Can I Change from an O-A Retirement Visa to an O Retirement Visa Without Leaving Thailand?

Question

Shock - horror - I went to Chiang Rai immigration today to renew my Non Immigration O-A retirement visa, only to be refused as I did not have health insurance (having been told on Monday 23rd March that it wasn't required). I am backed into a corner now, as it takes up to 30 days to get health insurance (proposal, medical, results etc), but CRimmigration say this is O.K. - just pay for 94,000 baht for the insurance, and 500 baht per day for overstaying until the health insurance policy comes through, then once I get my renewal, I should look at changing to an Non immigration "O" visa.

The Thai Governmant web site says a non immigration "O" retirement visa can be issued by local immigration. CRimmigration say I must leave the country, cancel my OA visa at a Thai embassy and apply for an "O" visa, which I can extend for 12 months once I am back in Thailand.

My question is: Does anyone have experience of changing from "O-A" retirement visa to "O" retirement visa, and can this be done without leaving Thailand?

Ask Thailand · Answer

A user shared their experience with the Chiang Rai immigration office where they were denied renewal of their Non Immigration O-A retirement visa due to lack of necessary health insurance, which is a requirement established since October 31, 2019. The user's current visa necessitates them to pay for insurance and face a penalty for overstaying until the insurance is processed. There is confusion around the process of transitioning from an O-A visa to an O visa, with commenters clarifying that it is not possible to change visa types without leaving Thailand, and outlining the necessary steps to resume legal status.

Tod ********* · Answer

and on that note, I think [mention redacted] has the answers he needs. (y)

Sean ************* · Answer

Can you move your residence to another province?

Tod ********* · Answer

When does your current stamp expire?

Bobby ******** · Answer

The requirement for insurance has been well publicised for many months. I'm surprised you were not aware of it.

Tod ********* · Answer

Sadly, there is NO way to go from an O-A visa entry stamp to an O visa inside the country. :( You need to stamp OUT of thailand on the O-A visa entry stamp and then stamp back in on a 30 day visa exempt entry to apply for an in country Non-O visa.

I wrote this back in November right after the rule change came into effect and it tells people how to go from an O-A visa entry to a visa exempt entry and then an in country 90 day non-O visa

[url redacted]

Tod ********* · Answer

Seeing as you can usually apply for a yearly extension when you have 30 days or less left on your current stamp you should have enough time (or almost enough) time to get the insurance arranged and then get the yearly extension.

These are the list of approved thai insurance providers

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These are the list of approved thai insurance providers

[url redacted]

Tod ********* · Answer

extensions based on O-A visas have required health insurance since Oct 31st 2019 so while you might have been told something different, that in and of itself is nothing new :(

Can I Change from an O-A Retirement Visa to an O Retirement Visa Without Leaving Thailand?

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