Non-O retirement: visa, status change and annual extension.
The Non-Immigrant O retirement route separates two decisions: a 90-day Non-O visa or status change, and a later annual extension of stay. As verified 22 August 2026, the published retirement extension test is age 50 or older plus qualifying income, a Thai-bank deposit, or a permitted combination.
As of 22 August 2026, the published retirement-extension criterion is age 50 or older plus one of three financial routes: income of at least THB 65,000 a month; at least THB 800,000 in a Thai commercial bank under the published seasoning and retention rules; or qualifying annual income plus deposit totalling at least THB 800,000. The later balance floor is THB 400,000 for the full-deposit route, but half of the deposit component for the combination route. A 90-day Non-O visa/status change and the later 1-year extension are separate applications.
Visa, permission to stay and extension
“Retirement visa” is convenient shorthand, but it can hide the actual sequence. An applicant may first obtain a Non-Immigrant O visa abroad, or may qualify to apply for a 90-day Non-O visa/status change inside Thailand. A later TM.7 application asks Immigration to extend the current permission to stay on the retirement basis for no more than 1 year.
The extension criteria were re-checked on 22 August 2026 against Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, clause 2.22 (official Thai source). The current order retains the THB 800,000 and THB 65,000 thresholds while distinguishing the later floor for the full-deposit and combination routes.
Stage 1: in-country Non-O status change
As of 25 July 2026, the Immigration Bureau's official retirement status-change checklist says:
- the application supports a permission of no more than 90 days;
- documents must be filed with more than 15 days remaining, and an applicant on overstay cannot use this application;
- TM.86 is used by an eligible tourist/transit visa holder and TM.87 by an eligible visa-exempt entrant;
- the application fee is THB 2,000;
- the bank route uses at least THB 800,000 in the applicant's Thai savings or fixed-deposit account, with a same-date bank certificate/passbook update and evidence of foreign-currency transfer into Thailand;
- the income route uses a pension of at least THB 65,000 a month certified as the checklist describes; and
- the combination route totals at least THB 800,000 for 1 year.
The national status-change checklist does not publish a 2-month seasoning rule for this first 90-day decision. Local offices can still publish filing-specific evidence requirements, so Jomtien's current checklist must be checked for the actual file.
Stage 2: annual retirement extension
For the annual extension, Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, clause 2.22, re-checked 22 August 2026, says:
| Route | Published threshold | Timing or retention |
|---|---|---|
| Income | At least THB 65,000 a month | Evidence must satisfy the handling office. |
| Thai-bank deposit | At least THB 800,000 | Held for at least 2 months before filing and at least 3 months after approval; afterward the balance must not fall below THB 400,000. |
| Combination | Annual income plus Thai-bank deposit totalling at least THB 800,000 by the filing date | The deposit component must be held for at least 2 months before filing and at least 3 months after approval; afterward at least half of that deposit component must remain in the account. |
If a pension or supporting statement is denominated outside Thailand, use the exchange-rate source and date the handling office accepts. The private THB conversion worksheet can reproduce the arithmetic with a rate you supply, but it does not decide whether the rate or evidence satisfies Immigration.
The extension can be granted for no more than 1 year at a time. As of 25 July 2026, Immigration's public service handbook lists the TM.7 application fee as THB 1,900. The current published criterion uses a 2-month pre-filing deposit period for the annual extension.
Evidence is not identical at every office
Immigration offices control the document set used to prove the national criterion. Bank-letter wording, statement period, passbook update timing, acceptable account type, income evidence, copies, photographs and appointment systems can vary. An office may also ask for evidence that establishes the address and the source or continuity of funds.
No current official Jomtien checklist with a stable bank-letter timing or processing promise was located in this review. Forum reports were not promoted to rules. Chonburi Immigration's current written list for the specific application, with its printed date, controls the local document set.
Does a standard Non-O retirement extension require health insurance?
As checked 22 August 2026, Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, clause 2.22 does not include the O-A-specific health-insurance condition in the standard Non-O retirement-extension criterion. This is a finding about that published national criterion, not a promise that an office will never request case-specific health evidence. Non-O retirement and Non-O-A are different categories, so an O-A insurance rule must not be copied into a standard Non-O file—or omitted from an O-A file—without checking the category shown in the passport. Use the maintained O-A insurance guide for the current O-A threshold, evidence and refusal-alternative sources.
Documents to expect
The official national materials checked 25 July 2026 centre on:
- the correct form for the stage: TM.86/TM.87 for the 90-day status change or TM.7 for the extension;
- passport and current entry/permission evidence;
- a recent photograph;
- financial documents for the selected route;
- address evidence and the Section 38 accommodation notification where required; and
- the published fee for that application.
The status-change checklist specifically asks for a rental agreement or condominium evidence, house registration, a residence map and recent rent receipts where applicable. A local office can request originals or additional corroboration.
Reporting and travel after approval
- 90-day reporting: staying in Thailand for more than 90 consecutive days triggers the TM.47 address-reporting cycle. As checked 25 July 2026, the official online guide says online requests can be filed within the 15 days before the due date.
- TM.30: accommodation notification is separate from TM.47 and from the extension. Responsibility and any need to update depend on the stay and address facts.
- International travel: a re-entry permit is normally needed to preserve an existing extension when leaving Thailand. The actual stamp and permit dates control.
- Work: the retirement basis does not authorise employment.
Retirement extension versus annual re-application
A holder does not receive a permanent 1-year visa that renews itself. Each year is a new extension application on the current facts. Immigration can examine the complete bank history and other evidence for the preceding period. Approval in an earlier year does not waive a later requirement or guarantee another extension.
If the financial test was not maintained, the official rule does not publish an automatic cure, warning or medical-emergency exception. The handling office decides the application under the evidence and law in force at filing.
Processing time
No current nationwide official service time for a Non-O retirement status change or Jomtien retirement extension was located on 25 July 2026. Appointment availability, arrival times, queue capacity and completion time are local operational conditions, not durable national rules.
Common questions
Related: Retiring in Thailand guide · Non-O extension · Non-O vs O-A
Is 2 months of seasoning required for the first in-country status change?
The national status-change checklist checked 25 July 2026 does not publish that timing; it requires the THB 800,000 balance, same-date bank documents and foreign-transfer evidence. The annual extension has the published 2-month pre-filing rule. The handling office decides the evidence for the particular application.
How long must THB 800,000 remain after an extension?
Under the criterion checked 22 August 2026, it remains at or above THB 800,000 for at least 3 months after approval, then may fall but not below THB 400,000.
Does the combination route use the same THB 400,000 floor?
No. Under Order No. 12/2568, the combination route keeps at least half of its deposit component after the first 3 months. The THB 400,000 later floor belongs to the full-deposit route.
Does standard Non-O retirement require O-A insurance?
As checked 22 August 2026 against Immigration Bureau Order No. 12/2568, clause 2.22, the standard Non-O retirement extension criterion does not include the O-A-specific insurance condition. O-A is separately regulated and must not be assumed to follow the Non-O insurance position.
Is annual renewal automatic?
No. Each extension is a new application assessed on the current evidence and rule.