Non immigrant O application in home country (UK)

[penboy]

Last month a mate and his two travelling companions struggled to get through immigration after a visa (exempt) run by air to Cambodia. Yesterday another mate came back from Hong Kong and was warned that if he did not have a visa on his next arrival, he would not be allowed entry. Both have been using visa exempt for several years. Both are useless with technology, so I have offered to help them get a Non-immigrant O in the UK this summer. They will get 90 days permission to stay upon arrival and gives them time to get things sorted with an agent regarding the annual extension. I know that one has a BKK bank account, not sure about the other so that might cause a problem further down the line but is not of any interest to us at the moment.

Both of them receive the state pension and I was under the impression that this would allow them to get the visa. However, when I checked the evisa website, it appears that they require proof of the equivalent of 65,000 baht or 800k baht in a bank account in the UK.

Has anyone recently made an application in their own country or can clarify the requirements for someone on the state pension.

Plan B would be to get the visa and extension now whilst in Thailand. They are both going home in next few weeks so not sure if that is possible.

[ricktoronto]

800000 Baht is only 23000USD and 65000B is only 1900USD a month of income (1500 quid). The money can be at home with proof from their bank.

Are you saying they have no money in the bank and income less than 1500 Pounds? If so they don't qualify.

They also have to be older than 50. And have a token insurance policy.

I think what people do is pay an "agent" to front them a bank account so they can get evidence from a Thai bank. Lately that seems to be difficult and of course it's visa fraud.

[davidge]

1 hour ago, penboy said:

Last month a mate and his two travelling companions struggled to get through immigration after a visa (exempt) run by air to Cambodia. Yesterday another mate came back from Hong Kong and was warned that if he did not have a visa on his next arrival, he would not be allowed entry. Both have been using visa exempt for several years. Both are useless with technology, so I have offered to help them get a Non-immigrant O in the UK this summer. They will get 90 days permission to stay upon arrival and gives them time to get things sorted with an agent regarding the annual extension. I know that one has a BKK bank account, not sure about the other so that might cause a problem further down the line but is not of any interest to us at the moment.

Both of them receive the state pension and I was under the impression that this would allow them to get the visa. However, when I checked the evisa website, it appears that they require proof of the equivalent of 65,000 baht or 800k baht in a bank account in the UK.

Has anyone recently made an application in their own country or can clarify the requirements for someone on the state pension.

Plan B would be to get the visa and extension now whilst in Thailand. They are both going home in next few weeks so not sure if that is possible.

They’ve changed the requirements in the uk fairly recently. They aren’t as easy as when I got the Non O Visa 3 or 4 years ago. It used to say State Pension or £10k bank balance for 3 months. Those requirements are actually still listed on one part of the website. However, a more recent update shows the Current requirements as:

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA TYPE O Retirement (Single entry)

Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with state pension who wishes to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days)

1. Biodata page of Passport or Travel Document
    
2. Photograph taken within the last six months
   - If the photograph does not reflect your current appearance you may be refused to enter the Kingdom of Thailand.
    
3. Document indicating current location
   - Applicant’s local utility bills (shows your name and address) e.g. electricity bill/ gas / mobile phone / rental agreement.
    
4. Financial evidence showing monthly income of no less than 65,000 THB (£1,500) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (£18,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings
   - Applicant’s recent official UK/Ireland bank statement shows your name, address (Screenshots are not accepted). For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month. 

It’s either/or so a bank balance of £18k will do even if income is below £1500 a month.

[penboy]

4 hours ago, davidge said:

For monthly income of last 3 months no less than £1,500/ month. 

 

I think this will be the way forward for one of my mates, the other has plenty of savings.

Very big thanks. This was the page I found but I wasn't aware that the goalposts had been moved.

[flyingscotsman]

I was under the impression that the 800k had to be in your Thai bank account not your own UK account for 3 months to apply for a retirement visa?

[davidge]

18 minutes ago, flyingscotsman said:

I was under the impression that the 800k had to be in your Thai bank account not your own UK account for 3 months to apply for a retirement visa?

The thread is about getting the initial Non O visa in the UK before travelling to Thailand. You apply online and it’s processed by Thai Embassy in London. It’s an e-visa so you’ll get an email with the visa. You don’t need to send your passport.

 

You need the 800k in a Thai bank account if you go to Thailand without the visa and obtain it there. You also need the 800k in a Thai bank account for each subsequent annual extension of stay.

[flyingscotsman]

2 minutes ago, davidge said:

The thread is about getting the initial Non O visa in the UK before travelling to Thailand. You apply online and it’s processed by Thai Embassy in London. It’s an e-visa so you’ll get an email with the visa. You don’t need to send your passport.

 

You need the 800k in a Thai bank account if you go to Thailand without the visa and obtain it there. You also need the 800k in a Thai bank account for each subsequent annual extension of stay.

Ah OK.

Didn't know you could do it in the UK and use money in your UK bank as the evidence of the 800k.

I asked a visa agent in Pattaya last year about applying for a retirement visa. She told me to get the 90 day non immigrant O visa online and then she'd sort the retirement visa once I get to Pattaya and this would give me a 15 month visa. After that I would then get a 12 month renewal every year. 1st year cost would be about 30k baht then 14k baht each year for the renewal.

[davidge]

Just now, flyingscotsman said:

Ah OK.

Didn't know you could do it in the UK and use money in your UK bank as the evidence of the 800k.

I asked a visa agent in Pattaya last year about applying for a retirement visa. She told me to get the 90 day non immigrant O visa online and then she'd sort the retirement visa once I get to Pattaya and this would give me a 15 month visa. After that I would then get a 12 month renewal every year. 1st year cost would be about 30k baht then 14k baht each year for the renewal.

The Non O visa IS the ‘retirement’ visa. If you get it from the uk then you don’t get another visa in Thailand - ever. 

The visa gives you permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days. You then get an Extension of Stay for 12 months and do that each subsequent year. It is NOT a visa it is permission to stay.

You need a Thai bank account, which is more difficult to get now, but if you have the 800k in the Thai account then you can do the extension yourself or pay an agent 7000-10000 to do it for you. If you don’t have the money then the agent charges more.

[flyingscotsman]

22 minutes ago, davidge said:

The Non O visa IS the ‘retirement’ visa. If you get it from the uk then you don’t get another visa in Thailand - ever. 

The visa gives you permission to stay in Thailand for 90 days. You then get an Extension of Stay for 12 months and do that each subsequent year. It is NOT a visa it is permission to stay.

You need a Thai bank account, which is more difficult to get now, but if you have the 800k in the Thai account then you can do the extension yourself or pay an agent 7000-10000 to do it for you. If you don’t have the money then the agent charges more.

Ok, got it.

I already have a Thai bank account, so the main hurdle is out the way.

1 thing I'm not 100% clear on is how many times I can come and go in the 12 months as my work can be a solid 4 weeks on 4 weeks off or it can be a bit sporadic and I could work 6 weeks then have a few months off.

[davidge]

19 minutes ago, flyingscotsman said:

Ok, got it.

I already have a Thai bank account, so the main hurdle is out the way.

1 thing I'm not 100% clear on is how many times I can come and go in the 12 months as my work can be a solid 4 weeks on 4 weeks off or it can be a bit sporadic and I could work 6 weeks then have a few months off.

You can get a Multiple Reentry Permit when you get your annual Extension then you can come and go as you want.

About 4000 baht extra if you use an agent.

Just double check before you leave each time that the dates are ok for your plans. With an agent you can get the Extension up to 3 months early BUT make sure the Re-entry permit doesn’t expire before you fly back to Thailand.

[DutchyBanPhe]

I just applied for the Non-O (Pensioners visa) but i got denied :(
Since i do have the 800K in a Thai Bank, but no way to prove that i am a pensioner i did not get the visa. (Just wealthy unemployed)
Even thou i have had a pensioners visa before without the hassle.
Not they advise me to take the NON OA visa,  once you get that, there is no way to turn it into a Non-O examption i have been told, so then i will be stuck with the Insurance that will be forced upon me.

Any one know a way out of this so i can get the Non-O instead of the NON-OA visa?

[penboy]

22 minutes ago, DutchyBanPhe said:

I just applied for the Non-O (Pensioners visa) but i got denied 😞
Since i do have the 800K in a Thai Bank, but no way to prove that i am a pensioner i did not get the visa. (Just wealthy unemployed)
Even thou i have had a pensioners visa before without the hassle.
Not they advise me to take the NON OA visa,  once you get that, there is no way to turn it into a Non-O examption i have been told, so then i will be stuck with the Insurance that will be forced upon me.

Any one know a way out of this so i can get the Non-O instead of the NON-OA visa?

How old are you?

I got my non O (based on retirement) simply by being over 50 years old.

[DutchyBanPhe]

1 hour ago, penboy said:

How old are you?

I got my non O (based on retirement) simply by being over 50 years old.

i am 55, but not a pensioner...
Did you apply for it in the UK, or did you change it in Thailand?
I had a marriage exemption before, but when i turned 50 it was easier just to get a pensioner visa (Non-O).
But now they say that it is not possible anymore

And the requirements of the Non-OA visa are doing my head in...

Edited August 14 by DutchyBanPhe
Had more questions for the post.

[penboy]

5 hours ago, DutchyBanPhe said:

i am 55, but not a pensioner...
Did you apply for it in the UK, or did you change it in Thailand?
I had a marriage exemption before, but when i turned 50 it was easier just to get a pensioner visa (Non-O).
But now they say that it is not possible anymore

And the requirements of the Non-OA visa are doing my head in...

I got it in the UK and then extend my permission to stay every year.

I was 57 years old when I got it, no pension at that time.

Who is ''they''?

[DutchyBanPhe]

8 minutes ago, penboy said:

Who is ''they''?

"They" is lady at the Thai embassy in Stockholm.
A few years ago i had a marriage visa, but when i turned 50 i applied for a Non-O and got it aswell, no worries.

The Thai Embassy in Sweden said she could turn my visarequest into a 60 day visa, but don't we already get 60 days on arrival`?

[penboy]

2 minutes ago, DutchyBanPhe said:

"They" is lady at the Thai embassy in Stockholm.
A few years ago i had a marriage visa, but when i turned 50 i applied for a Non-O and got it aswell, no worries.

The Thai Embassy in Sweden said she could turn my visarequest into a 60 day visa, but don't we already get 60 days on arrival`?

I am surprised. Any idea why they changed the RULES?

Just re-read your posts. Do you have the equivalent of 800k baht in a Dutch account? If not, maybe that is the problem. 

You get 60 day visa exempt on arrival and you can extend it by 30. No real advantage in getting a single entry tourist visa.

[DutchyBanPhe]

24 minutes ago, penboy said:

Just re-read your posts. Do you have the equivalent of 800k baht in a Dutch account? If not, maybe that is the problem. 

The 800K are in a Thai Account, Apparantly they haven't changed the RULES, i went from a marriage exemption to a Non-O, instead of a Non-OA.
Maybe some sweet talking at the local Immigration can get me a Non-O exemption again. :(

[penboy]

53 minutes ago, DutchyBanPhe said:

The 800K are in a Thai Account, Apparantly they haven't changed the RULES, i went from a marriage exemption to a Non-O, instead of a Non-OA.
Maybe some sweet talking at the local Immigration can get me a Non-O exemption again. 😞

So the reason you can't get the Non O visa in Holland is because you don't have sufficient funds in a bank account in Holland.

If you want a Non O visa based on retirement, best try for it in Thailand. There isa thread discussing the various problems somewhere on this forum.

[DutchyBanPhe]

10 hours ago, penboy said:

So the reason you can't get the Non O visa in Holland is because you don't have sufficient funds in a bank account in Holland.

If you want a Non O visa based on retirement, best try for it in Thailand. There isa thread discussing the various problems somewhere on this forum.

Yeah, i will try in Thailand again, but nowhere did the Visa form ask me for my Dutch (Or swedish, where i am now) account, They just asked about my Thai account, and there i have enough , a lot more than the 800K.

Apparently Immigration in Thailand does not have to follow the same RULES as the Visa departement of the Embassys...

I will look for the thread again, didn't find it last time.
Cheers!
 

[PatsGuy]

I am looking at applying for the O visa but when i land in Thailand I cannot stay long so I think i have to go for the OA.

I want to apply from my country and I have no income only money in my bank account that is far in excess of 800,000 baht.  

Some have told me that you need to have some income.. passive or active.. if I put "no income" or less than 20,000 baht, I will most likely be denied.. 

Can anyone verify this ?

And how much does the insurance cost for the OA that everyone seems to hate ?

[penboy]

2 hours ago, PatsGuy said:

I am looking at applying for the O visa but when i land in Thailand I cannot stay long so I think i have to go for the OA.

I want to apply from my country and I have no income only money in my bank account that is far in excess of 800,000 baht.  

Some have told me that you need to have some income.. passive or active.. if I put "no income" or less than 20,000 baht, I will most likely be denied.. 

Can anyone verify this ?

And how much does the insurance cost for the OA that everyone seems to hate ?

If you are not staying long, why do you need a long term visa?

[PatsGuy]

1 hour ago, penboy said:

If you are not staying long, why do you need a long term visa?

For my own reasons.. 

[jimboh]

On 11/07/2025 at 04:47, davidge said:

You apply online and it’s processed by Thai Embassy in London. It’s an e-visa so you’ll get an email with the visa. You don’t need to send your passport.

 

Can you please provide link, how much does it cost?

[Bazle]

34 minutes ago, jimboh said:

Can you please provide link, how much does it cost?

Possibly this is what you want - 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/retirement-visa

[discrete]

On 02/09/2025 at 13:10, PatsGuy said:

I am looking at applying for the O visa but when i land in Thailand I cannot stay long so I think i have to go for the OA.

I want to apply from my country and I have no income only money in my bank account that is far in excess of 800,000 baht.  

Some have told me that you need to have some income.. passive or active.. if I put "no income" or less than 20,000 baht, I will most likely be denied.. 

Can anyone verify this ?

And how much does the insurance cost for the OA that everyone seems to hate ?

The costs of insurance is only part of the problem.  The real 'gotcha' is getting insurance as you get older. I am 71 and it is nowhere near worth having insurance with the high cost AND the exclusions for existing health issues - which are the events I would mostly likely need insurance for.  

But once you are over 75 - forget it ... insurance to satisfy your visa requirement is just not available.

You can get an O-visa that does not require insurance, but still take insurance if that matches your needs.

So just get your visa in Thailand .. not your home country ... and avoid this problem.