The money rule
You must show one of these, every year:
- 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account in your name. It must be there at least 2 months before you apply, and stay at that level for 3 months after; for the rest of the year it must not drop below 400,000 THB.
- Monthly income of at least 65,000 THB, shown with an embassy letter or by transfers from abroad into your Thai account.
- A combination of income and savings adding up to 800,000 THB a year.
Immigration checks the bank book page by page. Money parked for a weekend, or a balance that dips at the wrong time, is the most common reason we see retirement extensions refused.
Non-O or O-A?
| Non-O (retirement) | Non-O-A | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you start | Often converted inside Thailand at immigration, or issued abroad | Applied for at a Thai embassy in your home country |
| Health insurance | Not required for the visa itself | Required, at the level the embassy sets (commonly around US$100,000 cover) |
| Extensions | Yearly, with the money rule | Yearly, money rule plus continuing insurance |
Many retirees enter first and convert to a Non-O at immigration once their Thai bank account is in place. Whether you can convert depends on how you entered and your nationality, so check before you fly.
Renewing every year
Two to three months before expiry: make sure the bank balance (or income transfers) meets the rule.
Up to 45 days before expiry: get a bank letter dated the same day you apply, and update your bank book.
Apply at immigration with passport, TM.7 form, photo, bank letter and book, your TM30 receipt and a map to your home.
Pay 1,900 THB. You'll usually get a 'under consideration' stamp, then the full year about a month later.
Leaving Thailand? Get a re-entry permit first, or the extension is cancelled.