Thailand has three retirement-type visas. Non-Immigrant Visa Category "O" (retirement) lets you stay 90 days per entry. Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) lets you stay 1 year. Non-Immigrant Visa "O-X" (Long Stay 10 years) gives 5 years per grant and 10 years in total, but only for passports of listed countries. You must be 50 or older on the day you submit the application, and employment of any kind is prohibited on all three. A "Non-O retirement visa" does not give a one-year stay per entry: the one-year stay comes from O-A, or from an extension you apply for inside Thailand.
Each embassy and consulate publishes its own requirements, and the figures differ. Below, every figure carries the page it comes from and that page's date, where the page shows one.
The three visas at a glance
| Non-O (retirement) | O-A (Long Stay) | O-X (Long Stay 10 years) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stay | 90 days per entry | 1 year from first entry | 5 years each time, 10 years in total |
| Entries | Single or multiple (see fees) | Multiple | Multiple |
| Age | 50 or older when you apply | Same | Same |
| Nationality | Any nationality the page accepts at your office | Same | Passport and nationality of a listed country (see below) |
| Where you apply | Country of your nationality or residence (Los Angeles, Washington) | Country of your nationality or residence (Los Angeles, Washington); nationality or permanent residence (MFA) | Country of your nationality or permanent residence when applying outside Thailand (MFA) |
| Passport validity | 6 months | 18 months (MFA, Phnom Penh, Washington pages); the Los Angeles page gives 6 months for all three | 6 months |
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) O-X page (30 Nov 2022) describes the 10 years as 5 years of visa validity plus an extension for another 5 years. The Phnom Penh page (29 Jul 2024) says "allowed for 5 years each time, extendable once". Spouses and children can be added: the MFA O-X page says a spouse of any age and a child under 20 can apply with the main applicant. The MFA O-A page says a spouse who cannot get O-A is considered for a temporary stay under Category "O", with a marriage certificate.
Money: what each page asks for
Non-O and O-A use the same headline tests: a deposit of THB 800,000, or a monthly pension or income of THB 65,000. The combination test and the local-currency tests differ by page.
| Page (date) | Visa | Deposit | Monthly income or pension | Deposit plus income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFA O-A page (30 Nov 2022) | O-A | At least THB 800,000 | At least THB 65,000 | Total at least THB 800,000 |
| Phnom Penh embassy (29 Jul 2024) | Non-O | THB 800,000 (or equivalent in any currency) | THB 65,000 per month (or equivalent) | Not listed |
| Phnom Penh embassy (29 Jul 2024) | O-A | At least THB 800,000 | At least THB 65,000 | Total at least THB 800,000 |
| Los Angeles consulate (1 Oct 2026) | Non-O and O-A | No less than THB 800,000 | Not less than THB 65,000 | Total not less than THB 80,000 (as written) |
| Washington D.C. embassy (1 Jul 2026) | Non-O | Three monthly bank statements, each with an ending balance of at least USD 30,000 | At least USD 2,500 per month | Not listed |
| Washington D.C. embassy (1 Sep 2026) | O-A | THB 800,000 in the last three months; the document list asks for statements with an ending balance of at least USD 30,000 | THB 65,000 per month; the document list says USD 2,500 per month | Total at least THB 800,000 (in one year) |
| Oslo embassy (no date) | Non-O | Balance of not less than THB 800,000 | After-tax pension of not less than THB 65,000 (about NOK 20,000) | Deposit account plus monthly pension totalling not less than THB 800,000 a year |
| German-language Ministry PDF (no date) | Non-O | Balance of at least EUR 5,000 at each of the last three month-ends | Net pension of at least EUR 1,200 per month | Not listed |
| Beijing embassy (no date) | O-A | Deposit certificate of at least RMB 180,000, frozen for one year or longer | Income proof of at least RMB 18,000 per month | Not listed |
The combination test appears as three different figures: THB 800,000 (MFA, Phnom Penh, Washington), THB 80,000 (Los Angeles) and THB 800,000 a year (Oslo). The pages do not explain the difference. Read the page of the office that will handle your application and ask it which figure applies.
O-X money
| Page (date) | Deposit | Alternative | After the first year |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFA O-X page (30 Nov 2022) | At least THB 3 million in a Thai bank in Thailand | At least THB 1.8 million plus income of at least THB 1.2 million per year; after you enter you must have THB 3 million deposited within 1 year | Kept in the account for at least 1 year, then at least THB 1.5 million for the next year; money can only be spent in Thailand |
| Phnom Penh embassy (29 Jul 2024) | No less than THB 3 million in Thailand | THB 1.8 million plus annual income of no less than THB 1.2 million | Maintained in full for at least one year, then no less than THB 1.5 million |
| Los Angeles consulate (1 Oct 2026) | No less than 3 million baht in Thailand | 1.8 million baht plus annual income of no less than 1.2 million baht | In full for at least one year, then "no less than .5 million baht" |
| Beijing embassy (no date) | Deposit certificate of at least RMB 750,000, frozen for one year or longer, plus income proof of at least RMB 25,000 per month | Not listed | Not listed |
The MFA and Phnom Penh pages add that the stay permit can be revoked if the account holds less than THB 3 million at the end of the first year or less than THB 1.5 million at the end of the second year, or if the money was spent outside Thailand. You also report in person to immigration once a year so officers can check your qualifications.
O-X countries
The MFA O-X page (30 Nov 2022) and the Beijing embassy page list 14 countries: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The Los Angeles page (1 Oct 2026) lists 18: those 14 plus Austria, Belgium, New Zealand and South Korea. China is on neither list.
Health insurance: three visas, several answers
| Visa | Page (date) | Insurance requirement |
|---|---|---|
| O-A | Los Angeles (1 Oct 2026) | THB 3,000,000 (USD 100,000) per policy year, from a Thai or foreign insurer; covers COVID-19 |
| O-A | Washington D.C. (1 Sep 2026) | Same amount, "effective from 1 October 2021" |
| O-A | Beijing (no date) | A 12-month policy with cover of USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000 |
| O-A | MFA (30 Nov 2022), Phnom Penh (29 Jul 2024) | No insurance item in the document list |
| O-X | MFA (30 Nov 2022), Phnom Penh (29 Jul 2024) | Thai insurance with at least THB 40,000 outpatient and THB 400,000 inpatient |
| O-X | Los Angeles (1 Oct 2026) | THB 3,000,000 (USD 100,000) per policy year, Thai insurer only |
| O-X | Beijing (no date) | A policy valid for 8 months; outpatient at least 10,000 yuan, inpatient at least 100,000 yuan |
| Non-O | Los Angeles (1 Oct 2026), Phnom Penh (29 Jul 2024) | No insurance item listed |
| Non-O | German-language Ministry PDF (no date) | Valid for the whole stay; outpatient at least THB 40,000 (EUR 1,300), inpatient at least THB 400,000 (EUR 13,000) |
So "Non-O needs no insurance" is not a safe general statement: two pages list none and one page asks for it. The Los Angeles and Washington pages point to longstay.tgia.org for the list of Thai insurers in the scheme.
Other documents that appear on the O-A and O-X lists: a criminal-record certificate issued within three months, and a medical certificate showing none of the prohibited diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, drug addiction, elephantiasis, third-phase syphilis), also valid for no more than three months. The Los Angeles page adds that consular officers can ask for more documents and can reject an application without giving a reason.
Where and how to apply
The Los Angeles and Washington pages say to apply online at thaievisa.go.th. The e-Visa English manual starts with "Check your eligibility": you enter the country of your passport, your current location and where you apply. The pages also tie you to one office:
- You need the nationality of, or residence in, the country where you apply (Los Angeles and Washington pages). The MFA O-A page says permanent residence.
- The German-language Ministry PDF says to apply through the embassy or consulate that matches your consular jurisdiction and residency, and to upload proof of where you live.
- The Los Angeles page lists "applying from outside consulate's jurisdiction" as a reason for denial.
- The MFA O-A page (30 Nov 2022) also names the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok as a place to submit an O-A application. The MFA O-X page says that if you entered Thailand on another visa or on visa exemption, you may contact the Immigration Bureau and apply for O-X.
Lead times are office-specific. The Washington D.C. pages say to apply at least 30 working days before travel for Non-O and 20 working days for O-A. The Los Angeles page gives a minimum processing time of 15 business days. These are examples from two US offices, not general rules.
Example: a Chinese passport holder
Everything in this section is for a Chinese passport holder, per the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing pages.
- The Beijing visa page lists four steps: choose your purpose and read the document list, apply online at the Thai e-Visa site, wait for approval and track the status in the system, then print the e-visa certificate letter if approved.
- For retirement, the Beijing page covers O-A (1 year). It lists RMB 180,000 frozen for a year or longer or income of RMB 18,000 per month; a medical report and a police certificate, both notarised and legalised; proof of accommodation; a 12-month health insurance policy of USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000; a CV in English or Thai; a paid and confirmed flight ticket from China to Thailand; and 12 months of exit and entry records from China's National Immigration Administration. The page says the embassy may refuse the application if the ticket is not confirmed.
- O-X is limited to the listed countries, and China is not among them.
- The Beijing retirement pages cover O-A and O-X only. They do not say what a Chinese applicant can or cannot do for the 90-day Non-O route, and they do not speak for other Thai consulates in China. Ask the embassy or consulate that covers your province.
What each visa costs
Fees are set per office and are not refundable: the Washington and Phnom Penh pages say the application fee is non-refundable. Amounts are in the currency each page uses; none are converted here.
| Page (date) | Non-O | O-A | O-X |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles consulate (1 Oct 2026) | USD 80 single entry; USD 200 multiple entries | USD 200 multiple entries | USD 400 multiple entries |
| Washington D.C. embassy (Non-O 1 Jul 2026; O-A 1 Sep 2026) | USD 80 | USD 200 | Not covered |
| Phnom Penh embassy (29 Jul 2024) | USD 80 single entry | USD 200 multiple entries | USD 400 multiple entries |
| MFA pages (30 Nov 2022) | Not covered | THB 5,000 multiple entries | THB 10,000 (or local-currency equivalent) |
| German-language Ministry PDF (no date) | EUR 70 single entry; EUR 175 multiple entries | Not covered | Not covered |
| Oslo embassy (no date) | NOK 800 single entry | Not covered | Not covered |
The Beijing visa page links a fee notice dated 1 Sep 2022, but the page text gives no RMB amount. The tables above show only what each page states. The pages give a visa validity of 3 months for single-entry Non-O (Phnom Penh, German-language PDF) and 1 year for multiple-entry Non-O (German-language PDF).
After you arrive: extending the stay
The MFA visa-issuance page says Category "O" holders are first granted up to 90 days, and that a qualified person can obtain an additional one-year stay permit counted from the date of entry, at the Immigration Bureau, at the immigration officer's discretion. The MFA O-A page says the same for O-A: a one-year extension may be granted, at the officer's discretion, if you meet the money test.
The criteria under "Visa Extension – In the case of retirement" in the Phitsanulok immigration office's service handbook (no date on the page) are:
- You hold a non-immigrant visa and are 50 or older.
- You meet one of three money tests:
- income of at least THB 65,000 per month; or
- at least THB 800,000 in a commercial bank in Thailand at least 2 months before you submit the application and for 3 months after permission, after which at least THB 400,000 must stay in the account; or
- income during the year plus a Thai bank deposit totalling at least THB 800,000 on the submission date, with the deposit kept as in the second test.
- Only holders of an O-A visa must show health insurance or overseas government welfare covering the whole stay, including COVID-19 treatment, for at least USD 100,000 or THB 3,000,000. Overseas insurance or government welfare needs the certification described in the handbook. If an insurer refuses coverage in whole or in part, the handbook allows a Thai commercial-bank deposit of at least THB 3,000,000 held for at least 2 months before applying, or a deposit plus other health-insurance coverage totalling at least THB 3,000,000, with certified evidence of the refusal.
The Samut Prakan immigration list of documents (no date) asks for form TM.7, your passport, your non-immigrant visa, and either a Thai bank letter showing more than THB 800,000 "3 months before" plus an ATM slip dated the day you apply, or an income or pension certificate certified by your embassy or consulate in Thailand showing more than THB 65,000 per month. The handbook says 2 months and the Samut Prakan list says 3 months for the earlier balance period, and the pages do not say why. The MFA O-A page asks for evidence of a deposit or money transfer to Thailand, or an income certificate, of not less than THB 800,000, with no THB 65,000 monthly test.
Fee: the handbook's retirement entry gives no fee. The TM.7 fee of 1,900 baht appears only in its business and tourism entries, so do not take it as the retirement fee. Ask the immigration office that will process your extension.
The 90-day report
Staying more than 90 days means reporting your address to immigration. The Samut Prakan page (no date) says:
- You can report in person, through an authorised person, or by registered mail, using form TM.47.
- The report is due "within 15 days before or after 7 days" of the end of the 90-day period.
- Your first application to extend your stay counts as the first report.
- By registered mail, send it at least 15 days before the due date, with passport copies, previous notification receipts and an envelope with a 10 baht stamp.
- If you pass the 90-day limit, you must go to an immigration office in person and pay a fine of THB 2,000. A foreigner who is arrested without having reported pays THB 4,000.
- The report is not an extension of stay. If you leave and re-enter, the day count starts again at 1.
The MFA O-A page and the Phnom Penh page tell O-A holders to report to immigration in their residence area at the end of the 90-day stay and every 90 days after that, or to a police station if there is no immigration office. By post, send form TM.47 at least 7 days before the end of each 90-day period, to Immigration Division 1 at Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok. The Samut Prakan page gives a mailing deadline of at least 15 days before the due date; the MFA O-A and Phnom Penh pages give 7 days before the end of each 90-day period. O-X holders also notify every 90 days. None of the pages cited in this guide describes online reporting.
Retirement visa, ordinary Non-O, tourist visa and visa exemption
| Option | Purpose and stay | Fee and money shown |
|---|---|---|
| Non-O retirement | Age 50 or older; 90 days per entry | USD 80 single entry (Washington D.C., 1 Jul 2026) |
| Category "O" in general (MFA visa-issuance page, 30 Nov 2022) | Staying with family, receiving medical treatment, "to stay after retirement for the elderly", and other listed purposes; first stay up to 90 days; extension of up to one year at the officer's discretion | THB 2,000 single entry, THB 5,000 multiple entries; evidence of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family |
| Tourist visa (MFA visa-issuance page, 30 Nov 2022) | Tourism; up to 60 days; extension at the Immigration Bureau at the officer's discretion | THB 1,000 per entry; same finance evidence |
| Tourist visa exemption (Washington D.C. embassy, 17 Sep 2026) | New scheme from 15 September 2026: 30 days for nationals of 60 listed countries and territories, extendable once by up to 30 days at the officer's discretion | Cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family |
The Washington D.C. page shows the list of 60 countries as an image, so it is not reproduced here. For Chinese passport holders, the Thai MFA page and China's MFA page say visa-free entry from 1 March 2024 is for stays of up to 30 days each, 90 days cumulative in any 180-day period. Both pages exclude residing, employment, study and media activities; China's MFA page says stays over 30 days need a visa before you enter. The MFA visa-issuance page is dated 30 Nov 2022, before the exemption change. Visa exemption and a tourist stay are not a way to live in Thailand for a year. The retirement visas are the route the pages give for long stays.
Can you work on a retirement visa?
No. The Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Phnom Penh and MFA pages all state that employment of any kind is strictly prohibited on Non-O, O-A and O-X. The one carve-out is O-X: the MFA O-X page and the Phnom Penh page say O-X holders can work as a volunteer under the Department of Employment's list of volunteer work, and can buy vehicles and condominiums under the relevant laws. Both pages list working without permission as a reason to revoke an O-X stay permit. The pages cited in this guide say nothing about remote work for a foreign employer.
Which should you choose
- Your passport is from one of the listed O-X countries, you want to stay up to 5 years at a time, and you meet the MFA money test of THB 3 million in a Thai bank, or THB 1.8 million deposited plus income of at least THB 1.2 million per year: O-X. With the second option, you must build the Thai bank deposit to at least THB 3 million within 1 year after entering. Expect Thai-insurer rules and the yearly in-person check.
- You want one year and meet the money and insurance tests of the office handling your application (see the tables above): O-A.
- You want to start with 90 days and decide later: Non-O, then extend in Thailand if you meet the retirement extension criteria. The extension criteria in the handbook ask for insurance only from O-A holders.
- Your passport is Chinese: O-X is not open to you, because China is not on the lists. The Beijing page covers O-A.
- You are under 50: you cannot apply as the main retirement applicant. The MFA O-X page allows an accompanying spouse of any age and children under 20; the MFA O-A page says an accompanying spouse who is not eligible for O-A may be considered for Category "O".
- You only want to visit: use visa exemption or a tourist visa. Neither lets you live in Thailand for a year.
Planning a long stay in Thailand?
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