O-A Visa Eligibility: State Income During Paid Leave (6 Months)?

[VinnieVeritas]

Hi there,

Quick question regarding the Non-Immigrant O-A visa. I'm a EU Belgian citizen taking a 6-month paid leave from my state employment starting in Nov 2026, before my official pension begins in June 2027. Will the regular state income I receive during this paid leave period be considered valid income for the O-A visa if I apply for a stay in Thailand during those months? 

 

Any insights from those with experience or knowledge of Thai immigration would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Vincent

[Liquorice]

Not sure if I understand your question.

 

The Non O-A visa is valid for 12 months, each entry permits a stay of 12 months.

It's possible to stay in Thailand for 2 years by entering again just prior to the visa expiry date.

The financial requirement for the visa can be from your Belgian bank account.

 

[BrandonJT]

If you want to use the income method rather than the banked money method to qualify, most embassies would require that income to be retirement income, not salary or regular pay.

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, VinnieVeritas said:

Will the regular state income I receive during this paid leave period be considered valid income for the O-A visa if I apply for a stay in Thailand during those months? 

OP, your post is not clear.

Do you have a valid Non O-A visa.

If so when is it's expiry.

 

[steve187]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, your post is not clear.

Do you have a valid Non O-A visa.

If so when is it's expiry.

 

I think the problem arises from people's confusion over what is stamped in their passports,  a 'visa' is normally issued outside of Thailand, some can be issued inside Thailand ie non immigrant 'O' visa as part of a conversion, but non immigrant 'O''A' can not be issued inside Thailand

an 'extension' to the permission to stay is issued inside Thailand, be it 30 days, 60 days or longer all 1,900thb.

I think the op is not making it clear what he has and what he wants, this makes it harder to give correct advice

[khunPer]

18 hours ago, VinnieVeritas said:

Hi there,

Quick question regarding the Non-Immigrant O-A visa. I'm a EU Belgian citizen taking a 6-month paid leave from my state employment starting in Nov 2026, before my official pension begins in June 2027. Will the regular state income I receive during this paid leave period be considered valid income for the O-A visa if I apply for a stay in Thailand during those months? 

 

Any insights from those with experience or knowledge of Thai immigration would be appreciated!

 

Thanks,

 

Vincent

If you apply for an O-A visa you need to show proof of income of at least equivalent to 65,000 baht per month or savings of at least 800,000 baht. Your income can be from Belgium, and your savings acn be in Belgium bank – that's the benefit of the O-A visa, you don't need to deposit funds in Thailand – the Thai embassy in Belgium probably have clear information on their webpage about documentation requirements.

 

An O-A visa has 12-month durability. It means that every time you enters Thailand within that 12-month period period, you will get a stamp with 12 months permitted stay.

 

You need a health insurance approved by Thai authorities.