What visa options are available for expats planning to move to Thailand in 2026?

Aug 25, 2024
3 months ago
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hy folks , been coming to Thailand for 20 ish years once or twice a year .

It's getting towards that time when i'll be making the move . End of June 2026 is the time line i'm planning on .

I'll be 58yrs old with £80k in a bond , at current rates thats about £7.5k a year . Also will have £30k cash , topped up when i'm 60yrs old with £10k more .

Now i'm not interested in is it enough or not , each person spends different .

What i would like to know ,with the reglations as they are now , what type of Visa , if any , i would be eligible for .
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses a plan to move to Thailand in June 2026 with specific financial resources and seeks advice on suitable visa options. Responses suggest several possibilities, including the Non-O retirement visa, Non-OA visa, and the newly introduced DTV 5-year visa. Key requirements include age, proof of sufficient income or funds, and options for applying either in the home country or within Thailand.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Andy **********
You have got a few options really, There is a lot of talking at the moment about the new DTV 5 year visa, so check that out, you could apply for that visa in your home country before coming to Thailand, or the non-OA visa based on retirement, gives you 2 years with a border bounce, and can be extended for 12 months at a time, or the non-O based on retirement, you can apply for all these visas on the Thai e-visa site before coming to Thailand, alternatively you could just apply for a METV, which would give you 8-9 months, with a couple of border bounces, and then do the in the country non O based on retirement at a later date, or even just arrive on a 60 day visa exempt, which can be extended by 30 days, and do the in the country non-O based on retirement, then add the 12 month extension of stay, your plans certainly seem doable, you lots of options 😉
Ron ********
@Andy *********
what are the pros/cons of applying for the non-O in your home country vs Thailand?
Andy **********
@Ron *******
I suppose it depends which route your going to go down, do you want to do it yourself?? Or are you going to use an agent?? If you want to do it yourself, and you have everything in place, money in the bank etc etc, I believe it's a very simple process, to apply for the initial non O, based on marriage or retirement, through the Thai e-visa website in your home country, before you come to Thailand, if you want to do the initial non O in the country yourself, some immigration offices, will make it very difficult or impossible to do it yourself, and they will suggest you apply at the thai consulate in Vientiane Lao, and then after 60 days, return to them for the 12 months extension based on marriage or retirement, if you decide to use an agent it is very easy, if your entitled you can just arrive on a 60 day visa exempt, and extend that for 30 days, that gives the agent enough time to complete the whole process, everything will be done for you. I'm no expert, that's to the best of my knowledge, if anything is wrong hopefully someone will correct me.
Ron ********
@Andy *********
Thank you for the response. This is helpful.
John **********
You basically have 2 options. The Non-O visa or the Non-OA visa. The Non-O can be obtained either in your home country or in Thailand, is for 90 days and can be extended for multiple periods of 12 months as long as you meet the requirements. The Non-OA can only be obtained in your home country, requires insurance but doesn't require money in a Thai bank. Which one is your choice
Asim **********
@John *********
what is required to activate no oa visa
John **********
@Asim *********
I'm not sure what you mean. You apply for it in your home country and you use it to enter Thailand
Jeffrey ************
Check out your visa options on RTE website
Phnompenh ****
You need to work longer. That isn't enough.
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phnompenh ***
Why isn't it ? 12,000 for a nice roof over my head and bills . Leaves me 4,000 ish a week . Plenty .
Gary **********
Just get the retirement visa it's easy and looks like you have the money required.
Eric *******
Man I would love to get a guaranteed 9% roi on my money I would be set
John *******
@Eric ******
safe investments out there 10% guaranteed
John *******
Eric morse Assisted living property , no maintenance , no voids uk government backed guarantee 25yr 10% index linked and paid per month totally hassle free ideal imo .
Eric *******
@John ******
such as?
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric ******
yeah thats whats weird to me . This year getting £7800 ish but its only 5.15% . Checked and double checked but Bank says yeah its right .
Eric *******
@Robin *******
hell I would love to get the 5.5% im getting today that ends on sept 1st forever.... wonder if I can stick it in another country bank?
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Eric ******
Barclays are doing it or they were mate .
Ralph *******
@Eric ******
Yes, me too.
Conny **********
Start coming on 60 d visa extemption or a non o retirement. Start transferring 65k THB per month to a Thai account in your name. That 65*12 is used for extension next year. You can spend all of that if you want.
Graham ******
@Conny *********
You cannot get the first 12 month extension of stay using the 65k a month method at many if any Immigration Offices. It has to the the Embassy affidavit or the 800k.
Conny **********
@Graham *****
of course you can but you have to have planned that for a year. If your embassy or consulate gives you an income statement it's even easier.

I did say the next year's extension...
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Conny *********
Should have sorted myself a bank account while i was there . I'll be doing that 800k and just leave it there .
Conny **********
@Robin *******
start sending 65kthb per month as soon as you can so that you can use that method next year, then you free up the 800 kthb.
Asim **********
@Conny *********
can you elaborate about 65 k per month and how it helps?
Conny **********
@Asim *********
one option for extension is proof of income in the form of monthly payments to your Thai account of 65.000 THB or more. That money doesn't need to sit in the account and can be used as they are coming.
Jan ******************
If you want to retire and live of passive income, your best option is probably a Non O retirement visa and yearly extension of stay.

You fulfil on of the main requirement based on your age at date. The second main requirement is income or funds equal to 800K baht a year. (Funds 800K baht. Income 65K baht x 12 = 780K baht).

******************************************************
Robin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
plan would be to use some of that £30k and leave the 800k in thai bank and forget about it . That would leave me £12k for the 1st year to settle . Don't touch the money at home until closer to OAP age .
Declan **********
@Robin *******
I would highly suggest just having two Thai bank accounts. And using one of them for only 800k with a couple extra 1000s to cover the yearly fee for a while.
Jan ******************
@Robin *******
Yes, if you just can “forget” the 800K baht for a while your visa and yearly permission to stay is secured. The day you’re receive your pension or are able to show proof of twelve months consecutive transfers of 65K baht a month you can switch to the income method and your 800K baht is again free to use.
Shayne **********
Start with the new DTV Visa getting fit with Muay Thai. It'll get you set up nicely for 5 years.
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