Non-Immigrant O

Thailand Retirement Visa: An Overview

A Thailand Retirement Visa is often known as an “Extension of Stay based on Retirement.” This is because the Thailand Retirement Visa is an extension of a non-immigrant O visa Thailand or a non-immigrant OA visa Thailand, rather than something that you could apply for independently. It is a long-stay visa allowing you to reside in the Land of Smiles legally while enjoying some convenient advantages.

The Retirement Visa Thailand includes these benefits:

• Up to at least 1 year of uninterrupted stay in Thailand
• Allows you to acquire a re-entry permit to enter and exit the country
• The visa is renewable on an annual basis
• You can renew your visa in Thailand without having to leave the country

Applying for a Retirement Visa Thailand

You will have to apply to acquire a Thailand Retirement Visa. As an applicant, you have the choice to apply either inside Thailand or from abroad.

You will need to meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Must be at least 50 years old 
• Must hold a valid foreign passport
• Must provide proof of residence in Thailand by presenting a 6-month lease or more (you can prove this by showing your rental contract and recent bills)
• Must be able to meet ONE of these financial requirements:
  • Have 800,000 THB as a security deposit for at least 2 months before applying for the visa
  • Monthly income of at least 65,000 THB
  • Combination of both a monthly income of 65,000 THB and a security deposit of 800,000 THB
• Must be able to provide the following documentation:
  • Proof of security deposit (bank book or passbook)
    • A letter from the bank must also be produced to state that the deposit was made no less than 2 months before the application
  • Letter from the embassy verifying your income of 65,000 THB
    • A letter from the embassy must be provided in case of using monthly income.
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Medical certificate
• Proof of health insurance Thailand (with a minimum coverage of $100,000 or the international equivalent)
• Supplementary documents (depending on nationality and current situation)

NOTE: If you’re applying from within Thailand, then you do not need to provide a police clearance, medical certificate, or proof of health insurance.

Once you have met the eligibility requirements and gathered all necessary documentation for the application, you will need to complete the following steps:

If inside Thailand:

1. Apply for a Thai Non-immigrant O Visa first
2. Remain in Thailand for 60 days (or the last 30 days of your Non-immigrant OA Visa)
3. Submit your documents to the Royal Thai Consulate or Embassy

If outside Thailand:

1. Apply for a 90-day non-immigrant O or OA visa with the nearest Thai embassy in your country of residence
2. With the non-immigrant O visa, book your flight to Thailand 
3. Remain in Thailand for at least 60 days before moving on to the next step 
4. Once you are on the last 30 days of your non-immigrant visa, you can apply to extend it via the Retirement Visa program

If applying as a tourist inside Thailand:

On the last 30 days of your non-immigrant visa, apply for the 1-year extension into a Thai Retirement Visa submit application at least 15 working days prior to the intended travelling date to Thailand.

Ensure you have either a valid tourist visa or a visa exemption

Must have a Thai bank account

Head over to the Thai Immigration Office and apply for a non-immigrant O visa.

Applying for a Retirement Visa for your spouse

If your spouse is also looking to retire in Thailand and is not a Thai citizen, and they meet all the above eligibility requirements, they will be able to qualify for the Thai Retirement Visa.

If your spouse is below 50 years of age or does not qualify for the Retirement Visa, they can still join you on your journey by applying for a Thai Dependent Visa.

• This visa is renewable on an annual basis
• The visa will be canceled the moment you and your spouse have filed for a divorce
• The following requirements need to be met:
  • Your spouse will need a passport with a remaining validity of at least 6 months
  • You will need to provide proof of relationship documents (such as a marriage certificate)
  • You will need to demonstrate that you can support your spouse (this can be achieved by providing proof of financial documents)

After obtaining a Thai Retirement Visa

Holding a Thai Retirement Visa requires you to adhere to certain guidelines. These include but are not limited to:

• Reporting to Immigration: As a Thai Retirement Visa holder, you still need to report to immigration every 90 days. This can be done at the Thai Immigration Office, online, or via mail. Alternatively, you can also leave the country to “reset the clock.” If you want to, you can also enlist a professional to handle the entire reporting procedure on your behalf for a few by providing them with power of attorney.
• Re-entry permits are required: You must possess a re-entry permit to fly out of the country without canceling your visa, obtainable either at the nearest immigration office or right before you fly out from an international airport in Thailand. If you will not be leaving Thailand at any time during your stay, then you don’t need a re-entry permit.
• Renewing your retirement visa: It is possible to renew your retirement visa every year, provided you have the appropriate funds in your bank account at least 3 months before the renewal process.
• Not permitted to work in Thailand: As a Retirement Visa holder, you cannot work in Thailand nor acquire a Thai work permit.

US Embassy and Consulate in Thailand

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Thai E-VISA

Thai Immigration

Thai Embassy.com (Not official however, plenty of useful information)