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Non-Immigrant O-A — one-year long stay

ThailandLiving from your own income

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this aimed at retirees, pensioners, financially independent people, passive-income holders or another profile?

The Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay) is Thailand's one-year long-stay visa for older people who are not coming to work. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that it may be issued to applicants aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for a period not exceeding 1 year without the intention of working, and adds that employment of any kind is strictly prohibited. The Department of Consular Affairs page for the same visa repeats both the age of 50 and the ban on working. It is a retirement-style route rather than a passive-income or investor route: the age test, not the source of the money, defines who it is for.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Ministry's page records its information as last updated 30 Nov 2022, so a rule changed after that date would not be visible in this source.

Which types of income/assets are accepted according to the official source?

Savings and income both count, and they can be combined. The Ministry accepts a copy of a bank statement showing a deposit equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht, or an original income certificate showing a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht. Where a bank statement is used, an original letter of guarantee from the bank is also required. The Department of Consular Affairs page describes the same three options and adds that where a copy of the deposit account is shown, an original bank certificate must be shown with it. Neither page limits the income to a pension.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Ministry's page records its information as last updated 30 Nov 2022, so a rule changed after that date would not be visible in this source.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 2. Required Documents
    - A copy of bank statement showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income totalling not less than 800,000 Baht.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 2. Required Documents
    - In the case of submitting a bank statement, a letter of guarantee from the bank (an original copy) is required.
  • เอกสารประกอบการพิจารณา (supporting documents)
    • หลักฐานด้านการเงิน ได้แก่ สำเนาบัญชีเงินฝาก (Bank Statement) จำนวนเทียบเป็นเงินไทย ไม่น้อยกว่า 800,000 บาท หรือหนังสือรับรองรายได้/เงินบำนาญ (ฉบับจริง) เดือนละไม่น้อยกว่า 65,000 บาท หรือมีบัญชีเงินฝากและรายได้/เงินบำนาญ (ต่อเดือน X 12) รวมกันไม่น้อยกว่า 800,000 บาท (กรณีแสดงสำเนาบัญชีเงินฝาก ให้แสดงหนังสือรับรองจากธนาคารฉบับจริงด้วย)

What income, savings or financial-resources threshold applies and how does family affect it where officially specified?

The O-A financial test is THB 800,000 as a deposit, or THB 65,000 monthly income, or the permitted combination reaching THB 800,000. Current consular requirements also include the applicable health-insurance condition. The official source does not state a family uplift.

See recorded sources

Can the holder work locally, run a business or perform other economic activity? What is the family position?

Working is out. The Ministry lists "Employment in Thailand is prohibited" as an eligibility condition and states in the introduction that employment of any kind is strictly prohibited; the Department of Consular Affairs page states the same in Thai. No business activity, freelance work or other economic activity is permitted by either page, and neither describes a way to add a work permit to this visa. On family, the only provision is for a spouse who does not qualify for the O-A visa: they are considered for temporary stay under a Category O visa with a notarised marriage certificate, which is a shorter and separate permission rather than a dependent status attached to the O-A.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Ministry's page records its information as last updated 30 Nov 2022, so a rule changed after that date would not be visible in this source.
  • Neither page mentions children or any other dependant of an O-A holder.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), introduction
    Holder of this type of visa is allowed to stay in Thailand for 1 year. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 1. Eligibility
    1.6 Employment in Thailand is prohibited.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 2. Required Documents
    - In the case where the accompanying spouse is not eligible to apply for the Category ‘O-A’ (Long Stay) visa, he or she will be considered for temporary stay under Category ‘O’ visa. A marriage certificate must be provided as evidence and should be notarised by notary organs or by the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission.
  • คุณสมบัติ (qualifications)
    • ไม่อนุญาตให้ทำงานในประเทศไทย
  • เอกสารประกอบการพิจารณา (supporting documents)
    • ในกรณีมีความประสงค์จะนำคู่สมรสเข้ามาพำนักในราชอาณาจักรด้วย แต่คู่สมรสไม่มีคุณสมบัติที่จะขอรับการตรวจลงตราประเภท “O-A” (Long Stay) ได้ ให้แสดงหลักฐานทะเบียนสมรส ทั้งนี้ คู่สมรสจะได้รับการพิจารณาให้ได้รับการตรวจลงตราประเภทคนอยู่ชั่วคราว รหัส “O” พำนักได้ 3 เดือน

How long is the status granted, what is required for renewal, what physical-presence obligations matter, and what longer-term residence direction exists?

On arrival the holder is permitted to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry. During that year the reporting obligation is continuous: at the end of the first 90-day stay the holder must report to the immigration officer in their residence area and report again every 90 days, with a postal option using form Tor Mor 47 sent to Immigration Division 1 at least 7 days before the end of each 90-day period. To stay longer, the holder submits a request for extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau with evidence of money transfer or a deposit account in Thailand, or an income certificate showing not less than 800,000 Baht, or a combination totalling 800,000 Baht; a one-year extension is granted at the discretion of the immigration officer as long as the requirements are met. Neither page describes any progression from this visa to permanent residence or Thai nationality.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The Ministry's page records its information as last updated 30 Nov 2022, so a rule changed after that date would not be visible in this source.
  • Neither page describes any progression from the O-A visa to permanent residence or nationality.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 5. Recommendations while staying in the Kingdom
    5.1 Upon arrival, holder of this type of visa will be permitted to stay in Thailand for 1 year from the date of first entry.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 5. Recommendations while staying in the Kingdom
    5.2 At the end of the 90-day stay , the foreigner must report to the immigration officer in his or her residence area and report again every 90 days during his or her stay in Thailand. The foreigner may report to the police station if there is no immigration office in his or her residence area.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 5. Recommendations while staying in the Kingdom
    5.3 Foreigner may report to the competent authority by post and should provide the following:
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 5. Recommendations while staying in the Kingdom
    Such documents must be sent to the Immigration Division 1, 120 Moo 3, Government Center B, Chaengwattana Soi 7, Laksi, Bangkok 10210 and must be submitted 7 days before the end of every 90-day period. A receipt of acknowledgement will be given and should be used for future correspondence.
  • Non-Immigrant Visa "O-A" (Long Stay), 5. Recommendations while staying in the Kingdom
    5.4 Foreigner who wishes to extend his or her stay shall submit a request for extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau with documented evidence of money transfer or a deposit account in Thailand or an income certificate showing an amount of not less than 800,000 Baht or an income certificate plus a deposit account showing a total amount of not less than 800,000 Baht. A one-year extension of stay shall be granted at the discretion of the immigration officer to the foreigner as long as he or she meets the above requirements.
  • ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม (additional information)
    • เมื่อเดินทางเข้ามาในราชอาณาจักรเจ้าหน้าที่ตรวจคนเข้าเมืองจะประทับอนุญาตให้อยู่ได้ไม่เกิน 1 ปี นับตั้งแต่วันที่เดินทางเข้า
  • ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม (additional information)
    • เมื่อเดินทางเข้ามาพำนักในราชอาณาจักรครบ 90 วัน จะต้องรายงานตนต่อเจ้าหน้าที่ และครั้งต่อไปต้องรายงานตนทุกๆ 90 วัน ซึ่งสามารถรายงานตนต่อเจ้าหน้าที่ตรวจคนเข้าเมือง ณ ท้องที่ที่ตนพักอาศัย หรือกรณีที่ไม่มีด่านตรวจคนเข้าเมือง ให้รายงานที่สถานีตำรวจในท้องที่ที่ตนพักอาศัย
  • ข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม (additional information)
    • เมื่อพำนักในราชอาณาจักรครบ 1 ปี หากประสงค์จะพำนักอยู่ต่อไป ให้ยื่นคำขออยู่ต่อที่สำนักงานตรวจคนเข้าเมือง โดยแสดงหลักฐานการโอนเงินหรือการมีเงินฝากในราชอาณาจักร จำนวนไม่น้อยกว่า 800,000 บาท หรือหนังสือรับรองรายได้หรือบำนาญเดือนละไม่น้อยกว่า 65,000 บาท อย่างใดอย่างหนึ่ง หรือรวมกันปีละไม่น้อยกว่า 800,000 บาท หากมีคุณสมบัติครบถ้วนถูกต้องจะได้รับอนุญาตให้อยู่ต่ออีกคราวละ 1 ปี

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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