If you start the first year with a Non OA visa, how easy is it to transfer the second year to a Non O visa.
Answer summary
Transitioning from a Non OA visa to a Non O visa is not allowed within Thailand. While a Non OA visa can provide up to two years of stay if you comply with certain conditions, such as having medical insurance, you cannot switch to a Non O visa while remaining in the country. You must exit Thailand and re-enter on a different visa type, such as a visa exempt or tourist visa, before applying for a Non O visa at a local immigration office or at a Thai consulate abroad.
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Simon *******
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Many thanks for the comments , cleared it up for me. Much appreciated
The only way to get off a Non-OA is to wait until it expires. So either leave Thailand on the last day its valid and return to Thailand the following day on a visa exempt entry and go and apply for a Non-O at your local immigration office by meeting the requirements. If you are on the 2nd year you can get out of that visa leave anytime during that 2nd year without a re-entry permit and come back visa exempt as above. Or while out of Thailand you can apply for the Non-O at the Thai consulate that serves whatever country you are in
You can never change a Non O-A to a Non O visa, but you’ll get a two years stay on a Non O-A.
After two years you can apply for an Extension of Stay on the same condition as for the regular Non O, but you maintain the mandatory Thai health insurance requirement as well.