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Can I renew a Non-O-A visa in Thailand every year indefinitely?
Mar 4, 2025
a year ago
Kirk ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi everyone. I'm after a bit of advice. I want to obtain a O-A visa in the UK and come to Thailand. I understand that it lasts for 12 months and that I can leave the country and come back in and get another 12 months. What I want to know is, can I continue to do this every year or is there a limit. I do realise that I need 12 months insurance initially to get it. Many thanks.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The O-A visa initially allows stays of 12 months in Thailand. You can extend this by doing a border run just before the visa expires, provided you have valid insurance for the additional year. However, this practice can be limited by your home country’s regulations regarding visa issuance, so it's essential to consult the Thai Embassy in the UK for specifics.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Wayne *********
Can you get the 5 year plus 5 year OX in UK ?
John **********
@Wayne ********
you can even get it inside Thailand if you have the meansWayne *********
@John *********
yes but they have not left UK, hence I asked if can get it thereJohn **********
@Wayne ********
yes they can but perhaps difficult to meet the requirements to have money in a Thai bank unless they already have oneReply to
John **********
Reply
Peter ****************
The only thing I remember reading is that not every country gives you a NON imm OA visa every time. You have to check this with the Thai Embassy in y'r home country.
Graham ******
@Peter ***************
You can only get a Non-OA from your country of permanent resisencePeter ****************
@Graham *****
Right. I did not check his country before. I don't know if UK allows asking a NON imm. OA multiple times (every 2 year I meen) 🤷♂️Graham ******
@Peter ***************
Yes they willReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Graham ******
You can stretch a Non-OA to two years by doing a border bounce just before it expires as long as you have insurance for the 2nd year. That is then finished. You either return home for a new Non-OA or get the 12 month extension in Thailand but you still need insurance and meet other requirements such as 800k in a Thai bank account.
Brian *********
@Graham *****
spot on but to clarify that last bit is talking about a non O visa in country after. 👍I’m just finishing my 2nd year on an OA.
Kool *******
@Brian ********
no, the OA can be extended inside Thailand for another year exactly like Graham explained, and it is the same method as a type O extension, with the insurance requirement added. To switch to a type O you must exit the country when the OA expires, and start all over getting the type O 90 day entry stamp first then the one year extension. You can extend the OA inside Thailand, but it is no longer multi-entry unless you also buy the multi-entry re-entry permit, and it is only valid for the one year extension. You can not leave before it expires and return getting another one year stamp. It no longer works that way when extended inside ThailandPeter ****************
@Brian ********
Don't think so concerning the last bit. After that second year (need a re-entry permit if you want to leave and come back) you can ask for a year extension (with health insurance of the whole period of that year extension). So the only difference between a year extension based on NON imm. OA and NON imm O is that health insurance requirement.Brian *********
@Peter ***************
baffled. I’ve seen again and again, 2 years OA and that’s it! I did see a reference sometime ago phrased as “maybe a third year but don’t count on it” so I’m totally confused. My second year ends in a monthish where I’ve been in the belief it’s done, that’s it. 🤷♂️
Gawd this place drives me nuts sometimes. I’d read the manual if there was A freaking manual!
Kool *******
@Brian ********
being that you can only get the OA in your home country,when it expires you can apply for a new OA inside your home country again. There is no limit on how many times you can do this, as long as you maintain your insurance.John **********
@Brian ********
when your Non-OA is done you can apply for an extension of stay at your local Thai immigration office by meeting the requirements including insurance. That's not extending the Non-OA visa, an extension of stay is a different thingBrian *********
@John *********
okay! That definitely helps. Didn’t renew my insurance because I saw no point but that’s my problem.John **********
@Brian ********
then you have to either renew the insurance and apply for the extension before your existing Non-OA expires, return home for another Non-OA or leave Thailand and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa and return to Thailand where you can buy a 12 month extension (no insurance requirement)Brian *********
@John *********
okay. Based on all known options I guess I’m going exempt for a while. Thanks. 👍John **********
@Brian ********
good luck with that, they are really cracking down on people using visa exempt entries to live in ThailandBrian *********
@John *********
my expectation isn’t to say more than another 60-90 days if at all possible.Reply to
Brian *********
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