- By Pongsiri Trivittayasil
- 9 min read
- Updated September 2026
- Facts last checked 28 September 2026
If you are considering Thailand for retirement or care, the visa is one of the first practical questions. Thailand has a dedicated long-stay visa for people aged 50 and over. This guide explains how it works when applying from the UK, and what changes when you are arranging it with or for an older parent.
The O-A (long stay) retirement visa
The Non-Immigrant O-A visa is Thailand’s long-stay visa for retirement. The Royal Thai Embassy in London issues it for one year with multiple entries. Each entry allows a stay of up to one year, but the permitted stay is tied to the period of the applicant’s health insurance. British nationals apply through the London embassy, online.
Because the O-A is issued before travel, the applicant arrives already holding long-stay permission, which lets the journey and any care arrangements be planned calmly. The embassy also issues a single-entry Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement, which is then extended in Thailand; its requirements differ, so check the embassy’s checklist if that route is being considered.
What the London embassy asks for
This is a summary of the London embassy’s O-A checklist at the time of checking. Mismatched names, out-of-date certificates and insurance below the minimum are common reasons for delay, so use the embassy’s own list as the final word.
Age
50 or older.
Financial evidence (one of these)
- A recent official UK or Irish bank statement showing a balance of 800,000 THB, which the embassy gives as £18,000, or
- Proof of monthly income of at least 65,000 THB (£1,500) for the last three months.
Health insurance
From a Thai or foreign insurer, covering general illnesses including COVID-19, with an insured sum of at least USD 100,000 or 3,000,000 THB. A foreign insurer must complete the official foreign insurance certificate. The permitted stay in Thailand will match the period of the policy.
Police certificate
A UK ACRO police certificate that is no more than six months old on the date of application. ACRO processing can take several weeks, so apply early.
Medical certificate
On the embassy’s form, issued by a doctor within the last three months, confirming the applicant does not have any of the prohibited diseases on the Thai list (leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug addiction and third-stage syphilis).
Other documents
The passport’s photo page, a recent photograph, and proof of the applicant’s address in the UK or Ireland, such as a utility bill. Check the checklist for anything else requested, such as travel bookings.
How to apply from the UK
- Prepare the documents above, including the ACRO certificate, the medical certificate and the insurance.
- Apply online at thaievisa.go.th, choosing the Royal Thai Embassy in London. The embassy no longer accepts paper applications.
- Pay the fee online. At the time of checking, the O-A fee was £150.
- Stay in the UK or Ireland while the application is processed. The embassy may ask for an interview or more documents, and can cancel an application if the applicant leaves before a decision.
- Receive the e-Visa by email. The embassy currently quotes about 15 working days. It recommends applying 6 to 8 weeks before departure, and no earlier than 90 days before arrival.
Before travelling, every visitor also needs to complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online. It is not a visa, and it applies whatever visa you hold.
What it costs
The embassy fee for the O-A is £150. Around it are the costs of the ACRO certificate, the medical certificate, any translations and the health insurance, which is usually the largest recurring item and rises with age. The 800,000 THB balance, if you use that route, is money you keep rather than a fee. In Thailand, each annual extension has its own fee (1,900 THB at the time of checking).
The visa is rarely the largest cost of a move. Housing, care and insurance matter far more over time. Our budget planning guide lists the costs to include.
Applying with or for an elderly parent
If your parent has reduced mental capacity
The application is made in your parent’s name and they sign the declaration. If they may not be able to understand or sign it, contact the embassy before applying and take legal advice. A UK Lasting Power of Attorney is not automatically recognised in Thailand, so separate arrangements may be needed there. Our guide to planning care with a parent’s consent explains the UK rules on capacity.
A relative can help gather documents, fill in the online form and keep track of dates. Where a parent has a condition such as dementia, settle the question of whether a move is right, and who can legally act for them, before starting the visa.
After arrival: extensions, re-entry and reporting
- Annual extension. The stay is extended one year at a time at the local immigration office. For the financial route, Thai immigration expects 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account for two months before applying and three months after, and not below 400,000 THB for the rest of the year. O-A holders also need insurance at the same minimum as the original visa.
- Re-entry permits. Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit ends an extension of stay. Permits are available for a single or multiple re-entries.
- 90-day reports. An address notification every 90 days, made in person, through an agent, by registered post or online. It is not an extension, and the count restarts after each re-entry.
These are routine, but missed dates cause avoidable trouble. Keep a calendar of the key dates, and if a parent cannot easily manage official errands, decide early who will help.
The alternative: the O-X visa
The O-X is a five-year visa that can be extended once for another five. It is open to nationals of a limited list of countries, including the UK, aged 50 or over. It needs either 3,000,000 THB in a Thai bank, or 1,800,000 THB on deposit plus income of at least 1,200,000 THB a year, and health insurance from a Thai insurer with at least 40,000 THB outpatient and 400,000 THB inpatient cover. The London embassy fee was £300 at the time of checking.
Beyond the visa
The visa rarely explains why a family is looking at Thailand. That is usually about where and how a parent will live, and what support they need. It helps to settle the visa, the place to live and any care arrangements together. See home care in Thailand, dementia care and our location guides.
How BAAN can help
BAAN does not issue visas or give immigration advice. We can help you understand what to prepare and when, fit the visa timeline around living and care arrangements, and introduce visa, insurance or legal specialists where available. The step-by-step guide to arranging care from the UK sets out the wider process.