The Thailand O-X visa lets Dutch nationals aged 50 and over live in Thailand for up to 10 years; Belgians are not on the list of 14 eligible nationalities. You need 3 million baht in a Thai bank, or 1.8 million baht plus an income of 1.2 million baht a year.
Last checked: 11 October 2026
In short (as of 11 October 2026)
The Non-Immigrant O-X visa (Long Stay) is for people aged 50 or over from 14 countries: the Netherlands is included, Belgium is not.
Money: at least 3,000,000 baht in a fixed deposit at a Thai bank in Thailand, or 1,800,000 baht plus an income of at least 1,200,000 baht a year, topped up to 3,000,000 baht within 1 year of arrival. No withdrawals in the first year, at least 1,500,000 baht left in the account in the second year, spending only in Thailand.
Mandatory: a policy from an insurer in Thailand with at least 40,000 baht outpatient and 400,000 baht inpatient cover.
The visa is valid for 5 years with multiple entries and can be extended in Thailand by 5 years: 10 years at most in total. Working is prohibited, volunteer work is allowed.
The embassy in The Hague charges 350 euros (fee since 15 July 2024). The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs states 10,000 baht.
This guide is for Dutch nationals aged 50 and over who want to live in Thailand for the long term, and for Belgians who want to know why this route is closed to them. The O-X rules in this guide are the same for every nationality on the list below; the parts about embassies and documents are written for Dutch and Belgian passport holders, so if you hold another passport from that list, check the requirements of the Thai embassy or consulate that serves you.
What the Thailand O-X visa is
The O-X visa is a long-stay visa in the Non-Immigrant category. The Thai Cabinet approved the scheme on 22 November 2016; the Ministry of Interior notification has applied since 11 August 2017. On the e-Visa portal (thaievisa.go.th) it is listed under "Retirement", next to the Non-O and the O-A.
Validity: 5 years, multiple entries.
Stay: on entry, immigration grants permission to stay for up to 5 years, according to the ministry "according to visa validity" (matched to the validity of the visa).
Extension: after that, one extension of 5 years at the Thai Immigration Bureau, up to a maximum of 10 years.
Allowed: volunteer work (list of the Department of Employment), buying a vehicle and a condominium (apartment).
Who can apply: 14 nationalities, the Netherlands yes, Belgium no
You qualify if you:
are 50 or over on the day of the application;
have the nationality and passport of one of these 14 countries: Japan, Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States;
have no criminal record in Thailand or in your country of nationality or residence;
have no disease that is prohibited under Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535, 1992): leprosy, tuberculosis, elephantiasis, drug addiction and third-stage syphilis.
Belgium is not on the list. A Belgian cannot get the O-X visa as the main applicant, not even when living in the Netherlands. Alternatives for Belgians aged 50+ are the Non-O for retirees, the O-A and the LTR visa.
The financial requirements: money in a Thai bank
The embassy in The Hague and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs give two options:
Option a: at least 3,000,000 baht in an account at a Thai bank in Thailand.
Option b: at least 1,800,000 baht in an account at a Thai bank in Thailand plus an income of at least 1,200,000 baht a year. Within 1 year of arrival, the balance must be topped up to at least 3,000,000 baht.
For both options: the money stays in the account for at least 1 year before you withdraw anything; in the second year at least 1,500,000 baht must remain, and the money may be spent only in Thailand.
The list of The Hague (31 August 2026) speaks of a fixed deposit, with bank statements of the last three months as an example. So the money must already be in a Thai bank in Thailand before you apply.
Note: no official document states which balance is required from the third year onwards and at the extension; ask your immigration office. As proof of income for option b, the ministry names a "certificate of annual income" and The Hague "proof of earnings"; ask the embassy in advance which document exactly is accepted.
Health insurance
The portal and the list of The Hague (31 August 2026) ask for:
health insurance from an insurer in Thailand with at least 40,000 baht of cover for outpatient care and at least 400,000 baht for inpatient care;
the Foreign Insurance Certificate form, completed, signed and stamped by the insurer. According to the portal, the form is on longstay.tgia.org.
The policy must cover the whole period of stay.
Documents (The Hague and the e-Visa portal, as of 31 August 2026)
Passport (personal details page), valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel
Passport photo, taken in the last 6 months
Proof of permanent residence in the country where you apply
Financial proof (option a or b, see above)
Medical certificate from the country of application (no prohibited diseases), no more than 3 months old; The Hague has its own form
Foreign Insurance Certificate, completed by the insurer
Policy from an insurer in Thailand (40,000 and 400,000 baht)
Criminal record certificate from the country of nationality, and also from your country of residence if that is a different country
A biography (personal life history)
The Netherlands: the medical certificate and the criminal record certificate may be no more than 3 months old and must be legalised by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MinBuZa) and the Thai embassy. The O-X page of The Hague (30 November 2022) mentions a "Certificate of Conduct", the English name of the Dutch VOG (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag). A digital VOG cannot be legalised: request it on paper.
Spouse and children
Husband or wife (no age limit): a copy of the marriage certificate plus the same documents.
Children under 20: a birth certificate or proof of legal parentage plus some of the documents.
Their status follows that of the main applicant; anyone who does not qualify can apply for another Non-Immigrant visa.
No nationality requirement is mentioned for the spouse. Whether a Belgian spouse of a Dutch national is accepted is not stated; ask the embassy.
Where to apply: the Netherlands, Belgium and in Thailand
Dutch nationals in the Netherlands: online through thaievisa.go.th with The Hague, only if you are in the Netherlands during the whole procedure.
Dutch nationals in Belgium or Luxembourg: the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs allows applications in the country of nationality or of permanent residence. Brussels only handles applications from Belgium or Luxembourg, charges 350 euros for the O-X and refers to the ministry's O-X leaflet (August 2024) for the requirements; ask there which other documents Brussels asks for.
Belgians: not eligible.
In Thailand: if you are in Thailand on another visa or visa-exempt, you can apply at the Immigration Bureau according to the same ministry. There is no published O-X checklist; ask your immigration office.
Step by step (application in The Hague)
Put the amount of option a or b in a fixed deposit at a Thai bank in Thailand.
Arrange the Thai policy and the Foreign Insurance Certificate.
Request a paper VOG and a medical certificate (no more than 3 months old when you submit).
Have both legalised by MinBuZa (Consulair Dienstencentrum, the Consular Service Centre, 10 euros per document) and then by the Thai embassy (15 euros, at least 2 to 3 working days, by appointment).
Submit through thaievisa.go.th and pay 350 euros (non-refundable).
Before the end of the first five years, apply to immigration for the extension.
After arrival: reports, re-entry and work
Reports: an address report every 90 days, and every year in person at immigration for a check of the requirements.
Revocation: possible with less than 3,000,000 baht at the end of the first year, less than 1,500,000 baht at the end of the second year, money spent outside Thailand, no valid insurance, a danger to public order, or working without a permit.
Work: paid work is prohibited; volunteer work is allowed.
Re-entry permit: according to Immigration Division 1, permission to stay lapses if you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit. How that fits with the multiple entries of the visa is not stated in the O-X documents; ask before you leave, especially after the extension.
Costs
Euro amounts next to baht amounts are an indication, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 October 2026: 1 euro = 37.574 baht.
O-X visa, embassy The Hague 350 euros (since 15 July 2024)
O-X visa, embassy Brussels 350 euros (since 15 July 2024)
Fee according to the Thai ministry 10,000 baht (about 266 euros)
Legalisation MinBuZa (CDC) 10 euros per document
Legalisation Thai embassy The Hague 15 euros per legalisation
Extension of stay in Thailand 1,900 baht (about 51 euros)
Re-entry permit, single 1,000 baht (about 27 euros)
Re-entry permit, multiple 3,800 baht (about 101 euros)
Money to show (not a cost):
Option a 3,000,000 baht (about 79,842 euros)
Option b 1,800,000 baht (about 47,905 euros)
plus income a year 1,200,000 baht (about 31,937 euros)
Minimum in the second year 1,500,000 baht (about 39,921 euros)Two documents, each legalised twice: 50 euros. The VOG, the medical check and the insurance premium come on top. The 1,900 baht is the general extension fee; the O-X is not listed separately.
Common mistakes
Leaving the money in a Dutch account. The requirement is a deposit at a Thai bank in Thailand, already at the time of the application.
Only Dutch health insurance. The e-Visa portal asks for a policy from an insurer in Thailand.
Where the sources contradict each other
Insurance: the O-X page of The Hague (2022) mentions Thai insurance as an option; the portal and the list of 31 August 2026 require an insurer in Thailand and the Foreign Insurance Certificate. Follow the 2026 list; if in doubt, ask the embassy.
Documents: the 2022 page also asks for legalised extracts from the birth certificate and the Basisregistratie Personen (the Dutch population register); the 2026 list asks for proof of permanent residence instead. For thaievisa.go.th, the 2026 list applies.
What has changed
22 November 2016: the Thai Cabinet approves the O-X scheme.
11 August 2017: the Ministry of Interior notification comes into force.
15 July 2024: current fees in The Hague and Brussels (350 euros).
31 August 2026: The Hague publishes the current e-Visa document list.
Frequently asked questions
Can Belgians get a Thailand O-X visa?
No. Belgium is not on the list of 14 nationalities. Belgians aged 50+ can look at the Non-O for retirees, the O-A or the LTR visa.
How much money do you need for the O-X visa?
At least 3,000,000 baht in a Thai bank in Thailand, or 1,800,000 baht plus 1,200,000 baht of income a year, topped up to 3,000,000 baht within 1 year of arrival. In the second year at least 1,500,000 baht must remain in the account.
How long is the O-X visa valid and can you work on it?
5 years with multiple entries, extendable in Thailand by 5 years to a maximum of 10 years. Paid work is prohibited, volunteer work is allowed.
What health insurance do you need for the O-X visa?
A policy from an insurer in Thailand with at least 40,000 baht of cover for outpatient and 400,000 baht for inpatient care, plus the Foreign Insurance Certificate (as of 31 August 2026).
How much does the O-X visa cost in the Netherlands?
The embassy in The Hague charges 350 euros (since 15 July 2024), plus 10 euros per document at MinBuZa and 15 euros per legalisation at the embassy.
Read also
Thailand retirement visa: Non-O and the yearly extension : lower amounts, also for Belgians.
Thailand O-A visa for retirees : the one-year long-stay visa.
Thailand LTR visa (Long-Term Resident) : the other 10-year visa.
90-day report in Thailand : the mandatory address report.
Thailand re-entry permit : keeping your stay when you leave.
Sources
All sources opened on 11 October 2026.
Thai MFA, consular department, O-X (updated 30 November 2022)
Thai MFA, O-X leaflet through the embassy in Brussels (August 2024)
Nederlandwereldwijd, legalisation at the CDC (5 October 2026)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Thai visa rules can change and are sometimes applied differently from one office to another. Check the current requirements with the Thai embassy or the immigration office before you apply or travel.