Reporter: Will
Yesterday evening I started applying online for an E-visa Non-immigrant O visa for 90 days. It is quite laborious, partly because you can only upload JPG files and then also one file per component. So I had to merge some documents.
In the end I uploaded a scan of my passport 3 times, also to prove that I am based in the Netherlands. A passport does not really seem like proof for that, but it is accepted. Furthermore, of course, the 'declaration' signed and uploaded.
With regard to proof of income, I have sent a specification of the SVB (AOW), pension fund and last 2 bank transfers. The process itself went fairly smoothly online. Today I completed and paid the application, that also went smoothly.
Received an email this afternoon with the request to send proof of health insurance (Covid proof) by email, which was not requested during the online filling. I had taken out additional insurance for 3 months through AA insurance Hua Hin (Tune Insurance). At the end of the afternoon I sent those documents by e-mail, received confirmation of receipt at 18 pm and received the e-visa by e-mail at 21:15 pm tonight. So the assessment and decision go very quickly.
It takes a bit of puzzling and a whole load of paperwork is involved, but it works.
Although the non-immigrant O retirement visa (for 90 days) is not mentioned in the explanation, it still exists and can be applied for as an e-visa via the website.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
It is currently better not to look too much at the information on the website request because it is outdated. The first message you receive when opening is therefore that that website will receive an update on December 11. If you look at the website of the embassy, you will see that the visa still exists.
Longer stay for retired persons (pensioner aged 50 or above)
VISA TYPE: Non-immigrant O (retirement) Visa (90 days)
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Passport
Applicant's photo (passport photo) taken within the last 6 months
Declaration
Dutch passport or Dutch resident permit
Financial evidence eg bank statement, proof of earnings, sponsorship letter
Health Insurance statement confirming coverage for the entire intended period of stay in Thailand which explicitly mention:
Outpatient benefit with a sum assured nothing than 40,000 THB or 1,300 EUR, and
Inpatient benefit with a sum assured of not less than 400,000 THB or 13,000 EUR
You may consider buying a Thai health insurance at online at longstay.tgia.org.
Proof of accommodation in Thailand eg accommodation booking, invitation letter from family/friends in Thailand, etc.
Passport page(s) which contain international travel records for the past 12 months
Proof of your current residency eg Dutch passport, Dutch resident permit, utility bill, etc.
Picture of applicant holding the photo and info page of the applicant's passport
E-Visa categories and required documents – สถานเอกอัครราชทูตณ กรุงเฮก (thaiembassy.org)
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Clear explanation of this application for a Non-immigrant O visa for 90 days.
The only thing I miss is the financial requirements for such a visa.
I am thinking of category 1 option 4: Longer stay for retired persons (pensioner aged 50 or above)
of:
Category 2 option 2: Visiting or staying with family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)
And can you possibly extend both in Thailand for an extra year?
The Thai Embassy in Berlin indicates:
Copy of pension statement with a monthly net amount of at least € 1.200,00
OF
Bank account statement with a minimum balance of € 5.000,00 at the end of the month of the last 3 months
http://german.thaiembassy.de/visaarten-und-erforderliche-unterlagen
The Thai Embassy in Brussels indicates:
A copy of the last 6 month Bank statement (balance of each month at least 6,000 euros or equivalent to 800,000 Thai baht)
Strange: at least 6000 Euro or equal to 800.000 Baht
This can't be right.
Regarding extensions:
To obtain a year extension you must have a Non-immigrant status. Either you already have that upon arrival, or you must first have the Tourist status converted to Non-immigrant in Thailand.
As a Tourist you can never obtain an annual extension.
As for your question then:
– Category 1 option 4: Longer stay for retired persons (pensioner aged 50 or above)
Yes, you can obtain an annual extension of your stay of 90 days because you already have a “Visa type: Non-immigrant O (retirement) Visa (90 days)” here.
– Category 2 option 2: Visiting or staying with family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)
Yes, you can obtain an annual extension of your stay of 90 days because you already have a “Visa type: Non-immigrant O (retirement) Visa (90 days)” here.
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/e-visa-categories-and-required-documents
As long as you meet the requirements of that year extension, of course.
The financial requirements in The Hague are not mentioned as usual.
However, if you follow their own recommendations in “Common Mistakes in applying for Thai e-Visas” then 1000 Euro per 30 day period will suffice which makes 90 Euro for 3000 days.
“The recommended minimum amount should be around 1,000 EUR/30 days of stay in Thailand.”
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/common-mistakes-e-visa
Correction
Category 2 option 2: Visiting or staying with family residing in Thailand (more than 60 days)
Yes, you can obtain a year extension of your stay of 90 days because you already have a “Visa type: Non-immigrant O (family) Visa (90 days) in other words, that is for Thai Marriage, Thai child, etc.”
Where can I find the declaration?
Is there an example of an invitation letter?
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/e-visa-faqs
7. HOW do I apply for an e-Visa?
Upload supporting documents
One of the required documents you have to submit when applying for any type of visa is “Declaration Form”.
https://image.mfa.go.th/mfa/0/SRBviAC5gs/DeclarationForm.pdf
But you can also download it from the website when applying for your visa
“Please download the “Declaration Form” from thaievisa.go.th. It is right there on your application page in the Supporting Documents Section itself. ”
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/common-mistakes-e-visa
I can't find the Invitation Letter anywhere on the website of the embassy in The Hague, but you can make it yourself.
You can find such an example of an invitation letter on the website of the Thai Embassy in Brussels.
https://www.thaiembassy.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Example-of-Invitation-Letter.pdf
Pay attention because this letter in Thai is from the Belgian embassy and is therefore addressed to the Belgian embassy. You then have to replace Brussels with The Hague and Belgian with Dutch
This is roughly the translation of what's in Thai now, but I suppose if you convert it to English it will be accepted as well.
Dear Consul, Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels
I, ma'am……. Identification number …………… confirms that Mister ……….. with Belgian nationality will travel to Thailand and at my address ……. will stay from…….until …………
You will normally also be asked for a copy of the Thai ID and proof of address of the person you are inviting.
Question regarding Picture of applicant holding the photo and info page of the applicant's passport
Is a photo of your face with a passport next to or below it sufficient, or is a passport photo really necessary?
I now only have a digital passport photo at my disposal.
Alex
Your question is answered here, Alex:
https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/common-mistakes-e-visa
At the very bottom of the website page you can clearly see that it is a “selfie” photo:
so a picture of yourself holding the passport in your hand.
I asked the neighbor to take a photo while I hold my passport, with the page containing the photo and personal details, clearly visible to my chest. That was apparently agreed.