What is the best visa option for retirees who want to spend 5 months in Thailand each year?

Would it be possible to just get a 5 month tourist visa from uk e visa site

Get a Non-O to give you 90 days on entry and just before the 90 days is up visit somewhere nearby for a week then return and get a visa exempt entry which is currently 60 days but if it reverts to 30 you can still get a 30 day extension so you get your 5 months in Thailand every year

I own 3 houses in hua hin i am a uk citizen, does that change change the kind of visa I need if I want to retire to Thailand

METV. But, if you’re looking to retire in Thailand, with that pattern of 5 months Thailand and 7 months in the UK then a non O retirement visa, with a one year extension of stay may be better. You get a re-entry permit before leaving - I’m not sure how long the re-entry permit is valid for, though.

You're only able to stay, if the Thais approve your credentials. There's nothing willing about it.

You can find the requirements set by the Thais on their immigration website. I'd personally spend some time here first, see if it meets your expectations and you're able to adapt to Thailand.

Depending on your finances have a look at the elite visa (might be called privilege visa now) it’s pricy and you don’t get the money back but it looks ideal for those wanting to come and go. Valid for 5 - 20 years depending on which option you choose. I understand there are other benefits such as discounts, travel to and from airport, lounge access and express immigration. I’m ona retirement visa which suits me as I’m staying long term but have a look at the elite privilege option. Costly but handle free.

Here is how the math works to get roughly 270 days out of a single METV:

Phase Action Stay Duration Total Stay

Entry 1 Enter Thailand on Day 1. 60 Days 60 Days

Extension 1 Extend at local immigration (1,900 THB). +30 Days 90 Days

Border Run 1 Leave and re-enter Thailand. 60 Days 150 Days

Extension 2 Extend at local immigration (1,900 THB). +30 Days 180 Days

Entry 3 CRITICAL: Re-enter just before the visa expires. 60 Days 240 Days

Final Ext. Extend this last entry at immigration. +30 Days 270 Days

Since you're looking to "retire" to Thailand, why not do what

@John *********

suggested ? GET your retirement visa and, when LEAVING, get a "re-entry permit" and come back on your own schedule.

The thing you have to be careful about is the dates, since you MUST use the "re-entry permit" BEFORE your (1-year retirement) "extension of stay" expires, otherwise you'd have to go through the entire retirement visa process again.

e.g., You come in on your Non-O, or Non-OA, and go through the process of getting your 1-year (retiree) "permission to stay".

It begins (e.g.) May 15. You stay for 5 months, til Oct 15, then get your RE-ENTRY PERMIT as you're leaving for 7 months.

That re-entry permit MUST be used by May 15th of the following year (the end of your 1-year (retirement) "permission to stay", to keep your retirement "cycle" intact.

So there is a little bit of scheduling you must be aware of.

I don't know if you have been to before,but my experience is usually people come to stay a short time and stay long time .

Plan to stay longer a non O with a 12month extension would probably be best .Due to FB when you look at this option it might seem wrong for you but when you get here you will find there are ways around to 800,000bht needed

Apply for a 90 day non O online, enter Thailand, after 90 days stay, treat yourself to another location, a few days in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur etc, return to Thailand and receive 60 days visa exemption… that’s your best option as it stands.

I stay 6 months uk, 6 months thailand, non imm O is best option if over 50, or non imm OA is also and option

We stay in Thailand a bit over 5 months a year since my Thai wife has a US Green Card and if she stay out of the USA more than 179 days, they put her in a room and interview her as to why she should be admitted when she isn't staying in the US most of the year... I have had a retirement or marriage visa for 20 years. I just changed from a tourist visa exempt entry in January to a non immigrant O in February and got my one year permission to stay a bit over a week ago. I have to keep money in my account by law, so I do. I have a house car, motorcycles, family here so I do what I have to to live our lives and follow the laws of the countries we live in. PIA...

Why Thailand when they demand so much and change things constantly v others ?

A retirement visa would be the ideal assuming you are over 50, and is really the only option that would allow you to spend an uninterrupted 5 months in Thailand every year. A Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) is good for 6 months but you only get stamped in for 60 which you can extend once by 30 days and then must leave Thailand cross a border and return, and you may not get one year in year out

Based on those periods in Thailand

And if you think it will be regular

Probably a Non-O Visa

The only downside is tying up 800K funds in a Thai bank per person

For over 50 years of age 100% easier & cheaper to apply for a Suitable retirement Visa from your home country through the Thai Embassy website ( All done online )

When you are ready to come - Apply for a Non-O 90 day single Visa from the Thai Embassy in your home country about 30-45 days before departure.

When applying online you will need to show the required funds in any bank account , some personal details & Flight details & proof of first weeks accommodation .

Once approved & arrive in Thailand you have 90 days to organise for the 12 month extension

No.1 requirement is

Within 2 weeks of arrival You need to set up a Thai bank account & deposit 800K Baht for at least 60 days to satisfy the extension

Go to the bank of choice & ask them what they require to open a bank account

You can also come to Thailand on a tourist Visa & get it converted to a Non-O retirement Visa for a much higher cost

Other options

Could be

Multi Entry 6 month tourist Visa - but requires extensions like a normal tourist Visa and you can’t get a Thai bank Acc