What is the process for obtaining a Non-O long stay retirement visa in Thailand, and what are the bank requirements?

Okay you're getting some good and some not so good (as in totally shit) answers.

You're actually doing TWO separate things

FIRST you will be applying for an in country 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) at the immigration office. AND for that you need to show 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only that was transferred in from abroad BUT there is no "seasoning required for it <-meaning as soon as the transfer hits your account you can go apply.

You need between 15 and 21 days left on your current stamp (because your application will go under consideration) you will show up apply for the Non-O visa, pay 2000baht and get an under consideration stamp telling you when to come back. On that day you show up to get the Non-O visa and a new 90 day stamp inked in.

THEN you let your money sit in the bank and "season" for TWO months before you apply for your yearly extension, You show up apply for the year extension pay 1900baht and it's issued on the spot.

That's how the process works

Find a "flexible" immigration agent. Many are. For a fee, they will accommodate you.

I have Bangkok bank but they are not easy to work with

I was told, that the retirment visa is THE ONLY visa you can apply now, wjhen stranded in Thailand. Thats, what I was told at Chaeng Wattana.

I don’t think you can apply for a retirement visa as your visa has expired.You would have to exite Thailand and re- enter to start the application process.

at least this is what i have been told by immigration office in phuket.thai embassies have also temporarily suspended all long term visa application

Have pm you

The Krungsri bank in Emquartier will open a bank account with just a passport and a lease (or sometimes just a business card of the building you stay at) and the Kasikorn bank down at Central World Trade will do the same.

@Don *****

I didn't bother to read the comments so this might have been stated already

You CANNOT go to a 90 day Non-Immigrant Type-O visa based on being over 50 from amnesty :(

It's because in Bangkok you need at LEAST 15 "real" days left on your current entry stamp <- and if you're on amnesty your current entry stamp expired a good while ago.

Also to apply for a Non-O visa INSIDE the country you must show that the 800K baht was transferred in from oversea AND there is no 'seasoning' <- ( meaning to apply for the 90 day non-O VISA all you show is that the money came from abroad) it is only when you go to apply for the yearly extension that you need to show the funds were in your account for 2 months before you apply.

AND just so you know, IF you could apply for the in country Non-O visa (which you can't from amnesty) the application would go under consideration for 14 days and then you would go back and get the 90 day Non-O visa and a new 90 day entry stamp inked into your passport. <- that's why you need at least 15 real days left on your current entry stamp (to cover the under consideration period).

Guys, please keep reporting the visa agents. I'm removing them as I see them.

Can you deposit the equivalent amount in US dollars or does it have to be converted into Baht?

Through the back door

Kasikorn Bank only required address and passport when I applied many years ago.

Check type O visa requirements. May have to go outside Thailand to Get O visa.

Don, if this non-O is only 90 days, isn’t a bit self-defeating if we all get an extra 60 days granted later this week? I’m interested also in retirement visa, but waiting this out...

Hello. If you are having a a problem obtaining a document from the embassy for opening an account, this page may interest you in opening a account under a visa amnesty stamp.:

First things first: Talk to an agent to let him do the paperwork. He/She will tell you what to do about the financial regulations...

Krungsri branch at MBK got me a non-resident account on a tourist visa, not work permit,

A few years ago so may be changed now, but opening a bank account with Bangkok Bank was relatively easy, you just had to explain their own rules (which they kindly provided) to them.

You need a passport with a valid visa and 1 item of the of things on the list. The top of these options is a letter from the embassy but another of the options is an introduction by a customer of the Bangkok bank. It can take some time to explain that the letter from the embassy isn't required if you are with a customer of the bank, but in my case my wife (Bangkok bank customer) explained the word "or" and hey presto 10 minutes later have an account with atm card and book.

Our immigration told us you don't need the funds in the bank two months prior when actually applying for the Non O. However when you apply for an extension of stay it needs to be in three months prior.

No seasoning required for 90 day Non Imm O based on being over 50 in country. You may need to show the money was transfered from abroad. Seasoning is only required for the yearly extention of stay.

Did this person who was able to get the O (50+) visa mention they'd done it through an agent?

Yes no doubt, that’s the best way in my experience. It should cut the waiting time down by half also if you’ve incorporated both of them into your application.

Good luck 👍🏻👍🏻