TimF

I always need my passport for anything. I also always get offered vip insurance and given a leaflet about it

Last year I was told they no longer do walk in appointments. It must be booked on line. Some translation services offer a package whereby they translate, make the appointment and take the docs there for you. They can then post everything to you. I found this a good option and no hassle

I think you have to book appointments at the MFA now. It used to be walk in but I think it's changed to online bookings now

A huge loss to so many people. So sad. Thank you for all your help and support. May you Rest in Peace.

I'm applying for non o based on retirement but also had the visit 2 days ago (i don't know why). We got told off for: Not having a table ready for them to work at Not having copied the ID cards and blue books of the neighbours Not having a printer to do the copies (had to go to village shop) Not having the house number on the front of the house Other than that it went well I think.

Hi, I am a British citizen about to retire to Thailand - arriving visa exempt then getting Non-O based on retirement. I do want health insurance and have investigated the Thai options, however it looks like I can get better (Worldwide) coverage applying in the UK via an international health care insurer. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is it generally better to get a Thai insurance policy eg LMG, Pacific Cross etc or are these international worldwide insurers just as good? The international insurer I have found seems to offer much higher level of cover, is worldwide and accepts pre-existing conditions for a lower (or similar) premium to the Thai insurers Any thoughts or experience much appreciated Kind regards Tim

Hi I previously had an OA visa and had the relevant health insurance which I bought through Luma but was covered by Pacific Cross. The price seemed to be the same regardless whether I went direct or through Luma. I never claimed on the policy but understand Luma offered extra benefits (like English speaking agents, direct billing) I am returning soon but will be on a Non-O so can choose the level of cover My questions are: 1) Does anyone have any opinion/experience regarding going direct or via a broker? 2) What would be a sensible level of cover for living in Isaan - I appreciate that some people will say "as much as you can afford" etc but I'm looking for a sensible figure based on costs of surgery etc in North east Thailand Any help much appreciated

Thanks for all the info everyone. I'll have a go at downloading. Moving to Thailand but want to try and set it up before I arrive. Will make life easier if I want the odd day in Bangkok or elsewhere

Hi Thanks for this. I have all the relevant documents and information to "help" register him. Did you do everything via the app or some/all online? Is the app available on Google playstore or is it a weird "apk" download? Finally - in short - if I can get this sorted then we don't need to go to the immigration office (it would be like staying at a hotel where they log people in/out)? Your help much appreciated - Kind regards Tim

Hello I will be arriving in Thailand 25 April and staying 1 night in hotel in Bangkok I will then be travelling to stay with my Thai wife's family in Nong Khai province (but a 2 hour drive from the immigration office) I understand he needs to register my arrival within 24 hours (TM30). Can my father-in-law (Thai national and owner of house with Blue Book) register my stay electronically or do we have to visit the immigration office? I read this "As owner you can apply for registration of house master account and electronically perform a TM.30-report..." with the link below https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/loginFnServlet?login=true If this is possible, can I then report further 90 day stays online meaning I don't have to visit an immigration office at all (for TM30) whilst I stay with them? Many thanks in advance Tim

OK thank you. I don't have the money in there yet. So I need the bank to provide a letter for immigration on the day I apply for the visa saying the funds came from abroad?

Hello Dr Jack Many thanks for this information. I have done transfers with Wise and 50% of the time it doesn't show as FTT (even though I select the specific Long Stay option) - If I do the Wise transfer and it doesn't show does that mean I have to try another transfer of 800K? Or what is the credit advice option - is this something I do in the UK with my UK bank? I did try this before but they use intermediary banks for Swift transfer so this showed as a local transfer. Kind regards Tim

Hello, I will be arriving in Thailand late April 2023 from the UK. Ultimately I want to obtain Non-O based on retirement from within Thailand (I do not want OA visa) I already have a Thai bank account which will have 800k THB when I arrive Question 1 Is it better to arrive on a Tourist visa (60 day) which I can get from the UK for £30 or just arrive visa exempt? I understand the only difference is I get slightly longer to apply (30 extra days if I have a tourist visa) and I would submit TM86 (if on tourist visa) or TM87 (if visa exempt) - both forms look almost identical so the application process seems to be the same - my plan is to apply the first week I arrive Question 2 On the TM86 and TM87 it says "I wish to apply for non-immigrant visa - reason(s) for application" - is it as simple as just writing "for retirement"? Question 3 The document explaining the requirements says: 5.1 Present passbook and deposit certificate from banks in Thailand (in Thai language (Attention: Immigration Commissioner)) 5.2 Copy of all entries of the applicant’s passbook showing that the applicant has a savings or fixed deposit account of not less than Baht 800,000 (all documents must be in the Applicant’s name) 5.3 Evidence of foreign currency fund transferred to Thailand **(Documents under 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 must be issued and updated to be the same date of the Application and all documents must be in the Applicant’s name.) 5.1 I have a passbook - what is meant by "deposit certificate" - the 800k THB will be by Wise transfer 5.3 Does this mean I need to ask the bank on the day I make the visa application to write a letter stating the 800k THB came from abroad Question 4 8 Rental Agreement between the Applicant and the Landlord; A copy of house registration. Location map of the house and a rental receipt Past three months. I will be living with my Thai wife's parents - I am not in a yellow book as yet - What would I need to show for this? Depending on what is required and how long it is likely to take to get, would this affect my choose of tourist visa or visa exempt in question 1 above? Many thanks in advance Tim

Thank you - Do I get the medicals at any private hospital (1 car licence medical and 1 motorbike medical)? Just checking - they don't need proof of address?

Hello I am about to retire to Thailand from the UK - arriving visa exempt then applying for Non-O based on retirement. I will be living with my in-laws initially. I am currently not in the yellow book and I don't have a pink ID card yet. Do I need to wait until I have the Non-O visa and name in yellow book and pink ID card before I even think about getting a Thai Driving licence? What will I be asked for (Nong Khai)? I have read that I should get an international driving permit in the UK before I arrive so I will do that. Do I need my UK driving licence to be translated into Thai and stamped at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Or can I just show my UK driving licence and the international driving permit? I have also read that there are 2 licences - 1 for car and 1 for motorbike. Is it the same paperwork for both? Can I apply for both at the same time? Will I need to do a test of any kind? Sorry a lot of questions but hopefully someone can give me some guidance on what I need and the process. Many thanks in advance

Just following up having seen some additional comments. As Dr Jack highlights I already have a Thai bank account which I think is the main stumbling point for people arriving visa exempt. I did previously make an enquiry to the Thai Embassy in London for a 3 month Non-O and they said I needed the same insurance as OA visa – which is why I am keen to just arrive visa exempt. So just following on from my original post, If I transfer 800K a week before I arrive in Thailand, what else do I need to have/do to get the 3 month Non-O “visa”. I will be staying with my in-laws but I’m not in a yellow book and I don’t have a pink ID card yet. I want to apply for the 3 month Non-O “visa” as soon as possible so any help in advising me what else I need in place would be very much appreciated. I was hoping to arrive and go straight to the immigration in Nong Khai register TM30 and do the Non-O at the same time if that’s possible?

Many thanks for the quick response - very helpful

Hi. I am British citizen planning to retire in Thailand April 2023. Please could someone advise the current (best) process to obtain the Non-O based on retirement - 800,000 Baht in the bank. My local immigration office will be Nong Khai I understand I can arrive in Thailand and obtain 45 days visa exempt. What are my next steps and the timelines? If there are forms needed (I am sure there will be) where can I download them from? I have a bank account with Bangkok Bank. Currently this has very little funds - when is the best time to transfer the 800k? I plan to buy a single ticket to Thailand - Do I need to buy a "cheap" flight out of Thailand - I read somewhere there are websites that offer some kind of ticketing service which works or should I buy a "real" ticket Are there currently any specific health insurance criteria I would need to meet - last time I arrived I needed Covid cover Many thanks in advance Tim

I covered a lot of this in an earlier post. Scroll to the bottom almost the last reply

I applied for an OA visa in UK last August (2021) and I had to have the 3.5m cover back then. I think it may vary dependent on where you are and/or what province you are in

I did my UK marriage cert. Mine had to be legalised in UK then sent to Thai embassy in London for a stamp then as per Ubonjoe above. The Amphoe also wanted my passport legalised which was a visit to British embassy in Bangkok then translate and stamped at MFA. Check what else is needed locally. I needed photos with family and friends too. Ps if you Google "how to legalise documents for thailand" you'll find a bunch of companies in the US that will handle the US part for you (that's what I did in the UK because I was already in Thailand so I sent them the marriag certificate by DHL and they sorted it and sent DHL back to me)

Hi I recently did this and used an ex-employee of the MFA - good price and will sort the translation, book the MFA appointment and take the translations there to get stamped - she has an office 200m from the MFA building - see the topic I did on this in January - the third to last comment on it (which I wrote) gives you all the details, directions and prices I paid

If you look at your OA Visa it will have a line which says something like "Medical Insurance Expiry" and the date - they will only grant you entry until the insurance expiry date printed on the visa OR you have a new policy which runs beyond that date

I used wise ticked the long stay option and they sent bit via kbank as local transfer. Then I tried SWIFT and my Jersey bank used an intermediary bank so agsin it showed as local transfer. So it's not always easy. I'm back in UK now so will visit Bangkok bank in London. 3rd time lucky

For UK Google Acro police check. You fill it in online. Doesn't take long. 2 day express option or standard up to 10 days