Answered5 years ago

Do you need medical insurance when switching from an O-A visa to an O visa in Thailand?

O Visa O-A Visa Thailand Visa Regulations Medical Insurance Visa Requirements Immigration in Thailand

Ed ********

asked Jul 23, 2021

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A querie. On changing from a O A Visa to a O Visa 

I understand you have to leave the country come back as a Tourist Visa then get the extra 2 month extension 

Then you can apply for the O Visa 

Things may have changed 

But I don't need to know about this 

My question is 

A    O A Visa you need Medical Insurance

If you change to a O Visa 

Immigration look at your old Visa 

Then say you need Insurance

Can some confirm that you do not have to have Medical Insurance or have to have Medical Insurance 

I believe this only applies, when some has had a previous

 O A Visa including yearly extensions

When getting a O Visa 

Sorry for long post 

As I wanted to be specific on what I am asking

Answer summary

The discussion revolves around the requirement of medical insurance when changing from an O-A visa to an O visa in Thailand. Participants clarify that if you leave the country and then return on a visa exempt entry (not a re-entry permit), you can apply for a 90-day Non-O visa without needing the mandatory health insurance that applies to O-A visas. There are no additional insurance requirements simply due to the history of holding an O-A visa; however, current entry requirements do mandate COVID insurance when entering the country.

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Martin ********

Great Answer. But had to read it a couple of times. You would still need COE from your embassy and the insurance 100,000 cover and Covid-19 cover they are insisting everyone entering has to have?? And how long would you need that insurance to cover you for?

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Martin *******

you need to be covered with the 100K USD covid insurance for the length of time you're stamped into the country for. SO entering on a visa exempt entry (which currently is 45 days not 30) the O/P would need 45 days of covid insurance

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Martin *******

we are not talking about the entry requirements. :O

This topic is ONLY what is required if you come in on a visa exempt entry and apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa and then a year extension.

What ever the entry requirements are don't affect whether you need insurance to buy that Non-O visa and a year extension inside the country (no matter if you held a Non-OA visa/extension previously or not). ..

5 years ago

Martin ********

@Tod ********

thanks. I did sort of understand that but as the both involved Insurance immigration and Thailand. I thought was worth mention for myself and others to read 🙄👍🏻🇹🇭🇺🇸🇬🇧🇹🇭

5 years ago

Martin ********

@Tod ********

oh yes I can see the reason the original persons asked. As they are not always easy to understand requirements and procedures. And nice of you to reply with a concise answer as always

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Martin *******

totally understand the reasoning behind why you asked about it given they are currently required to enter the country (y) I left them out because I was addressing the O/Ps concern that if they leave on an O-A extension but come back on a visa exempt, apply for a Non-O and then a year extension they are afraid they will be asked to show proof of insurance for those

5 years ago

Tod *********

Right after they implemented the mandatory health insurance on the O-A visa it was common for people who had been on yearly extensions from an O-A to just bounce out and back in on a visa exempt entry, apply in country for a 90 day Non-O and then apply for a year extension after that as a way to get OUT of needing the insurance. Many many MANY people did this.

Now that this covid shit show is here and no one is "bouncing out and in" given the current entry requirements, you can still do it, it just takes meeting the entry requirements and having your shit together so that when you do get out of quarantine you have enough time on your stamp so you can go to the immigration office and apply for the 90 day Non-O visa.

5 years ago

Tod *********

IF you leave the country on your O-A entry stamp or a year extension from an O-A (without a re-entry permit), your stay cancels when you stamp out

IF you then returned to thailand on a 45 day visa exempt entry and apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa there is NO requirement for you to have the mandatory health insurance.

It doesn't matter what visa you previously held because you're not here ON that visa/extension any more you came in without any visa and then applied in country for the Non-O and the year extension <- and neither of them require the O-A 40k/400K health insurance to get.

5 years ago

Brian ********

@Tod ********

Tod, I just saw a list from the Thai LA embassy that said 400K health cover required for 90 day Non Immigrant O retirement visa, which of course is extended in Thailand for 12 months. I thought health insurance was required only for OA. Thanks for any guidance or clarification you might have.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Brian *******

those are the requirements to buy a visa from a consulate and enter the country on it <- ( which for Non-O visas means you need the 100K USD covid insurance AND the 40k/400k baht health coverage). You are required to be insured for as long as you're getting stamped in for. SO on a Non-O visa where you're stamped in for 90 days you'd need 3 months of that coverage.

BUT

The O/P is coming in on a visa exempt entry <- meaning he'd only need 45 days of Covid insurance.

5 years ago

Brian ********

@Tod ********

Wow. Samui said I should get 90 day O. They will allow that? Thanks much.

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Brian *******

come in on a visa exempt entry (meaning you only need covid insurance) then apply IN COUNTRY at your immigration office for the Non-O 90 day visa and then a year extension after that because that way you don't need any of the

******

insurance at all

5 years ago

Brian ********

@Tod ********

thanks man. Depressing news!

5 years ago

Tod *********

Okay, I didn't let this post on the group and messaged the O/P about it instead BUT after going round and round with them I decided to let it on the group.

5 years ago