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.