@Brian *********

O visa = general non-immigrant visa for retirees, dependents, or other reasons.

O-A visa = long-stay retirement visa issued outside Thailand.

The O-A (retirement) visa does have financial requirements.

Here are what the rules do require (as of 2025):

Must be 50+ years old.

One of:

• A bank deposit of THB 800,000 in a Thai bank (or outside + proof)

• A monthly income (pension / regular) of at least THB 65,000

• A combination of income + savings equalling 800,000 THB

If you mean first-year without extension, some aspects are a bit more flexible (e.g. funds outside Thailand or home-country bank statements) but even then you still need to show those sums.

Key differences:

Where issued: O-A is applied for at a Thai embassy/consulate outside Thailand. O is usually issued inside Thailand or abroad for shorter stays.

Length: O-A grants 1 year on entry. O typically gives 90 days, then you extend inside Thailand for 1 year.

Financial proof: O-A requires showing 800,000 THB or 65,000 THB/month before getting the visa. O only needs proof when applying for the 1-year extension.

Insurance: O-A requires mandatory health insurance covering at least 400,000 THB inpatient and 40,000 THB outpatient. O does not (as of 2025) unless required for certain hospitals.

Renewal: O-A renewal can be done inside Thailand, but if you leave it too long you may need to re-apply outside. O extensions are done entirely in Thailand.

@Rob ******

I've ran into this same problem, I cannot deposit funds into a Thai bank to get my retirement visa but I cannot open a bank account with a tourist visa. Also the British embassy in Bangkok no longer provides notary services. So I'm looking for a local solicitor that can notarize my income to show I have enough funds for the retirement visa.

So far I haven't found anyone who can help.