In the eyes of many foreigners, Thailand is a desirable country for retirement or extended vacations due to its reputation for a friendly society, warm-hearted people, efficient healthcare system, beautiful nature, and relatively low cost of living.
However, to stay in Thailand long-term, there are certain requirements that must be met. You will need to apply for a visa called the Non-Immigrant Visa ‘O-X’ (Long Stay). Let’s check the essential qualifications needed for this visa.
- Must be a foreigner aged 50 years or older.
- Must have nationality and hold a passport from one of the following 14 countries: the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, the United States, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
- Must meet financial criteria:
- Have a fixed deposit in a Thai bank located in Thailand of not less than 3 million baht, or
- Have a fixed deposit in a Thai bank located in Thailand of not less than 1.8 million baht and have an annual income of not less than 1.2 million baht. Within one year, the fixed deposit in the Thai bank must be increased to not less than 3 million baht.
** The funds in criteria 1 or 2 must be maintained for at least 1 year before they can be withdrawn. After this period, withdrawals are allowed, but the remaining balance must be at least 1.5 million baht. Withdrawals can only be made for expenses such as medical costs, purchasing a condominium, buying a vehicle, and education for children in Thailand.
- Must not have a history of posing a threat to national security
- Must not have any prohibited diseases according to Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535), which includes leprosy, dangerous-stage tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug addiction, and tertiary syphilis.
- Must have a Thai health insurance policy covering the entire period of residence, with coverage of at least 40,000 baht for outpatient care and at least 400,000 baht for inpatient care.
- Spouses and legally recognized children can apply for the “O-X” visa (Non-O-X) to join the primary visa holder in Thailand for a long-term stay. Note that holders of this visa are not permitted to work, except for voluntary work through the Department of Employment.
- The visa is valid for 5+5 years (Multiple Entries) with an application fee of 10,000 baht.
See more detail at here
Photo: Freepik
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