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When does the 90 days on a Non-Imm-O visa start: from issuance or arrival?
Non-Imm-O VisaVisa ValidityThailand ImmigrationVisa Application ProcessRetirement VisaLong-Stay VisaFinancial RequirementsThai Bank Account1-Year Extension of Stay
Apr 30, 2026
a day ago
Dave ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi guys. I'm leaving for Thailand in July with the non immigrant O type visa. I'm minded to apply now but was wondering if my 90 days starts from issuance or arrival. Anyone know?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The 90-day duration on a Non-Imm-O visa begins upon arrival in Thailand, not from the date of issuance. Once you enter Thailand using this visa, you will receive a stamp granting you a 90-day stay permit. It is crucial to differentiate between the visa validity for entry, which is 3 months, and the stay permit granted upon arrival, which is 90 days. Additional details regarding financial documentation and procedures for extending your stay are also discussed.
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Your visa is valid for 90 days.
Means you have 90 days to enter Thailand.
Upon entry you will be stamped in for 90 days regardless of how long is left of the validity of the visa.
Means you have 90 days to enter Thailand.
Upon entry you will be stamped in for 90 days regardless of how long is left of the validity of the visa.
Greg ***********
in brief: When you enter Thailand on the 90-days “Non-Imm-O retirement visa”, you get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. The visa has a 3-months validity to be used for the entry, and the visa itself will become invalid or “used” when you enter. You will be in Thailand on a stay permit, not on a visa.
Dave ******
ORIGINAL POSTERGreg Alexander so I could apply early so long as my arrival is within 90 days of granting. The two months in the bank and all that malarkey is a separate issue?
Greg ***********
Dave Owen NO. On most Immigrations, the earliest date to apply for the 1-year extension is up from 30 days before your 90-days stay permit expires. On some Immigrations like Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, you can apply up from 45 days before. When you use the 800,000 THB deposit method, then on the day you apply that money must have been sitting in your Thai bank account for a minimum of two months, and you need the bank letter that confirms it
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Greg ***********
There are several roads leading to the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa and to the subsequent “1-year Extension of Temporary Stay Permit based on retirement”, which is a long-term stay permit
MIND YOUR WORDING:
you do not apply for the “retirement visa” on Immigration after you have entered Thailand on the “90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa” you obtained through the E-Visa online system outside of Thailand.
When you enter Thailand on the 90-days “Non-Imm-O retirement visa”, you get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. The visa has a 3-months validity to be used for the entry, and the visa itself will become invalid or “used”. It cannot get “extended”. This is technically just not possible. Don’t fall for the wrong wording used by Thai Immigration, for whom a visa and a stay permit erroneously are the same thing.
I am talking about the most common misunderstanding regarding the rules for applying for the “retirement visa” and the subsequent “one-year extension of stay permit based on retirement”. Misunderstandings happen because a “retirement visa” can mean seven (!) different visas and stay permits, but please let’s remain on topic. The most erroneous wording is from people who call the 1-year extended stay permit a “retirement visa” – a mistake that always makes me cringe.
*** The best way is to show up in Thailand on a “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement/over 50 visa”. It will get you stamped in for 90-days stay permit. Within this 90-days period, you have plenty of time to arrange for the application to the “1-year extended stay permit”.
The important fact is, that entering on this visa-type enables you to get a Thai bank account opened. If you enter on a tourist visa or visa-exempt, you cannot get a Thai bank account opened any more since February 2025. Only a handful of agents offer a service around the law, and it costs up from 60,000 Baht and I have already been quoted 90,000 Baht.
There is NO mandatory health insurance or a police record check or a medical checkup required for the Non-O visa-type. These are requirements only for the application to the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa, which is a completely different visa-type.
You will need the Thai bank account in case you want to convert the 90-days stay permit into a “1-year extension of the stay permit”.
You can theoretically fly on a one-way ticket because this visa allows you to receive a long-term stay in Thailand. Some airlines might not accept this explanation and will ask you for an onward travel proof out of Thailand within these 90 days, that’s why you should communicate with them by email and see what they say.
In order to apply for the “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” through the online E-visa system at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country or any other country, you can
EITHER
use proof of income of a monthly minimum of 65.000.- THB, by using your original pension or other income documentation,
OR
you can use a deposit of a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in your home country currency, or on your home bank account, or on your Thai bank account (if you got one), or just anywhere in the World – as long as it is in your sole name.
Most Thai embassies will require 3 months of account statements. You need to check the website of the embassy you will use for the exact info.
ATTENTION! . . .For the application inside Thailand to the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement”, the financial proof will be slightly different. You cannot use any original income/pension documents from your home country.
If you are a citizen of a country whose embassy in Bangkok does not issue a certified “income affidavit” any more –
(which are the embassies of USA, Canada, UK, Norway and Australia)
you would need a “12 months bank statement” showing that for the past 12 months, you have been transferring from abroad to your Thai bank account a minimum of 65,000 THB, consecutively month for month, not missing a single month.
If your embassy still issues a certified affidavit of income, you can use it for the financial proof. You would need a monthly income or pension of a minimum of 65,000 THB.
For British, Canadian, Norwegian, Australian and U.S. citizens, in the first year there is no other way around than depositing a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account - at least in the first year
The alternative would be, if you don’t have that kind of money or are not willing to deposit 24,000 Dollar in a Thai Bank account, is paying an agent to “arrange” the requirements to get around the law.
As soon as you have accumulated 12 consecutive months of 65,000 THB transfers, month for month, you can apply for the next 1-year extension of the stay permit, using the 12-months bank statement. After been issued the next extension, you can theoretically take your 800,000 THB out of your bank account.
There is a fee of 1900 THB for the application to a 1-year extension, and you can theoretically do it all by yourself. You are free to accept the help of an agent for the simplified legal service.
NOTE: It is income OR deposit.
There is a third method, called the “combination method”: A combination mix of income and deposit.
Some immigrations don’t allow the combination method in the first year.
And some Immigrations want the deposit part to exceed a minimum of 400,000 THB.
The combination method means that the sum of the deposit AND the monthly income exceeds 800,000 THB in one year.
But let’s continue with the “normal method” (visa issued in your home country, followed by the application to the 1-year extension inside Thailand):
On the day of application to the 1-year extension, the 800,000 THB must have “seasoned” in your account for two months, and this has to be confirmed with the “bank letter of guarantee” (in Thai: rab roong thanakan).
After been issued the “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, the 800K need to remain in the account for 3 more months. After these 3 months, the deposit shall never go under 400,000 THB. And before the application for the next “1-year Extension of Stay”, a minimum of 800,000 THB must have seasoned in the account for two months, again.
On the day you get issued the “1-year extension of stay permit”, you should buy a re-entry permit.
A re-entry permit will keep your 1-year stay permit alive and valid in case you want to travel around and exit Thailand before the expiry of the extension.
A single re-entry permit is 1000 THB on Immigration. A multi re-entry is 3800 THB. On a multi re-entry permit stamped, you can exit and re-enter as many times as you wish during the whole 1-year stay permit period.
Again, watch your wording, because many people fail in doing so: the re-entry permit is not a “re-entry visa”. It is just a permit.
Good Luck and a great time in Thailand
MIND YOUR WORDING:
you do not apply for the “retirement visa” on Immigration after you have entered Thailand on the “90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa” you obtained through the E-Visa online system outside of Thailand.
When you enter Thailand on the 90-days “Non-Imm-O retirement visa”, you get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. The visa has a 3-months validity to be used for the entry, and the visa itself will become invalid or “used”. It cannot get “extended”. This is technically just not possible. Don’t fall for the wrong wording used by Thai Immigration, for whom a visa and a stay permit erroneously are the same thing.
I am talking about the most common misunderstanding regarding the rules for applying for the “retirement visa” and the subsequent “one-year extension of stay permit based on retirement”. Misunderstandings happen because a “retirement visa” can mean seven (!) different visas and stay permits, but please let’s remain on topic. The most erroneous wording is from people who call the 1-year extended stay permit a “retirement visa” – a mistake that always makes me cringe.
*** The best way is to show up in Thailand on a “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement/over 50 visa”. It will get you stamped in for 90-days stay permit. Within this 90-days period, you have plenty of time to arrange for the application to the “1-year extended stay permit”.
The important fact is, that entering on this visa-type enables you to get a Thai bank account opened. If you enter on a tourist visa or visa-exempt, you cannot get a Thai bank account opened any more since February 2025. Only a handful of agents offer a service around the law, and it costs up from 60,000 Baht and I have already been quoted 90,000 Baht.
There is NO mandatory health insurance or a police record check or a medical checkup required for the Non-O visa-type. These are requirements only for the application to the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa, which is a completely different visa-type.
You will need the Thai bank account in case you want to convert the 90-days stay permit into a “1-year extension of the stay permit”.
You can theoretically fly on a one-way ticket because this visa allows you to receive a long-term stay in Thailand. Some airlines might not accept this explanation and will ask you for an onward travel proof out of Thailand within these 90 days, that’s why you should communicate with them by email and see what they say.
In order to apply for the “90-days single entry Non-Imm-O retirement visa” through the online E-visa system at the Royal Thai Embassy of your home country or any other country, you can
EITHER
use proof of income of a monthly minimum of 65.000.- THB, by using your original pension or other income documentation,
OR
you can use a deposit of a minimum of 800,000 THB or the equivalent in your home country currency, or on your home bank account, or on your Thai bank account (if you got one), or just anywhere in the World – as long as it is in your sole name.
Most Thai embassies will require 3 months of account statements. You need to check the website of the embassy you will use for the exact info.
ATTENTION! . . .For the application inside Thailand to the “1-year extension of the stay permit based on retirement”, the financial proof will be slightly different. You cannot use any original income/pension documents from your home country.
If you are a citizen of a country whose embassy in Bangkok does not issue a certified “income affidavit” any more –
(which are the embassies of USA, Canada, UK, Norway and Australia)
you would need a “12 months bank statement” showing that for the past 12 months, you have been transferring from abroad to your Thai bank account a minimum of 65,000 THB, consecutively month for month, not missing a single month.
If your embassy still issues a certified affidavit of income, you can use it for the financial proof. You would need a monthly income or pension of a minimum of 65,000 THB.
For British, Canadian, Norwegian, Australian and U.S. citizens, in the first year there is no other way around than depositing a minimum of 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account - at least in the first year
The alternative would be, if you don’t have that kind of money or are not willing to deposit 24,000 Dollar in a Thai Bank account, is paying an agent to “arrange” the requirements to get around the law.
As soon as you have accumulated 12 consecutive months of 65,000 THB transfers, month for month, you can apply for the next 1-year extension of the stay permit, using the 12-months bank statement. After been issued the next extension, you can theoretically take your 800,000 THB out of your bank account.
There is a fee of 1900 THB for the application to a 1-year extension, and you can theoretically do it all by yourself. You are free to accept the help of an agent for the simplified legal service.
NOTE: It is income OR deposit.
There is a third method, called the “combination method”: A combination mix of income and deposit.
Some immigrations don’t allow the combination method in the first year.
And some Immigrations want the deposit part to exceed a minimum of 400,000 THB.
The combination method means that the sum of the deposit AND the monthly income exceeds 800,000 THB in one year.
But let’s continue with the “normal method” (visa issued in your home country, followed by the application to the 1-year extension inside Thailand):
On the day of application to the 1-year extension, the 800,000 THB must have “seasoned” in your account for two months, and this has to be confirmed with the “bank letter of guarantee” (in Thai: rab roong thanakan).
After been issued the “1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement”, the 800K need to remain in the account for 3 more months. After these 3 months, the deposit shall never go under 400,000 THB. And before the application for the next “1-year Extension of Stay”, a minimum of 800,000 THB must have seasoned in the account for two months, again.
On the day you get issued the “1-year extension of stay permit”, you should buy a re-entry permit.
A re-entry permit will keep your 1-year stay permit alive and valid in case you want to travel around and exit Thailand before the expiry of the extension.
A single re-entry permit is 1000 THB on Immigration. A multi re-entry is 3800 THB. On a multi re-entry permit stamped, you can exit and re-enter as many times as you wish during the whole 1-year stay permit period.
Again, watch your wording, because many people fail in doing so: the re-entry permit is not a “re-entry visa”. It is just a permit.
Good Luck and a great time in Thailand
Doc ********
Greg Alexander Thanks for that mate well written so thanks for taking the time to do it much appreciated.
One question I am heading to Thailand in July to start this journey I'm just wondering about the
One question I am heading to Thailand in July to start this journey I'm just wondering about the
*****
Bhat deposit every month does that go into the Thai account I set up for the *****
0 deposit or can I have another account for that?Greg ***********
Doc Trevor the transfers can go into a separate account, but also into the existing account where you upkeep the 800,000 THB. The most imporatant part is that you ensure the 65,000 THB transfers are coded in your Thai bankbook as having come from abroad. If you use WISE, they have give you an option to tick the box that you want all transfers coded as foreign transfers. If you use direct SWIFT transfers, these are automatically coded as having come from abroad
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Dave ******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks. My extension will be based on marriage not retirement but I catch your drift. Sounds like I can go ahead and apply fairly soon when my latest bank statement is issued and my new passport comes back. I'd rather get sorted earlier rather than later. As a secondary question do you have any experience of Surat Thanni immigration office. I understand Koh Samui has a satellite office, mine will be the actual Surat one.
As for your comment about single tickets I usually go on a one way ticket and blag it or just book a throwaway ticket to Vietnam if it should become problematical, it hasn't thus far.
As for your comment about single tickets I usually go on a one way ticket and blag it or just book a throwaway ticket to Vietnam if it should become problematical, it hasn't thus far.
Greg ***********
Dave Owen oh, okay. Marriage Extension. Well, here is my prepared texted advice regarding it . . . . . . . . . .The 90-day single entry Non-Imm-O "family" visa and how to obtain a one-year extension of your stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife.
There is the "90-day single entry Non-Imm-O Family visa" option, which you can apply by the e-visa online system before you fly to Thailand.
You must provide a financial proof for both the 90-day visa and later at immigration for the application for a "one-year extension of the temporary stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife."
For the application to the initial visa, you EITHER have at least 400,000 THB (approximately $ 12,000) in a bank account in your sole name. In most countries, the e-visa application requires the upload of three months of account statements
(It is irrelevant for the visa application where the account is located – as long as there is a proof that the account is in your sole name)
However, when applying for the "1-year extension" from out of the 90-days stay permit you get stamped in upon entering Thailand, the 400,000 THB must have been in your Thai bank account for 2 months, and this “seasoning” must be proven with a "bank letter of guarantee" (in Thai: rab roong thanakan).
OR you use the income affidavit of your embassy in Thailand (only if applicable - as many embassies do not issue it any more. These are the embassies of the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada)
In case your embassy issues an income affidavit, you need to provide evidence of an income/pension of at least 40,000 THB (approximately $1200 USD).
For the application to the initial 90-days visa in your home country, you can use your original marriage documents.
However, for the application to the “1-year extension”, Immigration requires a Thai marriage registry printout - the Kor Ror 22 or 2 (whichever applies). This printout must be current, printed freshly by an Amphur office.
This is possible only if your marriage has already officially been acknowledged in Thailand. If you married outside of Thailand and your marriage has not been registered in Thailand, yet, you need to take action. It would require a legalization of your original marriage documents by the Thai embassy in your country, and this has to be co-legalized by the MfA in Bangkok, before you can register your marriage at an Amphur office.
The requirements may vary slightly between every one of the 85 Immigration offices in Thailand, this is why it is recommended to visit them right after you entered and ask for the list of requirements for the "extension of the temporary stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife."
What almost all immigration offices have in common is that they will only serve you if you have been properly registered at your place of accommodation via a TM30 registration.
Immigration normally will issue the "1-year extension of the stay permit" for 4 weeks "under consideration." They will ask for photos of the two of you together in front of your house, with the house number visible, a photo of you in the living room, in the bedroom, etc.
They will ask for a hand-drawn map of the route from your house to the Immigration office, or the Google Maps coordinates.
Some offices require not only the presence of your wife, but also of one witness.
Immigration will pay a visit at your home during these four weeks (with prior notice) and will question your neighbours about whether your marriage is "real."
After this visit, you visit Immigration and collect the stamp with your one-year extension of the temporary stay permit. (EOS)
NOTE: keep the 400,000 THB deposit in your bank account at least until you have gathered up the 1-year Marriage Extension stamp. You are free to spend the deposit, however the 400,000 THB need to be back in your account 2 months prior (some Immigrations ask for 3 months) to your next application for the 1-year extended stay permit.
NOTE: Always purchase a re-entry permit for your EOS.
A single re-entry costs 1000 THB, a multiple re-entry will be 3,800 THB.
The re-entry permit keeps your stay permit valid in case you leave the country. If you leave without a re-entry permit, your EOS will become invalid.
There is the "90-day single entry Non-Imm-O Family visa" option, which you can apply by the e-visa online system before you fly to Thailand.
You must provide a financial proof for both the 90-day visa and later at immigration for the application for a "one-year extension of the temporary stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife."
For the application to the initial visa, you EITHER have at least 400,000 THB (approximately $ 12,000) in a bank account in your sole name. In most countries, the e-visa application requires the upload of three months of account statements
(It is irrelevant for the visa application where the account is located – as long as there is a proof that the account is in your sole name)
However, when applying for the "1-year extension" from out of the 90-days stay permit you get stamped in upon entering Thailand, the 400,000 THB must have been in your Thai bank account for 2 months, and this “seasoning” must be proven with a "bank letter of guarantee" (in Thai: rab roong thanakan).
OR you use the income affidavit of your embassy in Thailand (only if applicable - as many embassies do not issue it any more. These are the embassies of the UK, the USA, Australia and Canada)
In case your embassy issues an income affidavit, you need to provide evidence of an income/pension of at least 40,000 THB (approximately $1200 USD).
For the application to the initial 90-days visa in your home country, you can use your original marriage documents.
However, for the application to the “1-year extension”, Immigration requires a Thai marriage registry printout - the Kor Ror 22 or 2 (whichever applies). This printout must be current, printed freshly by an Amphur office.
This is possible only if your marriage has already officially been acknowledged in Thailand. If you married outside of Thailand and your marriage has not been registered in Thailand, yet, you need to take action. It would require a legalization of your original marriage documents by the Thai embassy in your country, and this has to be co-legalized by the MfA in Bangkok, before you can register your marriage at an Amphur office.
The requirements may vary slightly between every one of the 85 Immigration offices in Thailand, this is why it is recommended to visit them right after you entered and ask for the list of requirements for the "extension of the temporary stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife."
What almost all immigration offices have in common is that they will only serve you if you have been properly registered at your place of accommodation via a TM30 registration.
Immigration normally will issue the "1-year extension of the stay permit" for 4 weeks "under consideration." They will ask for photos of the two of you together in front of your house, with the house number visible, a photo of you in the living room, in the bedroom, etc.
They will ask for a hand-drawn map of the route from your house to the Immigration office, or the Google Maps coordinates.
Some offices require not only the presence of your wife, but also of one witness.
Immigration will pay a visit at your home during these four weeks (with prior notice) and will question your neighbours about whether your marriage is "real."
After this visit, you visit Immigration and collect the stamp with your one-year extension of the temporary stay permit. (EOS)
NOTE: keep the 400,000 THB deposit in your bank account at least until you have gathered up the 1-year Marriage Extension stamp. You are free to spend the deposit, however the 400,000 THB need to be back in your account 2 months prior (some Immigrations ask for 3 months) to your next application for the 1-year extended stay permit.
NOTE: Always purchase a re-entry permit for your EOS.
A single re-entry costs 1000 THB, a multiple re-entry will be 3,800 THB.
The re-entry permit keeps your stay permit valid in case you leave the country. If you leave without a re-entry permit, your EOS will become invalid.
Dave ******
ORIGINAL POSTERGreg AlexanderI knew some of that but some I didn't and I will probably print your comment off and keep it handy when I'm back over permanently or at least trying to be. We've been married 20 plus years and that was in the Thai registry in Bang Rak in BKK, so all the gubbins about proving a relationship is no problem, although my nearest neighbour was none too thrilled with my pool being built right up to the party wall. Thanks for your kind advice.
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Dave ******
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Andreas *********
Always with the arrival
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Andreas *********
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