Thailand

UPDATED November 27, 2022 

Thailand has quickly grown into one of the world’s most popular countries for foreign retirees.  The exotic Southeast Asian kingdom offers a year-round tropical climate with all the modern comforts of the West – for pennies on the dollar.  According to the 2019 Global Retirement Index, Thailand has the sixth-lowest cost of living in the world.  Great value for the dollar, state-of-the-art healthcare, and new condominium construction projects make Thailand particularly attractive to those retiring on a fixed income. 

Visitors and retirees alike flock to Thailand for its sandy beaches, lush jungles, vibrant marketplaces, ancient ruins, colorful Buddhist temples, and spicy, aromatic cuisine.  Tourism contributes more than $55.5 million in revenues to the nation’s economy and almost 20 percent of its GDP. Only 10 million tourists visited the country in 2001, but the industry has exploded in recent years, reaching 35.4 million in 2017, 38.3 million in 2018, and 39.8 million in 2019.

The Thai government encourages retirees through a retirement visa program (the common term for a program officially known as “extension of stay based on retirement” or “long-stay visa”).  The kingdom issued nearly 80,000 retirement visas in 2018, a 30 percent increase over 2014.  Americans are second only to the British in the number of Thai retirement visas, followed by citizens of Germany, China, and Switzerland. 

Cosmopolitan Bangkok, the nation’s capital and a center of nightlife and culture, is a common retirement destination.  Other popular retiree cities include Chiang Mai and Hua Hin, which boast large communities of long-term foreign retirees; the beach cities of Phuket and Rayong; Krabi Town on the Krabi River; mountainous Chiang Mai; and Chiang Rai, one of the least expensive cities in Thailand.

Eligibility for a Thai Retirement Visa

Thailand offers two types of long-stay retirement visas: Non-Immigrant Category O-A, which is good for one year; and Non-Immigrant Category O-X, which runs up to 10 years.  These visas are only available to those who are no longer in the workforce. “Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited,” the Thai Embassy states on its website.  Both visas allow multiple entries to and from the country.

Many of the eligibility requirements for both visa categories are the same, but there are several differences beyond the time period.  For both types, U.S. applicants must: 

  • Be at least 50 years of age on the application date.
  • Reside in the country where their application is submitted.
  • Hold a valid U.S. passport which does not expire for at least 18 months.
  • Have no criminal record in Thailand or the United States.
  • Carry no prohibited diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, third stage syphilis, or drug addiction).
  • Not be prohibited from entering Thailand for other reasons under current laws.

The major eligibility difference between the two categories is in the minimum income requirements.  Applicants must prove that they have enough assets and/or income to support themselves.  For the one-year O-A visa, applicants must demonstrate that they receive income of at least $2,000 each month (such as through a pension). Alternately, they can deposit at least $25,000 with a Thai or U.S. bank.  Applicants can also qualify if the total of their deposited funds and monthly income equal $25,000. (NOTE: Financial requirements are maintained in the Thai currency, which fluctuates against the dollar, so check conversion rates for exact thresholds.) 

Financial requirements are higher for the O-X visa at $100,000.  Applicants can either deposit that amount at a Thai bank, or deposit $60,000 in a bank and prove annual income of $40,000.  After the first year of residency, bank deposits alone must reach at least $100,000.

The 10-year visa can only be obtained by citizens of the United States, Canada Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.  The O-X visa also allows foreigners to do volunteer work, purchase vehicles, and buy condominiums in Thailand.   

Required Documents and Fees

Several types of documentation must be submitted with the Thai retirement visa application.  Two sets of documents are required: originals plus one copy of each.  Applicants must submit:

  • A valid U.S. passport which does not expire for at least 18 months and contains at least one empty visa page.
  • A completed Thai visa application, available at http://thaiembdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Visa-Form.pdf.
  • An additional application form specific to the retirement visa (http://thaiembdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Additional-Application-Form-For-Non-Immigrant-O-A-Long-Stay-Only.pdf).
  • Two passport-sized photos (2x2) taken within the last six months against a light background and providing a full-face view of the applicant. 
  • Bank verification showing the applicant has adequate financing (savings and/or income) to qualify for the visa requested.  For the O-A category, the statement can come from a U.S. or Thai bank.  For O-X, only Thai bank deposit documentation is allowed.
  • Verification letter from the FBI that the applicant has no criminal record.
  • Medical certification that the applicant does not have a prohibited disease (listed above).
  • Proof of health insurance, a new government requirement as of October 2019.  The policy must provide 40,000 Baht in outpatient coverage and 400,000 Baht for in-patient care.  A list of Thai health insurers can be found at https://longstay.tgia.org.  O-X retirees must obtain insurance from a Thai company; O-A visa holders can provide proof of insurance from Thai or foreign firms.

The government processing fee for the O-A visa is $200, while the O-X visa costs $400.  Fees must be paid through a money order payable to “Royal Thai Embassy”.

UPDATE** COVID-19 Restrictions **

Please be aware that special travel restrictions are in place due to the COVID-19 situation and you must request the Thailand Pass from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The process of obtaining the Thailand Pass can take up to 7 business days so please plan accordingly.  Here is the link where you can apply for the Thailand Pass: Thailand Pass Registration System (for air travel only) (consular.go.th)

Current government regulations require that you have a negative COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before traveling (ONLY FOR UNVACCINATED TRAVELERS), booking confirmation at an approved Alternative Quarantine (AQ) hotel (or SHA+ hotel) for a 1 day reservation (for those that have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days before traveling) or 10-day quarantine for those that have not been vaccinated, and health insurance with a minimum coverage of 10,000 USD.  More information can be found here: » Thailand Pass (thaiembdc.org)

Our team has knowledge of the special procedures in place for travel to Thailand and can help you navigate this process.  Please email Michael at michael@visasupply.com with any specific questions. 

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Options for Applying for the Thai Retirement Visa 

There are two options for obtaining a Thai retirement visa: 1) Print the forms from the Thai government website and mail them to the consulate; or use a third-party courier service such as Visa Supply to expedite your application.  (NOTE: The embassy does not provide in-person service at this time due to COVID-19.)

1) Apply by Mail: You can also download the necessary forms and submit the application by mail.  Links to the Category O-A forms can be found at https://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-category-oa. Category O-X information is at https://thaiembdc.org/non-immigrant-visa-category-o-x-long-stay.  Enclose all supporting documentation (plus copies), as well as a self-addressed return envelope. The Thai Embassy states you must use a U.S. Postal Service Express Mail flat-rate mailing envelope with a $26.35 postage stamp. (Metered stamps will not be accepted). The embassy also states the processing time by mail is a minimum of 15 days.  

UPDATE: Starting 27 SEP 2021, Thailand now has a new e-Visa Stickerless System.  This means you will no longer mail your passport and visa application documents to the embassy or consulate.  Instead, you must apply for the visa online and submit your documents electronically through this website: Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa (thaievisa.go.th) The visa will be issued electronically by email. 

2) Courier Services: The second option is using a courier service such as Visa Supply to obtain your retirement visa more quickly.  We work directly with the Thai consulate in the United States, and typically turn around applications within a week.

UPDATE: Thailand now has a new e-Visa Stickerless System so it is no longer necessary (and no longer possible) for private courier services like Visa Supply to hand-delivery documents to the Thai consulate.  However, we can help you navigate the online visa application process -- just contact our company if you have questions or need help.  We suggest applying for a visa at least 6 weeks before your travel date.

The Thai consulate will reject applications if there are errors or omissions, delaying your submission.  Processing time is also slower when you mail the application.  Our experienced team will make sure your application is accurate and complete before we submit it.  We can also take your visa photo and prepare supporting documents that comply with government specifications.  As a private vendor, we charge a $200 fee for our services in addition to the government fees.   

Keeping Your Thai Retirement Visa in Good Standing

Once you arrive in Thailand, you must continue to meet the eligibility requirements outlined above.  Visas will be revoked for foreigners who do not maintain the required funds in the bank; fail to continue their health insurance; work without prior permission; or “pose a threat to the peace and security of Thailand,” the embassy states.  

Americans living in Thailand on a retirement visa must keep authorities informed of their current address every 90 days throughout their stay.  They are also required to check in regularly with the government’s immigration office (or at the police station if there is not an immigration office in their region).  Holders of O-A visas must report in person every 90 days, while O-X visa holders are only required to see an officer once a year.

During their one-year visa period, O-A holders who wish to leave and re-enter Thailand must apply to the immigration office for a re-entry permit.  Failure to obtain a re-entry permit will invalidate the visa.  After the first year, O-A retirees can apply for additional one-year extensions to their visas each year.

Long-stay retirees are encouraged to keep their qualifications up to date and report their address regularly.  Thai police frequently check foreigners to make sure they do not overstay their visas.  Failure to keep your retirement visa in good standing can lead to fines and/or loss of the visa.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in the United States and require assitance with the Thai Retirement Visa, please email Michael at michael@visasupply.com or schedule an appointment to chat with us by phone -- just tap the "Schedule Appointment" icon on top of this page and select a time that you want us to call you.