Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay)

Thailand's Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay) is the country's primary retirement visa, enabling foreign nationals aged 50 and over to reside in Thailand for up to one year, renewable annually. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial means through Thai bank deposits of at least THB 800,000, monthly pension income of at least THB 65,000, or a combination totaling THB 800,000. It is the most accessible of Thailand's retirement visa options, with lower financial thresholds than the O-X (10-year) or LTR (Wealthy Pensioners) visas. Mandatory health insurance has been required since October 2019, with enforcement tightened through 2025-2026. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.

• Minimum age of 50 years on the date of application
• Financial means meeting one of these options:
  • Bank deposit of at least THB 800,000
  • Monthly pension or income of at least THB 65,000
  • Combined deposit plus monthly income totaling at least THB 800,000
• Must possess nationality of or permanent residence in the country where the application is submitted
• No criminal record in Thailand or country of nationality/residence
• Free of prohibitive diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug addiction, third-stage syphilis)

• Valid passport (18+ months validity)
• Visa application form (3 copies) with recent passport-size photographs (4x6 cm)
• Bank guarantee letter or bank statement showing THB 800,000+ deposit, or income/pension certificate of THB 65,000+/month
• Criminal record clearance (notarized, valid 3 months)
• Medical certificate showing no prohibitive diseases (notarized, valid 3 months)
• Health insurance certificate meeting coverage thresholds
• Proof of accommodation in Thailand
• CV/resume

The visa is valid for 1 year from the date of first entry. Annual extensions are available at the Immigration Bureau for THB 1,900. For renewal, the bank deposit of THB 800,000 must be maintained for at least 2 months before the application and 3 months after the extension is granted. The balance may not drop below THB 400,000 at any time. Valid health insurance from a TGIA/OIC-recognized Thai insurer must be presented at each renewal.

Mandatory health insurance is required for all O-A visa holders since October 2019. For initial applications at embassies, coverage of at least THB 3,000,000 per policy year including COVID-19 treatment is required, from a Thai or qualifying foreign insurer. For in-country extensions, Thai health insurance from a TGIA/OIC-recognized insurer with minimum THB 40,000 outpatient and THB 400,000 inpatient coverage is required. Immigration officers verify insurance status through the TGIA longstay portal during extension processing. Enforcement has tightened in 2025-2026, with some offices requiring Thai-issued policies even where foreign policies were previously accepted.

The O-A visa itself does not include dependants. A spouse may apply separately for a Non-Immigrant O visa based on the marriage relationship, subject to standard financial requirements (THB 400,000 deposit for the spouse of a retirement visa holder). Children under 20 may qualify for a Non-Immigrant O visa on the basis of family dependency. Each dependant must independently meet visa requirements and pay separate fees.

Thailand taxes residents on income remitted into the country in the same calendar year it was earned. Retirees not remitting income in the year earned generally have no Thai tax liability. No specific tax exemption is attached to the O-A visa.

Applications are submitted at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General in the applicant's country of residence via the Thai e-Visa portal (thaievisa.go.th). Documents must be uploaded in PDF format. Processing takes a minimum of 15 business days. Upon approval, the applicant receives a multiple-entry visa sticker. The visa must be activated by entering Thailand within 90 days of issuance. The visa fee is THB 5,000 (approximately USD 200). As of May 2025, all arrivals must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online.

The O-A visa is multiple entry, allowing unlimited re-entries during its validity. Each re-entry resets the permitted stay to the remaining validity period. Holders extending in-country on a single-entry basis must obtain a re-entry permit (THB 1,000 single or THB 3,800 multiple) before departing, or the extension is cancelled. Address reporting to the Immigration Bureau is required every 90 days via Form TM.47.