Obtaining Non-o in Thailand

[smoo1954]

Is it possible as a 60 year old German citizen to travel to Thailand enter on visa exempt and then apply for Non O Retirement?

[Salerno]

Yes.

 

1. Arrive visa exempt: open bank account and deposit 800K asap*, if hassles opening bank account get an agent to help if needed.
    
2. Apply for Non-O: Costs 2000 Bht - need 15 days left on your stay which is tight but doable (get 30 day extension on your visa exempt for 1900 Bht if necessary). The 800K has to be in bank the day you apply. Gives you 90 days.
    
3. Apply for extension of stay: Costs 1900 Bht. Money has to be in the bank for 2 months at this point. Extension gives you 12 months and you then renew the extension annually (1900 Bht). Get a reentry permit at the same time (1000 Bht for single, 3800 Bht for multiple) so you can come and go as you please or leave it and pick one up at the airport on the way out if you aren't going to exit often.

 

* or you may be thinking of going the 65K per month route with a letter from Embassy?

Edited March 23, 2023 by Salerno

[Red Phoenix]

Good advice by Salerno, covering all the main points.

I presume you are not officially married to a Thai citizen, or that you have Thai dependant children.  If that would be the case, you could also opt to apply for a Non Imm O Visa for reason of marriage or for reason of dependant children, which requires more documentation to provide with your application but with much lower financial requirements to be met.

 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Red Phoenix

[smoo1954]

Salerno and Red thank you for your quick responses. Very helpful.

[DrJack54]

OP, the above experts gave you good info.

 

Being from Germany your embassy still provides you with "income letter" which gives you option to use "income method" 

 

The alternative is "money in bank method"

 

Either way what is critical is for you to have Thai bank account in your name only.

Do you have that? 

[smoo1954]

DrJack. Will be opening a bank account on 2nd of arrival.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, smoo1954 said:

DrJack. Will be opening a bank account on 2nd of arrival.

Opening a bank account is not as simple one would think.

Especially in Bangkok. 

[OJAS]

OP - following are links to

 

(1) official Immigration Bureau guidance on obtaining non-O visa conversions for retirement:

 

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf

 

(2) what appears to be official German Embassy guidance on obtaining monthly income confirmation letters should this be of interest to you (unfortunately my grasp of the German language is pretty rusty these days):

 

https://bangkok.diplo.de/blob/1396412/46846f2a57049f6a46d7b52ae984d42a/renten-einkommensbescheinigung-data.pdf

 

[khunJam]

On 3/23/2023 at 12:37 AM, Salerno said:

Apply for Non-O: Costs 2000 Bht - need 15 days left on your stay which is tight but doable (get 30 day extension on your visa exempt for 1900 Bht if necessary). The 800K has to be in bank the day you apply. Gives you 90 days.

Is it possible to get a reentry permit during the 90 day Non-O? Leave, then return before the expiration of the 90 day Non-O, then apply for the 1 year extension?

 

On 3/23/2023 at 12:37 AM, Salerno said:

Apply for extension of stay: Costs 1900 Bht. Money has to be in the bank for 2 months at this point. Extension gives you 12 months and you then renew the extension annually (1900 Bht). Get a reentry permit at the same time (1000 Bht for single, 3800 Bht for multiple) so you can come and go as you please or leave it and pick one up at the airport on the way out if you aren't going to exit often.

How much time should the 1-year extension application be submitted before the expiration of the 90 day Non-O? 

 

If opt not to get a multiple reentry permit, then how many reentry permits are allowed during the 1 year extension period?

 

U.S. citizen, have the funds in an account well over 2 months and a residence in CM. Plan to return to CM for a short 2 week visit and get the 90 day Non-O during that time. Leave then return to CM after about 6-8 weeks and apply for the 1-year extension. Can do? Or not?

 

The questions asked pertains to what is allowed by immigration, not my personal time management.

 

Thank you kindly

[BritTim]

15 minutes ago, khunJam said:

Is it possible to get a reentry permit during the 90 day Non-O? Leave, then return before the expiration of the 90 day Non-O, then apply for the 1 year extension?

Sure you can. However, note that the visa application is taken under consideration. You do not have the 90-day stay from the Non O visa until your application is officially accepted which is typically about 30 days after you make the application. Thus, a trip out of Thailand during the under consideration period will only be possible if you return before the report back date. Once the Non O visa is officially accepted, and the relevant stamps inserted in your passport, you will have, perhaps, 10 weeks or so before the 90-day permission to stay expires.

 

19 minutes ago, khunJam said:

How much time should the 1-year extension application be submitted before the expiration of the 90 day Non-O? 

You can apply up until the last day of the initial permission to stay. The earliest you can apply varies between offices, typically 30-45 days. It is prudent to apply two to four weeks before it expires just in case there is a problem that needs addressing, but many leave it until the last minute without repercussions.

 

23 minutes ago, khunJam said:

If opt not to get a multiple reentry permit, then how many reentry permits are allowed during the 1 year extension period?

Unlimited. You can also, if your plans suddenly change, get a multiple re-entry permit after using a single one.

 

25 minutes ago, khunJam said:

U.S. citizen, have the funds in an account well over 2 months and a residence in CM. Plan to return to CM for a short 2 week visit and get the 90 day Non-O during that time. Leave then return to CM after about 6-8 weeks and apply for the 1-year extension. Can do? Or not?

Not exactly as you describe it. You would need to be in Thailand for about a month for the Non O visa application (or, possibly make two visits about three weeks apart). Once you have the 90-day permission to stay, leaving and returning in time for the one-year extension is perfectly feasible.

[khunJam]

6 minutes ago, BritTim said:

Sure you can. However, note that the visa application is taken under consideration. You do not have the 90-day stay from the Non O visa until your application is officially accepted which is typically about 30 days after you make the application. Thus, a trip out of Thailand during the under consideration period will only be possible if you return before the report back date. Once the Non O visa is officially accepted, and the relevant stamps inserted in your passport, you will have, perhaps, 10 weeks or so before the 90-day permission to stay expires.

 

You can apply up until the last day of the initial permission to stay. The earliest you can apply varies between offices, typically 30-45 days. It is prudent to apply two to four weeks before it expires just in case there is a problem that needs addressing, but many leave it until the last minute without repercussions.

 

Unlimited. You can also, if your plans suddenly change, get a multiple re-entry permit after using a single one.

 

Not exactly as you describe it. You would need to be in Thailand for about a month for the Non O visa application (or, possibly make two visits about three weeks apart). Once you have the 90-day permission to stay, leaving and returning in time for the one-year extension is perfectly feasible.

Thank you BritTim for the clear lucid explanation, much appreciated.