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What type of visa should a 59-year-old Australian consider for spending 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in Australia?

Retirement Visa Non-O Visa Multi-Entry Tourist Visa Visa for Expats Thai Visa Rules Living in Thailand Extension of Stay Financial Requirements for Visa Health Insurance for Visa

Aug 14, 2025

9 hours ago

Peter *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone I hope you are all well and happy 😁 I have a question for you all I’m from Australia and I’m 59 years old I will retire from my work in March next year and would like to live in Thailand for 6 months per year and back to Australia the other 6 months..is there a visa that will accommodate This ? I thank you all in advance 👍🏻

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A 59-year-old Australian looking to spend 6 months annually in Thailand can consider various visa options. The most recommended paths are applying for a Non-O Retirement Visa, which requires parking funds in a Thai bank account, or a Multi-Entry Tourist Visa that allows almost 9 months of stay. Alternatively, the Non-O-A Visa offers the possibility for long-term residency with certain conditions.

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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Jan ******************

If you don’t have any issues with parking 800K or 400K baht in a Thai bank account, a Non O visa and yearly extension of stay with re-entry permit based on being retired (passed 50 years) or married to a Thai (If that’s the case) is probably the best and most common option.

If you don’t want to park any funds in a Thai bank and don’t have any issues with a Thai health insurance, a one year Non O-A multiple entries visa (which gives up to two years stay) renewed every second year could be another option.

8 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

I use to spend 6 months during the European winter in Thailand. When I turned 50, I started on a 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa and parked 800,000 THB in my Thai bank account. Then I switched to the "one-year Extension of Stay Permit". Since 17 years, it will expire on a January 4th. So around a week before Christmas, I apply for the next "1-year EOS". Application fee is 1900 THB, and one single re-entry permit for 1000 THB keeps my stay permit alive for one exit and one re-entry

9 hours ago

Bob **********

Multi entry tourist visa you’ll get almost 9 months

9 hours ago

Paul *******

You will need a 12 month retirement visa obtained while you are in Australia.

9 hours ago

Nongnuch ********

@Paul ******

Once more, because people try to give advice based on what they think is a "Retirement Visa"

First of all, you DO not have to be retired to apply for this visa. You however need to be 50 years or older

Second is that all options have DIFFERENT rules, regulations and requirements.

So please read and try not to give incorrect advice by using the requirements for a different type of visa or extension of stay.

What is a retirement visa?

It is a phrase used by foreigners and Immigration and it could be 6 different types of visa or stay permits, with different rules, regulations and requirements

OR

it could even be an 1 year Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age and willing to sit out the rest of their life inside Thailand.

It is easy to type “retirement visa”, but very difficult to understand which option the person refers to

Options are:

1. Single Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age

2. Multiple Entry Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age (it got discontinued by October 2023 and is not available any more)

3. Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age without entry by conversion at local immigration office

4. Non Immigrant O-A visa (Long Stay)

5. Non Immigrant O-X visa

6. Long Term Residency (LTR) visa

7. Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age and willing to sit out the rest of their life inside Thailand (stamp from Immigration, which is not a visa)

ONLY for options 3, 5 and 7 the applicant needs a bank account in Thailand or a Certificate of Income from their Embassy.

Option 2 cannot be applied for any more, since all Thai Embassies and Consulates took it out of the E-visa program.

Option 3 is applied for by conversion of your Visa Exempt Entry or Tourist Visa at your local Immigration Office inside Thailand.

Option 6 is applied for with support of BOI Thailand

Option 7 is applied for at your local Immigration Office AFTER you used a Non-Immigrant visa.

Other options are applied for at a Thai Consulate OR for those countries who are legit, on-line.

Thanks for reading this long explanation.

8 hours ago

Max *************

@Paul ******

Or marry a Thai lady and save a lot of money. 😎

9 hours ago

Paul *******

@Max ************

555. I have never met a Western man who married a Thai lady and saved money.

9 hours ago

David *******

@Paul ******

Sounds like you have never met the right lady. I've been married to mine for 18 year's, never been more happier