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What is the difference between the Non-O and Non-OA retirement visas for Thailand?

Thailand retirement visa Non-O visa Non-OA visa Visa requirements Expats in Thailand Thai immigration Visa application process

Jan 17, 2025

2 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi . Some confusion on various sites re the retirement visa. I’ll be applying from the UK before I travel . Non O or Non O-A ? I will not be working just retiring. I understand the Non O -A is better for me ? Can someone explain the difference between the two. Thanks .

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user is seeking clarification on the differences between the Non-O and Non-OA retirement visas for Thailand. The Non-O visa requires maintaining 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account annually, while the Non-OA visa allows applicants to keep their funds in a home country account but necessitates purchasing Thai health insurance worth $100,000. The discussion highlights the advantages of both options regarding residency stability and financial requirements.

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.

Brandon ************

Non-O means you'll have to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account in order to get your extension every year. This is to ensure you can take care of yourself in the event something bad happens to you.

The only reason to get a non-OA visa is if you don't want to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank but instead would rather leave it in your home country. You apply for the non-OA and show money in your home bank account, but you must also purchase an insurance policy with $100,000 from a list of Thai insurance companies. This is because you are not required to have money in a Thai bank account, so you must show that you have insurance for if anything happens to you.

You can get about 2 years from a non-OA visa before you would have to return to the UK and apply for a new one, and then repeat every 2 years or so, forever.

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Gary ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you all

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Tim *******

@Brandon ***********

re funds, is that not just for Oz? in my country of residence its different. the funds need to be in thailand on extention date.

the other points of difference non oa requires medical insurance O does not and OA allows dependent on visa while O does not.

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Tony **********

@Brandon ***********

don't forget the required criminal background check for OA.

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Brandon ************

@Tony *********

and medical check and other things. I just tried to keep at a high level.

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Brandon ************

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Steve ********

You can also get a non immigrant ‘O’ visa if you fulfil the income requirements i.e. you remit a minimum of

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baht to Thailand from overseas every month. Then you do not need to put

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0 in a Thai bank account, or need health insurance.

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Nongnuch ********

he is a UK citizen, he cannot get the affidavit of income from his embassy he would need for the first and the second year. He would have to wait until he has collected monthly transfers coded as coming from abroad to his Thai bank account month for month over 12 months, before he would be able to use the 12-month bank statement for the second application to the 1-year extension of the stay permit

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Steve ********

@Nongnuch *******

I am fully aware of that. It’s what I do and I have a non-immi ‘O’ visa and have always used this method. I have never had

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0 baht in a Thai bank account.

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Steve ********

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Brandon ************

Not worth mentioning at this time because you cannot get the initial 90 day non-O visa using this method nor can you get the first 1-year extension using this method.

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Brandon ************

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Mark *******

@Brandon ***********

wow.

Thank you for this advise.

This will be so helpful for me. 🙏🏻

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Gary ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

oh ok thank you for the quick response 🙏 . I have friends who say the non O is the one to get . I’m leaning towards that one now . Then I just apply at the local immigration every 12 months for an extension of stay based on retirement…? 👍

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Nongnuch ********

Your roadmap should be:

1. Apply for the 90-days single entry Non Immigrant O retirement/over 50 visa BEFORE you travel to Thailand.

2. get a 90-days stay permit stamped upon entering Thailand

3. Visit your local Immigration Office for a Certificate of Residence and the hand out to apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay.

4. Visit a bank branch with passport and documents from point 3 and open a bank account, so you can deposit a minimum of 800.000 THB

5. Wait until the deposit has seasoned for 2 months. Visit the bank and have them prepare the “bank letter of guarantee” and prepare the documents mentioned on the hand out

6. Visit Immigration and apply for the 1 year Extension of the Stay Permit based upon being over 50/retired

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Paul ********

Nice summary. Point 3 - what do you need to get a Certificate of Residence ?

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Gary ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

thank you 🙏 much appreciated

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Gary ********

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Brian *********

my experience I would disagree. In my case for two years I’ve kept my money in a bank account earning interest that even after paying the required insurance resulted in gains that paid my rent for nearly a year. Thai banks don’t pay anything worth mentioning.

After two years the non OA is pretty much done and to continue the non O is the next logical step.

But this is my experience. If over 70, if unhealthy the O is likely better.

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Brandon ************

that's basically it. Meet the requirements and extend annually

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Brandon ************

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