Thailand O-X Visa: The 5-Year Retirement Visa (10 Years with Renewal)

What Is the Thailand O-X Visa?

The Non-Immigrant O-X visa is Thailand's premium long-stay retirement visa, offering a 5-year permission to stay that can be renewed once for another 5 years, providing up to 10 years of continuous residency. Introduced in November 2017 under Ministerial Regulation No. 34 (B.E. 2560), the O-X was designed to attract affluent retirees from selected countries who could contribute to the Thai economy.

While the O-A retirement visa remains the standard choice for most retirees, the O-X appeals to those who want to avoid the annual renewal process and who have the financial means to meet its substantially higher requirements. Think of it as the "premium tier" of Thai retirement visas -- more expensive, but with the convenience of long-term validity.

The visa is available through Thai embassies and consulates worldwide, but only to citizens of a specific list of countries.

Eligible Nationalities: The 14-Country Restriction

Unlike the O-A visa, which is open to citizens of all countries, the O-X visa is restricted to nationals of 14 countries deemed "low risk" by the Thai government:

If your country is not on this list, the O-X visa is simply not available to you. Your options are the O-A visa (1-year, renewable) or the Non-O retirement extension obtained inside Thailand. The Thai government has not announced any plans to expand the list.

Eligibility Requirements

Beyond nationality, you must meet the following criteria:

Age

You must be 50 years of age or older at the time of application, identical to the O-A requirement.

Financial requirements

This is where the O-X diverges sharply from the O-A. You must satisfy one of the following:

Option 1: Full bank deposit

• 3,000,000 THB (approximately 83,000 USD or 77,000 EUR) deposited in a Thai bank account in your name

Option 2: Combination of deposit and income

• At least 1,800,000 THB in a Thai bank account, plus
• Annual income of at least 1,200,000 THB (100,000 THB per month)
• The deposit and annualized income must total at least 3,000,000 THB

There is no "income only" option for the O-X visa -- a Thai bank deposit is always required.

Fund maintenance rules:

After the visa is granted, you must maintain at least 1,500,000 THB in your Thai bank account for the first year. From the second year onward, there is no specific minimum balance requirement published in the regulation, but immigration may check your financial status during the 5-year period or at the time of renewal. Keeping a substantial balance in your account is prudent.

For help with Thai banking, see our guide to opening a bank account in Thailand.

Health insurance

O-X visa holders must carry health insurance with significantly higher coverage than the O-A requires:

The policy must be from a Thai insurer or an international insurer approved by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC). The higher hospitalization threshold of 100,000 USD means premiums will be significantly more expensive than O-A-level policies, particularly for applicants over 65. Consult our health insurance guide to find qualifying plans.

Criminal record

A clean criminal background check from your country of nationality is required, issued within the last 3 months, apostilled or legalized, and translated into English.

Medical fitness

A medical certificate confirming you are free from prohibited diseases (leprosy, tuberculosis, drug addiction, elephantiasis, third-stage syphilis) is required.

Application Process

The O-X visa can only be obtained at a Thai embassy or consulate outside Thailand. There is no in-country application or conversion process.

Required documents

1. Passport valid for at least 18 months with blank pages available
2. Completed visa application form and passport-sized photographs (4 x 6 cm, white background)
3. Criminal background check -- apostilled, translated, issued within 3 months
4. Medical certificate from a licensed physician
5. Thai bank statement or letter confirming 3,000,000 THB deposit (or 1,800,000 THB deposit plus proof of 1,200,000 THB annual income)
6. Health insurance certificate meeting the 100,000 USD inpatient / 10,000 USD outpatient thresholds
7. Proof of accommodation in Thailand (some embassies require this)

Process timeline

1. Gather documents (4-8 weeks, depending on how long your criminal background check takes)
2. Submit application at the Thai embassy in person or by appointment
3. Processing time: typically 5-15 working days, though some embassies take longer for O-X applications than for O-A
4. Receive your visa -- a 5-year Non-Immigrant O-X sticker in your passport
5. Enter Thailand -- immigration stamps your permission to stay for 5 years from the date of entry

Visa fee: 10,000 THB (or equivalent in local currency). This is significantly higher than the 1,900 THB fee for the O-A, reflecting the 5-year duration.

Renewal After 5 Years

When your initial 5-year period is approaching expiry, you can apply for a one-time renewal for another 5 years at your local Thai immigration office. You do not need to leave the country for the renewal.

Renewal requirements

• Continue to meet the financial threshold (3,000,000 THB or the combination method)
• Maintain qualifying health insurance
• Have a clean record in Thailand (no criminal convictions, no immigration violations)
• Submit the renewal application at least 30 days before your current permission expires

After the second 5-year period, the O-X visa cannot be renewed again. At that point, you would need to either apply for a new O-X visa from abroad, switch to an O-A visa, or explore other long-stay options.

O-A vs. O-X: Detailed Comparison

This is the core question most retirees face. Here is a comprehensive side-by-side comparison:

When the O-X makes sense

The O-X visa is the right choice if you:

• Want to avoid annual immigration visits. The O-A requires a renewal appointment every year, which means gathering documents, updating your bank book, queuing at immigration, and dealing with the uncertainty of whether your extension will be approved. The O-X eliminates this for 5 years at a time.
• Have significant financial resources. If 3,000,000 THB in a Thai bank account does not represent a material sacrifice, the convenience of the O-X may be worth the premium.
• Value long-term stability. The 5-year validity provides psychological and practical peace of mind. You are not subject to annual policy changes that might affect O-A renewals.
• Plan to stay in Thailand continuously. If Thailand is your permanent base and you are not considering relocation within the next several years, the O-X locks in your residency.

When the O-A is the better choice

For most retirees, the O-A visa remains the more practical option:

• Lower financial barrier. 800,000 THB vs. 3,000,000 THB is a significant difference. The extra 2,200,000 THB locked in a Thai bank account could generate meaningful returns if invested elsewhere.
• Cheaper insurance. The 40,000 USD inpatient threshold is much easier and cheaper to insure than 100,000 USD, especially for older retirees.
• Unlimited renewals. The O-A can be renewed indefinitely. The O-X caps out at 10 years, after which you need to apply again.
• Greater flexibility. If your plans change, you have only committed financially for one year at a time. The O-X locks up a larger sum for a longer period.
• Available to everyone. If you are not from one of the 14 listed countries, the O-A is your only embassy-based retirement visa option.

Ongoing Obligations

Despite the 5-year validity, the O-X does not free you from all immigration bureaucracy:

90-day reporting

O-X holders must complete 90-day address reporting at immigration, exactly like O-A holders. The 90-day counter resets each time you re-enter Thailand. Reports can be filed in person, by mail, or online. The fine for late reporting is 2,000 THB.

Re-entry permits

If you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit, your 5-year permission to stay is cancelled -- exactly the same rule as the O-A. Given the higher financial and administrative investment in the O-X, losing it to a forgotten re-entry permit would be particularly costly.

• Single re-entry permit: 1,000 THB
• Multiple re-entry permit: 3,800 THB (valid until your visa expires, up to 5 years -- this is excellent value for the O-X)

For O-X holders, the multiple re-entry permit is almost always the right choice. At 3,800 THB for up to 5 years of unlimited exits and entries, it is a trivial cost relative to the visa investment.

Health insurance maintenance

Your insurance must remain active for the entire 5-year period. If your policy is annual, you must renew it each year and keep proof of current coverage. Immigration may request proof of valid insurance at any time, and you will certainly need it for the 5-year renewal.

Pros and Cons Summary

Advantages of the O-X visa:

• 5-year validity eliminates annual renewal stress
• Renewable once for a total of 10 years
• Signals commitment to Thailand (may be viewed favorably for other applications)
• Multiple re-entry permit covers the full 5-year period

Disadvantages of the O-X visa:

• 3,000,000 THB financial requirement (nearly 4x the O-A)
• Restricted to 14 nationalities
• Higher insurance costs (100,000 USD inpatient minimum)
• 10,000 THB visa fee (vs. 1,900 THB for O-A)
• Maximum 10 years, then must reapply
• Still requires 90-day reporting and re-entry permits
• Cannot be obtained or converted inside Thailand

Who Should Seriously Consider the O-X?

The O-X visa occupies a specific niche. It is best suited for retirees who meet all of the following criteria:

1. Citizen of one of the 14 eligible countries
2. Aged 50+ with no plans to work (even remotely -- for that, consider the DTV visa)
3. Financially comfortable enough that 3,000,000 THB in a Thai bank is not a burden
4. Committed to Thailand as a long-term or permanent base for the next 5-10 years
5. Willing to pay higher insurance premiums for the required 100,000 USD hospitalization coverage
6. Value convenience over cost optimization

If even one of these criteria does not apply, the O-A visa is likely the better choice. It offers the same right to live in Thailand, costs far less, and has no nationality restrictions.

Get Expert Help with Your Visa Application

Whether you are leaning toward the O-X or the O-A, our team at Siam Visa Services can guide you through every step -- from evaluating which visa best fits your profile to preparing your documents and managing the application process.

Explore our Thailand visa services or contact us directly to discuss your retirement visa options.