Do I need to do a border run to activate my O-A visa approved while in Thailand?

O-A Visa Visa Activation Border Run Thailand Visa Rules Expat Immigration

Apr 27, 2024

7 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

My O-A visa has just been approved for one year. I am already in Thailand on a Visa waiver. Do I need to do a border run to activate the A-O? 

Apologies for the stupid question but I honestly don’t know what to do.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Once your O-A visa is approved while you are in Thailand on a Visa waiver, you need to leave the country and re-enter to activate it. When you re-enter, bring a printed copy of your O-A visa approval email and your mandatory health insurance coverage, as you may be required to show these documents.

Tod *********

not a stupid question at all. Plenty of people don't get approved for their online visas before they come to thailand

Yep, if you are already IN thailand you can't do anything with the OA visa PDF they emailed you

you have to bounce out and back showing the printed PDF file when you stamp back in to get a year entry stamp

Also print out the insurance coverage you used when you got the visa because you usually have to show it when you stamp in the first time.

They will give you a stamp for a year or as long as your mandatory health insurance is valid for up to a year.

7 months ago

Paul *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Tod. Weird thing I was expecting a three month visa but was given 12. Clearly I had applied for a visa I didn't think I was applying for. Not that I'm complaining mind.

Is there any mandatory time I need to be outside the country? I was thinking of spending two night in Ho chi Min next week.

7 months ago

Tod *********

@Paul ******

nope you can go to the border stamp out, stamp in and out of another country then right back into thailand if you wanted presenting that PDF w/insurance proof when you stamp in and you'll get stamped in for a year

7 months ago

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Tod *********

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