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What is the easiest retirement visa path for a UK citizen looking to move to Thailand?
Retirement VisaThai Visa TypesNon-O VisaOA VisaVisa Application ProcessExpat Life in ThailandThai Immigration Rules
Jun 23, 2021
5 years ago
Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi all, brand new to the group and needing sensible and correct visa information. Tried elsewhere and it’s always conflicting so leav s me confused.
I’m in the UK, over 50, have the required funds for either 800k or 65k p/m and when C19 ends I’ll be looking to make the move for a long term stay. I have the following question…. What is the easiest visa path for retirement?
a. Enter on tourist visa and then apply for O or OA in Thailand?
b. Apply for O in UK?
c. Apply for OA in UK?
Just looking for the path of least resistance, Thanks for any help.
I’m in the UK, over 50, have the required funds for either 800k or 65k p/m and when C19 ends I’ll be looking to make the move for a long term stay. I have the following question…. What is the easiest visa path for retirement?
a. Enter on tourist visa and then apply for O or OA in Thailand?
b. Apply for O in UK?
c. Apply for OA in UK?
Just looking for the path of least resistance, Thanks for any help.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user in the UK seeks guidance on the easiest visa path for retirement in Thailand, considering options to enter on a tourist visa and apply for a non-O or OA visa, or to apply for these visas from the UK. Responses indicate that while various paths are possible, applying for a 90-day non-O visa from the Thai consulate in the UK is recommended as it involves fewer restrictions and allows for a subsequent extension in Thailand.
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Tod *********
They are all workable plans, except that first choice would be enter on a tourist visa and apply for an in country non-O visa (you can't get an OA visa anywhere except your home country)
Easiest and least restrictive (insurance wise) would be to get a 90 day non-O visa from the thai consulate in YOUR country before you wing your way here (that way you only need insurance for 90 days) then apply for the yearly extension once you're here and that 90 day stamp runs down. You'll need to bank 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply.
Easiest and least restrictive (insurance wise) would be to get a 90 day non-O visa from the thai consulate in YOUR country before you wing your way here (that way you only need insurance for 90 days) then apply for the yearly extension once you're here and that 90 day stamp runs down. You'll need to bank 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply.
Mark *******
@Tod ********
Hi what exactly is the the difference between O & OA visa for Retirement to Thailand?Ellie *******
@Mark ******
When you apply for those visa outside Thailand, many differences are there, but significant ones may be,- Non-OA: multiple entries, entry stamp for 365 days on every entry, the visa itself is valid for 1 year from the issued date. You need to have specific insurance when applying for a visa and in case you want to apply for an extension from Non-OA entry.
- Non-O: single entry, entry stamp for 90days, the visa itself is valid for 90days from the issued date. You may or may not need specific insurance.
Mark *******
@Ellie ******
Many thanks, can you apply for a non-OA visa inside Thailand?Tod *********
@Mark ******
(you can't get an OA visa anywhere except your home country)Ellie *******
@Mark ******
As @T**
said, no, you cannot apply for Non-OA other than your home (passport issuing) country.Mark *******
@Ellie ******
Thank youReply to
Mark *******
Reply
Rory *********
@Tod ********
this first choice, what are the insurance requirements when changing from tourist to in country non-O retirement? Ellie *******
@Rory ********
, currently (as of right now), there is no requirements you have to have insurance for you to apply Non-O based on being 50 in-country from your TR or visa-exempt entry.Rory *********
@Ellie ******
that's what I thought but I don't understand Tod's comment. You only need insurance to cover your tourist entry, then once you are on non-O you can let your insurance expire. Isn't that right? Tod *********
sorry that's what I meant
@Rory ********
, you are required to be insured for the time you'll get stamped in SO comin' in on a tourist visa means you need 60 days of insurance (covid only) BUT if you got a 90 day Non-O visa before you came here you'd need 90 days of covid plus the ******
out/in patient health insurance AND if you came in on a year-long O-A visa you'd need a year of both of those insurances to get in Ellie *******
@Rory ********
right. For tourist entry, insurance is a requirement for CoE/ entry Thailand, not the requirement for the visa. Regarding ONLY visa/extension, you don't need insurance when you enter Thailand on tourist entry and apply for in-country Non-O. Reply to
Ellie *******
Reply
Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi
@T**
, Am I not allowed to use the 65k p/m method if I extend from a non-O visa?Tod *********
@Nick ******
not the first year you won't be able to IF you come from the UK it means they do not issue the affidavit of income from abroad notary letter anymore (they stopped end of Dec 2018) that means IF you choose to use monthly income method you need to transfer IN to a thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65 K baht a month each month every month for the preceding 12 months before you apply.
IF you come in on a 90 day Non-O visa, AND if you start transferring money in every month you'll only have 3 months max of transfers. It is my personal experience that no office will let you get a yearly extension (even if it's your first year) with so few of transfers. There is a report out of Krabi that they allowed a person to do it BUT that's the only case I know of in hundreds of attempts
Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi
@T**
, so thinking this through to utilise the 65k p/m option, I’m probably better off applying for an OA in UK. Once in Thailand I can transfer required monthly 65k and when 12 months is up and applying for the extension, I’ll have the necessary recorded money transfers. Does that work or is there something I haven’t thought of?Benjamin ******
@Nick ******
the only catch is that it must be marked "international" Nick *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
If it’s being transferred from UK account to Bangkok Bank account via Wise, I’ve heard that does the trick?Reply to
Nick *******
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