What documents do I need to apply for a 90-day Non-O visa in Laos as a Canadian retiree, and is insurance required for my wife?

Non-O visa Thailand visa retirement visa Chian Mai immigration visa requirements Thailand immigration Covid extension bank balance for visa insurance requirements spouse visa Consulate of Thailand Vientiane vs Savannakhet visa office

Jun 20, 2022

2 years ago

Thaddée ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am Canadian citizen, normally live in Myanmar but for now, I am living in Chiang Mai, until things get sorted over there. I am thinking to travel from Chiang Mai to Laos soon to obtain a 90 days Non O visa based on retirement and one for my Burmese wife as accompanying spouse. I currently have a STV visa and multiple Covid extensions. 800 000 THB has been in the Bangkok bank for several months already. I also have a TM30 for the house I rent in Chiang Mai. What are other required documents I must show? 

I need to know if USD$100 000 insurance is required for the Non O visa when applying in Laos. For each of us ?

Is the Non O actually the visa I need to get the 1 year extension later in Chiang Mai ? Is there an advantage in getting the Non  O as opposed to entering the Kingdom on a regular tourist visa 

Between Vientiane and Savannakhet, not sure which is the friendliest Thai visa office (least burdensome). Advise please.

I actually direct my questions to the page moderators as they know their stuff very well. People who have done similar can also leave a comment please.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A Canadian citizen residing in Chiang Mai is looking to travel to Laos to apply for a 90-day Non-O visa based on retirement and a spouse visa for his Burmese wife. He has concerns about required documents, insurance for the visa application, and whether the Non-O visa is suitable for obtaining a 1-year extension. Comments suggest that an affidavit of income from the Canadian Embassy can serve as proof of funds instead of keeping money in a Thai bank. There's also advice about the need for an appointment at the Vientiane consulate, with mentions that there is no insurance requirement for the visa. Additionally, it is noted that both Vientiane and Savannakhet have similar visa requirements.

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Tod *********

Keep in mind you as a Canuck can go to the Canadian Embassy here, fill out the affidavit of income from abroad stating you get at least 65K baht a month and use that for proof of funds to get the Non-O from a thai consulate nearby OR to get it from the immigration office in Chiang Mai for 2000baht without the need to bank any funds at all

Although seeing as you're on an STV/covid extensions you would need to bounce out and back to get OFF those and on to a new 30 day visa exempt entry stamp. and that might be the best way for you to go about it as it won't tie up any funds in a bank here.

Now as far as Vientiane, that thai consulate requires an online booking to use (no booking you don't get in the door) as they don't allow walk ups.

You will want to read the website and requirements for the visas carefully before you slog all the way up there

Here is the link to make a booking for an appointment so you can turn in your visa application at the thai consulate in Vientiane

******************************

I know YOU can get your 90 day single entry Non-O there based on being over 50 (with just proof of funds and proof of age)

BUT

I don't know whether they'd sell your foreign spouse a 90 day single entry Non-O based on "trailing spouse of a retiree" because you don't have a year extension yet 🙁

AND

I don't know if burmese are on the list there saying their visas take longer to process. 😕

There is NO insurance requirement to get that Non-O visa or to get the year extension after you get back to thailand and run the 90 day entry stamp down.

Both Savannakhet and Vientiane have near carbon copies of the requirements for a Non-O based on being over 50 (retirement)

2 years ago

Tod *********

Sorry, those comments were so long, you are asking quite involved questions and they are not yes/no answers 🙁

2 years ago

Thaddée ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you Tod. Your advice makes sense. I trust your expertise. One more consideration please. My wife, Burmese, can enter the kingdom on a 15 days visa waiver as a citizen of ASEAN. At the moment, she still has until the end of July on her COVID extension. Would you recommend she travels with me to Chiang Kong and get a new tourist visa or better stay in Chiang Mai and take it from step 3 of your advice ?

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Thaddée ***********

she cannot, 🙁 it's nothing to do with ASEAN 😕

𝟭𝟰 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗲𝘅𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 🇲🇲 𝗠𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗿 (𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆)

Keep her in thailand, have her get a FINAL 60 day covid extension just before this current program expires on July 25 to buy her 2 more months

That way you can try to get your Non-O and year extension, so that she can go and try for the 90 day non-O at a thai consulate after that

2 years ago

Thaddée ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you so much. Clear and precise advice.

2 years ago

Thaddée ************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Tod, allow me to pick your brain again please. I would like to know if going to Chiang Kong, Laos for a border bounce, if I need to get a Laos visa if I am to turn back into Thailand immediately with the fresh visa exempt 30 days entry.

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Thaddée ***********

you will, seeing as you're stamping OUT of thailand you have to stamp in and out of another country and to stamp in to Lao you need to buy a visa on arrival

There is no stamp out of thailand walk out on the friendship bridge, turn around without stamping in to Lao and getting back in to thailand. That's been tried by thousands of border bouncers over the years. You have to stamp IN & OUT of another country to get back in to thailand

2 years ago

Thomas *********

@Thaddée ***********

you are privileged to get it. You just avoided a very difficult or near impossible task to find it.

2 years ago

Reply to

Thomas *********

Tod *********

@Thaddée ***********

If I was you (which I'm not) I'd do this

1 - Go to the Canadian consulate to get an affidavit of income from abroad notary stating you get 65K baht a month in income from abroad

2 - bounce out & back into the country up at the Chiang Khong border crossing with Lao in Chiang Rai. This gets you OFF the STV/covid extension you're on and will allow you to get a new 30 day visa exempt entry stamp.

3 - go immediately to the Chiang Mai immigration office and apply for the in country 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) for 2000baht. I say immediately because you need a minimum of 21 days left on your entry stamp to apply for that visa in country because it goes under review for 20 days

4 - wait the 20 days, go back get the Non-O visa and new 90 day stamp inked in.

5 - wait until you have 45 days or less left on that 90 day stamp go back to the immigration office (using the same affidavit of income from abroad notary letter) and apply for your year extension for 1900baht (they will issue it to you the day you apply

THEN buy a re-entry permit and go with your wife to Vientiane and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa for her based on being the spouse of a retiree long stay visa/extension holder (as you'll have your year already). <- I'm pretty sure that will work as most consulate won't issue that trailing spouse 90 day Non-O until the other person has their year extension, but you'll want to check with them just to make sure.

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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