If you wish to visit Thailand for a long stay or even to retire there are two choices of Thai Visa available if you do not intend to work. These are the O and O-A visa.
The Thai O visa, where the “O” stands for other, is actually intended for people who are married to Thai nationals or intending to get married to one. It also covers visits to family members in Thailand such as a son or daughter and can be used by the spouse(Non-Thai) travelling with a person on an O-A or B visa. Generally speaking an O visa is obtained in your home country before travelling to Thailand*. There is little supporting paperwork required with this type of application. The visa is valid for up to one year(multi or single entry) which can in effect allow a stay of 15 months within Thailand before further action is required. You are however required to exit Thailand every 90 days unless you extend your visa by the marriage or retirement options.
The Thai O-A Visa, is a special category of the O visa specifically for people over 50 years old who wish to stay for an extended period in Thailand or actually retire to the country. The visa is valid for up to one year and as in the case of the O visa it can get you up to a 15 month stay in Thailand. Unfortunately more paperwork is required for this visa application. This includes, a medical check, police check and proof of meeting financial requirements. In the latter case this is the same requirement as applied in Thailand when you extent a visa based on retirement. All of which must be completed in your home country before the visa is issued. Once in Thailand you must report every 90 days to your local Thai Immigration office.
As with many things in Thailand Thai Visa regulations have a few grey areas. For example back in 2007 the Thai consulate at Hull in the UK was quite relaxed about issuing O visa’s that were not strictly for the specified purpose i.e. family visits etc. Indeed when I first came to Thailand I used a multi entry O visa even though my intention(stated on the application form) was retirement planning.
Hull and other Thai embassies and consulates may not however be so relaxed now regarding the issuing of O visa’s. Something you need to check in your home country.
*Thai Visa Tip.
You can convert a valid Thai tourist visa to an O visa at a Thai immigration office if you meet the requirements for either a marriage extension or retirement extension. This will involve two fee’s of 1900 Baht (one for visa one for extension) but does not require such things as a police and doctors check like in an O-A application outside Thailand. It is also possible to get a free tourist visa in your home country.
This also applies to visa exempt entries into Thailand.
Please note the important word above is CONVERT, you cannot get a visa for Thailand within Thailand.
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