Hi all, 

 

I have just returned to Thailand and want to reestablish my Non-immmigrant visa extension on the basis of retirement. I am aware that the requirements may have changed. I have been depositing 65,000+ baht into my Thai bank account for nearly a year now, and am currently in Thailand. What do I need to have in hand to convert my tourist visa to a retirement extension from within Thailand?  I am happy to be referred to reliable websites, but am not looking to use a service. 

 

Also, do they still only extend for three months when you first apply?

 

Thanks so much! 

12 * 65 k in s year or 800 k for 2 month or mony and income statement 800k.

Which immigration office. 

 

This thread has advice and posts with links to other threads. 

Read them. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331945-documents-for-changing-visa-exempt-to-non-immig-o-at-cw/

 

Most likely you do not have a tourist visa but rather entered Thailand visa exempt. 

Part of the application will be TM87. 

For extension based on income you would need to show 12+ months of 65k min. 

Also immigration may insist on funds in bank method (800k) for first extension

13 minutes ago, SFO2BKK said:

Hi all, 

 

I have just returned to Thailand and want to reestablish my Non-immmigrant visa extension on the basis of retirement. I am aware that the requirements may have changed. I have been depositing 65,000+ baht into my Thai bank account for nearly a year now, and am currently in Thailand. What do I need to have in hand to convert my tourist visa to a retirement extension from within Thailand?  I am happy to be referred to reliable websites, but am not looking to use a service. 

 

Also, do they still only extend for three months when you first apply?

 

Thanks so much! 

I believe you have to start with 800 k in bank the first 12 month extension\conversion and if so you won't be able to use the monthly deposits you've made. Check with your local imm office and ask them as many offices have their own definition of what's required. They have a hand out that outlines docs that you need to provide. 

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Which immigration office. 

 

This thread has advice and posts with links to other threads. 

Read them. 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331945-documents-for-changing-visa-exempt-to-non-immig-o-at-cw/

 

Most likely you do not have a tourist visa but rather entered Thailand visa exempt. 

Part of the application will be TM87. 

For extension based on income you would need to show 12+ months of 65k min. 

Also immigration may insist on funds in bank method (800k) for first extension

Bangkok, Changwattana office. Yes, I have a visa exempt entry but I don't think that matters, does it? 

Thank you for the thread. I was looking and looking for something relevant. 

17 minutes ago, SFO2BKK said:

Bangkok, Changwattana office. Yes, I have a visa exempt entry but I don't think that matters, does it? 

You can obtain a Non O retirement from a visa exempt entry. 

 

Fortunately you have a Thai bank account in place. 

Most likely you will require 800k in Thai bank account on day of application. 

 

Assume your embassy does not provide "income letter" 

 

You apply for the Non O with minimum of 15 days remaining on permission of stay. 

The 800k needs to be shown as international transaction. 

The exception is if the funds have been in Thai bank for "some time" 

 

The Non O provides a 90 day stamp. 

In the last 30 days with funds having been in bank for 2 months you can obtain a 12 month extension. 

 

 

 

As DrJack said, you cannot use monthly transfers to start with.

There are only 2 options for the 90-day non-O visa application inside of Thailand.
1) Proof of 800,000 Thai baht in your Thai bank account, with proof that this was transferred from overseas

2) Embassy verified income

 

These are also the same 2 options for the very first 1-year extension. You cannot use monthly transfers into your Thai bank account for the initial 90-day non-O, nor the first 1-year extension.  Even if you can show 10 years of monthly transfers, it does not matter. That is not an option.

2 hours ago, SFO2BKK said:

Thank you for the thread. I was looking and looking for something relevant. 

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/issuing-and-changing-type-of-visa/

Number 9 on the list - For the purpose of retirement > download the PDF.

 

You will not be able to get the initial 90 day Non-O visa at any immigration office in thailand or the first year extension based on monthly income method of 65K baht a month via international transfer. 

There is no office that allows it BECAUSE you have to be on the same visa/extension during the previous year you did the transfers <- meaning you can't have been transferring the funds in on no visa/extension or on free entry stamps or what ever you used to stay in thailand the past year 

They just don't allow it, and I've accompanied two different people to Chaengwattana in Section C-1 (visa issuing section) trying to "push that rope" when people had 12 months of incoming international transfers showing a minimum of 65K baht a month each month every month for the previous year, and were trying to go from a 60 day free stamp (visa exempt) entry to the in country 90 day Non-O 

Even with every document required they were denied the application and told that you have to be on the same visa/extension during the 12 months of transfers and the only way to get the initial 90 day Non-O in country by monthly income is if you come from a country whose embassy still issues the affidavit of income from abroad notary. 

Same for the first yearly extension after getting a Non-O, had a person denied after getting the Non-O in his country, even though he had 12 months of international transfers showing he met the requirement for monthly income method. They said he would have had to be on the Non-O the entire previous year.. 

Best of luck with it, I am betting you're going to have to bank the 800K no matter if you show up with a 90 day Non-O from your consulate OR try to get one in country   

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You can obtain a Non O retirement from a visa exempt entry. 

 

Fortunately you have a Thai bank account in place. 

Most likely you will require 800k in Thai bank account on day of application. 

 

Assume your embassy does not provide "income letter" 

 

You apply for the Non O with minimum of 15 days remaining on permission of stay. 

The 800k needs to be shown as international transaction. 

The exception is if the funds have been in Thai bank for "some time" 

 

The Non O provides a 90 day stamp. 

In the last 30 days with funds having been in bank for 2 months you can obtain a 12 month extension. 

 

 

 

Thank you, how long does the money have to be in my account before I can apply?  I really did not want to have that much money in Thailand as I have no reason to and already have way more than I need in my Thai account, but it seems I may have no choice unless I get a different type of visa.  If I put the 800,000 in my account now, can I apply now, or I have to wait until -- I have transferred 65,000 month for a year anyway? 

 

15 minutes ago, SFO2BKK said:

how long does the money have to be in my account before I can apply

In Bangkok, you can transfer the funds in from abroad to a thai bank account in your name only and then immediately apply for the in country Non-O 90 day visa. There is no seasoning requirement on the funds for the initial 90 day Non-O visa . The only requirement is that the funds originate from abroad <- international transfer to your thai account 

(Jomtien is one of the only offices i know that require the 800K baht banked money method to be in the account for 2 months before you apply for the initial 90 day Non-O visa) 

The seasoning comes into play when you get the first year extension (after the 90 day Non-O runs down) that's when the 800K baht has to be in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for the year extension <-which it would be because you just brought it in 90 days earlier to get the Non-O issued 🙂

56 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

In Bangkok, you can transfer the funds in from abroad to a thai bank account in your name only and then immediately apply for the in country Non-O 90 day visa. There is no seasoning requirement on the funds for the initial 90 day Non-O visa . The only requirement is that the funds originate from abroad <- international transfer to your thai account 

Caveat: You must have at least 15 days permission of stay remaining to process the Non O application.

On 10/7/2025 at 6:48 PM, Liquorice said:

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/issuing-and-changing-type-of-visa/

Number 9 on the list - For the purpose of retirement > download the PDF.

 

..." Showing the total amount of not less than 800,000". Here,  "total" means not the cumulative total of the transfers, but the minimum total in the account for at least the previous two months. 

42 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

..." Showing the total amount of not less than 800,000". Here,  "total" means not the cumulative total of the transfers, but the minimum total in the account for at least the previous two months. 

Incorrect.

For the Non O, 800k, funds only required in the account on the day of submitting the application, no seasoning required.

On 10/8/2025 at 10:39 AM, Tod Daniels said:

The only requirement is that the funds originate from abroad <- international transfer to your thai account 

Oh really ? Meaning when you are working in Thailand, and you have a saving account with 800K (from your savings here), this cant be taken into account to get a retirement visa if you decide to retire and stop working ?

1 hour ago, khunphil said:

Oh really ? Meaning when you are working in Thailand, and you have a saving account with 800K (from your savings here), this cant be taken into account to get a retirement visa if you decide to retire and stop working 

The 800k in Thai bank account is for application for Non O (retirement) needs to be shown as international transfer. 

A Non O retirement obtained outside of Thailand does not have that requirement. 

For Non O obtained at local immigration office if funds have been in the account for some time then that may be acceptable. 

Not using money in bank method the funds do not need to be shown as from abroad for extensions. 

 

Added note. While we use the term "Non O retirement" 

The actual visa is based on being over 50.

You cannot work in Thailand however you do not need to be retired. 

On 10/7/2025 at 6:36 AM, SFO2BKK said:

Hi all, 

 

I have just returned to Thailand and want to reestablish my Non-immmigrant visa extension on the basis of retirement. I am aware that the requirements may have changed. I have been depositing 65,000+ baht into my Thai bank account for nearly a year now, and am currently in Thailand. What do I need to have in hand to convert my tourist visa to a retirement extension from within Thailand?  I am happy to be referred to reliable websites, but am not looking to use a service. 

 

Also, do they still only extend for three months when you first apply?

 

Thanks so much! 

The easiest way is to get a non-O abroad and just apply for a one year extension about one month before the 90-days permission to stay expires. When changing entry visa (or visa exemt) you might likely need to show a Thai bank deposit of 800k baht transferred from abroad.