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HomeVisasRetirement Visa
How We Help
Retirement Visa
Thailand
What we do for clients applying for Thailand retirement visas — route confirmation, bank account strategy, OIC insurance review, annual renewal attendance and compliance, start to finish.
How We Help
What happens when you instruct us
Four things we do on every retirement visa instruction — before anything reaches Immigration.
1
We Confirm Your Route and Financial Method First
Non-OA, Non-O or Non-OX — the right answer depends on where you are, what you can prove financially and how long you intend to stay. We confirm the correct route before any documentation is prepared. Changing route mid-application wastes time and can put you in an overstay position.
2
We Advise on Your Bank Account and Fund Strategy
Getting the bank account opened with the right bank, in time for the 3-month seasoning window, is one of the most common points of failure. As of January 2026, Bangkok Bank no longer opens accounts for tourist or DTV holders — the correct visa must be in place first. We advise on this before anything else moves forward.
3
We Confirm OIC Insurance for Non-OA Holders
For Non-OA clients, the insurance certificate must be from an OIC-approved policy and must be in the format Immigration expects. A policy that is not on the OIC list — regardless of coverage — will not be accepted. We confirm your policy against the OIC database before renewal.
4
We Attend the Immigration Appointment with You
Annual renewal requires personal attendance. We prepare the complete document pack, advise on which Immigration office handles your province, brief you on what the officer will ask, and attend with you. We do not send clients to Immigration without preparation.
Retirement Visa Quick Reference
Key facts and the three routes
Figures current against Immigration practice as of August 2026.
Age Requirement50 years or over.
Validity1 year (Non-OA / Non-O), renewable annually. 10 years (Non-OX).
Financial Proof800,000 THB bank deposit, 65,000 THB/month income or a combination totalling 800,000 THB.
Bank Seasoning800,000 THB must remain untouched for 3 months before renewal and 3 months after.
OIC InsuranceMandatory for Non-OA. Min: 40,000 THB inpatient / 4,000 THB outpatient per year.
Work RightsNone. Working on a retirement visa is a criminal offence.
The Three Routes
Non-OA
Most Common · Applying from outside Thailand
Applied from outside Thailand.
OIC-approved health insurance mandatory.
Valid 1 year, renewable annually.
Non-O
Insurance-Free · Already in Thailand converting status
Applied from inside Thailand.
No OIC insurance mandate.
Convert from tourist or DTV status.
Non-OX
10-Year Option · Capital-rich retirees
3,000,000 THB bank deposit.
Ten-year validity.
Minimal annual compliance admin.
What We Do For Our Clients
The work behind the application
"We handle your retirement visa" covers a specific set of tasks. Here is the actual scope.
Route and Financial Method Assessment
We review your current visa status, location, financial profile and intended stay length against the Non-OA, Non-O and Non-OX requirements. The correct route determines what documents you need, whether OIC insurance applies and how your finances must be structured.
Q
How do we know which of the three routes — Non-OA, Non-O or Non-OX — is right for us?
Non-OA is for new applicants applying from outside Thailand who are comfortable with OIC insurance. Non-O is for people already in Thailand who want to convert status without an insurance mandate. Non-OX requires 3,000,000 THB but buys 10 years. We confirm the right starting point at the outset based on where you are, what you can prove financially and how long you intend to stay.
Bank Account Strategy and Fund Timing
We advise on which banks are appropriate for the 800,000 THB deposit, how to time the transfer to satisfy the 3-month seasoning window and how to ensure the passbook reflects what Immigration expects at renewal. We check the bank documentation before the appointment.
Q
The 800,000 THB seasoning rule — what happens if funds dip below that level between renewals?
Drawing the balance below 800,000 THB at any point during the 3-month window before renewal is grounds for refusal — even if the balance is restored before the appointment. Immigration will request the full passbook history, not just the balance on the day. We brief clients on this before funds are transferred and check bank documentation before the renewal appointment.
OIC Insurance Confirmation (Non-OA)
We verify your insurance policy against the OIC approved list and confirm the certificate is in the format Immigration requires. If your policy is not OIC-approved, we advise on approved alternatives before renewal is booked.
Q
Our Non-OA OIC insurance policy renews 3 months after our visa renewal. Does the timing matter?
It does. The insurance certificate presented at renewal must be current and must cover the forthcoming visa year. If your policy expires before the visa year ends, Immigration may require evidence that the policy will renew. We confirm the correct certificate format and timing before the appointment.
Annual Renewal Preparation and Attendance
We prepare the complete renewal document pack — TM.7 form, bank letter, passbook, insurance certificate, address proof and photographs — review everything before the appointment and attend with you at the correct Immigration office for your province.
Q
What happens at the annual renewal appointment — do we need to be there in person?
Yes. Annual renewal requires personal attendance at the Immigration office in your province. We advise on which office handles your province, what to bring, and attend with you. We do not submit documents on your behalf without your presence — the officer will stamp your passport directly.
Re-Entry Permit Coordination
Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit cancels the visa. We advise on when to obtain single or multiple re-entry permits, coordinate the application before any international travel and ensure the permit is in the passport before you depart.
Mixed Income and Combination Method Advice
If your income comes from a pension, rental income, dividends or a combination, we advise on which financial method is most appropriate and how the documents must be presented. Embassy income letters typically cover pension income only — mixed income often requires the combined or bank balance method.
Q
Our income comes from a mix of UK pension, rental income and investment dividends. Does that cause problems?
Not inherently, but it does affect which financial method we use and how the documentation is presented. Embassy income letters typically cover pension income only. Bank balance and combined methods are usually better suited to mixed income. We advise on the correct approach before any documentation is prepared.
Our Commitment To You
What you can hold us to
Bank Documentation Confirmed Before the Renewal Date
We check your bank book and bank letter before the renewal appointment — not on the morning of. If there is a seasoning gap or the letter format is wrong, we have time to fix it. The most common renewal failure we see is a passbook that does not reflect 3 months of uninterrupted balance. We catch this in advance.
Q
The 800,000 THB seasoning rule — what happens if funds dip below that level between renewals?
Drawing the balance below 800,000 THB at any point during the 3-month window before renewal is grounds for refusal — even if the balance is restored before the appointment. Immigration will request the full passbook history, not just the balance on the day. We brief clients on this before funds are transferred and check bank documentation before the renewal appointment.
Correct Route Before Any Paperwork Starts
Confirming Non-OA, Non-O or Non-OX at the outset is not a formality — it determines whether OIC insurance applies, which bank account type is appropriate and how the financial proof must be structured. We confirm route before any documents are prepared.
Q
How do we know which of the three routes — Non-OA, Non-O or Non-OX — is right for us?
Non-OA is for new applicants applying from outside Thailand who are comfortable with OIC insurance. Non-O is for people already in Thailand who want to convert status without an insurance mandate. Non-OX requires 3,000,000 THB but buys 10 years. We confirm the right starting point at the outset based on where you are, what you can prove financially and how long you intend to stay.
We Tell You What the Visa Cannot Do
A retirement visa does not allow you to work. It does not allow your dependants to work. It does not give you a path to permanent residency. We are straightforward about what the visa covers and what it does not — before you apply.
One Contact from Route Confirmation to Renewal
The same person who reviews your financial method and confirms your route manages the renewal preparation and attends the Immigration appointment. You are not passed between advisers as the annual cycle continues.
Q
What happens if our visa lapses — can we restart from inside Thailand?
If the visa has lapsed (not just the renewal stamp but the underlying visa), you are overstaying. You must leave Thailand, pay any overstay fine at the point of departure, and restart the process. We advise on the correct sequence and, where relevant, coordinate with the embassy in your home country before you travel.
Who You'll Work With
Real people, not a case number
Kanokpich Ukritdutsadee (Lawyer Pook)
Managing Director & Lead Barrister
Leads retirement visa assessments — confirms the correct route, reviews financial documentation and advises on the 800,000 THB seasoning rule before any application moves forward.
"The 800,000 THB rule is simple on paper. In practice, we see renewal failures every month because the funds were deposited too recently or the passbook does not reflect what the Immigration officer expects to see. Get the bank documentation confirmed well before the renewal date — not on the morning of the appointment."
Brian Ramsden
General Manager of Foreign Affairs
Your point of contact for renewal coordination — attends Immigration appointments, tracks annual renewal dates and manages 90-day reporting compliance across Thailand.
Related Resources
Reference guide and other visa routes
The retirement visa sub-pages cover each route in detail. Compare with the LTR or DTV for clients who may qualify for more than one option.
Retirement Visa Guide
→Facts, three routes compared, OIC insurance, bank rule and common mistakes.
Non-O Retirement Visa
→Apply from inside Thailand, no OIC insurance required.
Non-OX 10-Year Visa
→3,000,000 THB deposit, one application replaces ten.
The ฿800,000 Agent Shortcut
→Using an agent to place funds temporarily? Read this first.
LTR Visa — How We Help
→Ten-year route for high-net-worth retirees qualifying under the Wealthy Pensioner category.
Compare All Visa Options
→Every long-stay Thailand visa route compared side by side.
Lawyers for Expats Thailand, 2026. The content of this page is general legal information and does not constitute legal advice for any specific matter. Please contact us for advice on your individual circumstances.