Retirement visa
The retirement visa for Thailand, from age 50.
A Non-Immigrant O visa, then a one-year extension, every year. You need to be 50 or over, with THB 800,000 in a Thai bank or an income of THB 65,000 a month.
In short
50+
The minimum age for every retirement option.
THB 800,000
In a Thai bank account. An income of THB 65,000 a month also works.
1 year
How long Immigration extends your stay at a time.
How it works
- O visa
- Single entry, 90 days of stay. Issued by a Thai embassy, or by Immigration if you arrived on a tourist visa or without a visa.
- Extension
- Up to 1 year at a time, at Thai Immigration. Then you extend again.
- Money in a bank
- THB 800,000 stays in the account for at least 2 months before you apply and 3 months after the extension. After that, at least THB 400,000 has to remain.
- Income
- At least THB 65,000 a month. You can also combine a year’s income with money in the bank, THB 800,000 in total.
- Insurance
- Not needed for the O visa or the extension. Required for O-A.
- Reporting
- Every 90 days.
- Travel
- You need a re-entry permit before you leave. Without one, your permission to stay ends when you exit.
- Work
- Prohibited.
- Family
- A spouse applies for a Category O visa as a family member. Some embassies ask for another THB 800,000.
Timing is what catches people out most often. The money has to sit in a Thai account for 2 months before you apply, so it is better to start early.
Three options
All three start at age 50. They differ in term, money and insurance.
Non-Immigrant O and extension
90 days, then a year, and so on every year. THB 800,000 or THB 65,000 a month. No insurance needed.
Non-Immigrant O-A
A one-year visa with multiple entries, issued in your country of citizenship or residence. The same money, plus insurance of at least USD 100,000 or THB 3 million, a police certificate and a medical certificate.
Non-Immigrant O-X
5 years and 5 more, multiple entries, an in-person check once a year. For citizens of 14 countries: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Canada and the USA. THB 3 million in a Thai bank, or THB 1.8 million plus income of THB 1.2 million a year. After the first year at least THB 1.5 million has to stay in the account, and it can only be spent in Thailand.
What your manager does
- Looks at your age, your money and where you are now, and picks the option.
- Tells you which documents you need and in what order.
- Keeps track of report and extension dates with you.
Common questions
How old do I have to be?
At least 50. The rule is the same for O, O-A and O-X.
Can I work?
No. Work is prohibited on these visas. On O-X only volunteer work is allowed.
Do I need insurance?
Not for the O visa or the extension. O-A needs at least USD 100,000 or THB 3 million. O-X needs a policy from a Thai insurer: at least THB 40,000 outpatient and THB 400,000 inpatient, and some embassies ask for THB 3 million.
Can I apply if I am already in Thailand?
Yes. At Immigration you can change a tourist visa or visa-free entry to Non-Immigrant O. The money is the same: at least THB 800,000 in a Thai bank.