Last updated on April 12, 2026
If you are 50 yo and older, you can do an extension based on retirement in Thailand. However, rules can be unclear. There are two types of visas. A visa is something you usually get when you are abroad. A visa extension is something you typically do at a local Thai immigration office. Let’s try to explain you the difference and what is needed.
Staying in Thailand for more than 90 days has special rules. You must notify your address when you arrive. The building owner must also inform the authorities that you are there (TM 30). If you need to leave Thailand during your visa or extension, you may need a multiple entry visa or a re-entry permit. Do note that Thailand has a new list of 93 countries allowed to enter Thailand without visa. The new regulation about ETA will require citizens from 93 countries to get prior authorization to enter Thailand. This rule does not apply to citizens from Malaysia, Laos, or Cambodia. The change will take effect in 2025. Read our article about the ETA in Thailand here.
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Written by Sebastian H. Brousseau, with help from the "Expats in Isaan" group on Facebook and some Thaivisa members. Updated 6 January 2020. (Many rules were changed in 2019 and we invite you to read this article to be familiar with these new rules)
For many visitors to Thailand, a short holiday simply isn’t enough to enjoy all the country has to offer. If you want to stay longer than 3 months, you can extend your visa. You must meet the requirements from the Royal Thai Immigration. A retirement visa might be the right choice for you. You don’t have to move to Thailand for good. However, renewing your visa each year lets you stay in the Kingdom for many years. Here’s how to do it. You also do not need to be officially retired in your country but you must be 50 years-old or older.
THE RIGHT VISA before your extension based on retirement in Thailand
There are several ways to apply for a retirement visa. This text aims to help you. Immigration rules can be confusing and may differ from one office to another.
1. Applying for Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) your home-country
From your home country or where you live, you can apply for a Non-Immigrant O-A visa. This visa allows you to stay in Thailand for one year. You need to show proof that you are 50 years old or older. You also need to meet the financial eligibility criteria.
The rules for extending an OA Visa for retirement and an O-retirement Visa are the same. The only difference is the new health insurance requirement.
An OA Visa is valid for a full year (Visa validity date). When you enter Thailand on an OA Visa you will be stamped in for a full year. Each time you re-enter Thailand before your visa expires, you will get a new stamp. This stamp allows you to stay for a full year. It is therefore recommended to exit and re-enter Thailand just before your Visa validity expires.
In the second year after your Visa expires, you need a re-entry permit. This permit is required when you leave and come back to Thailand. It helps keep your permission to stay valid until your current date. And it is only at the end of the permission to stay, that you need to apply for an extension of stay.
Documents required to do you extension based on retirement in Thailand (TM7 form)
What is mentioned below is typically required, but requirements differ dependent on country of application. Be careful: many people talk about “retirement visa Thailand”. In Thailand, you will need to “extend your visa” every year, extend the first visa or permission you had when you entered. The following documents are required:
1. Passport with at least 18 months’ validity
2. Three copies of the completed visa application form (TM 7 form)
3. Three passport-sized photos (4x6cm) taken within the past 6 months
4. Personal information form (Curriculum Vitea or resume – I never seen that in the rules but immigration can ask you any “relevent” document)
5. Copy of your bank statement showing an amount of 800,000THB or more, OR a certificate proving that you have a monthly income
You need a pension of 65,000 THB or more. Alternatively, you can show a mix of bank deposits and monthly income. This total must be at least 800,000 THB. Certain consulates or embassies can ask to notarize your bank account again verify with them.
6. Letter of guarantee from your bank (to guarantee bank statement accuracy)
IMPORTANT: The letter of guarantee for the funds deposited and relevant bank statements must be certified by a commercial bank in Thailand and should be recent (normally few days old only) This is not necessary everywhere, and would actually be difficult when applying from abroad for the OA Visa.
7. Notarized letter from your home country (or official country of residence) stating that you have no criminal record.
8. Medical certificate from a hospital in the country where you submit your application
it should show that you have no prohibitive diseases. The certificate should be recent (valid for not more than 3 months) and might have to be notarized. A letter or statement signed by your doctor is also acceptable in some countries.
9. Insurance
Buy a health insurance policy from one of the companies on the website. This was important during COVID, but we are not sure if it is still needed
http://longstay.tgia.org/
The policy must cover the entire stay in Thailand. It should provide at least 40,000 THB for outpatient treatment. It should also provide at least 400,000 THB for inpatient treatment.
This new regulation went into effect as of October 31, 2019.
This only applies to people who have a 1-year Non-Immigrant O-A visa. You will be permitted to stay only for the length of the insurance coverage and not exceeding one year.
Overseas insurance is accepted. However, your insurer must give you a filled-in and signed Foreign Insurance Certificate. This visa is granted for 1 year.
2. Non-Immigrant O for reason of retirement (if available in your country)
The second option is to apply for a Non-Immigrant ‘O’ visa. You must apply online since 1st January 2025. There are many reasons to apply for a non-O visa. For example, being married to a Thai person can change your financial obligations. It can also affect the documents you need to submit.
You must be over 50 years old. You also need bank statements that show an income of more than 65,000 THB per month. Alternatively, you can show a total account balance of 800,000 THB when you apply.
If you are already in Thailand and want to stay, you can change your visa. You can apply to change your 30-day visa exemption or 60-day Tourist Visa. Just go to the Immigration Center in Bangkok. This can be done at any local immigration office in Thailand that provides the service.
The same requirements will apply. When applying in Thailand, you also need to prove that the funds on your Thai bank-account originated from abroad >
Be careful, changing a visa is not easy and must be done at least 15 days before your visa expires.
3. Extending Your Visa (see the immigration link below) or what we call extension based on retirement in Thailand
It is advisable to apply for an extension one month before your visa expires. You should check with your local immigration office. They will tell you when to apply for an extension. Some offices (e.g. Chiang Wattana – government complex in Bangkok) allow up to 45 days.
However, you can apply up to actual permission to stay expiry date. It is best to do this a few days before the expiry date. This way, if your application is incomplete, you can provide any extra documents needed.
To do this, you need to file a TM7 Extension of Stay form just like you would for the Non-Immigrant O visa above. This time, you need to show 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account. You can also show this amount in your home country when you apply there. Alternatively, you can prove a monthly income of 65,000 THB. You can also use a mix of both to reach 800,000 THB or more. This is what we call an “Extension based on retirement in Thailand”.
You need to submit to extend your visa based on retirement:
1) TM7 application form with is the form for extension based on retirement in Thailand or any extension.
2) Application fee of 1,900 THB
3) Original passport with signed photocopies of each page (2 copies outside of Bangkok)
4) 1 passport-sized photo (2 outside Bangkok)
5) Map to your residence (must be hand-drawn)
6) Financial proof (as discussed above)
Furthermore, when showing 800,000THB in a Thai bank account the funds must be deposited 2 months prior to the application. It must remain in the account for 3 months after being granted permission to stay in Thailand.
After 3 months, some money can be withdrawn. But you have to keep at least 400,000THB throughout the duration of permitted stay.
For a monthly income of 65,000THB, you must obtain a Letter for Proof of Income. Sadly, the embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and other countries no longer offer this service. You will need to obtain Proof of Income from your home country. Please consult your embassy as to whether or not they can provide you with a Proof of Income letter.
There are 3 ways of proving that you meet the financial requirements for an Extension based on retirement in Thailand:
- – Money-in-bank method (800K/400K as described)
- – Monthly deposits (minimum 65.000 THB every single month with proof that it originated from abroad)
- – Income statement or income certificage (with no need to prove money on thai bank) like if you work in Thailand. Or basically whatever document is required by the immigration bureau upon their discretion.
On top of that there is the combination method (money at bank + incomes)
Additionally, the bank statement should show deposits for the last 12 months. This is not clearly stated in a recent Order from the Royal Thai Police. However, the total of 12 months is about the same as the 800,000 THB requirement.
For a combined income and deposit bank statement, the same requirements and criteria for the 800,000THB deposit apply.
7) Purchase a health insurance policy (Only for Non-OA visa) to cover your extension of stay for up to one year from one of the participating companies.
Overseas insurance can be accepted, but you will need to complete the form at this link:
http://longstay.tgia.org/document/overseas_insurance_certificate.pdf
4. Applying for Extension based on retirement in Thailand when you are already here:
4.1 You can apply for a Non Imm O visa. Please note that starting January 1, 2025, you cannot apply at embassies or consulates. You apply online at the Thai website : https://www.thaievisa.go.th/ and you will get the answer by email.
You can must follow the rules and requirements.
The non-O visa does not require insurance like the Non-OA visa. However, most other requirements are similar. So if you do not wish to meet the requirement for insurance, you should switch your Non-OA visa for Non-O.
5. Staying in Thailand on a valid Visa or permission to stay
5.1 90-day reporting requirement
If you have a visa or extension in Thailand, you must report to Immigration every 90 days. This rule applies unless you leave Thailand before the 90 days are up. You also need to file a TM47 form. This form shows that you are still in Thailand and living at the same address.
There is no fee for these check-ins. You can also file the TM47 form within a week before or after your 90-day reporting date. However, if you’re late you will be fined. There are several options to report your 90 days notice, and the Thai immigration website described them
5.2 Need for re-entry permits in Thailand
If you want to leave Thailand and come back after your visa has expired, you need a permit. This applies if you have a one-entry visa or are on an extension of stay. If you are on an extension, you must buy a single re-entry permit for 1,000 THB. A multiple re-entry permit will cost you 3,800 THB.
You can do this at any local IO or in the departure halls of major Thai airports. Make sure to complete it before leaving Thailand. The single and multiple re-entry permits are done with the TM8 form. When you return to Thailand after your Visa has expired, you need a re-entry permit. This permit allows you to keep the permission to stay that your Visa gave you.
5.3 TM30 requirement
Furthermore, if you are staying longer than 90 consecutive days you will need to report your residence.
Technically, the owner of the house, hotel, or rental property where you are staying must file the initial report. This is known as the TM 30 form. The property owner must submit it in person. They should go to the Immigration Office in their province in Thailand when they arrive. They eased the rules and it is not necessary each time that you travel in another province.
After the property owner submits the form they will receive a receipt regarding your residence. This receipt must be kept safe with you. You can easily staple it into your passport.
This receipt is very IMPORTANT. DO NOT LOSE IT. You will need it for re-entering the kingdom or for when you need another Non-Immigrant O-A visa extension.
Do note that local immigration office do not follow the same rules for TM30.
In addition to the 1-year Non-Immigrant O-A visa based on retirement, there is a 5-year option as well.
6. FIVE YEARS NON-IMMIGRANT O-X VISA
The 5-year Non-Immigrant O-X visa for retirees has the same requirements as the 1-year O-A visa. However, it has different financial obligations.
They are as follows:
- You need to have 3,000,000 THB in a Thai bank account for at least 3 months before you apply. Alternatively, you can show proof of a monthly income of 100,000 THB for the last 12 months
- Health insurance that provides you with $10,000 (roughly 300,000THB) in coverage
An additional requirement is that you must obtain a re-entry permit after the visa has been approved.
Likewise, you may need to provide a police clearance/background check and/or a medical certificate as well.
This is a new class of Non-Immigrant visa and not much is currently well-understood about the entire process.
Helpful Hints
You must now apply online for your visa and once in Thailand, you extend your visa. Do understand the difference between a visa and an extension.
Some offices may require you submit a copy of your passport legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is rare but each immigration office has discretion to require some documents. Before you submit any paperwork be sure to get a current list of requirements from your local immigration office.
Also, remember that foreigners are only allowed to stay in the Kingdom of Thailand for 90 days. Over 90 days without exiting, you must report your address to immigration (except if you have permanent residency). Don’t miss your 90-day reports or you will be fined!
Employment is prohibited on the retirement visa and Extension based on retirement in Thailand.
For over-50s, the retirement visa and extensions based on retirement are great options. They help you stay in Thailand long-term and enjoy this beautiful country. If you have the money and keep your paperwork organized, you can use the retirement extension. This will help you create a great life after work in Thailand.
For policy updates and announcements please check https://www.immigration.go.th/announce
While they are in the Thai language, many often have an English translation in the PDF reader. Look for announcements with the words “non-immigrant” in the heading.
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If you never did an extension of visa and live in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, there are tons of agencies doing that. But once you do it once by yourself, think that each year will be similar. We encourage you to learn the process so you will save money. The first time is the most difficult but after, it should be exactly the same. Do not wait the last day to apply for your extension.
You can apply 30 days in advance so if something is missing, you have plenty of time to correct the problem. If you really want us to help, we can do extensions in Bangkok and several other places for about 20,000 baht. Contact us at info.thailaw@gmail.com