@Martin ********

yes you can, but a Thai bank account will be required, and opening an account without a long term visa is virtually impossible these days. If you already have a Thai bank account it's not a problem. Most people find it much easier to get the non-O visa before coming to Thailand.

@Peter **********

no, that's not a good idea as it's virtually impossible to open a bank account in Thailand without a long term visa. It is possible to get a non-O visa from outside Thailand and this is definitely the easiest way to do it, and avoids the need to use an agent. The other option is to get the non-OA, but most people seem to choose the non-O as there's no mandatory health insurance requirement.

@Peter **********

i think David's information is clear, but I am confused with yours. So to clarify, are you suggesting you can only apply for the non O visa inside Thailand?

@Gregor *********

it's a really good response, other than 'theoretically'. I applied for my own visa and extended my stay 3 times. It takes me on average less than an hour each year to do this (and I have used 2 different IO). It's really, really, really simple to achieve. I can still get on with the rest of my retirement plans (riding into the sunset etc for the other 364.5 days a year) without paying an agent to do simple things for me. Up to the individual, but that's what I do.

@James *******

I ordered my statements on the Bkk bank app and they arrive a few minutes later. I printed them off and took them to the bank where they used them to provide the letters etc. This is in Hua Hin, but these days I guess even a different branch could refuse if they choose to make it difficult.

You need to go to the main immigration office in Hua Hin

1. Arrive in Thailand and ensure the Immigration officer stamps you in with your non-O.

2. Get a long term lease.

3. Go to immigration and get a residence certificate and list of requirements to extend your stay.

4. Open a bank account (this is the difficult part but should be possible with your non-O and long term lease) and transfer 800,000 baht into it within the first 2 or 3 week after arrival.

5. After your money has been in your bank account for 2 months (and before your existing visa expires), take all the documents to immigration and apply to extend your stay.

My tip would be to buy a document folder and take several copies of everything (you will need them constantly in Thailand, so it saves time in the future). Keep a copy of your extension application as well as it will probably be more or less the same next year.

There's also the non -OA visa available and that is the one that requires medical insurance and criminal checks etc. Unfortunately you will definitely need to leave Thailand to apply for it the same as the non-O. It used to be possible to get the non-O inside Thailand but this year the banks made it virtually impossible to open an account here.

@Jesper ******

it is heavily dependent on the amphur you need to use. I had to go to the main amphur outside Hua Hin and they insisted on this, but other people seem to wander in to their local amphur with a few photocopies of their passport and walk out a few minutes later with a yellow book and ID card. It took me weeks of running around and back and forth to the Amphur. Ask at your amphur to see what they need.

There are many places that can do this for you Neil. I used a place on Phetkassem Road before Bluport (towards Takiab) on the same side of road as Bluport. Sorry I can't remember the name. You then need to take it to Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their stamp, but you can use the one inside Bluport.