Retirement visas compared: Thailand, Malaysia and Poland

Thailand's Non-Immigrant O-A (long stay) visa is open to applicants aged 50 and over. According to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, applicants must have a bank deposit of at least 800,000 baht, a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht, or a combination of deposits and income totalling at least 800,000 baht¹. The visa is valid for one year with multiple entries, and the holder can stay for one year from the date of first entry.

At the Reserve Bank of Australia's indicative exchange rate for 30 September 2026, the 800,000 baht deposit was equivalent to about $34,170, and the 65,000 baht monthly income was equivalent to about $2,780 a month².

O-A applicants also need a medical certificate confirming they do not have any of the prohibited diseases listed in Thai ministerial regulations, a criminal record clearance and health insurance³.

Applicants who live in Australia lodge the application online through the Thai e-Visa system. The Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra states that processing takes at least 10 business days and up to four to six weeks in some cases⁴.

Australia is one of 14 countries whose nationals can apply for the Non-Immigrant O-X visa, which allows applicants aged 50 and over to stay for five years at a time, for a maximum of 10 years⁵. The O-X visa requires a deposit of at least 3,000,000 baht in a Thai bank, or a deposit of at least 1,800,000 baht combined with an annual income of at least 1,200,000 baht³. The 3,000,000 baht deposit was equal to about $128,150 on 30 September 2026².

Thailand's Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement allows applicants aged 50 or older to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days. It requires an 800,000 baht bank balance or a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht⁶.

Poland's temporary residence permit for other circumstances is available to foreigners who want to stay for more than three months and whose reason for staying is not covered by another type of permit, according to Poland's Office for Foreigners¹¹. The permit allows a stay of more than three months to 3 years, depending on the reason for the stay. The holder can apply for a further permit.

Applicants must provide proof of health insurance and a stable and regular source of income that covers their own living costs and those of dependent family members¹¹. From 1 January 2025, the minimum monthly income requirements are PLN 1,010 a month for a single-person household and PLN 823 per person in a family, according to the Wielkopolska Voivodeship Office¹².

At exchange rates for 30 September 2026, PLN 1,010 was equivalent to about $376 and PLN 823 was equivalent to about $306, with both amounts converted through the euro¹³.

The application must be made in person to the regional governor (voivode) for the applicant's place of residence, while the applicant's stay in Poland is still legal¹¹. The application fee for the permit is PLN 340¹⁴. The residence card costs PLN 50¹⁵.

Australian passport holders can enter Poland, which is part of the Schengen area, without a visa for certain short stays, according to Smartraveller. For stays of up to 90 days, biometric details must be recorded on arrival¹⁶.

Thailand's O-A visa requires health insurance from a Thai or foreign insurer covering general illnesses, including COVID-19, with a minimum insured amount of USD 100,000 or 3,000,000 baht, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs³. A foreign insurer must also complete the Foreign Insurance Certificate required by Thailand's Office of Insurance Commission.

The O-X visa requires a policy from an insurer in Thailand with outpatient cover of at least 40,000 baht and inpatient cover of at least 400,000 baht³.

Malaysia's MM2H programme requires health insurance from applicants aged 60 and below, from a Malaysian or foreign insurer with worldwide coverage, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture¹⁸. The programme does not specify a minimum insured amount. Health insurance is also required when renewing the pass.

Applicants for Poland's temporary residence permit for other circumstances must have health insurance under Poland's public healthcare system or confirmation from an insurer that medical treatment costs in Poland are covered¹¹.

Neither Medicare nor Australian private health insurance covers medical treatment received overseas, according to Smartraveller¹⁷. Australians who move overseas may be able to use Medicare for treatment in Australia for up to five years after leaving, depending on their residency status.

Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with 11 countries. Thailand, Malaysia and Poland are not among them¹⁹.

Australian residents apply for Thai visas through the Thai e-Visa portal, which lists the documents required for each visa. The Royal Thai Embassy in Canberra handles applications from every state and territory except New South Wales, where residents apply through the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Sydney⁴. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs also publishes the long-stay visa requirements on its website¹.

Malaysia's MM2H requirements are published on the official MM2H portal run by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Applications must be submitted through an MM2H company licensed by the ministry¹⁰.

Polish temporary residence permits are assessed by the regional governor (voivode) for the applicant's place of residence. Appeals are handled by the Head of the Office for Foreigners¹⁵.

Long-stay visas often require periodic renewal and evidence of sufficient financial resources, according to Smartraveller¹⁷.