses 28 November. My plan is to apply for a Non-O 90 day visa at CW on 8 November. I have accomodations arranged for 7 November through 29 Jan 2022 at three different hotels in Bangkok. Given my circumstances as outlined above, what will I be required to show the immigration officer with respect to evidence of my living arrangements/address in Thailand when applying for my non-O? Thank you in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand, you will need to provide proof of your current address, which may include a lease contract or a letter from your hotel confirming you are a long-term guest. It is important to show that you are residing in Bangkok rather than just staying temporarily, as issues may arise if you cannot provide sufficient evidence of your living situation. Recent experiences suggest that moving frequently between hotels may complicate your application, so it is advisable to have a stable living arrangement during your visa application.
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Tod *********
All you can really do is go out to Chaengwattana and talk to the people in Section C-1 <- that's who issues in country Non-Imm visas inside the country in Bangkok.

I had an elderly friend turned away on a Non-O visa application because the hotel he was wouldn't give him a letter stating he was a "long stay" client. They wrote a letter stating his check in and proposed check out date and that was enough for the immigration office to say "you don't show us you LIVE IN bangkok, you show us that you're only staying for xxx days"

Also another person who was able to get his hotel to write the "he's a long stay client" letter moved after he'd applied and the new hotel filed a TM30 on him when he checked in. His application was also denied and he had to re-apply again and pay the 2000baht again.

These are just two cases that spring to mind, SO while you might want to live in hotels and move about, I'd say for the purpose of getting the Non-O visa and then the year extension 2 months later you need to find a place and sit tight in it until you get the year extension.

I also have people who have lived in the same hotel room for years and years and have no problem getting their yearly extensions by showing a year print out of their bill month after month.

Please feel free to do what ever you want really, I'm only relating first hand experiences I've had with people at C/W who live in hotels.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thanks. Appreciate the input. In an effort to circumvent a potential problem when I go to CW on Monday, I changed my booking to remain at the same hotel for the next 3 months. I will sit tight there.

I'm still not clear how immigration expects me to show a lease as no one will allow me to sign a lease without a long term stamp I'm my passport.

I just arrived in-country 30 Oct. So regardless, there is no history that I can show (passed bills, etc.). And with respect to getting a hotel to provide a letter about the future... Re: that I will be there through January 2022... that just seems unlikely as they can't represent where I will actually be, but only where I plan to be. Asking someone to attest to future activities just seems problematic in it's face

I can easily go to Mukdahan and sit tight at my girlfriend's house (if that would ensure a better outcome). But I'm not clear if that means I'd need to apply for my non-O 90 in mukdahan. I was under the impression that I had to apply for the Non-O at CW.
Ellie *******
@Cabra *********
you maybe want to apply for a 30days tourism extension first to buy one more month to seek your condo (or long-term staying hotel or whatever accommodation) before you rush to apply for your Non-O. Just another option for you.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
that's good advice. And at this point I feel like I need more time to sort out this jumble of yes/no/maybe so
Ellie *******
@Cabra *********
If you want to use the address there not in Bangkok, you NEED to go to the immigration office that serves the address you gonna use to apply for an initial Non-O visa, 1-year extension, and 90days reports, not CW.
Tod *********
@Cabra *********
you're way better getting the non-O and then the year extension here in bangkok, than a tiny immigration office in Nakhon Nowhere Isaan. 😮
Tod *********
@Cabra *********
anyone can sign a lease on a 30 day visa exempt or a 60 day tourist visa, there's no requirement you need a "long term stamp" in your passport.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
in affect I just signed a "3 month agreement" with the hotel. Given I had to pay in advance and it's none refundable. Hopefully that will get me past this residency/local address issue. I'm willing to jump through any hoop put in my path. But there needs to be a clear path. And what I've gleaned thus far is that "it depends" on what the officer on duty is willing to accept. Keep fighting as they say 😁
Ellie *******
You may (or may not) be asked for a copy of the lease contract for the address on TM30, could depend on the reason for the visa you are applying for. Be ready for that.
Ellie *******
If not a lease, I'm not sure a long-term reservation can work or not.

So maybe pray for the luck that they don't ask. If you cannot provide specific documents you are asked for, they just wouldn't accept your application until you provide them.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
that seems to conflict with what Benjamin Hayes indicated above in the initial response to my question
Ellie *******
@Cabra *********
Check the requirement for in-country Non-O being over 50 in Bangkok. If you haven't gotten the current requirement from CW yet, check the link. I cannot say this is the latest, but you can refer to this. I don't know how strict they apply item no.8.

********************************************************************
*******
/8-1.pdf
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
thank you so much 🙏

Strange that they would want prior 3 months of rental receipts when in-country applicants would not typically be able to stay in-country for 3 months prior to applying for Non-O 90 day visa. Unless they where somehow on a completely different long stay visa type for 3 months prior to applying for the Non-O 90 day visa 🤔

8. Rental Agreement between the Applicant and the Landlord ; A copy of house registration. Location map of the house and a rental receipt Past three months.

I'll find out Monday 😁
Ellie *******
@Cabra *********
I don't think you would need proof of payment for three months because you have proof you are not in Thailand for that long (your entry stamp). But you may need proof you have a 'proper' address to live.
Benjamin ******
@Cabra *********
Humm... Ellie does bring up an interesting point. I thought that "three months of rental receipts" are usually asked for people from the "bad" countries (Nigeria, etc).

If Bangkok Immigration doesn't want to issue you the in-country Non-O visa, contact Mukdahan immigration office and see if they would be willing to issue the Non-O visa in-country.

Their website is
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and their Facebook page is
@https://web.facebook.com*************************
Benjamin ******
@Cabra *********
I understand Ellie's point. I don't think for Bangkok Immigration they would ask for a lease, but most people who live long term in Thailand do not stay at hotels though.
Ellie *******
@Benjamin *****
, I just remember one story of old guy who had lived in a hotel for YEARS in Bangkok. The hotel didn't provide a lease or long-term reservation after TM30 was revived, he couldn't apply for 1-year extension based on being over 50.

I don't say this is the case always. But it happened in Bangkok.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
the other option for me would be to use my girlfriend's house address (her parents house actually; she currently lives there) in Mukdahan. I'm not sure what the implications of that approach would be on the Non-O 90 visa application process
Benjamin ******
@Cabra *********
Unless you're going to live in Mukdahan, I wouldn't recommend it 🙁
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
however, we would have no problem living there (Thida is already nervous about staying in BKK given the covid situation) if it makes the visa application process smoother. I guess I just have to wait and see how it goes at CW on 8 Nov when I apply.
Benjamin ******
@Cabra *********
I don't know if Mukadhan will grant you a one year extension of stay based on retirement if you got the Non-O visa from Bangkok 🙁 That's the only problem I can imagine happening.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
I'm not going to highjack this thread re: changes of address/location. But you do make me think. There must be a mechanism that allows one to move around THA to other jurisdictions over the course of ones tenure in THA. Maybe I'll craft a separate question for the group on that point.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
fingers crossed 🤞 until I have a long term stamp, I'm having problems finding a condo complex that will allow me to sign a lease.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
I'm in a hotel. There is no copy of a lease to provide
Benjamin ******
When you apply for the Non-O visa, you will need to show your CURRENT address in Bangkok, you do not need to show your history.
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