Retirement is a big issue for anyone, especially for those who plan to live in another place other than their home country after stopping working. Thailand, famous for its comfortable climate, beautiful scenery, and amazing culture, attracts millions of international travelers every year. Moreover, the reasonable cost of living, accessible retirement visa, and optional health insurance make it a popular country to retire. To secure your retired life in this country, a retired visa is more favorable than a common tourist visa. In this passage, we are going to introduce Thailand retirement visa requirements, how to apply for it, etc.
What Is Thailand Retirement Visa?
Retirement visa in Thailand is officially known as an extension of Non-Immigrant O Visa based on retirement. It is issued to foreign nationals who are aged at least 50 years of age and plan to move to Thailand after retirement. The visa holders can enter the country at single entry or multiple entries and stay for years.
Types of Thailand Retirement Visas
The Thal retirement visa can be divided into two types, depending on the duration of stay.
- Non-immigration O-A Retirement Visa
If you are planning to stay in Thailand for up to 1 year and do not intend to work, it is suitable for you.
- Non-immigration O-X Retirement Visa
Supposing that you will stay in Thailand for up to 5 years without the intention of finding a job, you can pick this one.
Who Can Apply for a Thailand Retirement Visa?
Retiring in Thailand sounds attractive, but the first thing you should do is check whether you are eligible for a retirement visa in Thailand.
General Eligibility of Thailand Retirement Visa
- You must be aged 50 years old or above.
- Your passport must have at least 6 months of validity and 2 blank pages.
- You must satisfy one of the following financial requirements:
- Earn no less than THB 65,000 (USD 1,833) per month
- Possess assets of no less than THB 800,000 (USD 22,560)
- Deposit no less than THB 800,000 (USD 22,560) in a Thailand bank 2 months before applying for the visa, or deposit in a Thailand banking account that will generate a total pension of at least THB 800,000.
- You must purchase Thailand health insurance from a certified Thailand General Insurance Association for your stay. The insurance coverage should exceed THB 40,000 (USD1,128) for outpatient services, and THB 400,000 (USD11,280) for inpatient services.
Eligibility of Thailand Retirement Visa O-A
Above are general Thailand retirement visa requirements. To apply for Visa O-A, the following ones are also required.
- Save a security deposit of THB 800,000 (USD 22,560) in a Thailand bank account 2 months prior to the visa application, or
- Earn a monthly income of THB 65,000 (USD 1,833), or
- Have a security deposit and annual income of THB 800,000 (USD 22,560).
Eligibility of Thailand Retirement Visa O-X
To apply for Visa O-X, check whether you satisfy the following criteria.
- You come from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United States.
- You must deposit a security fund of at least THB 3,000,000 (USD84,602) in a bank account in Thailand, or earn at least THB 1.2 million (USD33,840) a year.
Cost and Processing Time to Apply for a Thailand Retirement Visa
The Thailand retirement visa cost depends on the visa type. There are 2 common types: THB 5,000 (USD 141) for 1-year validity, and TBH 10,000 (USD 282) for 5-year validity. Payment methods vary from country to country. For example, visa fees must be paid online with a credit card in the United States.
As for how long it takes to get a Thailand retirement visa, it is subject to where and when you apply. Generally speaking, the processing time can be up to 3 months.
Documents Needed for a Thailand Retirement Visa Application
After confirming your eligibility, the documents below are required to prove that you satisfy the Thailand retirement visa requirements.
- Your most recent passport (with at least 18 months of validity for a one-year visa).
- A completed Thailand visa application form (available on the Embassy or Consulate’s website or physical office).
- An extra completed Thailand retirement visa application form.
- Passport photo meeting official guidelines, such as white background, 35mm (width) x 45mm (length), neutral facial expression, and so forth. To avoid being rejected due to unqualified photos, it is suggested to use AiPassportPhotos to check photo compliance.
- Proof of financial capability, such as bank statements, bank books, or a bank letter. In case of income, you should include a letter from your embassy in Thailand as proof of monthly income. If not, a bank statement for the last 12 months is required to show regular deposits.
- Certificate of no criminal conviction issued by the police in your country and certified by a Notary Public.
- Health Certificate issued in the last three months and certified by a Notary Public. Infection with any prohibited diseases or symptoms will be denied entry, such as Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, Drug/Alcoholism Addiction, or Third Phase Syphilis.
- Proof of health insurance.
- Proof of payment for the visa fee.
How to Apply for a Thailand Retirement Visa?
The Thai retirement visa application can be obtained outside or inside Thailand.
Apply for a Retirement Visa in Your Home Country
When applying from outside Thailand, you should obtain a non-immigrant OA visa which is valid for one year and can be renewed multiple times. However, this retirement visa is not available in all Thai embassies or consulates. Therefore, please contact the nearest overseas mission and ask whether it issues the visa or not. If yes, please follow the instructions below.
- Book an appointment at the nearest Thailand embassy or consulate. If an appointment is not required, you can walk into the visa office and wait in line.
- Attend the appointment on the scheduled date. The officer will gather the biometric information and have an interview with you. Don’t forget to bring the supporting documents.
- Wait for the approval of your application and collect your passport with a visa stamp.
Apply for a Retirement Visa in Thailand
Supposing that you have been in Thailand for 60 days and satisfied all the Thailand retirement visa requirements, obtain a retirement visa at the Thailand Immigration Department. Let’s see what you should do.
- Apply for an initial non-immigrant visa (Category O) which is valid for 90 days. If you enter Thailand with this visa type, just skip this step.
- Apply for a one-year Thai retirement visa extension after staying in the country for 60 days.
- Apply for a re-entry permit at the airport if you plan to leave Thailand. There are single-entry and multiple-entry permits.
- Report your stay to the Immigration Office every 90 days by mail or in person. Supposing that you are absent from Thailand during the reporting period, please do that once returning.
There are 58 immigration offices all over Thailand. Here are examples in some large cities.
| Immigration Department | Address |
| Bangkok | 📍 120 Thanon Chaeng Watthana, Khwaeng Thung Song Hong, Khet Lak Si, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10210 |
| Chiang Mai | 📍 71 Sanaam Bin Road, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand |
| Phuket | 📍 482 Phuket Road, Talad Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000 Thailand |
Validity of a Thailand Retirement Visa
The validity depends on the type of visa. If you hold an O-A retirement visa, it is valid for 12 months and can be extended annually at the Immigration Department in Thailand. If you hold an O-X retirement visa, it should be renewed every five years. To prevent overstay, it is suggested to start renewal 45 days before expiry.
How to Renew a Retirement Visa in Thailand
The eligibility for retirement visa renewal is almost the same as that for first-time applications. Please note that you are only allowed to withdraw money from your bank account after 3 months of approval and always leave no less than 400,000 THB in your balance. To renew a retirement visa in Thailand, please take the following documents to a nearby immigrant office. Making an appointment is required in some locations.
- A completed Visa Extension Application Form
- A passport-style photo
- Most recent passport (photocopies of all pages)
- Proof of residency, such as utility bills, rental agreements, etc.
- Proof of funds, such as bank statements, a letter from your embassy of income affidavit, etc.
Do Retirees Pay Taxes in Thailand?
No. Only income earned within Thailand will be taxed. However, people with a retirement visa in Thailand are prohibited from working. Therefore, you don’t need to file taxes when retiring in Thailand based on overseas income, such as pension, interest, dividends, or any other source of income from your home country.
Can Retirees Buy Property in Thailand?
It depends on your status. If you have lived in the country for a certain amount of time and gained permanent residency, the answer is yes. Otherwise, foreigners are not permitted to purchase land and property in their own name, but they can do that by establishing a Thai limited company and buying property in the name of the business or signing a leasehold agreement for decades with a renewal clause.
Can a Retirement Visa Be Turned into Thailand PR?
A retirement visa is not guaranteed to lead to permanent residence. Besides the required residency in the country with a Non-immigrant visa for at least 3 consecutive years, PR applicants should also satisfy requirements on income, assets, professional knowledge, family status, and proficiency in Thai. There are mainly 4 categories to apply for Thailand PR, including investment, employment, humanitarian, and expert.
Countries that Issue Retirement Visa
Nowadays, many countries are trying to attract financially independent retirees from around the world. Some even provide extra benefits and incentives. Besides a retirement visa in Thailand, here is a list of countries that provide similar visas.
| Latin America | Europe | Asia |
| Argentina | Austria | Indonesia |
| Belize | Bulgaria | Malaysia |
| Brazil | Greece | Thailand |
| Colombia | Italy | Philippines |
| Costa Rica | Latvia | the United Arab Emirates |
| the Dominican Republic | Malta | |
| Mexico | Portugal | |
| Nicaragua | Spain | |
| Panama | ||
| Peru | ||
| Uruguay | ||
| Honduras |
Which Country Has the Easiest Retirement Visa?
When choosing a place to live after retirement, the chance of getting a retirement visa should be the primary consideration in addition to whether a country is livable or not. In this section, we will introduce some retiree-friendly countries.
| Country | Visa Type | Minimum Income Requirement | Minimum Age Limit |
| Belize | Qualified Retired Persons (QRP) Visa | US$2,000 per month | 45 |
| Panama | The Pensionado Visa | US$1,000 per month | 62 for men 57 for women |
| Nicaragua | The Pensionado Visa | US$600 per month | 45 |
| Malaysia | The MM2H Visa | US$2,350 per month | / |
| Colombia | The Pensionado Visa | US$800 per month | 65 |
| Dominican Republic | The Pensionado Visa | US$1,500 per month | / |
| Honduras | The Pensionado Visa | US$1,500 per month | / |
| Argentina | The Pensionado Visa | US$2,000 per month | 65 for men 60 for women |
Summary
Retiring in Thailand is a popular choice for retirees around the world. To verify your eligibility, it is necessary to check Thailand retirement visa requirements on age, financial capabilities, and health insurance. You can obtain a retirement visa in Thailand or abroad. To make everything go smoothly, please prepare all required documents in advance. Whether you are holding a 1-year or 5-year retirement visa, it is allowed to renew it and extend the duration of your stay. Supposing that you don’t want to retire in Thailand, there are dozens of alternatives around the world. No matter which country’s retirement visa you apply for, the most important thing is to ensure you are fully financially independent to support your retirement life.
Dolores Xiao