Thailand Retirement Visa Options for Australians: Non-O, Non-OA and LTR Compared

If you are 50 or older and want to live in Thailand without working, there are three main routes: a Non-Immigrant O visa followed by a one-year retirement extension in Thailand, the Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa obtained before you leave, or the Long-Term Resident (LTR) "Wealthy Pensioner" visa run by Thailand's Board of Investment. They differ mainly in how much money you must show, whether health insurance is compulsory, and how often you deal with immigration.

This is general information, not migration advice. Rules change and immigration offices can interpret them differently. Check the linked official pages before you apply.

Quick comparison

	Non-O + retirement extension	Non-OA (long stay)	LTR – Wealthy Pensioner
Minimum age	50	50	50
Money test	800,000 THB in a Thai bank, or 65,000 THB/month income, or a combination totalling 800,000 THB a year	800,000 THB deposit, or 65,000 THB/month income, or a combination totalling 800,000 THB a year	Passive income of US$80,000+/year, or US$40,000–80,000/year plus US$250,000 invested in Thailand
Health insurance	Not required for an extension based on a Non-O (the insurance rule applies to O-A holders)	Required: at least US$100,000 / 3,000,000 THB cover for the whole stay	Required: at least US$50,000 cover, or Thai social security, or US$100,000 held in the bank for 12 months
Length of stay	1 year per extension, renewable	1 year, extendable in Thailand	5 years, renewable for 5 more (10 total)
Reporting	90-day reports	90-day reports	1-year report instead of 90-day; re-entry permit exemption
Work allowed	No	No	No (Wealthy Pensioner category)
Where you apply	Visa online, extension at a Thai immigration office	Online via thaievisa.go.th before travel	Online via BOI LTR system, then visa issuance

1. Non-O visa plus a retirement extension

This is the most common route. You enter Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa, then apply at your local immigration office for a one-year "extension of stay" for retirement. According to the Thai government's official guide, you need to:

• Hold a non-immigrant visa and be 50 or over.
• Show income of at least 65,000 THB a month, or
• Keep at least 800,000 THB in a Thai commercial bank account. The money must be there for at least 2 months before you apply and remain for 3 months after approval. After that you may withdraw, but the balance may not fall below 400,000 THB.
• Or show a combination of income and Thai bank deposit totalling at least 800,000 THB for the year.

Documents listed include the TM.7 application form, a copy of your passport, proof of income (pension, interest or dividends) and a certificate of deposit from a Thai bank with a copy of the bank book.

Each extension lasts one year and is renewed at immigration, so you repeat the financial test every year.

2. Non-OA long-stay visa (apply before you leave)

The O-A is issued by a Thai embassy or consulate to people aged 50 and over who want to stay up to one year without working. "Employment of any kind is strictly prohibited."

Key requirements published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai consulates:

• Money: a bank deposit of at least 800,000 THB, or an income certificate showing at least 65,000 THB a month, or deposit plus income totalling at least 800,000 THB a year. Bank statements need a guarantee letter from the bank.
• Health insurance (compulsory since 1 October 2021): cover for the entire stay, including COVID-19, with a sum insured of at least 3,000,000 THB or US$100,000 per policy year. Foreign policies need the official Foreign Insurance Certificate completed by the insurer.
• Police check from your country of nationality or residence. Australians use a nationally coordinated criminal history check.
• Medical certificate confirming none of the prohibited diseases listed in Ministerial Regulation No. 14, issued within three months.
• Proof of where you live, passport, recent photo.

For Australians: Thai visas have been applied for online at thaievisa.go.th since 19 March 2024, with no original passport sent. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra, residents of NSW choose the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Sydney. Residents of the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, WA, Tasmania, SA and the NT choose the Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra. Exact document requirements vary between missions, so use the checklist shown in the e-Visa system for your chosen office.

The insurance requirement is the main drawback for older applicants, because premiums rise steeply with age and some insurers refuse cover. The Thai government guide notes an alternative if insurers refuse you: hold at least 3,000,000 THB in a Thai bank, or a mix of deposits and insurance totalling that amount.

3. LTR visa – Wealthy Pensioner category

The LTR programme from the Board of Investment (BOI) gives a 10-year visa (5 years, renewable for 5 more if you still qualify). Its "Wealthy Pensioners" category is for retirees aged 50 and over with:

• Passive income of at least US$80,000 a year at the time of application. This includes pension, rental income, realised capital gains, dividends and interest. Salaries do not count.
• Or passive income between US$40,000 and US$80,000, plus US$250,000 invested in Thailand in Thai government bonds (5+ years to maturity), direct investment in a Thai company, or Thai property in your own name. The investment must be held before you apply.
• Health insurance of at least US$50,000, or Thai social security, or at least US$100,000 in a bank account in your name for 12 months.

The BOI lists these benefits: 1-year reporting instead of 90-day reports, exemption from re-entry permits, airport fast-track, and a tax exemption on overseas income. The BOI says all conditions must be maintained for the life of the visa. Endorsement takes about 20 working days after a complete application. The BOI quotes a fee of 50,000 THB per person when the visa is collected in Thailand, and says fees at overseas embassies may be higher.

Spouses and children under 20 can apply as dependants (up to 4). The BOI says same-sex marriages are recognised for this purpose, but de facto partnerships are not.

Which one suits you?

• You have around A$40k+ in savings to park in Thailand, or a decent pension, and want the simplest route: Non-O plus a yearly extension. No compulsory insurance, though you should still be insured.
• You want everything arranged before you fly and can get insurance: Non-OA.
• Your passive income is high (US$80k+), or you plan to invest US$250k in Thailand anyway: LTR. It costs more and takes more paperwork, but you deal with immigration far less often.

Things to check before you apply

• Exchange rates move. Make sure your money stays above the baht thresholds, not just the Australian-dollar equivalent on the day.
• Your local immigration office may ask for extra documents, such as proof of address, photos or bank letters issued on the day you apply.
• Whichever visa you hold, plan for 90-day reporting (except LTR) and a re-entry permit if you travel.

Last checked 22 October 2026 against the official sources below.