Retirement Visa

The retirement visa, valid for three months, gives the right to one entry for a maximum of 90 days. It can be extended on the spot, at the immigration service. The non-immigrant visa O is delivered to the persons of more than 50 years old who wish to remain 90 days in Thailand. Te retirement visa does not allow to work and gives the right to stay in Thailand for 90 days (the key gives only one entry in Thailand). Any exit from the territory will cause the cancellation of the visa and will require a new application to enter again in Thailand). The holder of this retirement visa can extend or change the type of visa after entering Thailand with the immigration department.

It is intended for retirees and people over 50 years old. With this extended stay visa, the holder can stay in Thailand for one year and make several entries. If one of the stays exceeds three months, it is necessary to present itself to the immigration service. This retirement visa does not allow to work. It can be extended on the spot with the immigration service. Retirement visa does not allow to work and gives the right to stay in Thailand for one year with multiple entries. For each entry, if the stay exceeds 3 months, the holder must present himself to the immigration service. The holder of this visa can extend it with the immigration service.

Registration fees (non-refundable) are 2,000 Baht. If the application is approved, the Government’s fees will be fixed at a rate of THB 5 per 1,000 baht or a fraction of the parent company’s capital, with a minimum of THB 20,000 and a maximum of THB 250,000. A fraction of THB 1,000 in the capital is considered to be THB 1,000.

As stated by Thai consular authorities, the retirement visa is intended to facilitate extended stays for foreign travelers aged 50 and over and nationals of the following 14 countries: France, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. The O-X non-immigrant visa is a multiple-entry visa that allows you to stay in the Kingdom for a maximum period of 10 years (5 years of validity of the visa can be extended for another 5 years) and costs 10,000 Baths (300,00€). This visa can now be obtained from any of these 14 countries or directly in Thailand, regardless of the type of visa or visa exemption used to enter the country initially. This visa also has the following advantages:

The O-A visa is valid for one year. A renewal can be requested 15 days before its expiration. The requirements are similar to those for a first application. You will need to gather all the documents required for your first application, taking into account any new requirements imposed by immigration. With regular updates to the list of documents and requirements, whether you are applying for the first time or renewing your visa, it is often difficult to keep track of what is required, bearing in mind that the immigration officer may ask you for additional documents if he or she wishes. Being accompanied by our lawyer, who has more than 15 years of experience, is an undeniable asset for the success of your file, which will allow you to obtain your visa more serenely, accompanied and advised by our English-speaking consultants at every step.

If you want to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand, you have two options:

If you want to apply for your retirement visa in Thailand from a Thai embassy, please check first the required documents and the procedure to apply for your visa. Thai embassies have already set up an online visa application procedure where you need to make an appointment online and submit your documents online. If you wish to apply for your visa in Thailand at a Thai embassy, we recommend you to follow the steps below:

Step 1. Check in which Thai embassy you will apply for your visa. Please note that some nationalities will use their retirement visa at the Thai embassy in their home country.

Step 2. Check with the chosen Thai embassy what documents you need to provide for your retirement visa (O non-immigrant visa, OA non-immigrant visa, OX non-immigrant visa) and check if the chosen Thai embassy requires you to make an appointment online and submit the application before the appointment.

Step 3. Go to the chosen embassy with all documents to the designated Thai embassy and pay the visa fee to the embassy official.

Step 4. Take your passport with your retirement visa for three months, one year or five years, depending on the type of retirement visa.

Step 5. Upon arrival in Thailand, you can apply for an extension of your retirement visa.

How to obtain and renew this non-immigrant O visa? Applicants must deposit 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for 2 months (3 months in the case of a renewal) prior to application, and then hold the funds for three months after the visa is granted. The retirement visa holder may then withdraw money from the account, but the balance must not be less than 400,000 baht at any time. Applicants can also produce an income certificate from their embassy showing a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht.

These new rules are already in effect. However, current retirement visa holders renewing their visas in 2019 will still be subject to the above conditions (i.e., providing proof that at least THB 800,000 is available in the bank account in the three months prior to the visa renewal). However, at the time of visa renewal, they will be required to sign a document formally stating that they are aware of the new requirements in order to comply with them at the next visa renewal.