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What options does my neighbor have to re-enter Thailand and extend his retirement visa after not obtaining a re-entry permit?
Retirement VisaThai Visa RegulationsRe-entry PermitNon-O VisaVisa ExtensionImmigration ProceduresExpats in Thailand
Sep 23, 2025
7 months ago
Adam ******
ORIGINAL POSTERGood day folks. I have just had a call from my neighbour who is in a bit of a panic. He has lived here in Thailand for 20+ years on a retirement extension. He has been married to a Thai lady all this time but chose the retirement extension option over the married option to minimise paperwork.
Last month he went back to the UK for some medical tests and this procedure will run to the end of October, then he will return to Thailand.
Unfortunately he has made the schoolboy error of not getting a re-entry permit. The day he went to get it at immigration here in Hua Hin the place was closed for a holiday. It totally slipped his mind on departure at Suvarnabhumi so he now finds himself visa-less so to speak.
My question is ...... what does he need from the Thai Embassy in London so that he can kick-start the whole extension process when he gets back here at the end of October?
He still has his 800k in the bank here untouched for many years. He has no medical insurance in Thailand if that affects his options. I also suspect he will change to the married extension this time.
Thank you for your time.
Last month he went back to the UK for some medical tests and this procedure will run to the end of October, then he will return to Thailand.
Unfortunately he has made the schoolboy error of not getting a re-entry permit. The day he went to get it at immigration here in Hua Hin the place was closed for a holiday. It totally slipped his mind on departure at Suvarnabhumi so he now finds himself visa-less so to speak.
My question is ...... what does he need from the Thai Embassy in London so that he can kick-start the whole extension process when he gets back here at the end of October?
He still has his 800k in the bank here untouched for many years. He has no medical insurance in Thailand if that affects his options. I also suspect he will change to the married extension this time.
Thank you for your time.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A resident in Thailand for over 20 years, who holds a retirement visa, is facing issues since he forgot to obtain a re-entry permit before leaving for medical tests in the UK. Upon returning, he seeks guidance on what documents he needs from the Thai Embassy to help him restart his visa extension. Suggestions from community members include applying for a 90-day Non-O visa based on marriage or retirement upon his return, utilizing his funds in a Thai bank, and then applying for a 1-year extension. It is also noted that he should secure a re-entry permit in the future and consider not switching to a marriage-based visa due to potential complexities.
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Chris *******
Starting over.
He has 2 options.
The best is too apply for an evisa online non-o 90 day (NOT OA).
Enter on this visa and then apply for the 1yr extension and continue as before with yearly extensions.
2nd option enter visa exempt (tourist).
Apply in country for the 90 day non-o based on retirement and then apply for the 1yr extension.
All done in country.
The first option is simplest, saves a couple bucks and hassle, as you only need to apply for the 1yr extension.
Should be 1 trip to immigration.
He has 2 options.
The best is too apply for an evisa online non-o 90 day (NOT OA).
Enter on this visa and then apply for the 1yr extension and continue as before with yearly extensions.
2nd option enter visa exempt (tourist).
Apply in country for the 90 day non-o based on retirement and then apply for the 1yr extension.
All done in country.
The first option is simplest, saves a couple bucks and hassle, as you only need to apply for the 1yr extension.
Should be 1 trip to immigration.
Eddie **********
Maybe buy a Re enter next time. If he have health issu
So he not forget it next time..
So he not forget it next time..
Gerry ******
He doesn't need anything...when he comes back into Thailand he will get a visa on entry,then he should go to imergration and change it to a non o visa 1900B then apply for his normal retirement extension.i definitely wouldn't advise him to change to the marriage visa unless he likes to jump through many hoops...
Adam ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Gerry *****
Thank you for the info. I have done the marriage extension for the last nine years and found the 'hoops' very easy to get through after the first time which is a bit daunting.Reply to
Adam ******
Reply
John **********
He has a few options, the first 2 are probably easier
1. Apply for a 90 day Non-O based on marriage in the UK before he returns
2. Apply for a 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 before he returns
3. Return visa exempt and apply for the appropriate 90 day Non-O at his local immigration office
Once the 90 day Non-O is running down apply for a 12 month extension of stay
1. Apply for a 90 day Non-O based on marriage in the UK before he returns
2. Apply for a 90 day Non-O based on being over 50 before he returns
3. Return visa exempt and apply for the appropriate 90 day Non-O at his local immigration office
Once the 90 day Non-O is running down apply for a 12 month extension of stay
Andy **********
@John *********
it's probably best to add that he needs to check with his local immigration, if they will issue the initial 90 day Non O, if that's his preferred option.Reply to
Andy **********
Reply
Peter ********
How does he get nhs medical cover inuk
Peter ********
Mist jump on a boat
Justin *********
@Peter *******
like any asylum seeker i supposePeter **********
being a uk citizen doesnt count if you are not a uk resident
Peter **********
@Peter *******
as a non resident you are prohibited from the nhs except gp or a&e. must have still got a uk adddress and never told dwp and hmrc, which may be checked in the futureSteve *******
@Peter *******
By being a British citizenPeter **********
@Steve ******
.NHS treatment is not based on citizenship, but rather on residential basis. But good for him that he has been able to access. If he told them he was a resident in Thailand they would refuse treatment, or charge him.Graham *****
@Peter *********
also with a bit of luck will get his pension increaseMichael *******
@Graham ****
not if he lives in Thailand, it’s based on Uk residency needs to be there more than 6 months a year…..Graham *****
@Michael ******
thanks for advice will do the 90 days thenEven though most ex pats will be paying tax hmrc pension private pension tax on savings they still won't
Get the triple lock
Reply to
Graham *****
Reply
Adam ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Peter *******
UK citizen.Reply to
Adam ******
Reply
Will ************
£18k as a final balance on his latest current account UK bank statement
Adam ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Will ***********
The 800k baht is in Thailand and has been untouched for many years.Derek *****
Can I touch it? Joking, of course…
Reply to
Derek *****
Reply
Michael ********
@Will ***********
Can also be equivilant amount in Thai bank or actually most other countriesReply to
Michael ********
Reply
Jesper *******
Fly in on visa exempt apply in immigration office for the initial 90days nonO with the 800k den do the 1yr extension when less den 30days left on the initial nonO
Greg ***********
@Jesper ******
if he followed your unsafe advice and Hua Hin would not accept the 800,000 THB that are in his Thai bank account since 20 years, because he cannot prove that the money - a long time ago! - came from abroad (which is the pre-requisite to be accepted for an application from a visa-exempt to an initial 90-days Non-O visa) he would be f....d. He would be forced to pay tea money. And he won't be very happy about your misleading advice.Steve *******
@Jesper ******
Much easier for the OP to get his Non Imm O visa in the UKAndy **********
@Jesper ******
assuming his local immigration office, will issue the initial Non O, some won't do it, and you are told, to apply to a consulate/embassy in a neighbouring country, that's why it's advised to apply in your home country, before travelling to Thailand.David *******
@Andy *********
plus a non O 90 in Thailand can take up to 4 weeks Retirement extension is about I hour.
Get the 90 from your home country
Jesper *******
@Andy *********
I didn't know which immigration does not do nonO (TM87) there are so many that does....shd he go to another immigration office OR fly to neighboring country?Andy **********
@Jesper ******
you need to use the immigration office, which serves where you are permanently living, if you want to use another immigration office, you need to change address/residency, so would probably be too difficult, or not possible, the preferred way seems to be, to just visit a neighbouring country for a few days, and get the initial 90 day Non O, from a Thai consulate/embassy, and return to Thailand, and later do the 12 month extension, at your local immigration office.Jesper *******
@Andy *********
how difficult is it to checkin into a hotel near immigration for 2nights against traveling out of the country and wait about 1week for the approval of nonO?Andy **********
@Jesper ******
if you are thinking about using a different immigration office, you would need to get a list of requirements, for the initial 90 Non O, and the 12 month extension, for instance chonburi immigration, you need to season the financial requirements, "before" applying for the initial 90 day Non O, with other immigration offices, you only need the money seasoned before applying for the 12 month extension, plus chonburi require a rental contract, you can't just use a TM30 from a 2 night stay in a hotel.Reply to
Andy **********
Reply
Jack ********
@Andy *********
Hua Hin does issue Non O’s. So your advice is incorrectAndy **********
@Jack *******
I didn't say Hua Hin doesn't issue the initial 90 day Non O, I said to check with his local immigration office, because not every immigration office in Thailand, will issue the initial 90 Non O, I'm not familiar with every immigration office in Thailand, it's probably best to mention it anyway, because not everyone is aware of the fact.Jesper *******
@Jack *******
not even with TM87? I believe many other immigration office does thatReply to
Jesper *******
Reply
David *******
Non o 90 days visa.
He has money in the bank.
So apply for retirement extension before the non 0 90 runs out.
Doesn't take long
And they can see you had before.
A bit of paperwork and 1900 baht at the immigration office.
He has money in the bank.
So apply for retirement extension before the non 0 90 runs out.
Doesn't take long
And they can see you had before.
A bit of paperwork and 1900 baht at the immigration office.
Wayne ***********
***************************
- create account, fill in details, upload supporting docs - good luckSteve *******
Non Immigrant O visa based on being 50 or over, or based on marriage if he changes reasons, applied for via the evisa system.
Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
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