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How can you extend your OA visa while living in Thailand?
OA VisaVisa ExtensionThai ImmigrationHealth InsuranceVisa Renewal ProcessFinancial RequirementsRe-entry PermitNon-O Visa
Oct 25, 2023
3 years ago
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTERAsking for a friend. You arrive in Thailand on an OA visa from your home country. On the 11 month in Thailand, you go to Thai Immigration pay 1900 baht, show new insurance certificate and receive another 12 months in Thailand? About right??🙏
TLDR : Answer Summary
To extend your OA visa in Thailand, you must fulfill certain financial requirements, including showing 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for at least three months prior to your application. Alternatively, you can leave Thailand before your visa expires and re-enter with a new insurance certificate to receive another year on your visa. This method is commonly referred to as a 'border bounce.' You do not need a re-entry permit when bouncing back in as long as you do so before the expiry date of your visa. For subsequent years, you can continue to extend your OA visa by meeting the same financial and insurance requirements or switch to a Non-O visa, which has different criteria.
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.
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Richard ***********
Can do what I did when my OA was expiring. I got a new cheap qualifying Axa health insurance and did a day trip to Penang on Air Asia to get stamped back in for a year. Then got the multi entry on my next exit. No financial requirements. Can come and go until August next year now. A
Marty *********
On the other hand, you don’t have to get the “2nd year”. You could at the end of the first year apply for a 1 year extension as long as you meet the financial requirements.
Vernon *********
@Mark *******
If you want to continue with OA Visa just keep applying at local immigration office every year, you will need the 800,000 baht in your Thai bank account 3 months prior.If you want to change to the Non O Visa after the second year of Non OA just leave Thailand without a re-entry permit and enter Thailand again for a 30 day visa exempt in which time you can apply for the Non O, you will still need the money in your bank but not health insurance.
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vernon ********
You gotta wonder..I mean ya gotta just f'in wonder sometimes how and why they make it soooooooo difficult. Maybe their brain is superior to ours and they can figure the whole mish mash of whatever you'd call it out in a nano second. 🤷♂️Vernon *********
@Mark *******
TIT - This Is ThailandReply to
Vernon *********
Reply
Roberto *********
@Vernon ********
Best to get onto the 65k per month transfer. So much better than tying your money up for the rest of your life!Robert ***********
@Roberto ********
Regarding the 65k transfer.....Are they looking for where the money is coming from or can I just set up an automatic transfer between my US and Thai bank accounts?Marty *********
@Robert **********
If you are from the US, UK, or Australia then you must show 12 months of minimum 65,000 baht deposits into your Thai bank account. The deposits must show the the money originated from outside Thailand. They don’t care where you got the money outside Thailand. Typically this means US citizens use the 800,000 method the first year while they make deposits to their Thai account so that they can use the income method for subsequent extensions.Robert ***********
@Marty ********
Thanks Marty.Reply to
Robert ***********
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
Thats what I'm thinking. I've got the 800K, not a problem. Its ring fenced for the occasion. But it's in my home country account where I earn 5% on it. Bangkok Bank give you nxt to nothing. I'm also aware of the step out of the country on the 11 month and hop back in get another year added, so 2 years out of the one-year visa so to speak. (By the way my OA is multi entry so I don't think I need a re-entry permit on the bounce?) Question then. At the end of my second year do I need to leave T'land or just extend the OA at Thai Immigration by showing the ring fenced 800K and paying the 1900B plus show another 12 months of insurance? JC..any wonder I drink.🥴Marty *********
@Mark *******
I deleted this earlier but I think I should state it again more clearly - If you want to extend your OA visa after only the first year then you cannot leave and re-enter during the first year. Of course you can leave and you don't need a re-entry permit but when you return you will be stamped in for a full year (or end of insurance). You can't extend until the final year end stamp expires.This is what happened to me. I entered at the end of February 2017 and took a trip to Cambodia in Nov 2017. When I went to extend my OA in Feb 2018 in Bangkok they told me to return in November. After that my OA was always due for an extension in November.
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
Good stuff to know. Thanks Marty.Reply to
Mark ********
Reply
Marty *********
@Mark *******
You don't need a re-entry permit for the end of first year bounce but you do need to return before the end of the first year while you visa is valid. During the second year you will need a re-enty permit for any travel outside Thailand to keep the 2nd year active.Vernon *********
Mark JacobsIf you want to remain on the OA Visa you need the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account.
If you bounce out just before your first year you will not need a re-entry permit. If you need to leave Thailand during your second year you will need a re-entry permit.
At the end of your second year you will need to apply to extend your OA Visa at your local immigration centre.
If you bounce out just before your first year you will not need a re-entry permit. If you need to leave Thailand during your second year you will need a re-entry permit.
At the end of your second year you will need to apply to extend your OA Visa at your local immigration centre.
Roberto *********
@Vernon ********
You cannot re-apply for OA at an immigration office. All you can do is get an extension. If you want a new OA you have to return to your home country.Vernon *********
@Roberto ********
I meant extension not re-apply!Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Vernon ********
Thank you for that. Just to confirm, the 800K into my Thai account for 3 months prior to application or should it be for a full 12 months? Maybe I just then apply for an O visa towards the end of my second (free) year by applying at my local immigration office and not needing the insurance? My understanding to apply for a new OA visa is to apply in my home country..which I'd rather not have to do. Obviously cost comes into it..flights etc. TIA.Marty *********
@Mark *******
1 year extentions of OA visas require insurance and typically Thai immigration requires that you have Thai insurance. You need to make sure the insurance you used to purchase the original OA visa in your home country will also qualify for subsequent 1 year extensions. I had Thai insurance so I never had to do that but my recollection is that you needed your non-Thai insurance company to sign a document acknowledging that their insurance coverage meets the Thai requirements. Getting your non-Thai insurance company to sign that document is not always a sure thing.Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
I've used AXA Thailand twice now seems to work okReply to
Mark ********
Reply
Martin *****
Dream on. Aint happening
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Martin ****
Can you elaborate on that?Martin *****
@Mark *******
. He is talking only about a health insurance to renew his visaReply to
Martin *****
Reply
Todd *********
@Martin ****
it actually is happening. Not a bad way to get started hereReply to
Todd *********
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Roberto *********
Start the 65k/month process during the first year you're in Thailand. Get the second year free by way of border bounce. By the third year you'll already have the required 12 months so you can either extend the OA in country, or alternatively leave, come back on an exempt entry, get the non-O still using the 65k process, but DO NOT miss a single month or you're up shit creek without a paddle.
Vernon *********
Just before the first year expires, renew health insurance then leave Thailand and then re-enter Thailand and you will get stamped in for a second year.
David *******
Also 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months before application and 3 months after. No less than 400k for the other 6 months in future as well.
Nongnuch ********
@David ******
2 months before and 3 months afterDavid *******
@Nongnuch *******
Not for future Extensions, which was what I was talking about.Nongnuch ********
@David ******
oh yes, for first AND all future extensions. They changed these rules 5 (!) years ago. Some immigration offices, however, ignore the police order and make up their own rulesDavid *******
@Nongnuch *******
Jomtien want 3 months before and after. They also want 2 months before your first extension.Nongnuch ********
@David ******
so they still stick to the old rule. Don't take it for granted, I know people using Jomtien who only need two months previous. See, they are making it up as they likeReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Brandon ************
Not right.
You can only get an extension from immigration if you show 800,000 in a Thai bank account and a new insurance certificate.
If you want to get another year from an OA visa you leave Thailand and return and show a new insurance certificate. As long as you enter Thailand before the end date on your visa you'll be stamped in for another year (or until the end of your insurance)
You can only get an extension from immigration if you show 800,000 in a Thai bank account and a new insurance certificate.
If you want to get another year from an OA visa you leave Thailand and return and show a new insurance certificate. As long as you enter Thailand before the end date on your visa you'll be stamped in for another year (or until the end of your insurance)
Bernd ***********
@Brandon ***********
don't forget to mention you need a re-entry permit for the "2nd year" if you want to travel.Reply to
Bernd ***********
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