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Will a 90-day tourist visa in Thailand affect bringing my pet for retirement?

Jan 23, 2026
3 months ago
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm looking at retirement in Thailand in March. I am taking my pet with me and advised to get the online 90 tourist visa and then apply through a agent for the retirement visa. Will the 90 visa be a problem with my pet.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation addresses concerns about bringing a pet to Thailand while applying for a retirement visa. It emphasizes that pet importation is independent of visa types; essential documentation, such as vet clearance and import certificates, must be secured. Participants suggest obtaining a non-O visa before leaving home to simplify the process, as this visa is pertinent for retirement purposes. They advise against the tourist visa due to its complications and potential issues with securing an extension while managing pet relocation.
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Wannikea *********
Get the non-o before you come here, immediately open the bank account and transfer the required funds for the extension within the first 30 days. There is no correlation between pets and visas.
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Ian **********
Good advice if you are an idiot
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Arnold *******
Only if your pet doesnt speak Thai.
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Aaron *********
You have explained to your pet they have tightened up and no border runs? It cannot run off to Laos or Cambodia. Then wander back to its owner.
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Warren *******
Good luck with your new life
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Steve *******
There's no 90 days tourist visa, you need the Non Imm O visa based on being 50 or over. From there you can open a Thai bank account, deposit 800k Thai Baht and then apply for a 1 year extension of stay
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Daniel *********
This is just a ridiculous question. Taking your pet ?
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Begona ***************
Contact your Thai embassy in your country and forget advice on the internet
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Mick *****
You'll get plenty of advice on the visa so I'll give you a heads up on the pet. Your going to need export certificate & Vet clearance in Australia. Import certificate and clearance in Thailand. There are certain mandatory vaccinations and they are very fussy on paperwork. You also need and iata approved travel crate ( no international airline allows pets in the cabin from Australia). You can do it yourself however I highly recommend using a professional pet transport company. They will ensure everything is done correctly before your pet departs. We used Jetpets for 3 cats and they were fantastic including their agent here in Thailand. Now the important part, you need to understand it's a one way trip for your pet. If it does not work out if you want to go back to Australia your cat dog is not going unless you have very deep pockets and you are patient. You cannot import a cat or dog from Thailand direct to Australia, even if said pet originated in Australia. Once in Thailand It needs to first go to a rabies free country for up to 12 months, you can then import it. This can cost tens of thousands of dollars. So if you come here with a pet and decide to go back you have a big problem. I would suggest put the pet with a friend or relative, come for 3 months and get your 12 months extension sorted. If at this point your certain your going to stay get your pet sent over. Hopefully something useful in this for you to consider. If you need more info on the actual process when its time happy to help.
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Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Mick Lor getting a pet travel service to take care of all that but thanks
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Mick *****
Be aware many people have come here on an initial 3 month visa and NOT been able to secure the extension in time for one reason or another. Having to then leave Thailand and try again. This is why I would strongly advise securing your long term visa status and pet friendly accommodation before turning up with your pet.
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Mick *****
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Christopher **********
Given this advice, does bringing the pet look like being a tourist on a three month visa?
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Mick *****
Christopher L Smith Definitely something I would not do unless you have friends in Thailand that could care for said pet. Long term visa could easily be denied of delayed and he has to leave. What do you then do with your pet? I stayed in Australia, wife came setup the house waited for our belongings, I secured my long term visa and then came with 3 cats. I was sure of my LT Visa status before bringing the pets. Australia has very strict biosecurity laws and once your cat or dog comes to Thailand it cannot just return.
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Mick *****
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Tony ********
No renting is a problem. A lot of people travel with pets. When you get here talk to a reputable visa agent.
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Allan ********
Come to Thailand with your visa. Have you decided where you are going to live? Once decided visit the Immigration Office that is responsible for that area. They will give you all the forms and information you need to apply for the 12 month extension.

Also, set up your bank accounts and deposit the required amount to apply as soon as you can.

There is no need to use an agent.
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John **********
Do yourself a favour, forget the tourist visa and get yourself a 90 day Non-O visa based on being over 50 before you travel. You don't say what sort of pet you have and they may also need documentation
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Ka *****
Take 90 days retirement non immigrant o visa in your country. On tourist visa you need to be in Thailand before your pet arrive. Also coming on tourist visa to Thailand and then convert it to retirement visa is costly process and not easy
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Deslea ********
I brought my cats here while on a 90 day work visa (much like retirement visas, there is an initial 90 day that then gets a 1 year extension). So in principle I would think it is fine, but do confirm with a customs/logistics agent that does pets like Booma.
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Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Unfortunately I am selling everything and moving over. Been there a few times but it's just me and my cat no gf.
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Lynnette *******
Jay Moyle as people have explained, get the Non-O 90 day visa before you leave Aus. Then open the bank account.
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Lynnette *******
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Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sensational advice thanks
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Deslea ********
Jay MoyleYou’re welcome! Btw, one thing people never mention: A three month visa as granted is usually single entry. However, you can go to the immigration office and buy a re entry permit to sit on top of it. So, if it suits you logistically to come, open the bank account and rent your house, leave again while it seasons, and come back later with your cat knowing you have a place that will allow your cat to come, that is actually an option, even though it doesn’t seem like it on the face of it. That’s pretty much the sequencing I used.
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Deslea ********
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Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Deslea Selmes also taking my cat but so much advice out there. I'm hearing that to get retired visa u first need a Thai bank account but to get the bank account u need retired visa lol
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Deslea ********
Jay MoyleThe information about sequencing is not clear and unfortunately people talk in shorthand that further obscures it. Typically you come in on a three month retirement visa which does not require the bank account. Then you come immediately on approval and use that visa to open the bank account, put in your deposit and let the deposit season for two months. Then you can apply for a one year extension of stay which does require the deposit.
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Deslea ********
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Stuart ***********
There's no point in getting a tourist visa as you can get 60 days visa exempt anyway (and extend by 30 days). As others have said, why not get the correct visa (non-O 90 day visa) before coming to Thailand? Everything would then be much simpler and you don't need a return flight booking.
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Ant ***********
Much easier pathway if you get your Visa

( Non-O single entry )

Before you leave , then you can do the extension requirements when you arrive

Not sure about pet requirements for travel
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Frederick *******
My wife and I retired here in 2023 from Florida anticipating retiring on the Non-O Visa. We processed through a visa agency and received our 90 day while we waited for our retirement visa.

A pet relocation service took care of all the vet paperwork for our dog. She landed in Bangkok without a problem and was transported by van up here to Chisng Mai.
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Steve ***********
Is the pet over 50, 555
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Alan **********
Steve Fortefyve has it got 800k in a thai bank account
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Steve ***********
Alan Turnbull probably not, nor net worth, 555
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Steve ***********
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Lynnette *******
Pet import is separate to your visa. You have to get a vet pet document and follow the import rules to Thailand.
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Ruud ******************
Very bad advice, go online for the non O visum , read very good what the conditions are for extension in thailand, and go for it.
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Lynnette *******
The 90 day non-O you get before you leave IS the visa you apply for a retirement. It's your retirement visa. You won't be getting another visa but a 12 month extension of stay. Costs about 1900tbt at immigration. Pick up the leaflet at your immigration office that tells you what you need.
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Nard *******
Lynnette Munoz omg.. Lynette not again. You got this wrong 4 or 5 days ago, and still you repeating this nonsense.. It's a 90 day non o. Nothing else
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Lynnette *******
Nard Niles he's applying for a Non-O because he wants to retire. That will be his "retirement visa" as he is applying for that reason. So that's what he needs a Non-O. He won't get another retirement visa when he arrives. There's nothing incorrect about what I've said. He's not applying for a Non-O to extend based on marriage, he's applying because he wants to retire.
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Lynnette *******
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Rick *********
Lynnette Munoz non-o is not the retirement visa as such it’s a non immigration visa, you can apply based on retirement or marriage to a Thai citizen
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Allan ********
Rick Blowers or several other reasons too.
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Lynnette *******
Rick Blowers that's exactly what I said, he's applying for a Non-O, based on retirement. Once issued that's what his non o is for. The extension in country is not a visa. He won't be applying for a retirement visa after he arrives.
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Lynnette *******
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