Can I apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa in Australia and later get a one-year extension in Thailand?

Thai Visa Non-O Visa Non-O Extension Immigration Expat Life in Thailand Visa Requirements Health Insurance for Visa Long Stay in Thailand

Dec 29, 2022

2 years ago

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all. I'm a 60s Aussie and have been to Thailand a few times in the last 3 years and now looking at a long stay, from May 2023. Have read and viewed lots re visas, and was thinking that best approach was to arrive on a tourist visa, then convert to 90 day Non-immigrant O (NIO), then go for 1 year extension. NIO seemed the better choice due to no health insurance requirement (although I'd get some for myself anyway). 

I was surprised to see on the Thai embassy website here in Australia, that I could apply for a NIO here, before going to Thailand. I had thought that I could only apply for non-immigrant OA  in Australia, with the big health insurance component.

I emailed them to double check, and they said yes, NIO can be applied for, here in Australia. But they wouldn't answer my query re whether I could then go for a 1 year extension of it, once in Thailand.

Any thoughts, anyone?

BTW, the NIO details on the Thai embassy's website in Australia cite  these requirements:

3.5 Proof of adequate finance

* A bank statement in the past six months showing a deposit account with the minimum fund of THB 20,000 per person

3.6 Health Insurance

* A certificate of health insurance issued by Thai insurance companies covering the entire period of stay in Thailand containing the detail of coverage as follows; In-house patients of not less than THB 400,000/policy year, as for out-patients, not less than THB 40,000/policy year.

This is all at:

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TLDR : Answer Summary

An Aussie expat in his 60s is seeking advice on long-term stay in Thailand, specifically regarding the Non-Immigrant O (NIO) visa. He plans to arrive on a tourist visa and convert it to an NIO, aiming for a one-year extension afterward. The user is surprised to learn that the NIO can be applied for at the Thai embassy in Australia, although guidance regarding the one-year extension remains unclear. Community members clarify the differences between the Non-O and Non-OA visas, suggest obtaining a Non-O for easier bank account access, and recommend considering the OX visa as a more favorable option in terms of requirements.

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David *******

The Non O was added to the RTE Canberra fairly recently. Long term it makes no difference if you get the Non O from there or if you arrive on a TR and convert to a Non O within Thailand.

If you get the Non O from Canberra you will need Health Insurance for the application, but Travel insurance you would buy anyway will be acceptable as long as you make sure the cover is sufficient.

I got a Non O from RTE London for my arrival in November with the same requirements. I already have my Extension so am good until February 2024.

2 years ago

Steve ********

If you're Aussie get the OX from Sydney Consulate. Five year visa, no need to transfer funds into Thai bank account. It's a no-brainer

2 years ago

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Steve *******

t just checked the Canberra Thai embassy's website, which also has OX VISA, but shows different requirements to that of the Sydney embassy ... e.g. the Canberra site talks about 3 million baht in a Thai bank account 🤪.

It's a hoot.

2 years ago

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David ******

Thanks mate. Sounds good 👍

2 years ago

Steve ********

@Tony ********

Yes steer clear of the Embassy. You have to get it through Sydney Consulate. They accepted a letter from Wayne's employer, so I imagine a statement from a super fund will pull it up. The Sydney Consulate is great to deal with. You can apply online and get pre-approval

2 years ago

Reply to

Steve ********

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Steve *******

But what about the $150k AUD in a bank account? Would a super statement suffice, I wonder?

2 years ago

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Ok, thanks guys ... I'll suss that out.

2 years ago

Steve ********

@Tony ********

I used Super Fund statement to get an OA, so I'd assume it's cool for the OX. See what

@Wa***

Roberts suggests. He's already here on OX.

2 years ago

Wayne *********

@Steve *******

I did mine with letter from employers providing proof of salary more than $5000 per month

2 years ago

Reply to

Wayne *********

Brandon ************

Make sure you don't confuse the Non-O and the non-OA.

Both are available overseas but the Non-OA is only available in your home country and has a high insurance requirement.

The non-O is available to convert to inside Thailand or purchase at an embassy before coming, and some embassies have a much lower insurance requirement for the 90 days of the visa (if they have any insurance requirement at all).

There are a couple of things to consider if you want to get the non-O before coming to Thailand.

You'll no longer have to show proof the money in your Thai bank account came from overseas as that's only a requirement if you're converting to non-O inside the country.

But you'll also need to open a bank account very quickly after you arrive since you need to show your money has been in the account for 2 full months before you apply for your 1 year extension.

It'll be easier to open a bank account with a non-O visa than a tourist visa though.

2 years ago

Tony *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

Thanks Brandon, yes ... I think I'm clear on the diff between O and OA. OA is also on the Aussie Thai embassy page, but I'd never seen the "straight" O there before, until I re-checked the site recently.

And yes, I gather a rent agreement is a prerequisite for opening a bank account, so I'd do that within the first couple of weeks of arriving, in order to get the 800k in there for the 1 year extension.

2 years ago

Brandon ************

@Tony ********

to directly answer your question, you can certainly extend for 1 year based on a non-O you got before you came to Thailand.

2 years ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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