This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Do I need health insurance for a Non-O visa application to Thailand?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Health Insurance Thailand Retirement Visa Visa Application Process Thai Consulate Regulations

Aug 25, 2025

2 months ago

Scott *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi all,

I've just submitted my e-Visa application for a non-immigrant O (retirement) visa to the Thai Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. They've come back to me asking for proof of 

"Health insurance policy with minimum coverage of 40,000 THB/year for outpatients and 400,000 THB/year for inpatients, and covering the entire duration of the stay in Thailand."

I thought this only applied to the O-A visa? 

On their website it lists under "Retirement / Pension Earners REQUIRED DOCUMENTS"

Health insurance policy with minimum coverage of 40,000 THB/year for outpatients and 400,000 THB/year for inpatients, and covering the entire duration of the applicant's stay in Thailand.  For more information on health insurance for non-immigrant type "O-A" and "O" visas, please visit [[members only])

If you go to the longstay.tgia.org page it only discusses health insurance for the O-X, O-A and STV visas.

Are they wrong? Am I wrong?

1,114

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user has submitted an application for a non-immigrant O (retirement) visa and was asked by the Thai Embassy in Wellington for proof of health insurance. They were under the impression that this requirement applied only to the O-A visa. Comments confirm that some Thai consulates, particularly in New Zealand, require health insurance for the Non-O visa as well. Users suggest obtaining the necessary insurance or alternatives that could assist in the visa application process.

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.

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted Retirement Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Marcel *********

Yes you need an Health Insurance, book AXA for 6000 Bath one Year. How I see this is now a requirement.

2 months ago

Scott *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Marcel ********

Thats probably what I’ll do. It seems weird that they want you to have one year of cover but they’re only issuing you a 90 day visa.

2 months ago

Marcel *********

@Scott ******

Non O-A Retirement Visa is one Year. Make Sure it is Multiple Entry. So you easy can extend it.

2 months ago

Scott *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Marcel ********

I'm not applying for the O-A visa, just a non-immigrant O visa which is 90 days. I'll have to see if AXA will offer a policy for just the 90 days

2 months ago

Reply to

Scott *******

Bill *********

Read/follow the rules. It’s all there in print.

2 months ago

Graeme *******

Scott if retired you can get a letter from MSD NZ indicating income yearly and monthly though super which the NZ EMBASSY here in Thailand will check and stamp and issue affidavit for immigration.Think it is about 2 000 baht for the letter plus courier here in Thsiland. The other stuff not sure as here on marriage visa which is slightly different, whatever Tod tells you will be correct.

2 months ago

Tod *********

Sadly (for you) they're not wrong, 🙁

Unfortunately, the thai consulates scattered around the world have great latitude as far as setting policy to sell the various and sundry thai visas 😕

There are more than a few consulates that require the mandatory health insurance to issue Non-O visas

Oh man, you submitted your visa application already? 😮 Which means you also paid? 🙁

The Thai Consulate in New Zealand is has the highest prices in the entire world for visas to thailand. 😡No other consulate comes close to it 👎

Wish you had posted before you applied and I'd have told you just come here free stamp as a Kiwi and then go to a nearby thai consulate to apply for the Non-O visa (where the 90 day visa is actually 2000baht (Vientiane/Savannakhet) or 80USD (Hanoi/HCMC rather than the exhorbitant fee of 15+K baht that the thai consulate there charges 🙁

Also no other consulate (at least not the ones in S/E Asia that you'd go to for that visa requires the health insurance either)

Long story short, you either get the insurance and show them you have it or they won't issue the 90 day Non-O visa 🙁

2 months ago

Ron ******

@Tod ********

I got a Non-Imm O back in April and they never asked for insurance so maybe a recent change. They charge like a wounded bull with those visa fees.

2 months ago

Tod *********

and you got the Non-O 90 day from Wellington ?

2 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Scott *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thanks. Yes, I submitted the visa application already 🙁 If I go to the web site they direct me to though, there's only health insurance information for O-A, O-X and STV visas, none of which apply. Are they expecting me to take out 1 year of health cover for a 90 day visa?

2 months ago

Tod *********

@Scott ******

another thing you could do is write on a piece of paper that no health insurance is required for 90 day Non-O visa, upload that and see what they say.

2 months ago

Tod *********

message them on their f/b page (they seem to answer that one faster)

I would imagine seeing as the visa is only valid for one 90 day entry stamp that you'd have to only carry 90 days of the policy but I honestly don't know.

So few people use that consulate in Wellington since they jacked up their prices there's little real data to quote

@https://www.facebook.co************************

2 months ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

Is international health insurance required for a retirement non-immigrant O visa in Thailand?