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What visa should I apply for when moving to Thailand for retirement?
Jan 3, 2026
4 months ago
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi I’m hopefully moving to Thailand in March and just need some advice on which visa I initially need. I am hoping to apply for a retirement visa once I am in Thailand and have opened a bank account
Do I just obtain a tourist visa initially or do I need a Non immigration O visa
Thanks
Do I just obtain a tourist visa initially or do I need a Non immigration O visa
Thanks
TLDR : Answer Summary
To move to Thailand and later apply for a retirement visa, it is strongly advised to obtain a Non-O visa before arriving in Thailand. This visa is crucial as it serves as the initial entry requirement necessary for long-term residency processes. Applying for this visa from your home country is recommended, as you will need to show proof of funds in a Thai bank account, which typically cannot be established until you arrive in Thailand with the correct visa. While some information suggested it may be feasible to open a bank account as a tourist, it is generally considered very difficult without the proper visa. Additionally, once in Thailand with the Non-O visa, you will have to complete further paperwork and provide proof of residence to apply for extensions or convert your status. A DTV visa is also mentioned as an alternative, permitting remote work without needing proof of funds.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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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Alan ********
U opened a bank acccount with no VISA
Paul *******
I've been waiting for 6 weeks and nothing yet
Jim *******
@Paul ******
Osaka, Japan, Non O 90 days visa was approved within 4 business days.Now I am in Thai, my condo, on 1 year extension.
Reply to
Jim *******
Reply
Bill *********
This is the exact time to enlist the services of a Visa agent such as the moderator of this forum. They can layout a plan of action and timeline so it all gets done with no stress or you wasting your valuable time.
Dragan **********
@Bill ********
the man is just asking . What is wrong with that ?
Besides visa agents cost money to do things .
No agent is going to give him what he asks or wants for free .
Bill *********
@Dragan *********
I would not give suggestions that I would not do myself. I had the same kind of questions as Chris so I consulted a Visa agent. Then when I made the actual move some months later everything was ready and I had my retirement Visa in under a day. Of course a Visa agent isn't free. I outsource tasks to experts who know more than me. Visa agents are just one of the several expenses in relocating to the other side of the world.Mike *************
@Bill ********
Curious. What do agents charge for a consult? I'm always amazed when people say that all the information is out there, do it yourself it's easy! but when you research, you find a lot of misinformation. These groups are a great resource but for every useful comment, there are 10 useless/inaccurate/unclear comments.Reply to
Mike *************
Reply
Andreas *********
Non O
Vinson *******
Have you been to thailand ?
Perhaps visit for a few months before immigrating
Perhaps visit for a few months before immigrating
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vinson ******
yes I’ve been coming to Thailand for the past 5 yearsI love the place that’s why I’m looking to settle there
Dragan **********
@Vinson ******
I agree .Maybe he will not like it .
Thailand is different to what you see on YouTube .
Reply to
Dragan **********
Reply
Penny ******
You want to apply in your country for the non-o visa I just did this and have been here since ….
*****
… I need to get an extension because by the time I got my bank account open my money will not be aged . I had all my documents put together but by the time my translation was done and then applying at multiple banks … it takes time and patience…Jim *******
I have all the documents you stated, our marriage was in Thai. The only certification I needed along the way was that Australian Embassy in Bangkok certifies my Australian passport. 800 THB, on the spot. That was for the Yellow Book.
I can not see what problems you may be having, you have it all.
I can not see what problems you may be having, you have it all.
Penny ******
Paul coming from the USA, I needed my passport, birth certificate, marriage license, and drivers license all certified by state, federal & certified by the Thai embassy … then translated in Bangkok …
I now have my pink id card, my yellow register book, Thai drivers license (car & motorcycle) I have my bank account, health insurance, my car & motorcycle and insurance and our marriage is now registered in Thailand.
I supplied translated certified documents everywhere I went! My wife found that this was important on the internet! Thailand is so concerned about scammers and money laundering right now!
I now have my pink id card, my yellow register book, Thai drivers license (car & motorcycle) I have my bank account, health insurance, my car & motorcycle and insurance and our marriage is now registered in Thailand.
I supplied translated certified documents everywhere I went! My wife found that this was important on the internet! Thailand is so concerned about scammers and money laundering right now!
Graham ******
@Penny *****
translation of what?Paul ********
@Penny *****
hi interesting post , you mentioned translation, can you explain, I didn't have to do any , thanks hope it all works out for you,Reply to
Paul ********
Reply
Thrilling*********
Do your research, check the embassy official website.
1. Mandatory to apply for Non O visa before entry into Thailand.
2. It takes around a week to 10 days.
3. Once issued, via email, you can travel and it will be stamped into your passport on arrival.
4. Once you have arrived and have a permanent address, get a decent Thai mobile, you'llm need that to open your bank account, don't worry about funds, you only need 1000 baht initially but you can deposit more.
5. Now comes the paperwork needed.
A TM30 for residence cert
TM 7 extension of stay
A cert to open bank account
A cert for Driving license
Photocopy of passport showing photo page, visa stamp page (non o) 3 x passport photos, (available at immigration).
6. Patients, because the queue at immigration is not short, even if you get there early.
I did not use an agent, they are available but it will cost you.
Extension fee, when applying, single entry 1800bht, multiple entry 3800bht.
1. Mandatory to apply for Non O visa before entry into Thailand.
2. It takes around a week to 10 days.
3. Once issued, via email, you can travel and it will be stamped into your passport on arrival.
4. Once you have arrived and have a permanent address, get a decent Thai mobile, you'llm need that to open your bank account, don't worry about funds, you only need 1000 baht initially but you can deposit more.
5. Now comes the paperwork needed.
A TM30 for residence cert
TM 7 extension of stay
A cert to open bank account
A cert for Driving license
Photocopy of passport showing photo page, visa stamp page (non o) 3 x passport photos, (available at immigration).
6. Patients, because the queue at immigration is not short, even if you get there early.
I did not use an agent, they are available but it will cost you.
Extension fee, when applying, single entry 1800bht, multiple entry 3800bht.
Graham ******
ThrillingKoala6126 many errors there if your sequencing the requirements
Thrilling*********
@Graham *****
not in exact sequence, but i think everything covered.Reply to
Thrilling*********
Reply
Paul ********
Hi, you need to apply for a non o retirement visa online at home about 4 weeks before you travel, next day immigration and SIM card, make sure you ask for the paperwork from SIM card provider, third day bank with all your paperwork, passport, passport copy's SIM card paperwork and your Thai partner to help you translate, I did it in 2 days and it was easy, don't stress about it,
Christian *********
@Paul *******
why do you need a sim card forPaul ********
@Christian ********
so you can download the banking app, if you have the phone ready the banking staff do it for you,Christian *********
@Paul *******
good thank you i am a bit of dinausorReply to
Christian *********
Reply
Steve *******
@Christian ********
Need a Thai sim card to open a bank accountReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Dragan **********
If you intend on staying long term you have the non o or other o visas .
With these visas you need to have money in a Thai bank account .
If your outside Thailand you can apply for one of these .
If you apply inside Thailand they will want proof of funds in bank .
And the money needs to be in the Thai bank account for 4 months .
Then you have the DTV visa option which is a 5 yr visa .
This visa has a 180 day stay = 6 months .
Can extend for another 180 days .
With the DTV visa you don’t need to proof of funds .
All depends what you intend of doing .
Also if you get a retirement visa you cannot work .
With a DTV visa you can do remote work .
With the retirement visas you will need health insurance.
With these visas you need to have money in a Thai bank account .
If your outside Thailand you can apply for one of these .
If you apply inside Thailand they will want proof of funds in bank .
And the money needs to be in the Thai bank account for 4 months .
Then you have the DTV visa option which is a 5 yr visa .
This visa has a 180 day stay = 6 months .
Can extend for another 180 days .
With the DTV visa you don’t need to proof of funds .
All depends what you intend of doing .
Also if you get a retirement visa you cannot work .
With a DTV visa you can do remote work .
With the retirement visas you will need health insurance.
Graham ******
@Dragan *********
Do you know anyone that has got an extension on a DTV entry stamp?Dragan **********
@Graham *****
DTV visas are valid for 5 years .You get a 180 day stamp on entry .
You can re enter for another 180 days .
You can renew once (1 time).
Which totals = 360 days .
You still need to do the DTAC .
Edit - you can extend your 180 DTV in Thailand .
You need to pay for the extension fee.
You get another 180 days .
Graham ******
@Dragan *********
yes, and my question?Dragan **********
@Graham *****
forgot to mention . If you don’t leave the country . You can extend another 180 days .You need to pay for the extension at immigration.
Graham ******
@Dragan *********
Yes you "can" get an extension but do you know of anyone that has got oneReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Brandon ************
@Dragan *********
mostly correct, but the money needs to be in the account for 2 months, not 4Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Mike *************
Brandon is very reliable for info but saying one can't get a Thai bank account isn't 100% accurate.
It's 'almost' undoable to open a Thai bank account yourself due to their crackdown but I believe it's still possible using an agent. Of course that'll cost you. They'll also offer to handle the entire visa process. That'll cost a lot more and lock you into an agent arrangement that may not be worth it in the long run.
It's 'almost' undoable to open a Thai bank account yourself due to their crackdown but I believe it's still possible using an agent. Of course that'll cost you. They'll also offer to handle the entire visa process. That'll cost a lot more and lock you into an agent arrangement that may not be worth it in the long run.
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mike ************
thanks for the advice I had considered an agentMike *************
@Chris *****
My suggestion wasn’t to use an agent for the entire process, only as a possible solution to getting a bank account.As for 'Why do it after arrival'? Everyone recommends pre-arrival but there seem to be more requirements. A big one that I've been told - health insurance is not required if doing it after arrival. If anyone can refute that, pls do but if true, not needing that is simpler and cheaper.
Pls no 'You should have health insurance' replies, that's a whole separate subject.
Can anyone confirm health insurance isn't required using the after arrival method?
@Brandon ***********
?Wayne *********
@Mike ************
NON O does not require insurance before you arrive, That’s the OA and OX visa that requires health insurance your confused between them.Brandon ************
@Mike ************
It's difficult to find an agent to only open a bank account now. They all want you to do the full process with them, and if you do, then they will also open a bank account. So that makes the price MUCH higher.The process of getting a non-O from your Thai embassy is infinitely easier than getting it from immigration. There is no health insurance required for either one. I'm not sure who told you health insurance was required if you did it through the embassy, because it's not.
It's only the non-OA visa that requires health insurance, and that's not the visa most people want.
Reply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Lynnette *******
@Chris *****
why? It's a cheap process do it before you arrive. Seems odd to enter without one when you can get one before you arrive, then have to pay loads to get someone to do bank account and non o for you in thailand.Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lynnette ******
yes you are right just trying to figure out best optionsRudi ***********
@Chris *****
Listen to the good advice from some people on this site; there's only one good option. I applied for my Non-O retirement visa in Belgium, which only cost me 80 euros, and applying online is a breeze. A good week later, my visa was approved. Once I arrived in Thailand at the apartment complex where I signed a one-year rental contract, the building owner immediately submitted a TM30 form online to immigration. A day later, I went to immigration and received proof of residence. I immediately went to Kasikornbank nearby. After 30 minutes, my bank account was opened, the banking app was on my phone, and I had a Visa card. I immediately deposited more than enough money into my account to apply for a one-year extension after two months. I had previously asked the immigration office in this municipality what documents I needed to submit to apply for my extension. I carefully filled them out, and two months after depositing the necessary money, I went to immigration and received my extension an hour later. If you put in a little effort, you really don't need an agent to make this happen. Good luck!Steve ******
@Rudi **********
that's a good price. For some reason NZ embassy is $800 NZ a out 400 euros for the three month single entry non o!!Steve ******
@Chris *****
There is an excellent video on YouTube, applying for Non O visa and he walks you through everything including the online application. I will be doing mine soon. I just hope with the non O that I can open a bank account without a long term rental agreementDennis *********
@Steve *****
I didn’t have a rental agreement and still don’t because I booked an Airbnb for 5 ***
months. I opened my bank account and have processed my 12 month extension of stay on my own. When you arrive get and move into your temporary residence then ask the owner for a copy of the TM-30 and take it along with your passport, approved visa which an IO signed off on when you entered to immigration to get a Certificate of Residence. When you go to immigration you will need copies of everything- passport bio data page, entry stamp, visa approval etc.
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *****
cheers mateSteve ******
@Chris *****
The guys channel is "Let's live in Thailand" retirement visa in minutes is the video.Reply to
Steve ******
Reply
Lynnette *******
Wrong way around. You need the visa before you arrive, to get the entry and the bank account. Don't arrive without one and try to open a bank account then try to get the non-O retirement.
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lynnette ******
many thanksReply to
Chris ******
Reply
Brandon ************
Apply for the non-O visa from your Thai embassy before you leave for Thailand. This IS the retirement visa. Everything after that will be an extension, not a visa.
You cannot wait until you arrive in Thailand because one of the requirements to apply for the visa inside of Thailand is showing money in a Thai bank account, which you won't be able to obtain as a tourist.
You cannot wait until you arrive in Thailand because one of the requirements to apply for the visa inside of Thailand is showing money in a Thai bank account, which you won't be able to obtain as a tourist.
Reg ***********
@Brandon ***********
good advice ,however I arrived in 2023 on a 30 day visa exemption rather stupidity not doing my research ,I went to kanchanaburi immigration to apply for my non o to be told I had to return to my home country to apply ,I was told by an ex pat to try again ,this time I was told to go to Vietnam and apply there ,I asked if there was anyway around it and was told go to bangkok ,bangkok told me go back to kanchanaburi ,spoke to my third immigration officer she said no problem told me what I needed ,helped me fill in the forms and 3years later im still here ,so it is possible but I wish I'd seen your advice before I came 😀 👍🏻Graham ******
@Reg **********
was is not is ;)Stuart ***********
It used to be possible in 2023, it is NOT now. They got strict on the banking rules early in 2025.
Reply to
Stuart ***********
Reply
Chris ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thanksReply to
Chris ******
Reply
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