Do I need to book a flight and secure accommodation before applying for the O-A visa in Thailand?

O-A Visa Visa Application Process Flight Booking for Visa Accommodation Requirements Expat Visa Rules Thailand Immigration

Jan 28, 2023

2 years ago

Han ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Guys, I am applying O-A visa from China, I am pensioner. 

On the O-A application page, it requires Flight No. and Private Property location. 

Question:

1. Do I need to book flight even before I apply for the visa?

1. Do I need to rent a room for a whole year of the O-A before I apply for the visa?

Would be really grateful for your input! thank you!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The O-A visa application requires you to provide your flight number, which may imply that you need to book your flight before applying. Additionally, while it is important to show proof of accommodation, securing a rental for an entire year is not always required prior to application, but it is advisable to have a valid address.

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

Since covid and evisa many embassies require you to book the flight before applying for the visa.

2 years ago

Han ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Guys, thanks for commenting. So we know cancellable flight works. but we do not know whether a full year rental contract is needed, or just a hotel booking for 2 weeks is needed?

2 years ago

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

@Han *****

just book 2 weeks and submit it. No one will know because no one has tried applying for OA in China since evisa started. They probably don't even know at the embassy because they haven't done one in 3 years.

If they don't like 2 weeks they will email you and ask you for more.

2 years ago

Han ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Thank you for the advice, sir.

2 years ago

Reply to

Han ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

is it possible to book a cancellable flight for application, once get 1 year visa, I can choose when to flight in with another flight? Also for the accommodation, if I apply for 1 year O-A, do I need a 1 year hotel booking? or 1 year private property rental contract?

2 years ago

Stuart *********

@Han *****

certainly don’t need a one year hotel booking. Book a cancellable flight for sure.

2 years ago

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

@Stuart ********

@Han *****

At one point in time (and may still be the case) the Chinese embassy in Thailand required Thai people to show hotel booking for their entire trip to China. So the Thai embassies in China started requiring the same thing from Chinese wanting to go to Thailand. I'm not sure if that's still the case, or if that would effect you or not.

But it's best to err on the side of easy/cheap and make a reasonable hotel booking and then if they want more they will e-mail you after you submit your application with what additional items they need..

2 years ago

Stuart *********

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

OK that’s weird. not heard of that one. Not sure of anywhere that will allow a hotel booking for a full year that’s cancellable but perhaps that exists.

2 years ago

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

@Stuart ********

really impossible to say what they actually want nowadays. Not exactly many people applying from China the last 2 years

2 years ago

Stuart *********

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

certainly not for a Non OA. Didn’t even know China was on the evisa system.

2 years ago

Reply to

Stuart *********

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