Is it better to apply for a Non Immigrant OA Visa from abroad or to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and then apply for a Non-O Visa?

Oct 7, 2021
3 years ago
Strangely ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Has anyone tried to get a Non Immigrant OA Visa lately? Any success ? Or is it better to get a 60 day tourist visa then apply for an O or OA Visa in Thailand. (Funds in place in Thai Bank)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the experiences of individuals applying for a Non Immigrant OA Visa versus those entering Thailand on a tourist visa and then applying for a Non-O Visa. Many contributors suggest that entering Thailand visa exempt is smoother due to less insurance requirements. Those with sufficient funds can easily apply for the Non-O Visa inside Thailand, avoiding complex health insurance obligations that the OA Visa entails.
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Ken ******
think about how much one can save with O visa which does not require annual health insurance
Ken ******
O visa is definitely better than OA as you have to buy mandatory health insurance.on renewal of OA. The health insurance could be increasingly costly with advancing age and does not offer protection for pre existing health problem, also most company do not accept applicants over 65
Tod *********
Okay, let's quickly re-cap this

IF you decide to get a Non-O-A (Long Stay) visa from the thai consulate in your country before you come here, you need a police background check, a medical certificate, proof of at least 800K baht or 65K baht a month in income in your country, AND you need BOTH the 100K USD covid insurance and the 40K/400K out/in-patient regular health insurance FOR A YEAR.

Now if you decide to get a 90 day single entry Non-O visa from the thai conuslate in your country before you come here, you need proof of funds AND as a rule BOTH the previous insurances for the 90 days you'll get stamped in for too <-(note at some consulates they just require the covid coverage for 90 days)

BUT

IF you come in on a visa exempt entry OR a 60 day tourist visa entry you only need the 100K USD covid insurance for the time you'll get stamped in for and then when apply for the 90 day Non-O visa INSIDE the country at the immigration office you do NOT need any insurance, you show proof that the 800K baht was transferred in from abroad and apply for the Non-O when you have 15 days or more left on your stamp.

It's the crazy prohibitive insurance coverage required that's the reason people are comin' here visa exempt or on a tourist visa and doing the Non-O and year extension inside the country
Wannikea *********
Benefit of coming in on visa exempt is only 30 days of Covid insurance needed upon entry.
Bryn ********
@Wannikea ********
Don’t you have to have the insurance before coming in?
Benjamin ******
@Bryn *******
No. You need 30 days of COVID-19 insurance, but not regular health insurance
Bryn ********
@Benjamin *****
I meant COVID insurance.
Wannikea *********
@Bryn *******
covid insurance is a requirement to get the COE.
James ********
@Wannikea ********
and pray that you have other health insurance to cover you while in Thailand. If not.. At risk.
Strangely ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've had sufficient funds in the Bangkok Back since May.
Strangely ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks guys. So will I get in by ticking the Visa exempt box?. I presume I will still need the Covid Health insurance, proof of a negative covid test and COE? Sorry if this seems dull but there is so much misinformation and confusion out there. I am trying to find the simplest but still correct way in with the right documents.
Martin ***********
I got one in August. It depends upon the wheter you can deal with the bank requiement or not. Other than that there are a few more things you have to do
Martin ***********
However you need insurance anyway to get a visa
James ********
@Martin **********
how much did getting that medical certificate cost you? And the cost of the health insurance?

Plus the US $200 fee for the OA visa..

Enter visa exempt... Free

Only need one month COVID insurance.

(Hopefully you have other health insurance for your medical care in Thailand.)
Bryn ********
@James *******
Don’t you need the COVID insurance before coming into the country?
Martin ***********
@James *******
THat was the stickiest thing. I could not use my insurance in America. They require that form filled out and all the companies want to do in America is cover their asses. I ended up using Robert Jackson as I can see he is a mutual friend. I paid about 1000b for the year. That took care of both the COE and OA health requirements. You also need a form filled out from your doctor saying you don't have these wacky communicable diseases. That turned out to also be a problem as they were reluctant to put those things on paper as wacky as they were.
Bryn ********
@Martin **********
Is there an online form to fill out on the Thai Embassy site somewhere?
Martin ***********
@Bryn *******
I Got insurance from Robert Jackson for the year.
Benjamin ******
@Martin **********
I’m assuming he meets the bank requirements because he said the money is here.
Benjamin ******
I second James advice. Enter on a visa exempt, then apply for a Non-o inside Thailand. It’ll save you money on health insurance
James ********
If you already have the funds deposited in your Thai bank account... Then enter visa exempt and get the non o for retirement inside Thailand at local Thai immigration office followed by one year extension of stay as retiree.

Much easier to do that than getting the OA visa in your home country.
Martin ***********
@James *******
I think the OA is the one from outside the country. You can show them your bank account in your country for that
James ********
@Martin **********
but then you have the added expense of getting that ridiculous/archaic medical certificate and must have one year health insurance ...and to extend the OA inside Thailand means required health insurance too.
Martin ***********
@James *******
Yeah it's a pain, but I think the thai bank account thing is a scam, and I am only going for 6 months of the year so the 65k thing doesn't work and I am not putting 50k USD into a Thai bank account. That is just wrong.
Bobby ********
Martin Lefkowitz. Unless you're planning on staying awhile, getting the OA in your own country is still the best option, and certainly for six months. The medical certificate as
@James *******
says can be a pain, although in Australia I never had a problem getting it from my own GP (who's got 30+ years of my medical history) without any tests at all. The mandatory insurance, if you have to buy a 12-month policy, can be cancelled when you leave and you'll get a pro-rata refund.
Martin ***********
@Bobby *******
I had hopes for the stv, but I guess they messed that up too. Maybe they will change the rules
Bobby ********
Martin Lefkowitz. I think you need the medical certificate for the STV too, but compared to the OA it's crap. The OA gives you 12 months when you enter. Your only contact with immigration is for the 90 report, which is simple enough and even simpler if you're in Bangkok
Bryn ********
@Martin **********
it’s 800,000 Thai baht. About $24,000 unless there’s been a recent change I don’t know about.
Benjamin ******
@Martin **********
the OA from outside of the country.
Benjamin ******
No problem getting a non-oa visa. What’s the concern?
Strangely ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
Thank you. My only concern is the loooong list of documents required. And if the Embassy was actually issuing that Visa.
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