Thailand · Retire or live on savings
Thailand Retirement O-A (1 year)
Income needed: ฿65k+ a month ≈ $1,930
Non-Immigrant Visa Category O-A (Long Stay, 1 year)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Retirement O-A (1 year) is a retire or live on savings route for Thailand. Applicants need income of ฿65k+ a month ≈ $1,930. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. You can't take local work. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- ฿65k+ a month ≈ $1,930
- Government fees
- ฿5,000 ≈ $150
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee ฿5,000 ≈ $150; income to show ฿65k+/mo ≈ $1,930. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees฿5,000 ≈ $150
- THB 5,000 (≈ $150)O-A visa fee stated by Thai Department of Consular Affairs; local mission payment currency/fee may differ.
Shown, not spent฿800k+ ≈ $24k · +2 more
- THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800)Alternative 1: Thai-equivalent deposit amount.
- THB 65,000 a month (≈ $1,930)Alternative 2: certified pension/monthly income.
- THB 800,000 a year (≈ $23,800)Alternative 3: qualifying deposit plus monthly income annualized totals at least THB800,000 (≈ $23,800).
RenewalRenewable
After the first year you apply to Immigration for further one-year extensions with current financial evidence.
Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence
You can apply for a Thai residence permit after 3 consecutive years on a Non-Immigrant visa with one-year extensions of stay. Further income, work or investment conditions apply and approvals are limited by an annual quota per nationality.
Royal Thai Embassy, London, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Where to applyFrom abroad
Apply through the Thai e-Visa system in your country of nationality or permanent residence.
Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Presence rulesStay rule
You must report your address to Immigration every 90 days.
Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Thailand, not after arriving
- Work isn't allowed on this route
- Only from age 50
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The applicant is at least 50 and admissible, with no specified prohibited diseases or relevant security or criminal concerns.
- The applicant applies in their country of nationality or permanent residence.
- A legally married spouse who does not qualify for O-A may be considered for a separate Non-Immigrant O visa for three months.
What you must show5
- Financial test, one of three: a bank deposit of at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800).
- Or a certified monthly pension or income of at least THB 65,000 (≈ $1,930).
- Or a deposit plus monthly income (counted over 12 months) that combine to at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800).
- Health insurance, Thai or foreign, public cover or other guarantee, with total cover of at least THB 3,000,000 (≈ $89,200) including COVID-19.
- The visa fee is THB 5,000, (≈ $150) as stated by the Department of Consular Affairs; local missions may charge differently.
Documents1
- Documents are a passport valid at least 18 months, criminal and medical certificates, financial evidence and health insurance.
Steps1
- Applications run through the Thai e-Visa system.
After you arrive1
- Each extension after the first year needs a Thai deposit of THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800) or income of THB 65,000 (≈ $1,930) a month, or a combined THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800) a year.
What happens at day 180
How Thailand decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 180 days in a tax year in which the income is earnedResident for Revenue Code section 41 purposes.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (from 2024)
Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
All tax rules for Thailand Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Health insurance, Thai or foreign, public cover or other guarantee, with total cover of at least THB 3,000,000 (≈ $89,200) including COVID-19
- Bank account / funds
Financial test, one of three: a bank deposit of at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800)
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Multiple-entry long-stay visa for retirement applicants aged 50+ who apply in a country where they are nationals or permanent residents; employment in Thailand is prohibited. 1
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800) · Alternative 1: Thai-equivalent deposit amount. 1
- Income of at least THB 65,000 a month (≈ $1,930) · Alternative 2: certified pension/monthly income. 1
- Income of at least THB 800,000 a year (≈ $23,800) · Alternative 3: qualifying deposit plus monthly income annualized totals at least THB800,000 (≈ $23,800). 1
- A fee of THB 5,000 (≈ $150) · O-A visa fee stated by Thai Department of Consular Affairs; local mission payment currency/fee may differ. 1
Requirements
- The applicant is at least 50 and admissible, with no specified prohibited diseases or relevant security or criminal concerns. 1
- The applicant applies in their country of nationality or permanent residence. 1
- A legally married spouse who does not qualify for O-A may be considered for a separate Non-Immigrant O visa for three months. 1
- Financial test, one of three: a bank deposit of at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800). 1
- Or a certified monthly pension or income of at least THB 65,000 (≈ $1,930). 1
- Or a deposit plus monthly income (counted over 12 months) that combine to at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800). 1
- Health insurance, Thai or foreign, public cover or other guarantee, with total cover of at least THB 3,000,000 (≈ $89,200) including COVID-19. 1
- The visa fee is THB 5,000, (≈ $150) as stated by the Department of Consular Affairs; local missions may charge differently. 1
- Documents are a passport valid at least 18 months, criminal and medical certificates, financial evidence and health insurance. 1
- Applications run through the Thai e-Visa system. 1
- Each extension after the first year needs a Thai deposit of THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800) or income of THB 65,000 (≈ $1,930) a month, or a combined THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800) a year. 1
Stay
- On each entry Immigration stamps a stay of up to one year; after one year the holder applies to Immigration for further one-year extensions with current financial evidence. 90-day address reporting applies.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Applicants of any nationality, but must apply in nationality/permanent-residence country and meet consular jurisdiction.
Work
No employment in Thailand under O-A.
Family
Spouse not qualifying for O-A may be considered for separate Non-Immigrant O entry (up to 3 months) with marriage proof; further stay requires own permission.
Official sources
- Long-stay O-A visa (1 year): eligibility, financial evidence and extension · Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2025-12-23
- Residence Permit in Thailand: criteria for foreign nationals · Royal Thai Embassy, London, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 2026-10-11
Retirement O-A (1 year) and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retirement O-A (1 year) | Needs income of ฿65k+ a month ≈ $1,930 | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| LTR · Wealthy Pensioner | Needs income of $80k+ a year | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Thailand Privilege (PE) | Fee from ฿650k ≈ $19k | 1 yr | With a permit |
| Retirement O-X (10 years) | Needs income of ฿1.2M+ a year ≈ $36k | 5 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Long-stay visitor (JPY 30M) Japan | Needs savings of ¥30M+ ≈ $189k | 1 yr | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Retirement O-A (1 year)?
Savings of at least THB 800,000 (≈ $23,800). Alternative 1: Thai-equivalent deposit amount. Income of at least THB 65,000 a month (≈ $1,930). Alternative 2: certified pension/monthly income. Income of at least THB 800,000 a year (≈ $23,800). Alternative 3: qualifying deposit plus monthly income annualized totals at least THB800,000 (≈ $23,800). A fee of THB 5,000 (≈ $150). O-A visa fee stated by Thai Department of Consular Affairs; local mission payment currency/fee may differ.
How long can I stay on the Retirement O-A (1 year)?
On each entry Immigration stamps a stay of up to one year; after one year the holder applies to Immigration for further one-year extensions with current financial evidence.
Can I work on the Retirement O-A (1 year)?
No. No employment in Thailand under O-A.
Can I bring my family on the Retirement O-A (1 year)?
Spouse not qualifying for O-A may be considered for separate Non-Immigrant O entry (up to 3 months) with marriage proof; further stay requires own permission.
Does the Retirement O-A (1 year) lead to permanent residence in Thailand?
Time on the Retirement O-A (1 year) counts toward permanent residence in Thailand, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence.
How are Retirement O-A (1 year) holders taxed in Thailand?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Retirement O-A (1 year). The standard rules apply: A person present in Thailand for 180 days or more in a tax year is a Thai tax resident. Foreign-source assessable income earned from 1 January 2024 is taxed in Thailand in the year it is brought into the country; income earned before 2024 is not taxed even if brought in later.
More in Thailand
Retirement and live-on-savings visas elsewhere
Head to head
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Long-stay O-A visa (1 year): eligibility, financial evidence and extension · Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 2026-10-10
- Residence Permit in Thailand: criteria for foreign nationals · Royal Thai Embassy, London, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.