ThailandRetirement

Long-stay retirement visa in Thailand

The retirement visa is intended for foreign nationals who wish to live in Thailand for a long period without any intention of working. The visa is open to people who have reached a certain age and can prove a stable financial income or savings. Holders have to confirm their presence in the country by reporting periodically to the immigration office for their place of residence. The visa does not permit any kind of employment in the Kingdom. The programme is aimed at retirees and people with sufficient financial resources to support their stay.

Visa term

A stay of 1 year from the first entry.

Work

Work of any kind is strictly prohibited.

Residence

A compulsory report to the immigration office for the place of residence every 90 days.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (mfa.go.th)

Who the retirement visa suits

The visa is intended for foreign nationals who wish to live in Thailand for a long period on the basis of a pension or savings.

Retirees and people with a regular income

Aged 50 and over
An income of at least 65 thousand in local currency a month
A stable source of finance

People with accumulated savings

A bank deposit of at least 800 thousand in local currency
The ability to prove the origin of the funds
A guarantee letter from the bank

People settling into long-term residence

A wish to stay in the country for a year or longer
No plans to take up employment
A desire for a stable long-term stay

When the programme is not suitable

The person is under 50 on the date of filing

Consider other visa categories: tourist, business or investor

A criminal record in your own country or in Thailand

The visa will be refused; a criminal record certificate is required

An intention to work or run a business

Apply for a category B (business) visa or another work visa

Tuberculosis, leprosy, drug addiction or third-stage syphilis

Treatment is required; a medical certificate showing the absence of these diseases is needed when applying

What it costs

Consular fee (single entry)For a single entry in the passport	2 000 THB (baht)
Consular fee (multiple entry)The most popular option for a long stay	5 000 THB (baht)
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	7 000 THB (baht)

Paid separately

The cost of the medical examination — Paid separately at an approved medical institution
Notarisation of documents — The cost depends on the country and the services required
Document translation services — If the documents are not in English

Documents to gather

A full set of documents has to be prepared for the application. Foreign documents must be notarised or certified by the embassy.

The foreign national's passport, valid for at least 18 months
Three completed visa application forms
Three photographs measuring 4 by 6 centimetres, taken no more than 6 months earlier
A bank statement confirming a deposit of at least 800 thousand in local currency OR a certificate of monthly income of at least 65 thousand in local currency
The original guarantee letter from the bank (the bank's letter of undertaking)
A criminal record certificate issued by the competent authority and certified no more than 3 months before filing
A medical certificate showing the absence of prohibited diseases, issued by an authorised medical institution and certified no more than 3 months before filing
A marriage certificate (notarised) if a spouse accompanies the applicant
The documents in original and in copies

How the process runs

Obtaining the visa involves several stages that have to be completed in a set order. The timescales depend on the particular embassy or consulate.

1
Collecting and preparing the documents
2-4 weeks
Collect all the required documents according to the list of requirements. Make sure the passport is valid for at least 18 months, and prepare the medical certificate and the criminal record certificate (both documents must be issued no more than 3 months before filing). Obtain the bank guarantee letter or the income certificate. Have all foreign documents notarised.
2
Filing the application at an embassy or consulate
1 day
Attend the Royal Thai Embassy or a consulate in your country of residence with the full set of documents. Pay the consular fee of 5 thousand in local currency for multiple entry or 2 thousand for single entry. Obtain a receipt for the documents and information on the processing times.
3
Consideration of the application
2-4 weeks
The embassy will check that the documents submitted are correct and complete. Staff will contact you if further material or clarification is needed. Make sure your telephone number is stated correctly.
4
Collecting the visa
1 day
Once processing is complete, collect the passport with the visa from the embassy or consulate. Check that the dates and details in the passport are correct. Read carefully the conditions of stay stated in the visa.
5
First entry into Thailand
1 day
Arrive in Thailand and pass immigration control at the airport or border crossing. Your visa takes effect from the date of first entry. The immigration bureau will stamp the entry in your passport.
6
Registration at the place of residence and the first report
3-5 days
Within a week of arriving, visit the nearest immigration office for your place of residence. Register (TM.7 and TM.8) and obtain the first record of your stay. Find out the schedule for future reports.
7
Quarterly reporting to immigration
every 90 days
Every 90 days visit the immigration office to report, or send the documents by post using form Tor Mor 47. This is a compulsory condition for maintaining the status of stay. Failure to comply may lead to fines or deportation.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may accompany the principal applicant, but on certain conditions.

A spouse

If the spouse does not meet the O-A criteria (for example, they are under 50), they may be considered for a category O visa. A notarised marriage certificate and documents confirming financial support are required. Spouses who qualify for O-A in their own right may obtain O-A independently.

Renewal and the grace period

The O-A visa may be extended for one year at a Thai immigration office. The extension requires proof of continued compliance with the financial requirements: a bank deposit of at least 800 thousand in local currency, a monthly income of at least 65 thousand in local currency, or a combination of the two. The documents have to be filed at the immigration office located in the government centre building in Bangkok or at the consular office for your district. Extensions are often approved for up to one year, provided all the requirements are met.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Long-stay retirement visa	Digital nomad visa	Thailand Privilege Card
Visa term	A stay of 1 year from the first entry	A multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, stays of up to 180 days with an extension of a further 180	The term depends on the package (5-20 years), multiple entry; renewal is through a new membership fee
Work	Work of any kind is strictly prohibited	Not a work visa; working for a Thai employer without a work permit is prohibited	There is no right to work; a separate B visa and a work permit are required
Residence	A compulsory report to the immigration office for the place of residence every 90 days	Lawful long-term stay, renting, bank accounts, medical care	There is no minimum stay; 90-day reporting

Frequently asked questions about Long-stay retirement visa

Can I work on an O-A visa?

No, work and employment of any kind are strictly prohibited on an O-A visa. Breaching this requirement may lead to fines, deportation and a ban on re-entering the country.

How often do I have to report to immigration?

Holders of an O-A visa have to report to the immigration office for their place of residence every 90 days. You may attend the immigration office in person or send the documents by post using form Tor Mor 47. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to fines.

What is the maximum period for which the O-A visa is issued?

The O-A visa is initially issued for one year from the date of first entry. After that the visa can be extended one year at a time, provided the holder continues to meet all the requirements, including the financial ones. There is no set maximum overall term; in theory you can live in Thailand indefinitely if you extend the visa every year.

Which diseases are grounds for refusing the visa?

The visa will be refused if you have been diagnosed with any of the following: leprosy (lepra), tuberculosis, drug addiction, elephantiasis or third-stage syphilis. A medical certificate issued within the last three months before filing is required to confirm the absence of these diseases.

Other ways to move to Thailand

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Thailand.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.