Retirement
Non-OA Retirement Visa
The Non-Immigrant ‘OA’ Retirement Visa gives retirees aged 50 and above a full 12-month stay granted upfront, obtained through a Thai embassy or Consulate before you fly. It requires approved health insurance and a police clearance certificate.
A quick note from our Director, Wat
Risk-free service commitment
What happens if your application is refused?
You'll know first
Before you pay anything, we tell you whether you qualify, and exactly what to fix if you don't.
Half upfront, half after
You pay 50% upfront and the balance only after your application is approved.
Refunded if refused
If a denial were ever to occur, we refund your initial payment in full.
Knowledgeable and very helpful. Wat's help with the entire process was invaluable. It gave us confidence the all of the paperwork was completed properly so we could focus on everything else we needed to do to move to Thailand. Five stars!
Thailand Blueprint is what companies should aspire to be. Their service delivery was timely. Their communication was on point, giving regular updates, and answering questions with clarity. I was a valued customer. I recommend them without hesitation.
Sara and I are so appreciative of the work you guys have done to assist us in making our dream of living in this beautiful country. From the first meeting we felt we were dealing with the right people. Thanks to Preaw for keeping us up to speed on the client portal.
Before you start
Why do Non-OA Retirement Visa applications break down?
You can secure this visa yourself, and some people do. Six things reliably trip people up: insurance issues, proof of funds confusion, a clunky e-Visa system, banking surprises, switching visas later, and entry stamps that do not match the visa.
Insurance issues
This visa requires health insurance from an approved Thai insurer. Foreign policies only work if the insurer signs a very specific certificate, which many refuse. This causes rejections, delays and wasted money.
Proof of funds confusion
Embassies apply financial rules differently depending on where they are based. Currency inconsistencies regularly trigger back-and-forth and slow approvals.
A clunky e-Visa system
The embassy portal is prone to errors and vague requests. Even small mistakes can delay an application for weeks.
Banking surprises
Thai banks apply inconsistent rules. Some branches require residence certificates, TM.30s and landlord documents to open an account, others do not.
Switching visas later
Many people start on the ‘OA’ and move to the ‘O’ later. Without proper banking set up in year one, that conversion becomes unnecessarily difficult.
Entry stamps that do not match the visa
Immigration stamps you to whichever comes first the 12 month visa validity period, or the day your health insurance expires. People read the visa dates instead of the stamp, and overstay without realising.
How we work
How does Thailand Blueprint simplify the process?
We build applications against the written and unwritten requirements of Thai Embassies, Consulates, Board of Investment, and Immigration. We then sequence every step in the right order and execute the entire process. Everything is tracked and organized in our secure client portal (opens in a new tab).
Step by step
How long does this take, and what do you have to do?
Seven steps, in order, with the elapsed time for each and a plain division of labour. The middle column is everything you personally have to do. Read down it on its own if that is the question you came with.
Step 1: Eligibility assessment
- When
- Before anything is paidfrom engagement
- You
- Answer questions about your age and your situation.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Confirm the OA is the right route rather than the Non-O, settle whether you qualify on bank deposit or on pension, and check your insurance can actually be made compliant.
Step 2: Client portal setup
- When
- Day 1from engagement
- You
- Upload your documents to the portal, and start your medical certificate and police clearance.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Set you up in the portal and pre-check every document against what your Thailand embassy or consulate specifically requires.
Step 3: Embassy application
- When
- About 20 working daysfrom embassy submission
- You
- Buy the health insurance policy we confirm is compliant. Premiums are paid direct to the insurer.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Prepare and submit your OA application through the embassy e-Visa system, coordinate the insurance certificate, and handle everything the embassy comes back with on your behalf.
Relocation Roadmap & Bangkok Rental Service
Bolt-on relocation service. You can add it or leave it.
Step 4: Visa issued as an e-Visa
- When
- On approvalfrom embassy submission
- You
- Nothing. Book your flights once the visa is in hand.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Send you the e-Visa PDF and confirm exactly how long you will be stamped in for, which depends on your insurance end date rather than the visa.
VIP Arrival
Bolt-on relocation service. You can add it or leave it.
Step 5: Arrival in Thailand
- When
- Day 0after arrival in Thailand
- You
- Show the e-Visa at Immigration. Your 12 months starts here.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Brief you before you fly on what Immigration will ask for and what your entry stamp should say.
Step 6: Thai bank account
- When
- Week 1–2after arrival in Thailand
- You
- Premium package only. Come to the branch with your passport.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Attend the bank with you in Bangkok and open the account.
Bangkok Orientation Day & Thai Driver’s Licence
Bolt-on relocation service. You can add it or leave it.
Step 7: Post-service maintenance
- When
- Ongoing, at no further costafter arrival in Thailand
- You
- Nothing. We tell you when something is due.
- Thailand Blueprint Team
- Track your reporting dates and your insurance renewal, and stay available for the switch to a Non-O later if that turns out to suit you better.
90-Day Reporting
Bolt-on relocation service. You can add it or leave it.
Total duration for the Non-OA Retirement Visa: Start to finish: about 20 working days at the embassy — then you fly with the visa already issued
That is the whole process. If you want to know which parts apply to you, the assessment is free.
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Client stories
What do our clients say?
Wat and his team are top notch. They communicate, inform, and guide you through this difficult process with ease. We relocated from the USA to Hua Hin and we are so glad we put our trust in Thailand Blueprint. We highly recommend this company.
Their webportal is easy to work with and they respond quickly and adequately. Fah and Wat are very friendly persons that did all the work for me and helped me through the processes of getting a bank account and the visa.
The team at Blueprint are true professionals. They are extremely competent, knowledgeable and helpful in every step of the process. I highly recommend contacting them before anyone else.
Wat and his team were fantastic. Talk me through the whole process of obtaining my Non-O retirement visa, from the first contact email to getting that stamp in my passport. They were with me every step of the way.
My life has been very scattered over the past few years, and thus my visa situation was quite complicated. The whole team at Thailand Blueprint was incredible at handling all the different hurdles that appeared along the way, and I always felt 100% confident in their hands.
I had a complex situation that required insider knowledge of the visa application process, and with Fah and Wat's kind help, we got my visa approved. The team was responsive, proactively updated me before I had to ask, and showed professionalism throughout.
The package
What does it cost, and what is included?
Two packages, not inclusive of government fees. You pay half upfront and the balance only after final approval.
Everything else about the move, from property to licences, extra arrival support and beyond, is optional and priced separately. The package stands on its own without any of it.
Visa only
THB19,000Not inclusive of government fees
Half upfront, half after approval
- 12-month Non-Immigrant ‘OA’ Retirement Visa
- Pre-departure checklist
- Secure client portal (opens in a new tab)
- Post-approval maintenance package
- Pay half upfront, half after approval
Visa + bank account
THB24,000Not inclusive of government fees
Half upfront, half after approval
- Everything in visa only, plus:
- Thai bank account setup
- Most clients arriving without an existing Thai account choose this
This visa does require compliant health insurance, and the wrong policy is one of the most common reasons OA applications stall. We arrange it through a licensed brokerage that knows these rules inside out. You pay the insurer directly.
Risk-free service commitment. Before you pay anything, we tell you whether you qualify, and exactly what to fix if you don't. You pay 50% upfront and the balance only after your visa is approved. In the unlikely event of a denial, we refund both your service fee and the government fee in full.
The rest of your move
What else can you add?
Six services clients ask for most. Add any combination, or none at all.
Bangkok Rental Service
Before you leave + on arrival
No fee to you
- Vetted options before you arrive
- In-person tours with our agent
- Lease, filings and utilities handled
VIP Arrival
On landing day
From THB 6,500
- Meet-and-assist through immigration
- SIM card and phone plan sorted
- Private driver, high-end vehicle
90-Day Reporting
Ongoing
THB 5,000 / year
- Deadlines tracked in your portal
- Reports filed on your behalf
- No Immigration visits
Thai Driver’s Licence
Your first month
From THB 8,000
- Car and motorbike licences
- Appointments scheduled for you
- Paperwork arranged in advance
Bangkok Orientation Day
Your first week
THB 10,000
- We meet you at your residence
- Key apps and BTS/MRT cards
- Private hospital pre-registration
Relocation Roadmap
Done before you leave
THB 10,000
- Built on a 1-hour consult call
- Three-stage execution plan
- Downloadable PDF package
Your client portal
What happens after your visa is approved?
Every client keeps the portal after approval, at no further cost. Your 90-day reports, TM.30 filings and the annual extension all sit in one place with their due dates, so nothing arrives as a surprise a week before it is late.
“I switched from another company after they failed to inform me of the do’s and don’ts to maintain an easy visa extension the previous year. The after care advice was just another bit extra.”
“What others described as a nightmare was smooth and stress-free. We couldn’t be more thankful.”
Answers
What else do people ask about this visa?
Who qualifies for the Non-Immigrant ‘OA’ Retirement Visa?
To qualify you must be at least 50 years of age. Beyond that, there are three things every applicant must be able to satisfy: a financial requirement, a health insurance requirement, and two additional documentation requirements that the Non-O does not have. All three must be met. If any one of them cannot be satisfied, the application cannot proceed.
Read the full answerWhat is the health insurance requirement, and why does it matter so much?
Health insurance is not optional for the OA. There is no workaround and no alternative pathway. Without a qualifying policy in place, the application cannot be submitted.
Read the full answerWhat medical certificate is required, and how do I get it?
As part of the OA application, you must provide a medical certificate signed by a licensed doctor confirming that you are free of the following five conditions: Leprosy, Tuberculosis (T.B.), Elephantiasis, Drug Addiction, and Third Stage of Syphilis. The certificate must be no older than 3 months at the time of application.
Read the full answerWhat is the police clearance requirement, and what counts as an acceptable document?
Every OA applicant must provide a Police Clearance Certificate, Criminal Background Check, or equivalent document issued by their country of application. This is a hard requirement with no alternative.
Read the full answerDoes the OA require me to visit a Thai Embassy or Consulate in person?
Almost never. The OA application is submitted through the Thai Embassy or Consulate’s e-Visa system, which means the majority of the process can be handled remotely. Thailand Blueprint manages the preparation, formatting, and submission of your application through the client portal (opens in a new tab) without requiring you to physically visit an Embassy or Consulate in most cases.
Read the full answerSee all answers about the Non-OA Retirement Visa
Last verified 2 September 2026
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