Look very closely at what they are asking for. Are they specifically asking for a booking? Or maybe just an itinerary? For several embassies they just want a flight number, date etc, which you can get without actually booking anything yet.

@Jorge ***

I don't think any embassies will issue the 90 day non O without you showing them 400K in an account. Happy to be corrected. So you would have the same problem you are trying to avoid. Difference is though, that applying for the visa outside Thailand, you can use funds from your home country.

You are exactly right. That would be the way. Wait until she turns 50. Apply for the non O before going (making her able to open a bank account). Deposit the 800K after her arrival in Thailand and opening her account in a Thai bank. Apply for the year extension of the non o.

@Paul ********

it sounds like you are all set up then. Don't overthink it. You have the requirements down.

@Paul ********

absolutely yes then. Then it's up to you about insurance. No requirements for that.

Beware though, about the other question, having a lease/rental contract or a permanent address (wife's house?).. Some immigration offices do want to see that. Best is to ask your specific one, or mention where yours are, so maybe others local to that can answer that question 🙏

You are mixing two different visa types. Your link is for the non OA (notice the A).

What you got in your passport is a non O (notice there is no A)

The non O will get you stamped in for 90 days, and can be extended for a year at a time inside Thailand, by meeting the requirements from the immigration office in Thailand. Typically that means having to bank 800K in Thailand to at least get the first year extension. It is possible to use an income affidavit instead if yor embassy provides one. UK, US and Australia (just to mention some) don't provide those anymore. After the first year extension you can change to monthly transfers of 65K if you plan it right.

The non O can be acquired with funds in your own country, if bought at a Thai embassy.

The non OA will get you stamped in for a full year. It is multiple entry, and every time you enter Thailand within the validity of the visa itself, you get stamped in for a year. You can utilize that to get 2 years out of it, by exiting and then re-entering Thailand just before it expires.

However, the non OA requirements include health insurance for example, while the non O does not.

The non OA can only be bought from outside Thailand at an embassy.

The non O can be bought inside and outside Thailand.

Some people choose the OA because they don't then need to bank 800K in Thailand. They can go back home and get a new OA when it's depleted, or extend it in Thailand by also showing 800K banked in Thailand, and the health insurance.

The non O is aimed at you just extending it every year in Thailand. It has no requirement for insurance, but the same monetary requirements as the OA.

@Jeff **********

no.. Permanent residence means you are allowed to continuously be here without a visa. There are requirements though to keep it.

@Gary *********

until they are 20 years old.

You are mixing two different things.

If you apply for a retirement visa and then extension of that, it is irrelevant whether you are married to a thai or not.

The money requirement is 800K banked in Thailand to get the extension. For the initial visa you will not be able to get that in Thailand unless you already hold a Thai bank account. For the initial 90 day visa you need to show 800k in the bank. Can be your bank in your home country if applying from the Thai embassy there before you travel. If you already have a thai bank account, you can transfer in the 800K once you are here, and then apply for the 90 day initial visa here.

If you are married to a Thai, another option is to get a non o based on marriage to a thai.

The money requirements for that is 400K.

Not many immigration offices in Thailand will sell you the initial 90 day non o for that, so you will probably have to get it from a Thai embassy in another country. Again easier to just apply for before you travel.

In any case, with the new situation where it is next to impossible to open a bank account in Thailand on a tourist visa/visa exempt, you are far better of getting the visa before you travel, regardless of which of the two types of non 0 you go for.

Unless you already have a Thai bank account in your name only.

@David ******

it's right there in the post.. (20 minutes ago).. Latest is latest..