Other than the non-immigrant visa for staying in Thailand not exceeding 1 year, which can be extended for 1 year each time, Thailand also issues non-immigrant visas for staying in the Kingdom for 10 years (Long Stay O-X).
This type of visa is issued to foreigners aged 50 years and over who wish to stay in Thailand for relaxation or retirement. The applicant must have the following qualifications:
- The applicant, of any nationality, must be aged 50 years or over (on the day of submitting the application);
- The applicant must be a national and passport holder of eligible countries, i.e., the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, the United State of America, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
- The applicant must
(a) have a bank deposit of not less than 3 million baht in Thailand, or
(b) have a bank deposit of not less than 1.8 million baht in Thailand and annual income of not less than 1.2 million baht. Within one year, the applicant must have a bank deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than 3 million baht. This amount must be maintained in the bank deposit in full for one year and kept at no less than 1.5 million baht afterward. The withdrawal of the deposit is allowed for expenses, such as medical expenses, purchasing a condominium, purchasing a vehicle, and education for children in Thailand only;
- The applicant must have no criminal record in or be a security threat either to Thailand or to the country of the applicant’s nationality and residence;
- The applicant must not have prohibited diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation Number 14, B.E. 2535 (1992), such as leprosy, tuberculosis, drug addiction, elephantiasis, or third phase of syphilis;
- The applicant must have a Thai health insurance for the duration of the stay, with coverage for outpatient treatment of not less than 40,000 baht and inpatient treatment of not less than 400,000 baht. Further information and sources for buying health insurance are available on the website http://longstay.tgia.org;
- The spouse and legal children of the applicant are eligible to apply for a non-immigrant visa (O-X) (Non-O-X) to accompany the applicant for long stays. Applicants who are granted a non-immigrant visa (Non-O-X) are not allowed to work unless they are working as a volunteer in accordance with the list of volunteer work as stipulated by the Department of Employment (under preparation).
This type of visa is valid for 5 years and may be extended for another 5 years, making 10 years in total. The application fee is 10,000 baht per time. In Thailand, the application must be submitted at Immigration Bureau. In foreign countries, the application must be submitted at a Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Consulate-General in the applicant’s residence country.
Source : Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tel : +66 2203-5000