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Is it better to apply for a 3-month Non-O retirement visa from the UK or Thailand?
Non-O VisaRetirement VisaThailand ImmigrationVisa Health InsuranceExpat Life in ThailandVisa Application Process
Feb 18, 2022
4 years ago
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTERI am now back in London. Someone here said that it is easy to get 3 month Non O Retirement in UK and then extend to 1 year once in Thailand. I have the 800k in Thailand. Also have funds in the UK.
But it seems, need to buy health insurance for the whole 3 months? For a 60 Yr old this will be a fair bit?
Is the best option to get the non O visa in Thailand as only need to pay for 1 month insurance for visa waiver ?
Anyone with recent experience of getting the 3 month in UK?
But it seems, need to buy health insurance for the whole 3 months? For a 60 Yr old this will be a fair bit?
Is the best option to get the non O visa in Thailand as only need to pay for 1 month insurance for visa waiver ?
Anyone with recent experience of getting the 3 month in UK?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around applying for a 3-month Non-O retirement visa from the UK versus obtaining it in Thailand. Key points include the requirement for health insurance for the entire duration of the stay when applying from the UK, the necessity of showing financial stability, and opinions on the convenience of applying in the home country versus inside Thailand. Experiences shared highlight varying approaches, insurance costs, and the ease of process in both locations.
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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Lindsey **********
Very dangerous to be here without any insurance
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lindsey *********
I wish there was an insurance that only covered you for accidents rather than everything. Health insurance for older people with pre existing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension is crazily expensive for long term travel and in many cases doesn't actually pay out. Someone said "Insurance is something that covers you for everything except what you need it for"!Dan ********
@Lindsey *********
I wouldn't say dangerous to not have insurance, as there are many many stories of people NOT getting paid on claims. What's dangerous is to not have the resources, either here or in your home country, to cover yourself in the event you need it. The odds of getting into trouble are the same, insurance or not. It would be interesting to learn the true figures on those unable to claim. I good friend is not getting his claim paid for a one month stay in hospital after bad motorbike accident, on account that he once sought treatment for anxiety, many years ago..Lindsey **********
@Dan *******
well I have many friends here that are in big problems Under insured and only covered for one night in icu so have to find 50,000 gbp themselves
Lots of companies do not pay out on motorbike accidents it’s in many small print of a policy
Dan ********
@Lindsey *********
that's my point, insurance is only good if it's paying out. Some insurers might not cover motorbike riding as standard (as with scuba diving), and many more will not pay out for any of the many usual reasons not to pay out, not having the relevant bike licence in their home country, and the corresponding international permit, or not having the Thai driving licence required after 1yr stay, lack of helmet, presence of alcohol/drugs and Having or have had a number of pre existing medical conditions. But if you fit with that criteria you hope to be paid out. I'm sure they might reject every claim for any random reason, just to dissuade the claimant proceeding - interesting to know those figures too. Anyone claim and not get an initial rejection ? Anyone claim and feel like they had the support of the insurance company, rather than feel scrutinised ?Reply to
Dan ********
Reply
Andrew *********
You’ve got 800k in Thailand bank account yet you’re worried about cost of health insurance, get your violin out you poor peasant ...
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andrew ********
are you always this charming? Thank you for your pearls of wisdom.Andrew *********
@London ****
hi how you doing, you should recognise my undoubted charm as I originate from Romford, Essex now living in north Qld Australia.Reply to
Andrew *********
Reply
Mark ***********
No. Covid insurance, nor health insurance seems to be required, once you are in country.
Miri *****
or this one
**************************************************************************************************
*****
935&utm_source=*****
935&utm_medium=AmbassadorLondon *****
ORIGINAL POSTER$500pm for age 59 before pre-existing conditions!
Reply to
London *****
Reply
Miri *****
for just 3 months this is a good one
*************************************************************************************
*****
935&utm_source=*****
935&utm_medium=AmbassadorKristen ********
@Miri ****
Sorry one last question, did it have to state the coverage in Thai Baht or was US dollars okay?Miri *****
@Kristen *******
lots of people in Thailand use Safetywings so don't worry :)Kristen ********
@Miri ****
thanks! Looks like a great option for us!Reply to
Kristen ********
Reply
Miri *****
@Kristen *******
you pay in dollars but this covers you anywhere in the world. You don't pay it in baht but US dollarsKristen ********
@Miri ****
thanks I understood that. I was wondering if it was fine to have the policy stated in US $ vs Thai Baht but it sounds like it worked for you. Appreciate the help!Reply to
Kristen ********
Reply
Kristen ********
@Miri ****
Does Thailand accept this as coverage? Do you just need to show the policy is valid for 90 days?Miri *****
@Kristen *******
yes, you get a visa letter with all the cover including covid for the Thai pass when you register and pay in the portal. Very easy and fast.Kristen ********
@Miri ****
thanks so much, really appreciate it!Reply to
Kristen ********
Reply
Dimitri ********
"need to buy health insurance for the whole 3 months" From what I understand you need health insurance for the duration of your stay. It does not depend on your visa, but on the dates on your flight tickets. Which are ehhhh... Free to change, depending on the airline. So I can imagine that you fly back after 4 weeks. But once you are in Thailand you "change your mind".
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dimitri *******
so I would still get stamped in for 3 months even though my return flight is, say 30 days?Dimitri ********
@London ****
And today again. Arrived in BKK today. Return flight in 3 weeks, health insurance 3 weeks, O visa based on visiting my child for 3 months. Stamped in for 3 months. The return flight with Etihad can be changed for free. That saves me 2 months worthless insurance.London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dimitri *******
was this the insurance that comes with Emirates flight? Or did you buy it separately?London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dimitri *******
I just heard from London Embassy following my online application for 3 mth Non O visa retirement. They r asking for insurance details. I am confused. If and when they give me visa I have 3 months to enter Thailand and on entry I am given a 90 day stamp. Till they give me a visa, I don't know when I will travel. So what period I should get it for!Dimitri ********
@London ****
NL did not ask me for insurance details when applying for a visa. I only had to give that when applying for a Thaipass. But your visa is different. I asked for non O based on visiting child.Reply to
Dimitri ********
Reply
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER😀
Dimitri ********
@London ****
That is what they did with me. I had return flight after a month, 1 month health insurance. But got stamp for 3 months (with 3 month visa).Reply to
Dimitri ********
Reply
Chris ********
Came in on January 10th on 90 day Non O I got in the UK. 7,200 baht with Luma Thai Pass for the 3 months
Ronald *********
Three month insurance with AXA 7,500 baht.
DK *****
I had entered Thailand three times past one year. I first bought 30 day insurance for a regular visa exempt entry. Second one, I had to buy 90 day insurance which I used for both Non-O e-visa and Thailand Pass. Third time, I still had enough dates left from my 90 day insurance for a re-entry. AXA Thailand is not issuing a new policy. Luma might be the alternative.
Paulus *********
Applyin Thailand, it's easy so you will just need insurance cover for the month.
Bim *******
Why not come on a tourist visa and apply for the Non O inside the country
Tony *********
@Steve ******
do you have to go to the consulate or can you do the whole thing by post?Steve *******
@Tony ********
You do it all online. No visits to the consulate, no posting. The visa is emailed to you. No taking up a page in your passport. So easy.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Janin ******
@Bim ******
, good adviceSteve *******
@Janin *****
Not really good advice, much easier to get the Non Imm O in your home country. I can never understand why people give this advice, 1st not every imm office sells the non imm O, 2nd you need the 800,000 in a Thai bank, 3rd you've got to prove it was transferred from abroad, 4th probably half a day messing about at the imm office.Tony *********
@Steve ******
On the contrary. It is extremely easy to convert from a 30-day tourist Visa exemption to a Non O and then a one-year based on retirement. And you don't have to prove the 800k came from abroad. I should know because that's what I did.Steve *******
@Tony ********
Fair enough but it's still much easier to get in your home country before entering Thailand especially with the evisa up and running. No faffing about at the Immigration office. Plus not every Imm office sells the non imm O.Tony *********
@Steve ******
Easy is not a word I would ever use in 25 years of dealing with Thai embassies abroad.Steve *******
@Tony ********
Never had any problems in the UK and that's where OP's from. Just my opinion that it's got to be easier arriving with the non imm O already in hand than messing about getting it in Thailand. Im sure most people would be happier knowing they already got the visa before arriving. That's why I dont think it's the best advice to get it in Thailand when you can get in your home country before you arrive.Tony *********
@Steve ******
if you're staying here long term you have to go to the immigration office every year anyway to renew the retirement extension. And then there are 90-day reports. Last time I renewed my extension it took about 20 minutes. So whatever way you do it you can't avoid the immigration office.Steve *******
@Tony ********
At least least it saves you one visit!Bim *******
@Steve ******
number 1 and 3 are completely untrue. A tourist visa is easy to convert inside the country. I have many I know who have done it.Steve *******
@Bim ******
Im not saying it's difficult to do but it's got to be much easier to already have it when you arrive. It's so easy to do now with the evisa up and running.Steve *******
@Bim ******
Number 1 is correct, most of the 'tourist' Imm Offices sell it, not so many up country do.Janin ******
@Bim ******
I agree, most of the people I know did it that way.Reply to
Janin ******
Reply
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTERI opened a Thai bank account last month when I was there. £10k in UK is also ok.
Steve *******
@London ****
Get the non imm O evisa from RTE London. It's easy and saves a lot of messing about at the Imm Office in Thailand.Tony *********
@Steve ******
I think it took me no more than 30 minutes messing around filling out a form in an immigration office in Thailand.Reply to
Tony *********
Reply
Steve *******
I got 6 months insurance for £300, good for the Thai Pass, Im 61. 3 months for you will be a drop in the ocean.
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve ******
who did you get this through?Steve *******
@London ****
ACS. Arawan Namak was the broker, search her on Facebook.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Will ************
You will also need 3 months Covid/health insurance as you get stamped in for 90 days
Dimitri ********
@Will ***********
That is not true. Maybe your idea is nice, but in reality it only depends on the dates on your ticket. So you can arrive with your return date after 1 month (ticket), and with a 1 month health insurance. But the stamps in your passport will say 3 months.London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dimitri *******
ok.thats a good point.Thanks.London *****
ORIGINAL POSTERI can now confirm this! The immigration guy didn't even ask to seen the insurance.
Reply to
London *****
Reply
Will ************
For your 3 month Non O in the Uk based on retirement you need to show a bank balance of no less than £
*****
for 3 previous months. You arrive in Thailand and open a Thai bank account which must have a minimum of *****
0 baht in for 2 months before extensionSteve *******
@Will ***********
I showed £10,000 with 1 month statement back in November and got the non imm O.Will ************
@Steve ******
fair point. They just stick NonO in the passport and sort the extension reason when you go to immigration laterSteve *******
@Will ***********
Evisa, nothing in the passport untill you enter Thailand.Will ************
@Steve ******
got mine in August before E visa kicked offReply to
Will ************
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