E-Visa application online

Which retirement visa? I don't know of any that require an e-visa (which is for tourists). In my case I applied for my retirement visa in Canada and then used that to enter Thailand - on a one-way ticket.

    Which retirement visa? I don't know of any that require an e-visa (which is for tourists). In my case I applied for my retirement visa in Canada and then used that to enter Thailand - on a one-way ticket.
   

    -@rbakker

Like fbakker, I applied for entry in the US for an 'O' visa and didn't have to provide any flight information.

I think the people on this forum who seem to be the most knowledgeable recommend a non-immigrant 'O' visa rather than a tourist visa if your intention is to retire in Thailand. If you apply for that visa it is unlikely Thai immigration will ask for a return ticket, whereas they often do if you arrive on a tourist visa (or you can show an onward ticket to another destination outside Thailand instead).

It may seem odd, but the requirements for a tourist e-visa may vary depending on which country you apply from. I applied for this visa in London last year and they also asked for a flight number and hotel reservation in advance of a decision on whether to grant the visa, which I would have found disconcerting if they hadn't given me a tourist visa on a previous occasion. There was therefore no logical reason why they would refuse me one in 2023 (not that logic has much to do with the Thai decision-making process). Initially they said they wanted proof of hotel accommodation throughout my entire two month trip, but when I told them that was ridiculous and gave them details of a hotel reservation for just the first night, they seemed to regard that as ticking the box on their form and it was no longer an obstacle. However, I can't guarantee that the same trick would work if you tried it.

A non O from your local embassy is the easiest way for extension to non O in Thailand

but,

Most of Thai Embassies/Consulates are now gone online for submitting Visa applications. You would get your application approved or rejected depending on the documents you submit or even sometimes there are delays. You may also have to submit additional documents if required. Therefore, it is best to process your Non-O Visa application in Thailand. Passport holders that enter Thailand with On Arrival Visa can’t apply for a Non-O Visa in Thailand.

On the other hand, if you are already residing in Thailand on a tourist visa and wish to switch to a Non-O Visa without leaving the country, it can be obtained at a local Immigration office inside Thailand provided you meet the specific criteria for the visa type. Our visa expert team can provide further information on this.

Specific visa services and requirements may vary between different Thai embassies/consulates and immigration offices. Before making a decision, conduct thorough research or consult with visa experts to ensure you understand the specific procedures and document requirements for each location.

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        Which retirement visa? I don't know of any that require an e-visa (which is for tourists). In my case I applied for my retirement visa in Canada and then used that to enter Thailand - on a one-way ticket.        -@rbakker

Like fbakker, I applied for entry in the US for an 'O' visa and didn't have to provide any flight information.
   

    -@Karambit

Well, in my case I did it from Canada and I did have to provide flight information (I think - maybe it was just the city and date of entry) but these requirements often change. Once the visa has been granted then you no longer need the flight data, you have a few months to enter the country.

As an alternative you can book a one way flight out of Bangkok to Myanmar for a few baht and that will do as well

For the E-visa, they typically want to see the flight departing Thailand and hotel you'll stay in. If they're asking for the arrival ticket, they may be trying to make sure that you're not already in Thailand since this service cannot be used when you're in Thailand already. I've never had a situation where I was worried that they wouldn't grant the visa, but sometimes processing times are very slow and I've missed receiving the visa before I arrived into Thailand. So I don't think you have anything to worry about as long as you're applying for the visa a month in advance. It usually takes about 2 weeks for my embassy in the USA to issue it.