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What options does my friend have after his 'Visa O' expired while he was hospitalized abroad?
Visa OThailand immigrationVisa renewalRetirement visaVisa exemptionBank account requirementsNon-O visaThai immigration process
Nov 15, 2025
6 months ago
Abdel *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHello, Sawadee Kap, I have a friend (french) who is retired in Thailand. He was abroad in France and had an accident which means he could not travel back before his "Visa O" expired. He is now back to Thailand and panicked that he has lost his status.
I am looking for any information that I could share with him. Thank you very much.
I am looking for any information that I could share with him. Thank you very much.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user's friend, a retired French national, returned to Thailand after his 'Visa O' expired while he was hospitalized in France. Comments suggest that he is currently on a visa exemption and must reapply for a new 'Non-O' visa, which requires proof of funds (800,000 baht) in a Thai bank account. His history as a long-term resident does not influence the immigration process post-expiration. Assistance from an immigration agent may be necessary if he doesn't have the required funds.
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.
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Simon *******
If he hasn't got the 800,000bht he will have to use an agent that will put it into his account for him
Frank **********
Unfortunately Frenchie needs to start all over again. Immigration does not care what happened to him.
Page ************
he can travel back and forth to Thailand but can't ask his own questions on Facebook?
Abdel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Page ***********
im just trying to help as a friend.Reply to
Abdel *******
Reply
Sally ********
Unfortunately his old visa is now void and he will be on a visa exemption. He will have to reapply for non O and put the 800,000 in for the 1st year. His history counts for nothing. I know because we forgot to get a re-entry stamps once & had to go through the whole process again despite having lived here for 9 years previously on a Non O. An agent may be able to help in this case...good luck
Abdel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
and @Brandon thurkettle, thank you for your quick reply. He has a bank account(krung bank) but doesn't have the 800k. He had a visa O for a year that he used to renew. He used to renew it by showing his revenue. Can he go to the immigration office and explain with documents that he was hospitalized in France that would explain that he could not come back on time to renew his O visa. He has been living in thailand since 2008.Graham ******
@Abdel ******
So even if he returned before his extension expired how was he going to continue?Brandon ************
@Abdel ******
no. He has to get a new non-O visa. If he's already in Thailand then he'll need at least 14-21 days on his tourist entry and he'll need to get the list from his immigration office of requirements to convert. That will include a proof of funds requirement which is either bank balance or proof of income from the French embassy in Bangkok.Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Jesper *******
If he used to have a nonO extension that expired when he is away.....meaning he is now in thailand on visa exempt....if he still have the 800k in the thai bank acct he can just go to the immigration office and apply for the 90days nonO in thailand and do the 1yr extensions there after
Brandon ************
Why didn't he get a new non-O before he traveled back to Thailand?
Does he have a Thai bank account or can get income verification from the French embassy? If either of those he can apply for a new non-O from his immigration office if they allow in-country conversions.
Does he have a Thai bank account or can get income verification from the French embassy? If either of those he can apply for a new non-O from his immigration office if they allow in-country conversions.
Graham ******
@Brandon ***********
It is highly likely that the financials were already in place for the Extension of Stay so there should be no issue starting again if his Immigration Office is not one which will not do the conversionReply to
Graham ******
Reply
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