A new visa has been launched and is dividing opinion across the expat community. It's called the Non-Immigrant O-X (long stay).
Technically it is a “new” retirement visa because it shares very similar properties with the Non Immigrant O-A visa, commonly known as the ‘retirement visa'.
In this post I'll run you through all you need to know about the O-X visa and help you determine whether this is the right visa for you.
I also give you my opinion in the conclusion. Let's get into the details…
Who is the O-X visa for?
This visa is for applicants aged 50 years and over. This is exactly the same as the standard retirement visa.
How long does it let me stay in Thailand for?
The visa lasts for 10 years, with a maximum stay of 5 years. So potentially you could do two stays of 5 years each. Confused? Okay: so you stay 5 years, leave the country, come back again and activate the next 5 years, Simple.
Do I have to do 90-day reporting?
Yes. Like the standard retirement visa, you have to report to immigration every 90 days.
What if I want to leave the country and come back in again, within the 5-year period?
The visa is multiple entry, so you can leave and re-enter at any time.
Can I work on an O-X visa?
No. Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited.
What countries are eligible?
You must be a national and passport holder of one of the following countries:
- Japan
- Australia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Netherland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- United States
What financial conditions are there?
You must have a bank deposit of no less than 3M Baht in a Thai bank account, or a bank deposit of no less than 1.8M Baht and an annual income of no less than 1.2M Baht. You must have this bank deposit in full for at least one year, and keep at no less than 1.5M Baht in the bank account thereafter.
Any other conditions?
Yes. You must have Thai health insurance for the entire duration of your stay. Your coverage must include outpatient treatment of no less than 40,000 Baht, and inpatient treatment of no less than 400,000 Baht.
✓ Your Next Read: The Big Thai Visa Post (includes O-A visa)
Who is not eligible for the O-X visa?
You must not have a criminal record in Thailand or in your native country, or have a prohibited disease such as Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis or the third phase of Syphilis. Further stipulations can be found in the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 B.E. 2535. Drug addicts are also non-eligible.
How much does the O-X visa cost?
$400 (USD) per application. Applications are non-refundable.
How long does it take to apply?
The processing times are as follows:
- In person : 5 business days
- By mail: minimum 15 business days
What documents are required?
Submit 3 sets of each document: 1 original and 2 copies
1. Your Passport: Passport must have 6 months + validity and contain at least one blank visa page.
2. Visa application form completely filled out (can be downloaded here)
3. Three passport-size photographs (2″ x2) Photocopies are not accepted. Photographs must have a light colored background with a full- face view and without a hat or dark glasses. Photos must be no more than 6 months old.
4. A copy of your bank statement from the Thai bank where your deposit is held, and a letter of guarantee from the bank — with the bank’s contact information — showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 3m Baht. Or, a copy of your bank statement from the Thai bank where your deposit is held, and a letter of guarantee from the bank — with the bank’s contact information — showing a deposit of the amount equal to and not less than 1.8m Baht, and proof of annual income of not less than 1.2m Baht.
5. A letter of verification stating that you have no criminal record. The verification must not be more than 3 months old.
6. A medical certificate showing no prohibitive diseases as indicated in the Ministerial Regulation No.14 (B.E. 2535). The certificate must not be more than 3 months old. (can be downloaded here)
7. Evidence of your health insurance plan. Please choose from the providers listed at here.
8. Visa processing Fee of $400USD
9. In the case of an accompanying spouse, a marriage certificate must be provided as evidence. The spouse must also apply and include items number 1-8 on this list.
10. In the case of an accompanying legal child/adopted child (who is under 20 years old), a birth certificate/adoption order must be provided as evidence. The accompanying child must also submit items numbered 1-3, 7, 8 on this list.
In the case where a spouse and legal child/adopted child are not eligible to apply for the Category ‘O-X’ (Long Stay) visa, he or she would apply for Category ‘O’ or “O-A”(Long stay) or “ED” (for child) visa.
My Opinion – Is it Worth It?
My first impression, when I saw “5 years” was “wow”! My second, when I saw three obvious points of friction, wasn't so jubilant:
1. Still having to do 90-day reporting
If this is the case, why not just get a one-year extension based on retirement for 1,900 Baht? I'm talking about the standard O-A visa (retirement visa).
If you have to visit immigration every 90 days anyway, you might as well just extend your visa each year – as long as you meet the financial requirements for the retirement visa. That said; they have 90-day reporting online now, so maybe this is a moot point.
✓ Your Next Read: The Big Thai Visa Post (includes O-A visa)
2. A fairly big financial commitment
3M THB in a Thai bank account, tied up for 10 years at pretty much zero interest rate really isn't an attractive proposition. Most savvy expats would baulk at this idea. That sort of cash could be making 3-5% interest quite happily elsewhere!
Of course, you could always go for the 1.8m THB and 1.2m THB income (yearly) option. But even then, it's far more than the 800k you need for a standard 1-year retirement extension.
3. Taking out a health insurance policy with one of their “suggested providers”
It is unclear as to whether you have to choose one of the four they suggest, but being pushed towards a policy doesn't sit well with me.
I accept that every expat needs health insurance, but I don't recommend any of these for expats. Check out my recommendations here.
On a Positive Note
Most people don't really need a 5-year visa; they usually fly home at least once every 2 years. But this might suit those who aren't very mobile and for whom it is a hassle to extend each year.
And then there are those who have a ton of money, and for whom depositing 3 million THB in a Thai bank is a drop in the ocean, as long as they don't have to think about extending each year.
The 1.8 million THB and 1.2 million THB income combination is less of a commitment, and if you just want to get a visa one time (for 10 years) and have done with it — and then report online every 90 days — it's a little bit of a time saver, at least it is once a year when you'd otherwise have to extend on a O-A retirement visa.
What do you think?
More Tips for a Better Life in Thailand
Improve Your Thai Skills:
Learning Thai makes life here easier and more fun. I use Thaipod101. It is free to get started & easy to use.
Send Money to Thailand:
Use Transferwise. It is fast, cheap, and gives you the market exchange rate. Me and the majority of my readers are using it.
Protect Your Online Privacy:
A VPN protects you against hackers and government snooping. I always use one. You should too. Read why here.
Last Updated on
Mark Hubbard says
Oct 21, 2017 at 6:49 pm
Darrel says
So, it appears the only advantage is not having to get a reentry permit if you leave Thailand as it is a 5 year multi-entry visa. IMO this does not offset the disadvantages of having to have substantial amounts on deposit in a Thai bank.
Oct 02, 2017 at 12:49 pm
dave says
my question is do i have to wait 60 days after passport stamped at dept c1
Sep 23, 2017 at 12:11 pm
James E says
It's looking more and more like a scam. The insurance must be purchased from one of the four companies participating in the "scheme". For a 65 y.o. geezer like myself I would pay about 60,000฿ for 40,000฿ of outpatient and 400,000฿ of inpatient coverage. (An amount which, even in Thailand, isn't that much.) However, for about 85,000฿ I can get about 40M฿ of coverage through AXA. The more I'm looking at the details the less this "O-X" thing seems like a rational choice.
Sep 07, 2017 at 10:33 pm
Terry Drew says
Sep 06, 2017 at 5:14 pm
James says
Sep 05, 2017 at 4:22 am
TheThailandLife says
Sep 05, 2017 at 3:55 pm
Tod Daniels says
Very few people are gonna go for this.
It should be noted that the visa is good for 5 years THEN you apply for a 5 year extension and you need to have the 3 million back in the bank at that time too, not just half the money. I read on some thai language site that you can only withdrawal half the money to either buy a property or to pay for medical treatment.
All in all, it is just a clunky, ill thought out, poorly conceived oh-so predictable thai copy of the malaysian 10 year visa
Sep 01, 2017 at 10:45 am
MikeinChantaburi says
As for health insurance...in my limited experience, its a pain getting health insurance here once you're over 60. At this point, my Medicare C through Aetna provides emergency coverage overseas and I pay my own maintenance stuff. Buying Thailand-Only coverage would be fine by me - who offers it?
Frankly, the annual trek to Govt Complex, pay my 1900 + 3500 (plus my lawyer's fee to do the running around and wait in lines) works well enough.
I think I'd just go for a permanent residence visa and pay the 200k if I got frustrated with the present system rather than deposit a few million at no interest
Aug 31, 2017 at 10:19 pm
TheThailandLife says
Sep 01, 2017 at 3:14 am
Ken F says
Aug 31, 2017 at 1:05 pm
TheThailandLife says
They really should consider consulting those who might actually use the visa before deciding on the rules. What people want is a long stay visa where A) proof of savings can be held in any foreign bank account, B) No 90 day reporting, or just a simple check-in every 3 months at a local police station / an online verification system.
Aug 31, 2017 at 3:31 pm
Ken F says
Still, if they are going to dangle a carrot in front of our faces in order to coax us into doing more to stimulate the economy they could at least first find out if that carrot that is substantial enough to get our attention. And as you say “if you have to visit immigration every 90 days anyway, you might as well just extend your visa each year”. Although, I would imagine that a sense of security is also part of the appeal of having a five year visa for some. For example, when I was in Japan I knew that my yearly visa renewal was just a formality and that it would be rubberstamped. Yet in the back of my mind I still always had a certain amount of anxiety about it. After all, if they should decide to deny my renewal, for whatever reason, then I would have to suddenly uproot my entire life. If you have a valid 5-year visa however you would have to really do something stupid in order from immigration to actually revoke it halfway through. And even though worrying that your visa will not be extended is not really a rational fear, it is a fear nonetheless, and some people think that you just can’t put a price on peace of mind and a sense of security.
Sep 03, 2017 at 5:32 pm
TheThailandLife says
Sep 04, 2017 at 9:35 pm
James says
I had the same reaction. After the excitement wore off it seemed like it might be something of a social engineering attempt. Bring in enough foreign capital and make it captive, lock it in the bank against their reserve requirements for 10 years, and loan it out to budding capitalists, struggling farmers, and blue-sky real estate developers. Then make sure there's additional money flowing through the medical services community with the insurance requirement.
The law was a collaboration between the Interior Dept and the Ministry of Health from what I've been able to find out.
Still haven't heard back from the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington to see if there's any flexibility in the requirements (particularly regarding the insurance providers).
Aug 31, 2017 at 6:09 am
TheThailandLife says
Let me know if you hear back, and thanks for the heads up on the details you provided on the other post for this visa.
Aug 31, 2017 at 3:32 pm