A free PDF guide — the deposit stays yours
A guide to the Thairetirement visa
A yearly visa extended inside the country: no money goes to the state — it sits in your own account. We set out the three ways to evidence your means, the report every 90 days and what is examined at renewal.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 12.08.2026
- Sent by email, WhatsApp or Telegram
Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. The requirements on insurance and on the sums change from time to time.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the visa before you file
Four things that decide the budget and the routine that comes with the status.
- The money stays yours
The deposit of 800,000 baht sits in your own account with a Thai bank. It is neither a contribution to the state nor an investment: the funds go nowhere.
- Three ways to evidence your means
A deposit, a monthly income from 65,000 baht, or the two combined. People choose whichever is easier to evidence on documents.
- From the age of fifty
The category is meant for people over 50. Younger applicants have other grounds — the DTV visa, for one.
- A report every 90 days
The stay is confirmed by a notification to the immigration bureau every 90 days. It is routine, but it cannot be skipped.
02 / The terms
What you will have to evidence
Choose the route and the family: we will show the requirement and the attendant costs.
03 / Three ways
The deposit, the income, or the two together
The requirement is one; there are three ways to evidence it, and people take whichever is quickest on documents.
The values were checked against the official material on 12.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | The depositAn account with a Thai bank from 800,000 baht | The incomeA monthly income from 65,000 baht | The combinationThe deposit and the income together |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you evidence | the balance in the account | regular receipts | the deposit and a year’s income together |
| The sum | 800,000 baht | 65,000 baht a month | 800,000 baht in total |
| How long the funds must sit | 2 months before filing | — | for the deposit part |
| Where it is held | a Thai bank | the source may be abroad | a Thai bank plus the income |
| The visa | 1 year, renewable | 1 year, renewable | 1 year, renewable |
| Work in Thailand | not permitted | not permitted | not permitted |
| Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate | You have the sum free | You have a pension or rental income | Neither the sum nor the income is enough on its own |
- What you evidence
- the balance in the account
- regular receipts
- The sum
- 800,000 baht
- 65,000 baht a month
- How long the funds must sit
- 2 months before filing
- —
- Where it is held
- a Thai bank
- the source may be abroad
- The visa
- 1 year, renewable
- 1 year, renewable
- Work in Thailand
- not permitted
- not permitted
- Who it usually suitsA BRIDGES estimate
- You have the sum free
- You have a pension or rental income
None of the routes involves handing money to the state: the funds stay yours.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the visa.
- The essentials firstThe key facts of the programme: what decides the matter.
- A comparisonThe thresholds and the terms of the programme in one table.
- How the work runsThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The analysisWhat is checked before the status is granted.
- The limitsWhat affects the timings, the costs and keeping the status.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
If the deposit route is chosen, the planning starts months ahead because the funds have to sit in the account.
- The conditions are checked
The age from 50 and one of the three financial routes — we look at which is quicker to evidence.
- An account with a Thai bank
Opening the account and placing the deposit: on the deposit route the funds have to sit there for 2 months.
- The documents and the insurance
A certificate of no criminal record, a medical certificate and insurance with the required cover.
- The visa application
An application at a Thai consulate, or an extension of the status inside the country.
- Entry and registration
Registration at the place of residence and the resident’s paperwork.
- The reports and the renewal
A notification every 90 days and a yearly renewal. The whole process takes 1-2 months.
07 / The check
What is examined on filing
The origin of the funds, how long the deposit has sat, the insurance and the medical documents.
- The origin of the funds
The bank checks the source of the money when the account is opened and the deposit placed.
- How long the deposit has sat
The funds have to be in the account for at least 2 months before the application.
- The insurance
Medical cover at the sums set for the category; it is checked on filing and at renewal.
- A clean record and health
A certificate of no criminal record and a medical report in the prescribed form.
The insurance is the most movable point: the requirements on cover have changed repeatedly and are checked before every application.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on the status and on daily life.
You may not workThe visa carries no work permit
Work needs a separate visa and permit: a breach means the status is cancelled.
The deposit has to stayIt is checked at renewal
You cannot withdraw the money and keep the status: the balance is checked every year.
A report every 90 daysA missed one means a fine
The notification may be given in person, by post or online, but given it must be.
Not a path to citizenshipThe status is temporary
The retirement visa is renewed year after year but leads to neither permanent status nor a passport.
The rules changeThe insurance requirements
The terms on insurance and on the sums have been adjusted more than once — they are checked afresh before filing.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists who deal with the Thai consulates and the immigration bureau.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 12 August 2026
- Last updated
- 12 August 2026
The official sources
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ThailandMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand · checked 12.08.2026The terms of the O-A visa: the age, the financial requirements, the insurance.
- The Thai Immigration BureauThai Immigration Bureau · checked 12.08.2026Extending the stay, the 90-day notifications and the re-entry permit.
- The requirements on medical insuranceThe Government of Thailand · checked 12.08.2026The cover recognised for the retirement visa.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the retirement visa
How much money is needed?
A deposit of 800,000 baht in an account with a Thai bank, or an income from 65,000 baht a month, or the two combined.
Does the deposit go to the state?
No. The money sits in your account and stays yours: it evidences your means, it is not a contribution.
From what age?
From 50. Younger applicants have other grounds, such as the DTV visa for remote work.
May I work?
No. The retirement visa gives no right to work in Thailand.
What are the reports every 90 days?
A notification of where you are staying is given to the immigration bureau every 90 days.
Do I have to live in the country all the time?
No, but the status assumes a stay; long absences are covered by a re-entry permit.
Does the visa lead to permanent residence?
No, it is a renewable temporary status. Permanent residence is granted under other rules.
How long does the process take?
1-2 months with the documents ready; the seasoning of the deposit is planned separately.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a check on your position
We will send the PDF with the requirements and a preliminary check of your situation.
- The three ways of evidencing your means
- The requirements on the deposit and how long it must sit
- The reports, the renewals and re-entry
- What is examined in the insurance