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5 Visa Options to Stay in Thailand Long Term

Thailand is a popular destination for travelers, but many people also dream of making it their long-term home. Indeed, one question many have after a wonderful holiday is, “How can I stay here long term?”

Fortunately, there are several visa options that allow foreigners to stay in the country for extended periods.

In this article, I detail five visas that offer a long-term stay in Thailand, including the requirements, benefits and application process for each.

Whether you're looking to retire in Thailand, start a business, or simply enjoy the tropical lifestyle, this guide will help you navigate the visa options available to make your dreams a reality.

For a more in-depth look at each visa option, follow the links posted throughout the article below the relevant visa.

1. Non-Immigrant O (Retirement Visa)

The Non-Immigrant O Visa (based on retirement) is for people who are 50 years or older and want a long-term stay in Thailand. It is one of the easiest visas to obtain.

The O visa (retirement) is obtained from a Thai embassy or through the eVISA system (depending on your home country).

The visa provides a 90-day stay upon entry to Thailand. Within this 90 days you can obtain a 1-year extension based on retirement at an immigration office in Thailand. You must meet the financial requirements 60 days prior to doing your extension of stay (see below).

Benefits:

  • Allows for a one-year stay in Thailand (once the extension is done inside Thailand).
  • Extendable each year.
  • No requirement to leave the country every 90 days.
  • Can open a Thai bank account.

Requirements:

  • Age of 50 or above.
  • Proof of financial means: 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account (60 days prior to extension) or monthly income of at least 65,000 Baht.
  • Report to immigration every 90 days (90-day reporting).

Cost:

  • 2,000 Baht for the initial O visa.
  • 1,900 Baht for a yearly extension.

* Please note: There is an O-A visa, which enables you to obtain your 1-year stay immediately by applying for the visa in your home country. However, the requirements are more in-depth, and the majority of people use the Non Immigrant O Visa pathway outlined above because it is less work. More on the OA visa here.

+ Read more about the Retirement Visa here

2. Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)

The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), also known as the “digital nomad visa,” is designed for freelancers, digital nomads, remote workers and foreign talent who wish to work from Thailand.

This visa also caters to those interested in “Thai Soft Power” activities, such as Thai boxing or cooking classes, sports training, medical treatments, short-term educational courses, seminars, or artistic and musical festivals.

Benefits:

  • Extended Stay: Stay in Thailand for up to 180 days per entry, with the option to extend for another 180 days once per year.
  • Multiple Entries: The visa is valid for 5 years, allowing multiple entries.
  • Diverse Application Categories: Engage in various activities, including work, sports, education, and cultural experiences.
  • Family Inclusion: Provisions for legal spouses and legitimate children to accompany the visa holder.

Requirements:

  • Passport or travel document
  • Passport photograph
  • Document showing current location (application not allowed from inside Thailand)
  • Evidence of financial assets (minimum 500,000 THB or equivalent in other currencies)
  • Proof of purpose of visit (employment contract, professional portfolio, confirmation of activity participation, etc.)
  • Proof of relationship for dependents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, adoption certificate)
  • Age: Applicants must be at least 20 years old.
  • Work Permit: Visa holders cannot apply for a work permit.

Cost:

  • Visa Fee: 10,000 THB per visa.
  • Extension Fee: Additional 10,000 THB for extending the 180-day stay by another 180 days once per year.
  • Family Provisions: Details for family members accompanying the visa holder will be provided.

+ Read more about the DTV here

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3. Non-Immigrant O (Marriage Visa)

There are a number of categories of O visa and the Non-Immigrant O Visa based on marriage is another way to stay long term in Thailand. It is known as the marriage visa because it is granted to foreigners who want to stay in Thailand with their Thai spouse.

This visa allows a stay of one year, with the option to extend annually. You are allowed to work in Thailand on this visa, if a work permit is acquired.

As is the case with the aforementioned retirement O visa, you will be given a 90-day stay upon arrival in Thailand, which you can then extend by one year once you have the financial requirements in place.

Benefits:

  • Allows for a one-year stay in Thailand.
  • Extendable each year.
  • No requirement to leave the country every 90 days.
  • Can open a Thai bank account.

Requirements:

  • Married to a Thai national.
  • Proof of financial means: 400,000 Baht in a Thai bank account (60 days prior to extension) or monthly income of at least 40,000 Baht.
  • Marriage certificate.

Cost:

  • 2,000 Baht for single-entry; 5,000 Baht for multiple-entry.

* Please note: If you get a multiple entry O visa based on marriage, you don't have to do to the 1-year extension of stay. You can, instead, leave every 90 days and return to Thailand to be stamped in for a further 90-day stay. The pathway outlined above is based on a single entry Non Immigrant O Visa, which provides a stay of 90 days.

+ Read more about the Marriage Visa here

4. Long-Term Resident (LTR)

The Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa is designed for professionals who work remotely and wealthy individuals. The three most popular categories of the LTR visa are Wealthy Global Citizen, Wealthy Pensioner, and Work-From-Thailand Professional (remote worker).

This visa is an option for those interested in making Thailand their second home or want to experience living in the country for several years. The visa comes with a number of perks such as the ability to use the Airport Fast Track Service, report to immigration just once a year, and fly in and out of Thailand without a re-entry permit. Depending on the category of LTR you apply for, there are other associated benefits.

The initial visa is for five years, with the possibility of extending it for an additional five years, allowing a total stay length of up to 10 years. The key requirements vary depending on which category one applies for. All visa classes require a minimum of $40,000-$80,000 annual income for two years prior to application.

Benefits:

  • No reporting to immigration every 90 days.
  • Work in Thailand without the need to work for a company to get a permit.
  • Fast track airport service.
  • Easier route to citizenship.

Requirements:

  • Health insurance policy.
  • Minimum income of of $40,000-$80,000 (depending on category).
  • Other requirements are category specific (see link below).

Cost:

  • When obtained inside Thailand the cost of the visa is 50,000 Baht. Abroad, at Thai embassies and consulates, the cost is approximately 1,600 USD (depending on exchange rate).

+ Read more about the LTR Visa here

5. The Education Visa (ED

The Education Visa (ED) enables foreigners to stay long-term in Thailand for the purpose of pursuing studies, attending a Thai language course, or doing research in an educational institution in the country. The ED visa is valid for up to 1-year and can be extended for subsequent years, as long as the educational program remains ongoing.

Holders of the ED visa are required to attend classes or study regularly, and maintain a minimum attendance rate of 80% to avoid the risk of having their visa revoked.

Benefits:

  • Stay up to a year while studying.
  • Holders of the ED visa can also open a bank account in Thailand and apply for a Thai driving license.

Requirements:

  • You must be enrolled in a legitimate educational institution in Thailand that is recognized by the Thai Ministry of Education.
  • You must provide a letter of recommendation and sponsorship from the place you are studying.
  • 90-day reporting.
  • You must obtain a re-entry permit to leave the country and re-enter during the validity period of your visa (to keep the visa active).

Cost:

  • The application fee for the ED visa is 2,000 Baht (approximately $60 USD).
  • Additional costs may include tuition fees for the educational program, textbooks, and accommodation expenses.

+ Read more about the Education Visa here

6. The Elite Visa

The Thailand Elite Visa is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for up to 5, 10, or 20 years, depending on the chosen package. The visa allows you to stay in Thailand for extended periods without the need for frequent visa runs or extensions.

Holders of the Thailand Elite Visa are entitled to a range of benefits and privileges, including VIP immigration clearance, airport limousine transfers, access to exclusive golf courses, and more.

Benefits:

  • Expedited immigration clearance, complimentary airport transfers, and discounts and special offers at partner hotels, resorts, and shopping malls.
  • Access to a dedicated concierge service, which can assist with a range of tasks such as arranging accommodation, transportation, and leisure activities.
  • 90-day reporting taken care of by an Elite Visa agent (major cities only)
  • Free annual medical checkup
  • Banking privileges
  • Benefits are dependent on the type of Elite Visa you choose (see link below)

Requirements:

  • Available to applicants from any country.
  • No age limit or financial requirements.
  • Submit an application form along with a passport-sized photograph and supporting documents such as your passport and a letter of employment or proof of financial status.

Cost:

  • Costs depends on the package chosen. The most affordable package, the “Elite Easy Access,” costs 500,000 Baht (approximately $16,000 USD) for a 5-year visa.
  • The “Elite Ultimate Privilege” which offers a 20-year visa with a range of exclusive benefits, can cost up to 2 million baht (approximately $64,000 USD).
  • There are also additional fees associated with the visa, including a one-time application fee of 60,000 Baht (approximately $1,900 USD) and an annual fee ranging from 15,000 to 30,000 Baht (approximately $500 to $1,000 USD) depending on the package.

+ Read more about the Elite Visa here

In Summary

These are the main long-term visa options for staying in Thailand. Of course, there is always permanent residency, and even citizenship, but few people ever get that far, or can be bothered to try.

Generally speaking, most people can find a way to stay for a year at a time, using one of the options above. However, all stays beyond 30 days require a visa, and usually 90-day reporting, which means going to an immigration office with a bunch of documents to have your circumstances approved.

If you only want to stay for a couple of months, check out the Tourist Visa option here.

Other than that, drop any questions you may have below in the comments section.

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Rob says

    i've lived in Thailand now for 4 years with my Thai wife renewing my marriage visa every year. I want to change to a retirement visa (less hassle). Do I need the same TM7 form to change to a retirement visa or are there other forms required for the change over?
    Reply

  3. Richard says

    Ken…thanks for all the detail. I spent a number of years up country on Maui and in Honolulu. Those were good days. But cost of living and taxes preclude a return visit for any long period of time. Good luck in California.
    Reply

  4. Peter says

    Hi Peter
    In applying for the Non 'O' from the UK, am I correct in understanding that one doesn't need to show 20k in a bank account at that stage ? If so, what amount, if any ?, is required to initially obtain the Non 'O' please ?

    I understand that after 90 days in Thailand with a Non 'O' visa that if I want to extend it I would need to have had 20k in a Thai bank account for 60 days up to the start of extension date, or from day 30, but that if I did not do this, I would need to leave the country by no later than day 90. Is this correct please ?

    Thank you

    Peter
    Reply

    • JamesE says

      Hi Peter, The UK Embassy site is notoriously lacking easy-to-find data. In the US the initial requirement is demonstrating three months of bank statements showing a minimum of US$10,000. Expect something similar. Your second paragraph is true. Remember the clock starts at Day-1, not Day-0, and the 60 days is prior to the date you apply for your extension. You don't want to wait until the last minute on any of this.
      Reply

    • Ken F says

      Although I don’t know nearly as much about these things as Peter does I can certainly tell you what my own personal experiences were when I went this route myself about two years ago. First off, when applying for the Non-O visa from the USA I was required to show that I had the equivalent of 10,000 GBP in my US bank account (about $13,000 US at the time). And since this was at the height of covid it was all actually kind of a nightmare to getting the visa but it should be much easier for you now. By the way, in my case I did not set up my Thai bank account in time to get the $20,000 transferred over within 30 days and so I ended up having to take a different route. At first I was going to make a run to a neighboring country but because of covid this was not possible so I ended up going through a visa agent to get my Non-O one-year visa. I was very reluctant to do this at first but I had no real choice under the circumstances. And in any case, everything worked out fine and they even had someone from Bangkok Bank come to their office to help me set up my bank account. It cost about 25,000 baht but under the circumstances it was well worth it. Still, I would recommend getting your money over in time and doing it the right way if at all possible. And if you do ever use an agent in the future make sure you do your homework to make sure they are legitimate – well at least as legitimate as they can be.
      Reply

        • Ken F says

          No problem. I’m happy to help. By the way, there is one thing I forgot to mention when it comes to visa services like the one I was forced by circumstance to use. They apparently have some tricks up their sleeve so that you do not even have to put the $20,000 into your account here. And since I keep all my spare money in the stock market, keeping that $20,000 invested has already made me way more than enough money to offset the cost of the visa services. Heck, even if I had just put the money in an online bank account with a 5% interest rate I would make more money in a year than the 25,000 baht that it cost to use the visa service. So basically the services ended up being free. Of course, being from the USA I’m naturally very uncomfortable doing things in unofficial round-about ways but that is just business as usual here in Thailand I’m afraid. For example, when I complained to my girlfriend about what a pain it is to get a Thai drivers license she told me I should just pay to get one under the table and she said that this is how most of her friends did it. They would rather just pay the money than to go through all the hassles of doing it the right way. And according to her it is not a forged license but rather is a real one, and if this is true it means people are being bribed in the motor vehicle department. But like I said, this is just business as usual in Thailand.
          Reply

  5. Richard says

    Hi Peter….Regarding the Non-Immigrant O for a Long Stay, I was wondering how workable the following is: I’m a US Citizen, 50+ by a wide margin and meet all the Financial requirements. I’d arrive in Thailand on a Tourist Multiple Entry Visa. Use ThaiVisa Centre or someone like that to upgrade my Tourist Visa to a Non-Immigrant O and after 90 days apply for the one year extension? Is that the best option for the longest possible stay with least amount of hassle.
    I was also wondering if you had any comment about using The Thaiger or Thai Visa Centre as representatives?
    Reply

  6. Mark C Gilchrist says

    An American friend who has lived in Laos for decades told me today that tourists can get a 6-month, multiple-entry visa for a few hundred dollars. Only have to show that you have a few thousand dollars in any bank account. Sounds too good, but I trust this guy. Anyone know what he is talking about?
    Reply

  7. Jeff Turner says

    Thanks Peter for the reporting you do. It is really quite helpful. One question on the Visa information above... does anything change if your wife is Thai? We are currently living in the US, and will have been married for 15 years or so by the time we retire in Thailand. Does that change anything?
    Thaks again for what you do.
    JT
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hi JT, thank you. Option 2 - Non-Immigrant O (Marriage Visa) - applies to those with a Thai spouse. You could apply on that basis, or if you are over 50 you can apply on a retirement basis (see option 1). Hope this helps.
      Reply

  8. James Carillo says

    Hello , question... for the elite visa, when it says "cost" does that mean how much i have to place in a bank or does that mean how much i have to pay to stay in Thailand? That money is no longer mine ?
    Reply

  9. Ken F says

    Actually, I have already done the one-year extension twice now. Anyway, I guess it does not really matter either way because it's unlikely that I would be returning before my visa expires in 9-months. I just always like to keep my options open.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hang on a moment, do you mean your extension of stay has 9 months left rather than the validity on your initial entry visa? If so, you will need to get a re-entry permit before you leave the country to keep your extension of stay valid. The expiration date of the re-entry permit will be the expiration date of your extension of stay.
      Reply

      • Ken F says

        I mean that I am on a retirement visa, which I renew once every year. The first time I got it I did not bother with the multiple entry option because I knew I would not be doing any traveling that year. The last time however I thought I might want to travel to some nearby countries, so I opted for multiple entry. Anyway, my last one-year visa still has 9-months remaining on it.
        Reply

        • James says

          Hello and thanks for the info. I wanted to avoid the chores of having to renew each year while becoming a permanent resident. Thniking that the main goal was for me to place a certain sum if money in a Thai bank acct? It looks like that's nit the case ? It seems that the Thai government wants big money for say 5 years. I didn't know they wanted that money I thought I just had to show or leave in a bank in Thai. That's very expensive the money they're asking. So the alternative is too do what you do and renew each year?
          Reply

  10. Ken F says

    I seem to recall that when you wrote about this topic a few years ago you mentioned that if you have a Non-Immigrant O Visa with a multiple entry, and you leave the country and come back in later, you can extend that existing visa. Is this still the case? I am asking because I have recently come to the realization that retirement is not at all for me and I want to go back to California as soon as possible and start working again. I also decided that Thailand is not the place for me for more than about a year at a time and, as I have long suspected, I have no desire to spend the rest of my life here. Anyway, should I not be able to find work quickly enough and am forced to come back here for a time while I figure out where else I might want to live it would be nice to have the option of coming back in on my current visa, which is valid until February of next year, and then extending it if need be.
    Reply

    • TheThailandLife says

      Hey Ken, you can extend your 90-day stay for a further 60 days (on a multiple entry you can stay 90 days at a time and reactivate a further 90 days if you exit Thailand and return). Your visa must still be valid though. If you want to do a 1-year extension based on retirement, you can do that too, but you must meet the financial requirements, as described in the article.
      Reply

      • Ken F says

        Thank you for your reply. I just wanted to make sure there is no time limit at all on how long I can be out of the country on a multiple entry and still have my current visa be valid when I return. My current visa still has about 9 months left on it so if I leave the country for six or seven months and then come back in for some reason, are you saying that this is no problem? Also, can I assume that in such a case I would not be in hot water for not doing the 90-day reporting even though I was out of the country for all that time?
        Reply

        • TheThailandLife says

          As long as the visa is still valid you can enter on it; because it is multiple entry. You don't need to do 90-day reporting unless you have done the 1-year extension of stay. If you haven't done that then after 90 days you will need to extend for 60 days (1,900 Baht) or leave and re-enter. Usually those with a multiple entry Non O visa leave every 90 days and then re-enter to activate a further 90 days.
          Reply

    • Richard says

      Hi Ken…what you are suggesting is an issue for many of us. How to give Thailand a try for a year or so without making a major financial commitment of any kind. And then the even bigger question of what countries are open to us for long stays or retirement. New Zealand, Canada and to a lesser extent Australia check some of the boxes but don’t have appropriate Visas. If you feel unsafe in America how does one feel about Mexico or South America. And Europe is real mixed bag with bureaucratic complexities rivaling Thailand. The question of “where else” is a tough one to answer.
      Ken I’d be curious if you don’t mind which Visa Agency did you use. I’ve sent emails to two of them in Bangkok and haven’t heard back from either one in 10 days.
      Reply

      • Ken F says

        Yeah, it’s a shame in some ways that the visa run days are over for the most part. Before the government cracked down though people would stay for years and years on end on a tourist visa. I myself once stayed for 6 months and then again for a year simply by making quick border runs every 90-days - or whatever it was. You might still be able to do this to a degree if flying out rather than using land crossings, but Peter would know a lot more about this than me.

        In any case, I would not really say that a long-stay visa requires a “major financial commitment”. After all, if you can show that you have a retirement income of about $2000 US a month then you do not need to put any of your savings into a Thai bank account at all. And even if you do, if you are just keeping it a regular savings account back home anyway I don’t see the difference in keeping it in a regular savings account here. The only downside would be if the exchange rate varied a lot while you were here. For example, if it was 30 baht per dollar when you brought your money in and then 38 baht when you transferred it back to the USA (the actual variation over the past two years), you would end up losing about $4,500 dollars – enough to buy 3 brand new Honda Waves. Of course, it could also go the other way and you might end up making money instead. Also, you are supposedly supposed to be able to meet the requirement using a combination of income and savings - although some people have told me that in actual practice immigration will not accept this. Either way, it sounds to me like you need to first figure out where you really want to be and then work out the details of how to make living there a possibility later. As for me I have recently come to realize, as I have long suspected, that Thailand is not a place I want to live indefinitely and so I am going back to California and coming out of retirement.

        As for safety I have never really felt unsafe in any of the foreign countries that I have visited or lived in. But then again, I have also never felt the least bit unsafe back home in the USA. I have mostly lived in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, California but I also spend a few years in Columbia, South Carolina, and Honolulu, Hawaii – no, I have never been in the military.

        Regarding the name of the Visa agent I use here in Phuket I would be glad to give it to you but I seem to recall Peter telling someone a few years back that he did want anyone endorsing any products or service in this forum. Still, I guess if that is the case, he can always just remove the name before posting this. The place I used is called TMT Visa Services and a lot of people use them here in Phuket.
        Reply

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