Can I apply for a long-term retirement visa to Thailand while on holiday as an Australian age pensioner?

Get a non-imm 0 visa and you can apply for an extension while you are here and get the bank a/c while you are here. No need for an agent to do that: when applying for the extension just ask immigration to give you a letter to the bank which they will because needed for your application. Agents are for people without visa and no legal reason for a longer stay. I did the whole procedure (one false start -hadn’t done my homework properly) but now have the extension/permit to stay at the cost of Baht 1.900,- Plus the added cost of going back to Europe to restart the process. Chon Buri, might very well differ from other locations. Chock dee!

Yes you can. Enjoy living in Paradise 🙂

Absolutely. It will cost some $$ for an agent, but it’s straightforward, easy and doesn’t take much time as all.

Do you mean non-o based on retirement or long term resident visum

We did it in Jan 2023 - may have changed now, things often change in Thailand, but you may need an agent to help you open the bank account required.

You can, but you'll need to show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account in your name only. You likely won't be able to open a bank account without already having a long-term visa.

It's better if you apply for the 90 day non-O visa online through your Thai embassy before you travel to Thailand. That visa should make it easier for you to open a Thai bank account which you can then deposit the money in and use for your first 1-year extension.