How Can I Convert My OA Visa to a Retirement Visa in Thailand and Is There a Medical Insurance Requirement?

Question

Converting an OA Visa to a Retirement Visa

The last time (March 16th) I went to Phuket Immigration and spoke with an upstairs volunteer,  she said I could go directly from the OA to year-long retirement visa and there could be some medical insurance requirement coming later in  November.

Previously, I was told that  to avoid the  current medical insurance requirement, I should first go out of the country to get an O visa and then convert it to a retirement visa.

But since borders were being shut the volunteer said go get the retirement visa directly.

I put 800,000 baht into my local bank on February 4, so I could apply for the retirement visa around April 7th.

I have to get the visa done the latest by April 26th, when my OA visa expires (I had already extended my OA visa a year earlier).

Are people getting their retirement visas ok these days or are there any snags because of the virus?

Is there currently a medical insurance requirement or will it possibly happen next November like the Immigration volunteer said?

Any suggestions, referrals, recent experiences, things to avoid,  how to keep current, etc. would be most helpful.

Thanks!

Ask Thailand · Answer

The user is seeking advice on converting an OA visa to a one-year retirement visa amidst potential medical insurance changes. While a volunteer at Phuket Immigration suggested a direct conversion, past advice indicated needing to exit Thailand first. The post highlights confusion over visa terminologies and current medical insurance requirements, as commenters clarify the process and stress the necessity of health insurance for extensions.

Richard ******* · Answer

Thanks for the clarification.

Tod ********* · Answer

and you are NOT gonna get a yearly extension off an O-A visa without meeting the health insurance requirements from one of the 13 approved thai insurance carriers.

To get OUT of the insurance you needed to exit the country, "break the chain" from the original O-A, come in on a 30 day visa exempt and convert to an O visa in country OR have gotten an O visa BEFORE you came back in.

As it is now, you're on the second year of an O-A and you cannot "convert" to anything.

Stuart ********* · Answer

I think you have some misunderstanding of your situation.  Interpreting your post I think you going to be applying for the 1 year extension of stay based on your OA visa.  (You can not convert to the Non O in country from an OA).   In this case you must have the compulsory health insurance in place from the date you wish to extend.  You must get this insurance from the approved list of insurance companies and products.  Follow this link for details [url redacted]

Gregor ********** · Answer

. .a lot of wrong wording.  You are not doing a "retirement visa". You are applying for an "Extension of Stay based on being over 50"  and you need the money in the bank for this.  You are NOT doing a conversion, nor will you receive a new visa

Gregor ********** · Answer

that is doing a 1-year Extension of Stay based on retirement, from out of an existing Non-Imm-O/A. This has been practise for many years and is nothing new.  New is the requirement for Thai Health Insurance for newly issued O/A visa

James ******** · Answer

No new news re conversions OA to O.

NO fact re requiring health insurance with O.

Check with your local immigration office and watch for updates.

You could buy the Health insurance and extend your O-A at your immigration office.

How Can I Convert My OA Visa to a Retirement Visa in Thailand and Is There a Medical Insurance Requirement?

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