What is the correct process for transitioning from an education visa to a retirement visa in Thailand?

Retirement Visa Thai Visa Rules Non-O Visa O-A Visa Visa Extensions Education Visa Thai Bank Account Regulations Financial Requirements for Visa Expat Life in Thailand Health Insurance for Visa Eligibility for Retirement Visa

Dec 22, 2021

3 years ago

Sammi *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello- I’m looking for ideas about my retirement visa plan to see if I understand things correctly and to make sure I don’t miss any important steps.  I am over 50 and wish to retire in Thailand.  I do not want to keep 800k Baht in a Thai bank account.   I would prefer to keep my money in a US bank and then switch to O-A when I have a 12 month history of 65k Baht transfers.  

I am in Thailand presently on an education visa.  My thought is to get a Thai bank and start having monthly deposits from my retirement account transferred over for year.  During that time, I have a planned return to the US and will apply for a O retirement visa there that I will return to Thailand with and do extensions etc until I have a 12 month history of deposits to Thai account.  Then I will switch over to O-A.  I like the sound of the O-A long term versus the O because I don’t want to have to return to the US every year to reapply for a new O visa.  

Is there anything wrong with this possible plan?  I admit being confused by the visa/extension lingo but do know that 90 day reporting is needed either way, as well as a monetary obligation.  Also, does it matter that my 65k transfers are from a retirement account and not government issue?  I have full coverage health insurance already so that requirement is not a problem.

Thank you!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user plans to retire in Thailand on an O-A visa after maintaining a 12-month history of 65,000 Baht monthly transfers into a Thai bank account. However, comments clarify that one must apply for the O-A visa from their home country, and upon arrival in Thailand, the only option to extend a Non-O visa is through a year-long extension based on financial requirements. Users emphasize the necessity of opening a Thai bank account to meet the financial proof needed for extensions.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Marty *********

Get an OA before coming here. You use money in your home country bank account. While here open a Thai bank account and start depositing every month. At the end of the first year of your OA leave and kill that visa. Then return and get an O visa and then 1 year extension. You will have to purchase health insurance to cover that first year on an OA.

3 years ago

Sammi *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ma***

This is now my plan. Thank you everyone.

3 years ago

Reply to

Sammi *********

Tod *********

The only thing wrong is that you can't get an O-A visa inside thailand you get that from the thai consulate in your country before you wing your way here 😕 <that's the visa that requires the medical certificate, background check, mandatory insurance, etc.

You're also not gonna be able to get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa in your country, come back and "do extensions etc until I have a 12 month history of deposits to Thai account" When you come in on that Non-O visa you get stamped in for 90 days <- so you either apply for a year extension when that 90 days runs down OR you leave. There's no other option for an extension.

Start making your monthly deposits of at least 65K baht a month into a thai bank account in your name only and when you have at least 12 months of them come back either with that single entry Non-O visa, get stamped in for 90 days and when you have a month left go apply for the "year extension of stay" based on retirement <-which is what you're after anyway.

OR

come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa entry, apply for the in country 90 day Non-O, get it and wait until that runs down to apply for the year extension by that route..

3 years ago

Sammi *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Tod- So to clarify, because I'm easily muddled with stuff, I will start my 65K deposits into a Thai account ASAP. This will start in Jan 2022, so Jan 2023 I will be eligible for Non O, correct? I will be coming back to Thailand after US visit this summer with 4-5 months to go before fulfilling the 12 month deposit history. I could wait it out in the US for the needed time period, but I want to return to Thailand before then. My best option since I won't have the 12 deposits needed, is to get the O-A visa (using funds in US account for financial requirement) and return/enter on that? There are no 6 month visa options to tide me over, I don't think. Thank you for your help.

3 years ago

Tod *********

you don't return to the US to apply for a new Non-O every year, you use the Non-O visa ONCE to get the year extension of stay THEN every year (as long as you meet the proof of funds) you apply for a new yearly extension of stay.

3 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Robert *******

Retirement visa plan.

Now on the Non Immigrant ED visa but planning to go to the USA.

You can apply in the USA for the Non Immigrant O visa based on being older than 50 years of age and get 90 days of stay when you enter Thailand.

The only way to extend this stay is for 1 year and with the financial proof of 12 months of foreign deposits of minimum 65.000 thb into a Thai bank account on your name.

As long as you can meet the requirements of Extension, you can keep on doing it year after year.

No need to change into a Non Immigrant O-A visa.

3 years ago

Reply to

Robert *******

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