I'm probably not the only German citizen who turned 50 but had already emigrated to Thailand, and got the idea to combine the application for non-immigration O-A with a trip back home. Let me tell you: it's a bad idea. It is impossible to obtain the necessary documents because of insurmountable bureaucratic hurdles - if you do not still have papers and residency in Germany. Of course, I have no idea what the situation is like in other countries.

 

Problem 1: You need a record of conduct (Führungszeugnis). If you do not have residency anymore, you have to apply for that online at the Ministry of Justice (Bundesjustizministerium). However, you need a domestic ID (Personalausweis) to do so. A passport does not work. If your ID has expired, you need to apply for it at the embassy while still in Thailand. If you're back in Germany, you have to ask at a Bürgeramt (city council) to get permission from the embassy to issue an ID. That may take 3 weeks, and only then can you apply for it. So it'll take a total of 5-6 weeks until you get the ID you need to apply for a record of conduct. If that sounds Kafkaesque, that's because it is.

 

Problem 2: You need to be checked for 5 rather special diseases by your house doctor (the form is on the embassy webpage). If you don't have one, you need to go to a hospital - but they will send you to a specialist because some of these tests are rarely done. It used to be possible to do this at a port immigration medical office (Hafengesundheitsamt), but not anymore. No one can tell me how much this will cost but expect a couple of hundred Euros for a piece of paper (or have a friend who is friends with a doctor).

 

Problem 3: To check for the responsible embassy or consulate, you're required to upload proof of residence. If you already live in Thailand, that's the toughest problem to solve. It used to be possible to register yourself with relatives. However, since many refugees seem to have done this to excess, you now need a Wohngeberbescheinigung (certificate of address) by the flat / house's owner. If you are not actually living there, that friend / relative commits a felony carrying a fine of up to 5000 Euros. Of course, someone would have to check but there is a Volkszählung (population count) going on right now so the timing is bad this year.

 

The solution (in Germany) is to apply for Non-immigrant 0 90 days which does not require a health certiificate or record of conduct. Proof of residency may still be asked for, a way around this is to send your documents through a local visa service to ensure they land on the right desk. I hope this is helpful for some, again I do not know about the situation in other countries. Based on my experience, I'd strongly suggest arranging long-stay in Thailand and buy re-entry permits.

7 minutes ago, RaduAlex said:

. Based on my experience, I'd strongly suggest arranging long-stay in Thailand and buy re-entry permits

What stops you from reentering Thailand visa exempt and obtaining non O retirement at immigration in Thailand.

If you already cut your ties with your home country why would you apply there and not get an extension over here?

Just come back now, and clear all your problem in the wonderful world of Thailand.

35 minutes ago, RaduAlex said:

application for non-immigration O-A with a trip back home. Let me tell you: it's a bad idea.

It's a bad idea anyway if the plan is to stay long term in Thailand.

Just enter visa exempt and get a non-O visa at immigration.