The Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Retirement Visa is Thailand’s most popular long-stay option for foreigners aged 50 or above. It allows you to stay in Thailand for 12 months at a time and is renewable every year, as long as you continue to meet the requirements.

This visa is designed for retirees who are 50+ years old, have sufficient funds or pension income, and want to live in Thailand long-term. It’s available to applicants from most countries, though financial requirements and procedures can vary slightly depending on where you apply.

1) For those starting the process from outside of Thailand:

• Bank Statement showing no less than the equivalent of 800,000 Thai Baht in your local bank account as an ending balance OR:
• Proof of the equivalent 65,000 Baht per month in stable passive income (ie. Social Security USA, CPP in Canada, etc.) OR: 
• A combination of both of these items showing no less than the equivalent of 800,000 Baht over the past 12-months

Please note that for those starting the process from outside of Thailand, some Thai Embassies & Consulates abroad may require higher Proof of Financials than what is listed above. This is dependent on the Country you are applying from. Certain Thai Embassies or Consulates may also not allow you to use the combination method stated above. 

2) For those applying from inside of Thailand: 

• Thai Bankbook showing at least 800,000 Baht Deposited into a Thai Bank Account for at least 2-months prior to applying OR: 
• Proof of 65,000 Baht in Stable Passive Income per month (verified by your Country’s Embassy or at least 12-months of fixed 65K+ Baht deposits into your Thai Bank Account) OR:
• A combination of both of these items showing no less than 800,000 Baht over the past 12-months

It's worth noting that one challenge for those already in Thailand on a Tourist Visa (or as part of the Visa Exemption Program for tourists and travellers) is that you cannot open a Thai bank account under those visa types. Since a Thai bank account is required for the Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Retirement Visa application, this creates a circular problem. You need the visa to open the account, but you need the account to get the initial 90-day Non-O visa. We can help clients navigate this situation through our expedited 2-day service. Please note that this pathway is not included in the standard package pricing and is quoted separately on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at [email protected] for more details.

1) For those starting the process from outside of Thailand:

• Passport Scan 
• Scan of 4CM x 6CM Professional Headshot with solid white background
• Bank Statement showing no less than the equivalent of 800,000 Thai Baht in your local bank account as an ending balance OR:
• Proof of the equivalent 65,000 Baht per month in stable passive income (ie. Social Security in USA, CPP in Canada, etc.) OR: 
• A combination of both of these items showing no less than the equivalent of 800,000 Baht over the past 12-months
• Proof of location document that shows your location and your name. This could be a Drivers License, a Utility Bill, or any form of Government issued ID that has your full name and address

Please note some Thai Embassies & Consulates Abroad may require higher Proof of Financials than what is listed above. This is dependent on the Country you are applying from. Certain Thai Embassies or Consulates may also not allow you to use the combination method stated above. 

2) For those applying from inside of Thailand: 

• Completion of Application Form TM.86 or TM.87 
• Physical Passport with at least 6-Months Validity (for Initial 90-Day Application)
• Physical Passport with at least 12-Months Validity (for 1-year Extensions)
• Copy of Passport pages with all relevant Thai Immigration stamps
• 4CM x 6CM Professional Headshot with solid white background
• Thai Bankbook showing at least 800,000 Baht Deposited into a Thai Bank Account for at least 2-months prior to applying OR: 
• Proof of 65,000 Baht per month (verified by your Country’s Embassy or at least 12-months of fixed 65K+ Baht deposits into your Thai Bank Account) in Stable Passive Income OR:
• A combination of both of these items showing no less than 800,000 Baht over the past 12-months
• Proof of Address in Thailand which can be:
  • Rental Contract
  • Copy of House Registration Book 
  • Copy of Map Location of the House

It's worth noting that one challenge for those already in Thailand on a Tourist Visa (or as part of the Visa Exemption Program for tourists and travellers) is that you cannot open a Thai bank account under those visa types. Since a Thai bank account is required for the Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Retirement Visa application, this creates a circular problem. You need the visa to open the account, but you need the account to get the initial 90-day Non-O visa. We can help clients navigate this situation through our expedited 2-day service. Please note that this pathway is not included in the standard package pricing and is quoted separately on a case-by-case basis. Contact us at [email protected] for more details.

1) For those starting the process from outside of Thailand:

The process happens in two stages:

1. First, you’ll receive a 90-day Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Visa, which typically takes 2 to 3 weeks to process through the Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand.

2. From there, once you arrive in Thailand, you’ll need to apply for the 12-month extension. If you handle this extension yourself, Immigration requires that you first open a Thai bank account, transfer in the 800,000 Baht, and then wait 2-months for the funds to “season” in the account before your application can even be considered. However, with our service, this waiting period is eliminated. Your 12-month extension is typically secured within your first week in Thailand and completed in just one day, so you don’t lose months to banking and seasoning delays.

2) For those already inside of Thailand:

The application process and timeline depends on a few factors. If you are in Thailand on a Tourist Visa (or as part of the Visa Exemption Program for tourists and travellers), it is technically possible to apply for a 90-day Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Visa from within the country. However, the main challenge is that you cannot open a Thai bank account under a Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption, and a Thai bank account is required for the application. This creates a circular problem if you do not already have a Thai Bank Account. That circular problem is the fact that you need the visa to open the account, but you need the account to get the visa.

So, if you don't yet have a Thai Bank Account and want to handle this process yourself, you'll need to leave Thailand, apply for the 90-Day Non-O Retirement Visa at an Embassy or Consulate abroad, re-enter Thailand, get a Thai bank account open, transfer in the required 800,000 Baht, and then wait for the funds to 'season' for 2-months before then proceeding with the 12-month extension.

That said, with our service, we can resolve this issue inside Thailand through an expedited 2-day process. This pathway is not part of the standard package pricing and is quoted separately on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected] for more details.

Yes, but you won’t need to go alone. With our service, we accompany you to Immigration, prepare everything in advance, and handle the process on your behalf so you aren’t left waiting in long lines or dealing with confusing instructions.

With this visa, the sequence of events is critical. Certain documents and registrations must be completed before others, and each step unlocks the next. If the order is wrong, Immigration will reject the application. We manage that sequencing for you from your initial visa entry to your bank setup and onward to your one-year extension. This ensures everything happens in the right order, the first time.

Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Retirement Visa

Pros:

• Tried and tested by tens of thousands of foreign retirees in Thailand

• No mandatory health insurance requirement

• No criminal background check required

• No medical check required

Cons:

• Multi-step process (initial visa + extension)

• Requires opening a Thai bank account and depositing 800,000 Baht (if using the deposit method)

• Income-based method is possible, but difficult in practice due to embassy verification and restrictions on what counts as passive income

Non-Immigrant ‘OA’ Retirement Visa

Pros:

• 12-month visa issued upfront from abroad

• No need to apply for an extension after arrival in Thailand

• Financial evidence can be shown in your local, home-country bank account

Cons:

• Mandatory health insurance with strict coverage requirements

• Criminal background check required

• Medical check required

• Embassy-specific paperwork and pricing can vary

There's Also Differences In The Application Process for the 'O' vs the 'OA' Retirement Visas: 

1) The 'OA' Retirement Visa is issued by a Thai Embassy or Thai Consulate outside of Thailand and gives you a 12-month Non-Immigrant 'OA' visa upfront.

2) The 'O' Retirement Visa can be issued in two ways:

1. Start from outside of Thailand. For those starting the 'O' Retirement Visa process from outside of Thailand, the first step is applying for a 90-day Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Visa through a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad. Once approved, you can travel to Thailand and then apply for the 12-month extension from inside the country. If you handle this extension yourself, Immigration requires that you open a Thai bank account, transfer in the 800,000 Baht, and then wait 2-months for those funds to “season” in the account before your application will be accepted. That said, with our service, this waiting period is eliminated. Your 12-month extension is typically secured within your first week in Thailand and completed in just one day.
2. Start from inside of Thailand. For those wanting to apply for the 'O' Retirement Visa from inside of Thailand, it's worth noting that if you are in Thailand on a Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption, you can apply to convert this to a 90-day Non-Immigrant ‘O’ Retirement Visa without leaving the country. The challenge is that a Thai bank account is required for this application, but banks generally will not open an account for you while you are on a Tourist Visa or Visa Exemption status. This creates a circular problem as you need the account to get the visa, but you need the visa to get the account. If you try to handle this yourself, the usual workaround is to leave Thailand, apply for the 90-day Non-O Visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad, re-enter Thailand, open a Thai bank account, transfer in the required 800,000 Baht, and then wait for the funds to “season” in the account for at least 2 months before Immigration will accept your application for the 12-month extension. That said, with our service, we eliminate this circular issue inside Thailand through a 2-day expedited process, without requiring you to leave the country or wait months for funds to season. This option is priced separately from the standard package and quoted on a case-by-case basis. Please contact [email protected]  for more details.

Yes. Thailand offers a variety of Visa options for those over 50.

Other options commonly used by Retirees include:

• Non-Immigrant 'OA' Visa
• LTR Wealthy Pensioner Visa

Each of these options are specifically designed for those over 50 years of age. 

However, additional options that Retirees commonly use but do not have an age component attached to them include:

• Thailand Privilege Card
• Non-Immigrant 'O' Visa for the purpose of Marriage to a Thai National.
• LTR Wealthy Global Citizen Visa
• Destination Thailand Visa (soft power category) 

We can also assist you in applying for, maintaining, and renewing each these options. 

No. Unlike the Non-OA Retirement Visa, the Non-O does not require health insurance. Many retirees choose the Non-O for this reason, although we always recommend considering private health coverage for peace of mind.

Yes. Every 90 days you must file a 90-day report (TM.47 Form) with Thai Immigration.

Your first 90-day report must be done in person at a Thai Immigration Office (we handle this with you as part of our service). After that, all subsequent 90-day reports can be submitted online using the Immigration Bureau’s TM.47 portal. As part of our service, we walk you through exactly how to do this.

However, one thing worth noting is that if you leave and re-enter Thailand within a given 90-day period between reports, that exit and re-entry automatically resets the 90-day clock. In that case, you do not need to file a report as your most recent passport entry stamp acts as the new start date.

For Example: If you last did your 90-day report on January 1st, your next report would normally be due on April 1st. But if you take a trip to Singapore on March 15th and return on March 20th, you no longer need to file on April 1st. Instead, your next 90-day report is due on June 18th, exactly 90 days after your March 20th re-entry stamp.

Note that reports are always counted as exactly 90 days — not “3 months.” In a leap year, February counts as 29 days, so the next due date is always 90 calendar days after the last report or re-entry stamp.

Also note that you can submit the 90-day report online up to 15 days in advance of the due date. And as part of our service, we track these deadlines for you so you never have to worry about missing one.

You’ll need a Re-Entry Permit to maintain your visa status while traveling.

This can be a Single Entry Re-Entry Permit which allows you to leave and come back to Thailand once during your Visa period.

It can also be a Multiple Entry Re-Entry Permit which allows you to leave and come back to Thailand multiple times over the course of your Visa period.

The Multiple Entry option is most popular and we arrange this for you at the time of application. 

Your Non-Immigrant 'O' Retirement Visa is renewable annually as long as you continue to meet the financial and compliance requirements.

We can assist with renewals starting 21-days before the expiration date on your pre-existing period of stay to ensure uninterrupted long-term status here in Thailand.

For example, if your Visa expires on September 21st, we can start the annual renewal process on September 1st. 

If your spouse is under 50 years old, they can usually be added as a dependent on your Non-O Retirement Visa. In that case, their visa is tied to yours, and you’ll need to show proof of marriage along with your application.

If your spouse is 50 or older, they will need to apply for their own individual Retirement Visa and meet the financial requirements separately. Thai Immigration treats both applicants independently, even if you’re married.

For dependents other than a spouse (for example, children), different visa categories apply, and we can advise you on the best path during your eligibility assessment.

The Non-O Retirement Visa process is manageable on your own, but it’s rarely simple. Immigration and banks expect documents in very specific formats, and the order of steps matters more than most people realize. Even something as basic as opening a Thai bank account, which is essential for securing the 12-month extension, depends on having other registrations in place first. If the sequence is off, you can end up making repeat visits and losing time.

We simplify all of that by pre-screening every document against Immigration’s exact requirements, managing the sequence for you, and accompanying you through the key steps. Instead of trial and error, you get a smooth, guided process where everything is handled correctly the first time.

If we’ve confirmed your eligibility during our upfront assessment and you proceed with us, your approval is fully protected.

In the unlikely event your application is denied, we refund your payment in full, even if it comes out of pocket for us. To date, none of our clients have ever been denied when following our process. This protection simply reflects the confidence we have in our system and the diligence of our team.