By: Nahla ElKazak / Sarah Stone
Travelers 50 and up: you can retire abroad to Thailand! With sunny beaches, amazing weather, delicious food, and friendly people—plus a very affordable cost of living for retirees—Thailand is an incredibly attractive option for those who want to live abroad longer-term.
Thailand offers two visa options for retirees (please note, the two outlined in this article apply to retirees from the US): a one-year retirement visa (Visa O-A) and a 10-year retirement visa (Visa O-X).
Thailand 1-Year Retirement Visa (NON O-A)
You can apply for a one-year Thailand Retirement Visa if you want to stay in Thailand for more than 180 days—it’s valid for one year, and you can renew annually. As with most other visa types, you must report your residential address every 90 days to your immigration office (by mail or in person) or have a service do this for you.
To be eligible for this visa type of Thailand Retirement Visa, you must:
- Be at least 50 years old as of your application date
- Meet certain financial requirements, such as a security deposit of 800,000 Baht to a Thai bank account, a monthly income of 65,000 Baht, or a combination of the two
- Have no criminal record anywhere
- Obtain Thai health insurance with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 Baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 Baht for inpatient
- Be free of certain diseases
- Not have any type of employment while in Thailand on this visa
Thailand 10-Year Retirement Visa (NON O-X)
Thailand offers a 10-year retirement visa to nationals of select countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and others. This is a five-year visa with the option to extend an additional five years. To qualify, you must:
- Be at least 50 years old as of your application date
- Be from one of the approved countries
- Meet certain financial requirements, such as a security deposit of 3 million Baht to a Thai bank account, or an annual income of 1.2 million Baht
- Obtain Thai health insurance with an annual coverage of at least 40,000 Baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 Baht for inpatient
- Be free of certain diseases
- Report to Thailand immigration each year
- Not have any type of employment while in Thailand on this visa
Learn more about Thailand Retirement Visas for US Citizens here and here.
Thailand COVID Travel Requirements
As of October 1, 2022, Thailand has lifted its COVID travel restrictions. You don’t need to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter, and you don’t have to stay in the sandbox. Of course we recommend exercising reasonable caution during travel to any destination and being respectful of your fellow humans.
Other Thailand Visa Options
- Comprehensive Guide to Thailand Tourist & Resident Visas: Digital Nomads, Semi-Retired, Investors & More
- Thailand Tourist Visa: How to Apply and How to Extend Your Stay
- Thailand SMART Visa: Requirements & How to Apply
- Thailand Elite Visa: Cost, Requirements & Benefits
- Thailand Long Term Resident Visa (Digital Nomad Visa): Live and Work Remotely in Thailand
- Thailand Permanent Residency: Qualifications & How to Apply
Featured image via Unsplash.
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