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Will a drink driving conviction affect my ability to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand?
Thailand retirement visaNon-O visadrink driving convictionexpat adviceThai immigration rulesvisa application process
May 18, 2025
a year ago
Darren ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi Guys new here so be gentle, I am planning to retire to Thailand in a year or two I have a conviction for drink driving will this hinder my attempt to obtain a retirement visa. I'm 62 and married to a Thai girl for 26 years and have 2 grown up children. All other requirements are fine.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A drink driving conviction generally should not hinder your ability to obtain a retirement visa (Non-O visa) in Thailand. Many commenters confirmed that there are no criminal checks for the in-country retirement visa application. Various experiences shared highlight that some expats have managed to live in Thailand for years without issues related to their past driving offenses. However, there are recommendations to handle the visa application from your home country where checks are often less stringent. It’s noted that requirements may vary slightly based on individual circumstances and the evolving nature of immigration checks.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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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John ********
Australian...
2007, registered .072 at a random breath test..6 months loss of licence.
Fast forward, Australian police check 2016 for my Thai marriage.
No mention of any law problems.
(The drink driving is my only run in with the law)
2007, registered .072 at a random breath test..6 months loss of licence.
Fast forward, Australian police check 2016 for my Thai marriage.
No mention of any law problems.
(The drink driving is my only run in with the law)
Neil ********
Get it in Thailand not uk
Martin *****
No it is a motoring offence so long as u dident go to.jail
Alistair ********
Drink driving convictions in most countries are driving offences. In the UK, Canada and New Zealand they are criminal convictions fortunately they are also the only countries that treat them as criminal most countries see them as a lower offence which does not affect entry requirements
Rob ****
From what I understand you could have problem applying from here but you'd be better doing the visa over in Thailand. Through a Lawyer if you're that worried.
Alan **********
Just bring international licence with you
Alan **********
Don’t need to tell and can get Thai licence here
John **************
Your just the job then
Kay *******
Good luck with your retirement in Thailand!!!
Peter *********
No mate
Gary **********
Nonis the answer.
Brad *******
There’s a Canadian who has been living here for years who murdered his mom. He stabbed her a bunch of times and then slit her throat. Then he went to prison in Canada for many years before moving here. The Thai government knows about it and so do all the expats. I think that’s worse than a DUI conviction.
Michael ********
On the English Embassy site it does mention a police report, i got one 3 years ago when I came for good, waste of time and money, nobody was interested in it, I still have it in my files !!!
Peter *******
Never drink and drive, you will spill it.
Andrew ********
Ahh you will fit in on the road just fine here most locals drive like they are drunk 555
Dwayne ********
No issues but if do get in an accident, aim for a foreigner. Double Standard society doesn’t tolerate such accidents against a thai.
Craig *********
@Dwayne *******
not always.Dwayne ********
@Craig ********
elusive & general, as always, depends on circumstances but the favor side will always be Thai if foreigner tests positiveCraig *********
@Dwayne *******
and always in shitty tourist areas!Reply to
Craig *********
Reply
Frankie *****
Think there are many who have worse offences 😁
Patrick ********
No problem I'm on my 16 year never hab any trouble.
Peter *********
No
Bernie *******
You just need to pass a new test,Ability to drive a motorcycle through traffic with one hand and texting on your mobile and you’ll be fine
Angy ********
@Bernie ******
you forget ability to ride motorbike in the traffic with three passengerMicheal **********
@Bernie ******
No shit! LOL! 👍Reply to
Micheal **********
Reply
Martin *********
No
Stuart ***********
If you apply for a non O retirement visa online from the Thai Embassy in your country before you come to Thailand, there are no criminal checks.
This is the simplest way to retire to Thailand and means you can open a bank account when you get here.
This is the simplest way to retire to Thailand and means you can open a bank account when you get here.
Belinda ******
@Stuart **********
you have to apply for a dbs or Accro I’m applying for the non o visa now, this is if you are applying from the UKStuart ***********
@Belinda *****
no, you must be applying for a Non OA.The non O is an option online from the Thai Embassy and does not require the criminal checks.
Reply to
Stuart ***********
Reply
Jan ******************
For retirement in Thailand it’s most convenient to apply for a 90 days Non O visas before you come and do yearly extensions of stay in Thailand.
Police check up is only done for the one year Non O-A visa, although I don’t think this normally would be an issue for all future anyway.
Police check up is only done for the one year Non O-A visa, although I don’t think this normally would be an issue for all future anyway.
Raymond ********
@Jan *****************
can you explain this type of visa to a noviceJan ******************
@Raymond *******
Both the regular 90 days Non O visa and the one year Non O-A visa require min 50 years of age and monthly income min equal to 65K baht or funds equal to 800K baht. The Non O-A visa also requires a mandatory health insurance, health certificate and a police check up.
The regular Non O visa gives you up to 90 days in Thailand before you’ll need to apply for yearly extensions of stay in Thailand more or less on the same conditions as the initial 90 days Non O visa.
The one year Non O-A visa gives you up to two years in Thailand if you update your health insurance also for the second year.
After this you’ll need to apply for yearly extensions of stay as for a regular Non O visa BUT you also maintain the mandatory Thai health insurance requirement for all future.
Raymond ********
Appreciate all the comments guys
Raymond ********
Raymond ********
@Jan *****************
the Non-O visa how does one go about getting this or are you better to leave this in an agent's hands and if so who and want is the cost of this and do you have what costs the secondyearJan ******************
@Raymond *******
easy and best option is to apply for the initial 90 days Non O visa online at home before you come and do yearly extensions of stay at the immigration. Price for the visa is normally around 80 USD. One year extension of stay in Thailand is 1900 baht. No need to use an agent if you fulfil the requirements. Agents are probably around 25-35K baht first year and 15K baht for the second year if you fulfil formal requirements. If you need agents to bypass any requirements -which formally gives you a void stay- you’ll have to pay more.
***************************
Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Baz *********
No problem
Jeremy ********
10 years ago I would say no problems…but now that everything is interconnected with AI algorithms and computer learning this may turn into an issue…the police departments used to never talk to one another now with a central database, biometrics and AI learning that is not the case anymore…welcome to the year
*********
Wang ******
@Jeremy *******
no counteies will want to get their own citizen datsbase connected to one another’s, that will never happen.Jeremy ********
@Wang *****
I guess you’ve never heard of INTERPOL…but now it’s on steroidsReply to
Jeremy ********
Reply
Paul ********
@Jeremy *******
since when did international databases speak to each other? If they did Pattaya would be a ghost town! Darren you'll be completely finePaul ********
@Jeremy *******
Pest!Robbie *******
@Paul *******
, precisely , or gobshite .Jeremy ********
@Robbie ******
please explain I’m lost…Reply to
Jeremy ********
Reply
Jeremy ********
@Paul *******
welcome to AI and computer learning…it’s *********
Paul ********
@Jeremy *******
As some who owns an LLM company your funny.Jeremy ********
@Paul *******
how do you think they caught that Ukrainian lady trying to flee the country after her trashing of the condo? How do you think they caught that Aussie at airport immigration in bkk with an arrest warrant in Phuket…it’s all biometrics and AI prompts in a database …open your eyes it’s
*********
Paul ********
@Jeremy *******
If you actually read this post the guy had a drink drive in his own country not Thailand. Also could you please tell me the meaning of international?Jeremy ********
@Paul *******
with the world shrinking what is international now? 20 years ago it had a whole different meaning than what the word means in *********
..Wayne *******
@Jeremy *******
Spot on. No criminals were ever caught before AI existed, EVERJeremy ********
@Wayne ******
before AI, biometrics and central databases it was easier to game the system…now with all those entities working together it’s nearly impossible to game the system…Phuket warrants were local not national so a person with a warrant could easily enter bkk and immigration would never know of the warrant in phuket…welcome to year *********
Wayne *******
@Jer***
Why do you keep saying welcome to 2025? Are you registered with a mental condition because if you are it would be better to enlighten everyone as to avoid any confusion. Discrepencies need to made when conversing with people with social issues so we dont get the wrath of Zuckerberg for laughing at an oddballJeremy ********
@Wayne ******
because people fail to realize that technology has moved past the point of the year 2015…it’s *********
with everything interconnected, AI interactions database interaction it’s now super hard to be incognito…this is why I say the year because of boomers like you that live in the pastReply to
Jeremy ********
Reply
Andy ************
If you have a drink driving conviction you'll fit right in! 👍
Wang ******
@Andy ***********
lol can even apply to Laos as well.Darren ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHahaha on the wagon guys 2 years in don't miss it the weed helps 😉
Richard *************
@Darren *******
sad life if you have to smoke that Shit every day to be happy in retirementDarren ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Richard ************
Right on Dick man, what ever you say.Reply to
Darren ********
Reply
Garry ******
@Andy ***********
damn, this is so true.Reply to
Garry ******
Reply
Stuart *********
There are no criminal checks for a in country “retirement visa”.
Reply to
Stuart *********
Reply
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