I am planning to switch from non o marriage visa to retirement visa, what documents do I need,( this is for those that have done the retirement visa before), thanks.

You will need 800k seasoned for two months prior to application. 

Which immigration office? 

Be aware wife will need to attend 

 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1327343-convert-non-o-marriage-visa-to-non-o-retirement-visa/

 

28 minutes ago, ricktak said:

I am planning to switch from non o marriage visa to retirement visa, what documents do I need,( this is for those that have done the retirement visa before), thanks.

Just to make sure, you are not talking about visas at all, right?

You are planning on switching from a 1-year extension based on marriage, to a 1-year extension based on retirement?  This is possible to do.  

If you are actually talking about a visa, and you currently have a 90-day non-O visa based on marriage and you want to apply for the 1-year extension based on retirement,  you cannot do that.  The 1-year extension from an actual visa must be for the same reason as that visa was issued.

Yes, switching from 1 year marriage extension to retirement extension, in  Tak so I am going to Maesot immigration 

5 minutes ago, ricktak said:

Yes, switching from 1 year marriage extension to retirement extension, in  Tak so I am going to Maesot immigration 

In my first post there are links to other threads listing  requirements. 

Each office can have it's particular quirks. 

For example CW has you provide a hand drawn map of residence. 

Comical IMO

Same thing at Maesot, they will not accept a Google maps printout 

12 hours ago, ricktak said:

Same thing at Maesot, they will not accept a Google maps printout 

Be aware also that when you change from based on marriage to based on retirement that the extension will start from date of application. 

22 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Each office can have it's particular quirks. 

For example CW has you provide a hand drawn map of residence. 

Comical IMO

Buriram IO as well

Only for Marriage extension is that necessary, for Retirement they don't ask it

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Be aware also that when you change from based on marriage to based on retirement that the extension will start from date of application. 

And that your WIFE must be present to sign some forms when you do the switch from Marriage -> Retirement. (Depending on IO of course)

On 12/29/2025 at 11:43 AM, MJCM said:

And that your WIFE must be present to sign some forms when you do the switch from Marriage -> Retirement. (Depending on IO of course)

Can a foreigner (Australian) who has worked in Thailand for over 2 decades with work permits but retrned to Australia for 2 years now return to Thailand by getting a visa on arrival and then change to a retirement visa?

This is not me, it's a friend (as they always say) sorry If the terms I'm using are wrong.

Any advice much appreciated.

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

....2 years now return to Thailand by getting a visa on arrival and then change to a retirement visa?

He could enter visa exempt and be given a 60 day stamp.

He then would need to have a Thai bank account to transfer 800k.

He could then obtain a Non O retirement. That would give him a 90 day stamp.

He would then season the funds for two months and in the last 30 days he can obtain 12month extension.

Not clear if he has a Thai bank account.

Better option is to obtain the Non O in Oz using eVisa online platform.

On 12/28/2025 at 11:36 AM, ricktak said:

I am planning to switch from non o marriage visa to retirement visa, what documents do I need,( this is for those that have done the retirement visa before), thanks.

As a non o marriage visa holder for a longtime, I'm interested why would someone change to retirement visa? (Question posed generally, not just the ricktak)

Financial

Marriage = 400k tied up for 3 months (2 months prior application and 30 days consideration, then can withdraw below 400k)

Retirement = 800k tied up for 5 months (2 months prior, 3 months post application) then must keep 400k tied up for 7 months.

Application

Nothing much different in application documents. Main difference seems that local imm office considers retirement application and BKK HQ considers Marriage application.

With Marriage visa there is a tie to Thailand through a thai national (thai wife) no matter how small that tie is and there may or may not be some benefit to that tie, but with retirement visa there is no tie to Thailand.

What is the attraction or the plus points or the benifit of retirement visa over Marriage visa?

10 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

As a non o marriage visa holder for a longtime, I'm interested why would someone change to retirement visa? (Question posed generally, not just the ricktak)

Financial

Marriage = 400k tied up for 3 months (2 months prior application and 30 days consideration, then can withdraw below 400k)

Retirement = 800k tied up for 5 months (2 months prior, 3 months post application) then must keep 400k tied up for 7 months.

Application

Nothing much different in application documents. Main difference seems that local imm office considers retirement application and BKK HQ considers Marriage application.

With Marriage visa there is a tie to Thailand through a thai national (thai wife) no matter how small that tie is and there may or may not be some benefit to that tie, but with retirement visa there is no tie to Thailand.

What is the attraction or the plus points or the benifit of retirement visa over Marriage visa?

Most people do this because they're tired of the process. A LOT more paperwork, witnesses, under consideration stamps requiring multiple trips to immigration, home visits, etc.

For the most part, retirement extension requires none of that. In and out in a single trip with your new 1-year extension.

Not to mention many immigration offices will subtly, or not so subtly, suggest that you make this change as it's much less work for them to do retirement extensions compared to marriage extensions.

17 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

As a non o marriage visa holder for a longtime, I'm interested why would someone change to retirement visa?

If I was married to a Thai I would still opt for Retirement.

Use income method and as result no need to keep money in Thai bank + I transfer way more than 65k per month.

The home visit would be a deal breaker for me along with need for wife to attend

Also lot more extra paper work etc.

Sit on edge of bed for photo is that a practical joke

Granted not required for most home visits.

I've never done a retirement visa application (I'm over 50 and could) only +30 years of nonB and nonO.

1. Paperwork for marriage extension application is minimal: for me, it's copy of wife's bluebook, copy of kids thai birth certificates, map, copies of my passport pages. Not getting theres a lot more paperwork. So no major benefit of retirement over marriage here.

2. Agree there is the benefit of only one visit to immigration for retirement and not the two for marriage. This is a major benefit of retirement if applicant lives distant from local imm office, but not if applicant lives not distant (2nd visit takes 15 mins to get marriage extension in passport, but I understand my take longer in CW).

3. Imm office obviously like retirement visa so they can proceed under their own "discretion" while marriage visa application is checked by local office and forwarded to BKK HQ for rubber stamping. Both retirement and marriage extension applications are considered by local imm office staff.

4. The financial situation is hugely in favour of marriage over retirement, which I understand is one of the factors why retirement applicants use agents.

5.I've never required any witnesses at Samut Prakarn, neither has another marriage extension guy I know. Both of us never had home visits.

6.photos take 10 minutes. In front of house, in house.

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Sit on edge of bed for photo is that a practical joke

Must be, we've never been asked to do that.

10 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

4. The financial situation is hugely in favour of marriage over retirement, which I understand is one of the factors why retirement applicants use agents.

I have already pointed out that's not the case if you use income method as in that case there is no need to maintain funds in bank.

You ommitted that travel abroad during under consideration period is difficult and would require a reentry permit for the month.

Extensions retirement way more straight forward.

BTW: being Oz I don't get the embassy income letter.

No problem I provide 12 month bank statement with monthly transfers.

Main advantage in extensions Marriage is that you can obtain work permit.

In any event in the main off topic chat

17 minutes ago, Stocky said:

Must be, we've never been asked to do that.

Some have and in addition some visits require

https://aseannow.com/topic/1148150-marriage-extension-home-visit/#findComment-15056588.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

travel abroad during under consideration period is difficult and would require a reentry permit for the month

Not really difficult, did it several times over the years, have re-entry (which i always have in case of emergency travel required) just return before date of consideration.

Major plus for marriage over retirement is possible to get a WP.

Any way thanks for everyone's responses from their perspective. Interesting.

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some have and in addition some visits require witnesses.

Agreed, some imm offices do require, some do not.

1 minute ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Not really difficult, did it several times over the years, have re-entry (which i always have in case of emergency travel required) just return before date of consideration.

When you apply for extension marriage the current reentry permit is done.

So to exit and reenter Thailand you would need to obtain New reentry permit valid for under consideration permit as shown on "return for final stamp" date.

25 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

When you apply for extension marriage the current reentry permit is done.

So to exit and reenter Thailand you would need to obtain New reentry permit valid for under consideration permit as shown on "return for final stamp" date.

Yep, that's what I had to do, get a one re-entry to allow me to travel during the consideration period. Then i returned prior to the date of consideration, received the new annual extension and I paid for a multiple re-entry to cover the next 11 months [used to travel alot 🙂]

52 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some have and in addition some visits require

https://aseannow.com/topic/1148150-marriage-extension-home-visit/#findComment-15056588.

Another example of Arbitrariness by the different IO's in the country. Our IO also required the pictures on the bed when applying for the Marriage extension.

But that said, it's not your local IO that dictates the documents for the Marriage extension as it's NOT a local IO decision, but the documents gets send to the Regional HQ and there they decide it if you are granted an extension or not, and that is why (AFAIK) you have the under consideration period for Marriage extensions.

21 minutes ago, MJCM said:

Another example of Arbitrariness by the different IO's in the country. Our IO also required the pictures on the bed when applying for the Marriage extension.

But that said, it's not your local IO that dictates the documents for the Marriage extension as it's NOT a local IO decision, but the documents gets send to the Regional HQ and there they decide it if you are granted an extension or not, and that is why (AFAIK) you have the under consideration period for Marriage extensions.

In this case the Australian has several bank accounts in Thailand with large balances, 2 acounts with over 800,000Baht balance (untouched) for several years.

He's not married and never will be.

He worked in Thailand for over 20 years, all of that time with work permits.

I've just learned that before he went to Australia he retired and got a retirement visa, On departure to Australia for 2 years (typical Oz old age pension situation) he just let the retirement visa expire.

He had assumed that the earlier 20 years of work permits would be accepted in terms of applying for Permanent Residence, but the Oz embassy in his home state in Australia told him 'that's not true'. Then he learned that the staff at that embassy have no knowledge whatever about Permanent Residence and had thought he was talking about Thai citizenship, and their earlier comment that old WP's would not be recognized might be wrong.

Any focused comments much apreciated, thanks.

15 minutes ago, scorecard said:

In this case the Australian has several bank accounts in Thailand with large balances, 2 acounts with over 800,000Baht balance (untouched) for several years

That's important if he decides to obtain the Non O retirement from visa exempt entry.

The reason is that Non O obtained in Thailand requires funds to be shown as transfered from abroad.

That is not the case when obtaining the Non O outside of Thailand.

In your friends case it's not an issue as funds have been in bank for some time.

Just my thinking... Your friend is best off forgetting about obtaining permanent resident status or citizenship etc.

The annual extensions (retirement) is a simple process and not difficult.

The main issue for some is reluctantly or not possible to meet the financial obligations.

That's not the case with the friend.

Having stated all that IMO he is best served by obtaining the Non O in Oz (eVisa) all done online including payment.

His othe option if can satisfy financial requirements is LTR.

Pinned thread on that option

On 12/29/2025 at 11:42 AM, MJCM said:

Only for Marriage extension is that necessary, for Retirement they don't ask it

As is the case for most offices - other than the rogue ones like CW which insist on hand-drawn maps for retirement as well.

3 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

What is the attraction or the plus points or the benifit of retirement visa over Marriage visa?

For me it's not having to run the risk of finding myself in the same unfortunate position as the OP's of these 2 threads:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1312545-death-of-spouse-effect-on-my-marriage-visa/

https://aseannow.com/topic/1381784-90-reporting/

I am considering doing the opposite-going from retirement to marriage visa.

So am in Pattaya, have the 800k and just looking to free up 400K.

Just renewed my retirement visa, so have time to consider pros and cons.

How long does the process take, and how long before my retirement visa expires should I start the process?

14 minutes ago, hackjam said:

Just renewed my retirement visa, so have time to consider pros and cons.

How long does the process take, and how long before my retirement visa expires should I start the process?

Understand the correct terminology.

You didn't just renew a visa.

Seems you just obtained a 12 month extension of your permission of stay based on retirement.

You are required to maintain the 800k in account for 3 months after extension approval then not below 400k and back up to 800k two months prior to next extension.

For you next extension you can change to based on marriage.

Obviously based on marriage has its own requirements.

Expect little push back from immigration.

You won't change to marriage till next extension.

You stated ..."just renewed my retirement visa"

You won't change to based on marriage for almost a year.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1329482-can-i-switch-back-from-extension-based-on-retirement-to-marriage/