Answered4 years ago

Is it normal for the Thai immigration office to request Covid insurance for a Non-O visa application?

Non-O Visa Covid Insurance Thai Immigration Rules Visa Application Process Expat Visa Requirements

Lipda *********

asked Jun 8, 2022

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Hello. My husband tried to apply for a Non-O visa (thai wife). 

The immigration office requested a covid insurance from us.

My questions are;

1. Is this normal? 

2. How long that we need to buy the insurance?

3. How much is the insurance coverage that could be enough?

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Edit] P.S. We are now in Thailand

Answer summary

A user inquired about the necessity of Covid insurance during the application for a Non-O visa in Thailand, asking if it is a standard requirement, the duration for which the insurance should be purchased, and the adequate coverage amount.

19 repliesnewest first

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Stuart *********

To clarify are you trying to get the visa in Thailand or a embassy/consulate in another country?

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Stuart ********

Thank you so much for your help. I guess I am going to try as you suggested first and let's see. 😊🙏

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

Good luck. You may find that asking for a Supervisor at NST immigration and explaining that Covid insurance is not a requirement may help, but I suspect not.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

Sorry I’m not sure what you mean there. But good luck. Let us know how you get on.

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Stuart ********

.. We have been through some visa types and offices.. I assume that you know what's going on with these processes. 😔 Btw, thanks again. 🙏

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Stuart ********

We are in Thailand now

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

ok. There is no requirement to have Covid insurance for a non O visa applied for in country.

That said each office has its own interpretations of the rules and implements their own rules/requirements.

What office are you using? Others may have specific experience from that office.

4 years ago

Karim ***************

@Lipda ********

you can stay at a hotel for 1 night and still get your TM30.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

Ok then that’s probably the easiest option. NST may be the only office that is asking for covid insurance. I certainly haven’t seen any posts of other offices requiring that.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

actually come to think of it there may be issues as some offices will want to come and visit you and your neighbors to check that you’re in a legitimate relationship during the 30 day under consideration period.

Apologies didn’t think about that at first.

Lipda *********

Thank you for tip 👍

Sacha ****

usually in Samui immigration they like to ask for a rental contract for a long period covering close to the length of the visa you are applying for i.e 1 year.

That being said its not that hard to make one 😉

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

all hotels by law must file a TM30 when foreigners stay. Of course that doesn’t guarantee that they’ll give you a print out of their filing one, but if you explain why you need it then they’ll probably do so.

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Sacha ***

Thank you. I am thinking about samui also. Do you know a hotel that could give us a TM30 by any chance?

4 years ago

Sacha ****

@Lipda ********

just to add to Stuarts comment, i can confirm it is not asked for at Samui immigration.

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

It’s a possibility but not a guarantee. They may just say you just can’t do it here. There’s no requirement to stay x number of days prior to applying.

You would need at least 15 days left (21 in Chiang Mai) on a valid stamp to apply. Most offices will allow 30 days prior. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Buri Ram allow 45 days prior. Others may too.

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Stuart ********

Thank you for your advice. May I ask for more info;

1. How many days should we stay in that province before the application?

2.This is the first time that we are applying for this visa type. Do you think that it could work out for us?

3. Now, we have a "visiting thai wife" for 2 months. Is it possible to apply for the Non-O soon or need to wait until before it expires?

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Lipda ********

ok. Sorry I have no experience of that office but I see many posts from people that do have issues there.

Normally you use the office that your TM30 is registered at. Nothing actually stopping you going on a “holiday” and having a hotel file a TM30 in a different province and using that office to apply.

Of course that could be a huge inconvenience to you or it could be one way around the issue.

4 years ago

Lipda *********

@Stuart ********

Thank you for your reply. We are using the Nakhon Si Thammarat office.

4 years ago