What is the process to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement in Thailand?

Question

**Hi everyone,**

I'm currently in Australia and looking to apply for a Thai **Non-Immigrant O visa** as a step toward obtaining a **retirement visa in Thailand**. From what I understand, this is the correct path—please let me know if that’s not right.

I checked the Royal Thai Embassy Canberra website and found the following required documents:
1. Biodata page of your passport or travel document
2. A recent photograph (taken within the last 6 months)
3. A document showing your current location (e.g., utility bill or driver’s licence)
4. **A letter of qualification endorsement issued by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI)** — This letter is only valid for 60 days and must be applied for via [https://visa.boi.go.th](https://visa.boi.go.th)

I’m a bit confused about point #4. Has anyone here applied for this **BOI qualification letter**? What exactly does it involve, and how do you go about it if you're applying as a retiree (not under a business or investment category)?

If you've gone through this process, I’d really appreciate it if you could share your experience or walk me through what you submitted and how long it took.

Thanks so much in advance!

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user seeks clarification on applying for a Thai Non-Immigrant O visa as a step towards getting a retirement visa. They are particularly confused about the requirement for a BOI qualification letter, questioning its relevance to retirees. The community responds with mixed guidance, with some suggesting that the user may have misunderstood the visa type, stating that the Non-O visa typically does not require a BOI letter. They emphasize the importance of following the correct visa pathway and provide additional insights into necessary documents other than the BOI letter.

Derek ***** · Answer

I just gone through the process and got my visa

When applying , make sure you put for retirement and multiple entry

Derek ***** · Answer

You don’t need item 4 from Thailand .

You are living in Australia, so you need to get Australian Federal police check done and state its for Visa purposes

You also need medical certificate from your doctor , down load the form from the Thai embassy website and you need medical insurance ,

I got health  insurance with Thai company

Anna ********* · Answer

BOI doesn’t deal with non O visa so somewhere you have taken a wrong turn

Revisit Thai visa website for clarification

Nongnuch ******** · Answer

the following is the 90 days retirement visa. You enter Thailand on it, and the visa will become invalid. It cannot get extended any more. Before the 90 days stay permit expires, you apply for the 1-year retirement "extension of the stay permit based on retirement" in Thailand. Look for the correct Non-Imm-O Retirement visa in the E-Visa online system.  You obviously picked the wrong one (the LTR visa)

Brandon ************ · Answer

First of all, the non-O visa IS the retirement visa. You would get an extension in Thailand, not the retirement visa because you would already have that.

Second of all, you are looking at the wrong visa.  If it's asking for a letter from the BOI, then you are looking at the LTR visa and not the non-O visa.

What is the process to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement in Thailand?

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