I'm not eligible for this but thinking long-term for future & friends have inquiries. If these questions are already answered by a past forum, please feel free to note. 

 

1) Updated reqs are: Age 50+, Proof insurance & finance, 800,000 THB in Thai Bank for 3 months (no longer 2)?

2) Does Ret visa inhibit ability to hold primary residence in current nation (are you considered now primarily residing in TH)?

3) Would Retirement visa prohibit one from working in their current nation if they wanted to continue working?

4) Is there a number of months per year you must reside in Thailand to hold the Retirement visa?

5) I've heard rumors about the Retirement visa being cancelled; is there real evidence of this?

 

Many thanks for any info folks.

 

Just about NO to all.

There is no such thing as retirement visa.

Your most likely referring to Non O-A.

Cut to chase you can't work in Thailand that's about main restriction on visa based on retirement.

The rest is easy. You do not need to be retired. You can work in own country.

No requirement to be in Thailand certain # of months etc.

Also look into non O based on retirement.

Good option for some.

Edited October 28, 20205 yr by DrJack54

OP, which country are you from.

Thanks Dr J.  Correct me if wrong but yes proper terminology seems to be Non Immigrant O or OA Long-Stay Visa depending on if applied for within or outside TH. I imagine if you cannot work in TH on this visa you probably cannot run a business either (that would require a different type of visa)?

My nation is USA. Also asking for friends from Canada.

1 minute ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

My nation is USA. Also asking for friends from Canada.

That's why I asked your country. 

A non O visa based on retirement cannot be obtained in USA. You can obtain a non O-A but that has additional requirements, one of which is nonsense insurance.

Above you asked about working and business in Thailand. Regarding that best wait for expert advice from expert such as ubonjoe.

Just to add ignoring the working requirement aspect.....the non O retirement is easy to achieve for folk from many countries that do not provide that option. 

Just enter Thailand visa exempt or tourist visa and obtain non o (retirement) at immigration office inside Thailand.

Again thanks. Not sure what you mean by 'nonsense insurance' tho. How about obtaining a non-O for Canadians? I'm guessing from what you're saying also that an American citizen or resident can obtain Non-O Longterm visa if they enter on a tourist visa and apply from within TH?

22 minutes ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

Again thanks. Not sure what you mean by 'nonsense insurance' tho. How about obtaining a non-O for Canadians? I'm guessing from what you're saying also that an American citizen or resident can obtain Non-O Longterm visa if they enter on a tourist visa and apply from within TH?

That's correct. Not sure re Canadians. 

However it's simple process to enter Thailand (when borders open) and obtain non o inside Thailand. 

One slight hitch. I'm guessing you haven't been to Thailand much and perhaps don't have Thai bank account. 

One requirement is to show funds in Thai bank that has come from overseas. 

If you don't have existing Thai bank account perhaps consider enter on tourist visa that gives you more time. 

However a visa exempt entry can be extended by 30 days so it's possible to do it that way also.

The nonsense insurance was referring to requirement for obtaining Non O-A.

This guy can give you good advice on options. @Peter Denis

 

Edited October 28, 20205 yr by DrJack54

If someone like me came on a tourist visa it looks like the process involves first changing that to a 90-day Non-Immigrant visa, then making application for the Non O-A Longstay. That makes me curious if the 800,000 THB needs to be in a TH bank account 3 months before applying for the 90-day, or 3 months before applying for the actual Non O-A Longstay?

4 hours ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

Correct me if wrong but yes proper terminology seems to be Non Immigrant O or OA Long-Stay Visa depending on if applied for within or outside TH. //

 

Both Non O and Non O-A are visas that you get outside of Thailand.

A Thai visa is mainly an authorisation to enter in the the country and to get an authorisation of stay when you arrive. No point in asking for a visa when already in Thailand.

Main exception is the "change" of your visa type in a Non O visa if you want to apply for a yearly extension.

In Thailand you apply for a 12 month extension of stay (not a visa)

Money in a Thai bank for 2 months before application.

Edited October 28, 20205 yr by fishtank

6 hours ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

hat makes me curious if the 800,000 THB needs to be in a TH bank account 3 months before applying for the 90-day, or 3 months before applying for the actual Non O-A Longstay?

The 800k baht only has to be in the bank on the day the non-o visa is applied for at immigration. But you need to prove it came from abroad.

For the extension of stay it needs to be in the bank for 2 months on the day you apply.

 

8 hours ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

How about obtaining a non-O for Canadians?

A non-o visa can be applied for at a honorary consulate in Canada. They cannot be applied for at the embassy in Ottawa or the official consulate in Vancouver.

At this time the only visa that would allow entry to the country is a OA or OX visa due to the covid 19 restrictions.

57 minutes ago, fishtank said:

In Thailand you apply for a 12 month extension of stay (not a visa)

Money in a Thai bank for 2 months before application.

If you entered visa exempt or on tourist visa the first step to obtaining an annual extension based on retirement is to obtain a non o issued at immigration.

7 hours ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

If someone like me came on a tourist visa it looks like the process involves first changing that to a 90-day Non-Immigrant visa, then making application for the Non O-A Longstay. That makes me curious if the 800,000 THB needs to be in a TH bank account 3 months before applying for the 90-day, or 3 months before applying for the actual Non O-A Longstay?

Correct responses have already been provided by UJ.

But just want to mention that you can ONLY apply for the Non O-A Longstay Visa in your home-country (or country of permanent residence).  

When entering Thailand Visa Exempt or on a Tourist Visa (obviously currently not possible) you can apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa, but that would require having the required funds on your Thai bank-account at the moment of application

An advantage of the Non Imm O-A Visa is that it does NOT require you to park/transfer money to a personal Thai bank-account, during the almost 2 years of long-stay that Visa can provide you and with no need to to apply twice for the 1-year extension at your local IO.

>> I did PM you a Guideline document on how to meet the Non Imm O-A insurance requirement when applying for the Non Imm O-A Visa in your home-country (it is easy if you know how).

To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your profile when logged in to the Forum.

44 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Correct responses have already been provided by UJ.

But just want to mention that you can ONLY apply for the Non O-A Longstay Visa in your home-country (or country of permanent residence).  

When entering Thailand Visa Exempt or on a Tourist Visa (obviously currently not possible) you can apply for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa, but that would require having the required funds on your Thai bank-account at the moment of application

An advantage of the Non Imm O-A Visa is that it does NOT require you to park/transfer money to a personal Thai bank-account, during the almost 2 years of long-stay that Visa can provide you and with no need to to apply twice for the 1-year extension at your local IO.

>> I did PM you a Guideline document on how to meet the Non Imm O-A insurance requirement when applying for the Non Imm O-A Visa in your home-country (it is easy if you know how).

To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your profile when logged in to the Forum.

Hi, any chance you could PM one to me as well? I'm mulling the use of a Non O-A for next year's vacation and I'm not sure about the medical insurance aspect of it. 

 

Thanks, Glen

7 minutes ago, peeglen said:

Hi, any chance you could PM one to me as well? I'm mulling the use of a Non O-A for next year's vacation and I'm not sure about the medical insurance aspect of it.

Thanks, Glen

> PM sent and you are welcome.

That was the most helpful information I've read in a month of Sundays. Thanks for taking the time to put together such a well thought out  and written document.

Peter D, Dr J, Ubon Joe: all outstanding info. Inclined to ask if you folks are compensated for the guidance you provide here. If not, you should be; the info is valuable. Salutes.

1 hour ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

Peter D, Dr J, Ubon Joe: all outstanding info. Inclined to ask if you folks are compensated for the guidance you provide here. If not, you should be; the info is valuable. Salutes.

Hi, I am not a moderator or in any way associated with the ThaiVisa Forum but as a relative newbie (I am only 3 years in Thailand) seasoned members like UbonJoe, Tanoshi and other regular posters were very helpful in answering any questions I had and providing me with all the information needed to navigate the Thai Visa jungle.  So I am now just 'returning the favor' for the benefit of those in need of correct information on Thai Visa matters...

Edited October 29, 20205 yr by Peter Denis

15 hours ago, Dragonboat Ronin said:

My nation is USA. Also asking for friends from Canada.

 

For the US, the answer to your questions 2) and 3) is NO. I expect also for Canada.

 

 

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, which country are you from.

Why do you refer to Dragonboat Ronin as an Old Person?

3 minutes ago, stoutfella said:

Why do you refer to Dragonboat Ronin as an Old Person?

OP short for Original Poster.

Meaning the person that commenced the thread. Used in just about every thread.

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

That's correct. Not sure re Canadians. 

However it's simple process to enter Thailand (when borders open) and obtain non o inside Thailand. 

One slight hitch. I'm guessing you haven't been to Thailand much and perhaps don't have Thai bank account. 

One requirement is to show funds in Thai bank that has come from overseas. 

If you don't have existing Thai bank account perhaps consider enter on tourist visa that gives you more time. 

However a visa exempt entry can be extended by 30 days so it's possible to do it that way also.

The nonsense insurance was referring to requirement for obtaining Non O-A.

This guy can give you good advice on options. @Peter Denis

 

Huh?  I thought all the insurance was great value and covered everything...

A post lowering the tone of this discussion and replies removed. Please save those sort of comments for The Pub Forum. It appears that the OP now has sufficient information. so to prevent this topic 'descending' further I will close it. If OP wishes to re-open for more information then he can make a request.  CLOSED