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What steps should I take during my two-week trip to Thailand before retiring there?

Retirement Visa (NON-O)Preparing to Retire in ThailandOpening a Bank Account in ThailandLife in Thailand for ExpatsReal Estate and Housing in ThailandHealth Insurance for Expats
Jun 8, 2025
a month ago
Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am completely new at this and of course have many questions. I have been to Thailand several times and I am interested in retireing there. This is my initial plan. I will retire at the end of September 2026. I will go back to Thailand for 2 weeks before returning to the states to liquidate all my assets. What do you suggest I do during my 2 week trip? Should I apply for a certian type of visa before or during that trip? shoudl I try to open a Thai bank accout? Just looking for guidance to make it as smooth as possible. Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is planning to retire in Thailand in September 2026 and seeks guidance for a two-week visit prior to the move. Suggestions include applying for a NON-O retirement visa in the USA before the trip, opening a Thai bank account (note that residency proof might be required), and depositing 800,000 THB prior to applying for a retirement extension. During the visit, it's recommended to explore potential living areas and make connections with real estate agents, rather than pursuing formal banking setups. Comments emphasize the importance of understanding visa requirements and highlight the option of using monthly income from social security for future visa extensions.
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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Bill *********
YouTube has a ton of videos that document the relocation process including the Visa situation as well as places to live in the city at all price points. Greeny Travels is one example.
a month ago
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James ******
look for a good place to live
a month ago
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Stephen ********
Spend your 2 weeks looking at areas where you might like to live and make contact with a few estate agents. There's no point applying for a Non-O at this stage if you are planning to leave Thailand for a few months again. When you know when you are ready to move here, apply online for your Non-O visa from your home country. This gets you stamped in for your initial 90 days. To get a bank account opened, you will need to have a residence certificate, your passport, a photographic home ID. Once you bank account is opened, you need to deposit 800,000฿ into that account 2 months prior to you needing you 1 year extension. And that needs ti saty there for 3 months after you get your extension, but not drop below 400,000฿ for the remaining 7 months when it needs to be back to 800,000฿ 2 months before you apply for your 2nd 1 year extension.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephen *******
 thanks for all your help. By the time I am ready to stay, I will be retired and can show monthly income over 65,000 too.
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Bob ******
 the monthly income deposits into a Thai bank are only ok for your second year extension The first years extension relies on 800K thb in a Thai bank

Again I suggest you read the requirements 😀
a month ago
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Stephen ********
@Bob ******
 unless the US embassy can validate your 65,000฿ monthly income, that cannot be used in the first year. But during the 1st year, you can deposit 65,000฿ into your account every month, then that method can be used for you 2nd 1 year extension
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stephen *******
 they should be able to validate because it's from social security. Government payments
a month ago
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Stephen ********
@Bob ******
 but I don't think they do 🤷‍♂️ something you can check out even before you get here 👍
a month ago
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Stephen ********
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Wayne *******
Maybe use the 2 weeks to find a suitable place to live as you will be expected to commit to 12 month contracts, as well as the inconvenience of wanting to move because of an initial bad choice.

As stated you would need to apply for the retirement Non-O from your country and you wouldnt be able to open a bank account on a 2 week visit anyway, so in effect, not much you can do in that 2 weeks apart from getting your plans in motion with say a real estate agent and any other details you find necessary ATB
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have a guy already. Also, I've been hunting condo complexes in the area I want & in my price range.
a month ago
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Wayne *******
@Bob ******
 Have you got health insurance covered? 1 tip if you're not aware is if you are covered by a broker/company in the USA and you need urgent medical treatment and the hospital cannot contact the insurer due to office hours you may have problems. Im not sure how common this kind of thing is but I can only go on stories Ive heard and those are not direct stories, just 3rd hand.

The reason Im conversing with you is because Im planning on a possible retirement and have some concerns about certain things also and Id be loathed to think Id been paying for something like health insurance only to find out I was never covered!
a month ago
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Wayne *******
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Anna *********
Read the requirements, as a starting point, and ensure you meet all of them

Then get an non O visa at home, go to Thailand, open bank account, deposit required funds at least two months before your visa expires, go to immigration and get an extension based on retirement
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anna ********
 this method should be done if you are there permantly right?
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Bob ******
 yes I assumed that when you said ‘ retire’ in Thailand rather than visit for x time
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Anna ********
 My plan is to retire from work, go t Thailand for a vacation for 2 weeks, return to the US and then apply for social security and activate my retirement acciunt. Liquidate my assets and then go back to Thailand permanently
a month ago
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Anna *********
@Bob ******
 ok but I have no idea how that meets Thai visa requirements as I’m not American. The 2 week holiday is up to you but doesn’t help nor hinder the visa process
a month ago
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Anna *********
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Steve ***********
Good luck Bob, I'll be there July to mid August and then moving to Bkk in late October
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve **********
 good luck to you too. You are a year ahead of me.
a month ago
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Steve ***********
@Bob ******
 I've done it before, so steps may be different.
a month ago
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Steve ***********
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Lynnette *******
Over 50? Get non-O retirement visa in USA. Travel to Thailand. Open bank account. Deposit 800,000 tbt. Apply for 12 month extension.
a month ago
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Nigel *******
Get a none O solely for the purpose of opening the bank account. Then when you return home you can start to transfer in the 800,000. Once you have the money in the account, on your return, you can apply for a None O in Thailand, then get your one year extension when the funds have been in the account over 2 months. This is what I am doing later this month, opening a bank account, ready to return to retire in December.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ******
 this is a good plan for me. I will apply for the non O online before my next visit. While I'm there I start a bank account & add to it when I'm home.
a month ago
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Bob *******
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you, yes, I'll be 64 in a few months. Can I apply for the non-O retirement visa online? Or do I have to go to a Thai consulate?
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bob ******
 all are online. You want the non-O retirement visa. Then when you arrive get the bank account sorted. You then have to apply for the extension.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
How does a 90 day work? Is it 90 days consecutive? Or only counts when you are in country?
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bob ******
 not sure what you mean.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
 sorry I will be more specific. If I get the 90 day and go to Thailand for 2 week, then go home, for a few months, is only 14 days used on the visa? or does it run out 90 days from my first arrival?
a month ago
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Thomas *******
@Bob ******
 I did a 90- visa in November to open a bank account even though I was only staying 3 weeks. Opening a bank account with an Evisa in Issan was painful as it was new and they had never seen it before. It was finally accomplished at Krungthai because the wonderful lady knew my wife. Krungthai had transfer limits then so I came back on a 90-day non-o Evisa in April and got an account with Kasikorn, a little easier but still not easy as Issan doesn't have a lot of western customers where I am in Tha Bo. It's worth the money to get a 90-day non-o even if you don't stay 90 days. I will move permanently June 25 with my 800k transfer in place. Wish you the best of luck.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bob ******
 the visa is valid 90 days for your entry to the country. Once you enter your period of stay starts. If you leave before you get your bank account or apply for your "extension based on retirement" you'd probably have to start over. I only know what I've been told as I'm doing the retirement route myself. I already have my bank account.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Lynnette ******
 so maybe it's better if I get the 90 day when I arrive for permanent, get the bank account, 2 months into the 90 day, then apply for the extention?
a month ago
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Sylvia *******************
@Bob ******
 to help with understanding process. 1) the tourist visa does not help you to kick off your ultimate plan of retiring in Thailand. 2) the non O retirement visa is the first step. 3) the non O visa MUST be obtained in your country of permanent residence (birth country or wherever you reside legally). 4) once you obtain the non O visa, you can THEN enter Thailand and open bank account 5) with non O visa and bank account you can THEN request a one-year extension.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
@Bob ******
 you won't get a bank account with a tourist visa. And you need a bank account for the retirement extension of stay within Thailand. So, if you want you can do that retirement visa in USA, arrive, open bank account, and do extension process when you're ready to move.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
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Lynnette *******
@Bob ******
 all are on line. And so long as over 50 you can apply. It's hard to open bank accounts without a visa and you need a Thai bank account for the 12 months extension of stay based on retirement. So get a visa before you arrive, it'll give you time to sort out the bank account.
a month ago
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Bob *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes, I will definately get the visa before I go. But again, is it something I can do online?
a month ago
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Kool *******
@Bob ******
 yes, you can do it online on the e-visa website. The 90 day type O visa expires when you leave Thailand. It is continuous, not cumulative. You apply for another one the next time you plan on returning.
a month ago
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Kool *******
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