Will a 30-year-old drink driving conviction affect my retirement visa application in Thailand?

Retirement Visa Visa Requirements Non OA Visa Non O Visa Criminal Police Check Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Rules

May 24, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey Visa experts

To get a retirement visa you need a criminal police check. If you've had a drink driving conviction say 30 years ago will that stuff up your visa application?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Users clarify that a criminal police check is not necessary for obtaining a Non O visa, which is likely required for retirees over 50. The consensus is that older offenses, such as a drink driving conviction from 30 years ago, are unlikely to affect the visa application process or appear in a background check.

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Anthony ***********

That won’t show up on any check, even an enhanced one. I get them all the time for staff as we do work in schools in the U.K.

I always ask the staff before applying if they think there might be anything and when it comes things older than 10 years that are not serious enough are not on them

a year ago

Peter *********

a year ago

Kev **********

No. And as the others said not required. I had my French criminal record form, gave it them ..not interested.

a year ago

Robert ********

A basic DBS check is enough for U.K.

a year ago

Stuart *********

You only need the police check for a Non OA or OX visa. You don’t need it for a Non O visa based on being over 50.

That said I really don’t know if something that old (and/or that common) would show up on a background check.

a year ago

Rusty ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stu***

what's the main differences between the Non OA and the Non O visas?

a year ago

John **********

@Russell *******

the Non-OA allows you to keep your money in your home country but requires insurance, it can only be obtained in your home country. The Non-O doesn't require insurance but you have to put money in a Thai bank, it can be obtained either in your home country or inside Thailand

a year ago

Rusty ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jo**

thanks!

a year ago

Reply to

Rusty ******

Stuart *********

@Russell *******

OA is valid for a year. It’s multiple entry and on each entry you get stamped in for one year or however long you insurance is valid until. You don’t need funds in a Thai bank for it and timing things right you can get almost 2 years out of it. You need insurance, a health check and police clearance.

A Non O is valid for 90 days from issue. On entry you’ll get 90 days. You don’t need a health check or police clearance. When you’ve about 30 days left you apply for a year extension of stay. To do so you’ll need 800k in a Thai bank that’s been in there for 2 months. Must stay in for 3 afterwards and not go below 400k for the rest of the year.

a year ago

Stuart *********

For clarity if your embassy still issues the affidavit letters you can use those instead of banked funds. US, UK and Australia won’t issue those. Canada and some European countries will.

a year ago

Reply to

Stuart *********

Roy *********

No police check for Non O visa. Thats only for Non OA.

a year ago

Rusty ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@R**

thanks, what's the big difference between the two?

But my underlying question?

I understand convictions older then 10 years become what is known as 'stayed' and don't generally show on a police check as they go back ten years from my very limited understanding.

a year ago

Jeff ********

@Russell *******

A simple google search will tell you the difference between the two.

a year ago

Reply to

Jeff ********

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