Thailand Retirement Visa: Non-O, O-A and O-X Compared

Retirement routes start at age 50. The one-year extension asks for THB 800,000 in a Thai bank, or income of THB 65,000 a month, or income plus deposit totalling THB 800,000. The O-A adds health insurance of USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000. The O-X asks for THB 3 million in a Thai bank.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Three visas serve retirees, and each tests money differently. The extension follows entry on a Non-Immigrant O.

The three routes at a glance

Non-O entry and the retirement extension

A Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement lets you stay 90 days. Applicants must be at least 50.

At the Phnom Penh embassy there are three funds proofs. One is a bank statement of at least THB 800,000. Another is an income certificate of at least THB 65,000 a month. The third is a deposit plus monthly income totalling at least THB 800,000 a year.

You then extend inside Thailand. A one-year extension may be granted at the officer’s discretion if you meet the requirements. Permission is granted for no more than 1 year at a time.

Money routes for the extension

The Immigration Bureau order sets three routes. Pick one.

• Income: evidence of at least THB 65,000 a month.
• Deposit: at least THB 800,000 in a Thai bank.
• Combined: income during the year plus a Thai bank deposit totalling at least THB 800,000 on the filing date.

The seasoning rule

The deposit must be in the account at least 2 months before filing and at least 3 months after permission is granted. Three months after permission you can withdraw, but at least THB 400,000 must remain.

The combined route has a different floor. After the 3 months, at least half of the deposit amount must remain. The THB 400,000 floor belongs to the deposit-only route.

Insurance and the O-A

Only holders of the O-A visa need health insurance for the extension. The cover is at least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000, including COVID-19, for the whole stay. Thai policies are bought online through longstay.tgia.org.

Filing the extension

You file at the immigration office covering where you live. Bring the TM.7 request form and a copy of your passport. For the deposit route add a bank certificate of deposit and a copy of the account. An extension of stay costs THB 1,900 on the Immigration Bureau fee schedule.

While an extension is pending you may stay, with appointment stamps, for no more than 30 days in total from the day permission ended. After a refusal you leave within 7 days of the day permission ended.

O-A: the long-stay retirement visa

The O-A is issued by an embassy and lets you stay for 1 year. It is valid for one year.

• Age: at least 50.
• Money: a bank statement of not less than THB 800,000, or a monthly pension income of 65,000 baht.
• Passport: valid for not less than 18 months, at the Oslo embassy.
• Police record: not more than three months old, at the Oslo embassy.
• Residence: the Oslo embassy asks for proof of permanent residence in Norway or Iceland.
• Insurance: coverage of not less than USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000, including COVID-19, for the whole stay.
• Work: employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

An O-A holder notifies immigration of the stay every 90 days. Some embassy pages still show an older inpatient cover of THB 400,000 per policy year.

O-X: the 10-year route

The O-X lets you stay up to 10 years with multiple entries. That is 5 years from first entry, extendable for 5 more. Applicants must be at least 50.

Who can apply

The O-X is open to nationals of Australia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Money and insurance

• Deposit: THB 3 million in a Thai bank.
• Or THB 1.8 million in a Thai bank plus income of THB 1.2 million a year.
• Within the following year, at least THB 1.5 million must be left in the account.
• Insurance: Thai health insurance with outpatient cover of at least THB 40,000 and inpatient cover of at least THB 400,000.

The stay permit may be revoked if the account holds less than THB 3 million at the end of the first year. It may also be revoked if it holds less than THB 1.5 million at the end of the second year, or if the money was spent outside Thailand.

Rules for O-X holders

• Report in person to an immigration officer every year for a check of your qualifications and documents.
• Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.
• You may work as a volunteer on the Department of Employment list, buy a vehicle and buy a condominium under the Condominium Act.
• Extensions and visa changes are filed at the Immigration Bureau office at Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, and are at the officer’s discretion.

Rules for every retiree

• 90-day report: notify immigration of your address every 90 days. You can report from 15 days before until 7 days after the due date. A late report is made in person with a THB 2,000 fine.
• Re-entry: leaving without a re-entry permit cancels the permitted stay. A single permit costs THB 1,000 and a multiple one THB 3,800.

For a 10-year route based on pension income, see the Wealthy Pensioner category in the LTR visa guide. For a short stay with remote work, see the DTV guide.

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Not confirmed: The exact insurance sum your embassy asks for on the O-A: older embassy pages still show a different split. Check the page of the post where you apply before you buy a policy.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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