Retirement visa in Thailand

• The Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa is for people aged 50 or over on the day they apply who want to stay up to one year without intending to work; employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. You must hold the nationality of, or permanent residence in, the country where you apply, have no criminal record, and not have a prohibited disease.
• The shorter Non-Immigrant O (retirement) visa is for pensioners aged 50 or over who want to stay up to 90 days without working, after which you apply for an extension of stay at Thai immigration; a spouse who does not qualify for O-A can be considered for a temporary-stay O visa with a marriage certificate.
• The Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa has a Wealthy Pensioners category for people aged 50 or over with a pension or stable passive income: pensions, rent, realised capital gains, dividends and interest count, while earned income and salaries do not. Dependants are a legal spouse and children under 20, up to four.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Royal Thai Embassy, Immigration Bureau, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 16 October 2026.

• For the O-A visa you show monthly income of about THB 65,000 (to be safe, more than THB 66,000), or a bank deposit of about THB 800,000 (to be safe, more than THB 810,000), or a deposit plus income that together total about THB 800,000. The Non-Immigrant O checklist asks for bank statements for the past three months showing the same balance, issued within one month.
• For the extension of stay in Thailand, a deposit of about THB 800,000 must sit in a Thai commercial bank for 2 months before you apply and 3 months after approval; after that you may withdraw only if about THB 400,000 remains (to be safe, keep more than THB 410,000).
• O-A holders must carry health insurance or foreign government welfare covering at least US$100,000 or THB 3 million for the whole stay. If insurers refuse, the Immigration Bureau accepts a deposit of about THB 3 million held for 2 months before you apply (to be safe, more than THB 3,100,000).
• The LTR Wealthy Pensioners test is passive income of about US$80,000 a year (to be safe, more than US$81,000), or about US$40,000 to 80,000 plus an investment of about US$250,000 in Thai government bonds, Thai companies or Thai property made before you apply (to be safe, more than US$260,000).

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Royal Thai Embassy, Immigration Bureau, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 16 October 2026.

• The O-A checklist (as of 1 May 2022) lists a passport valid for at least 18 months, three application forms and photos, a bank statement with an original bank guarantee letter or an income certificate, a no-criminal-record letter valid for three months and notarised or authenticated, a medical certificate valid for three months, and the health insurance statement.
• The Non-Immigrant O (retirement) checklist asks you to upload the passport biodata page, photos from the last six months, a document showing where you currently live, an e-ticket itinerary and the financial evidence.
• For the extension of stay you take Form TM.7, a passport copy, proof of income such as a pension, interest or dividends, a bank certificate and account copy, and health insurance documents if you hold an O-A visa.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Immigration Bureau. Checked 16 October 2026.

• The O-A visa lets you stay one year from your first entry, while the Non-Immigrant O visa is valid for 3 months with a stay of up to 90 days; you then report to immigration every 90 days for as long as you stay.
• Missions state their own e-Visa times: Canberra at least 10 business days and up to four to six weeks, Vancouver 10 to 15 business days and Wellington about 5 to 10 working days once every document is in. The extension of stay is applied for at an Immigration Bureau office.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Royal Thai Embassy, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Immigration Bureau. Checked 16 October 2026.

• Embassy fees for a single-entry Non-Immigrant visa vary: A$120 on the Sydney consulate-general's list of 15 July 2024, and NZ$700 at Wellington from 5 July to 31 December 2026, down from NZ$800. Wellington's page lists NZ$2,000 for O-A before that reduction. Confirm in the e-Visa system.
• The Immigration Bureau's extension-of-stay page lists a THB 1,900 fee against the TM.7 form for business and tourism, with no separate retirement fee, and a One Start One Stop centre FAQ dated 2014 gives a re-entry permit fee of THB 1,000 for a single re-entry and THB 3,800 for multiple re-entries.
• The LTR visa costs THB 50,000 per person for ten years if collected in Thailand, and more if applied for abroad: US$1,600 at the Washington embassy after endorsement, CA$3,250 on Ottawa's 2024 list, A$3,000 on Sydney's and NZ$5,000 at Wellington until 31 December 2026. The BOI charges nothing for the endorsement if you apply directly through its LTR system.

Sources: Royal Thai Consulate-General, Royal Thai Embassy, Immigration Bureau, Thailand Board of Investment. Checked 16 October 2026.

• An O-A holder may stay one year from first entry, and a one-year extension of stay is granted at the immigration officer's discretion for as long as you still meet the money requirements. The Immigration Bureau page we read does not state how long a retirement extension lasts after a Non-Immigrant O stay.
• The LTR visa is a ten-year visa stamp with permission to stay first up to 5 years, extendable by 5 more if you still qualify; the BOI re-checks eligibility before the first period ends, and 90-day reporting becomes yearly reporting.

Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Immigration Bureau, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 16 October 2026.

• Permanent residence is a separate annual quota process, with 100 places for each nationality and 50 for stateless people; the 2026 window ran from 9 March to 3 April 2026. A 2018 law-firm article says applicants need three consecutive yearly extensions of stay and lists investment, work or business, family and expert categories without naming retirement, so ask immigration whether retirement years count.

Sources: Immigration Bureau. Checked 16 October 2026.

• A one-year O-A stay or extension is more than the 180 days at which the Revenue Department's 2024 return guide treats you as a Thai tax resident, and a resident is taxed on foreign income earned from 1 January 2024 that is remitted to Thailand in the same or a later tax year.
• The BOI lists a tax exemption for overseas income among the LTR visa's privileges, while the Washington O-A page lists none. The guide's rates start at nil on the first THB 150,000 of net income and reach 35% above THB 5 million.

Sources: The Revenue Department (Thailand), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"), Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), Royal Thai Embassy. Checked 16 October 2026.

• Digital nomad visa in Thailand
• Work permit in Thailand
• Family visa in Thailand
• Long-Term Resident visa for investors in Thailand

• Visas in Thailand
• Thailand

1. Required documents: Non-Immigrant Visa O-A (Long Stay), for applicants aged 50 and over, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (a mission checklist, "as of 1 May 2022"). Checked 16 October 2026. Checklist dated 1 May 2022 from one Thai mission; its fee is in Bahraini dinars and is left out.
2. Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa, Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.. Checked 10 October 2026. Written for applicants in the Washington embassy's area.
3. Status table: Convention of 5 October 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents (Apostille Convention), Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH). Checked 16 October 2026. Thailand acceded 30 June 2026, in force 28 February 2027; United States in force 15 October 1981; Canada 11 January 2024; Australia 16 March 1995; New Zealand 22 November 2001.
4. US citizens abroad: filing requirements, Internal Revenue Service. Checked 10 October 2026.
5. Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Checked 10 October 2026.
6. US international Social Security agreements, US Social Security Administration (Internet Archive copy). Checked 10 October 2026. Internet Archive copy captured 4 October 2026. Thailand is not on the list of agreements.
7. Visa: how to apply, Royal Thai Consulate-General, Vancouver. Checked 11 October 2026. Page updated 20 April 2026; online applications only; 10 to 15 business days for complete applications.
8. Visa fees (Announcement No. 7/2567, fees in Canadian dollars from 16 July 2024), Royal Thai Embassy, Ottawa. Checked 15 October 2026. Fee announcement No. 7/2567, in force from 16 July 2024, on a page updated 5 January 2026; the fee table is an image.
9. Old Age Security: eligibility, Government of Canada. Checked 10 October 2026. Page dated 1 October 2026.
10. Social security agreements, Government of Canada. Checked 10 October 2026. Page dated 9 October 2026; Thailand is not on the list.
11. Determining your residency status, Canada Revenue Agency. Checked 10 October 2026. Date modified 20 January 2026.
12. Thai E-Visa: who can apply, documents and processing time, Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra. Checked 11 October 2026. Page is undated; it publishes no fee list and no DTV checklist.
13. Visa information and visa fees (fee announcement of 15 July 2024), Royal Thai Consulate-General, Sydney. Checked 15 October 2026. Fee table in Australian dollars, effective 15 July 2024, an image on a page updated 6 March 2025; not Canberra's schedule.
14. Agreement between Thailand and Australia on double taxation: articles 16 to 20, The Revenue Department (Thailand). Checked 11 October 2026. The Thai Revenue Department's copy of the 1989 agreement text (page last updated 8 December 2011); predates the Multilateral Instrument. Article 18 (pensions and annuities) used.
15. When you leave Australia if you get Age Pension, Services Australia (Internet Archive copy). Checked 11 October 2026. Internet Archive capture of 2 December 2025; page last updated 3 March 2022.
16. Types of visas (e-Visa applications), Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington. Checked 11 October 2026. Residents of New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Samoa and Niue; page updated 23 July 2024; its standard fees are reduced until 31 December 2026 (D7).
17. Non-immigrant visa, Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington. Checked 10 October 2026. Page updated 18 March 2024; its fees predate the temporary reduction in D7.
18. Living overseas if you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, Work and Income (Ministry of Social Development, New Zealand). Checked 10 October 2026. People who already qualify for NZ Super.
19. Double Taxation Relief (Thailand) Order 1998 (archived copy), New Zealand Legislation (Internet Archive copy of 5 June 2023). Checked 10 October 2026. Internet Archive copy captured 5 June 2023. Articles 4 (residence), 10 to 12 (withholding), 15 and 16 (personal services), 19 (pensions) and 23 (credit) read.
20. Non-Immigrant (O) Retirement Visa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (checklist for applicants in Japan, file dated 3 September 2025). Checked 16 October 2026. Single entry, 3 months' validity, 90-day stay; fee in yen left out.
21. Extension of stay (การขออยู่ต่อ): retirement, marriage to a Thai national, business, tourism, Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Checked 16 October 2026. Page in Thai, read on 17 October 2026; it shows no date.
22. Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa: qualifications and privileges, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 16 October 2026. Four LTR categories, dependants and how to apply; the page shows no publication date.
23. Applying for a visa, Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington. Checked 10 October 2026. Page updated 22 September 2026.
24. Announcement: reduction of visa service fees, Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington. Checked 15 October 2026. Announcement 1/2569 dated 8 June 2026: reduced fees from 5 July to 31 December 2026.
25. FAQ: About Re-entry Permit, Thailand Board of Investment, One Start One Stop Investment Center. Checked 15 October 2026. FAQ page dated December 2014; confirm current fees with immigration.
26. LTR visa: visa issuance, Thailand Board of Investment (BOI). Checked 16 October 2026. How and where the LTR visa is issued, fees and the 60-day endorsement.
27. LTR visa: how to apply, Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.. Checked 11 October 2026. Written for applicants in the Washington embassy's area.
28. Annual application for permanent residence in the Kingdom (การขอมีถิ่นที่อยู่ในราชอาณาจักรประจำปี), Immigration Bureau, Royal Thai Police. Checked 16 October 2026. Page in Thai; announces the 2026 application window and quota; the requirement documents it links were not opened.
29. Guide to Personal Income Tax Return 2024 (P.N.D. 90), The Revenue Department (Thailand). Checked 15 October 2026. Return guide for the 2024 tax year, filed in 2025; a newer guide may exist.