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Is it possible to switch from an OA visa to an O visa in Thailand without medical coverage?

OA VisaO VisaThai ImmigrationVisa TypesExpat Life in ThailandVisa Application ProcessRetirement VisaHealth Insurance Requirements
Jun 21, 2022
2 years ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is it difficult to switch from an OA visa to an O visa (so the medical coverage is not required)?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Switching from an OA visa to an O visa is not straightforward. To make this change, you must allow your OA visa to expire or leave Thailand without a re-entry permit. Subsequently, you can apply for a new Non-O visa. This cannot be done while remaining in the country; you must exit and re-enter on a tourist visa or visa-exempt entry before applying for the Non-O visa. Additionally, while the OA visa has certain financial requirements regarding funds in a Thai bank account, some flexibility exists for those applying for a new OA visa from outside Thailand.
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James ********
The advantage of the OA visa is you can keep the 800,000 Thai baht in your home country vs it being deposited in a Thai bank account in your name only.

Pre COVID, many Americans kept their $$$ in their US banks and obtained a new OA Visa annually or every two year's. The allowed liberalization of using health insurance from your home country will now make it easier to get the OA.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 I already deposited the money in my Thai bank. Do you mean foreigners can leave the money in their home country - IF they are applying for a whole new OA visa.

But do need to have money in Thai bank if doing an OA visa Extension in Thailand?
2 years ago
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James ********
@Paul ******
 you can extend the OA visa inside Thailand with having the 800,000 Thai baht in your Thai bank account in your name only. Along with the required OA health insurance for one year coverage.
2 years ago
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James ********
@Paul ******
 Yes ..but you have to be in the home country to apply for a New OA visa.
2 years ago
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James ********
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Ellie *******
Very summary of how to get a long-term extension based on retirement is here (without detailed requirements)
@Paul ******
 , you want to do one of two columns in the middle.
2 years ago
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Cecilia *****
@Gary ********
2 years ago
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Cecilia *****
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Tod *********
inside the country you can't do it 🙁 there is no way to go from an OA entry stamp or extension to an O visa 😕

You follow what Lloyd said,

Stamp out on the OA visa entry stamp or extension come back either on a visa exempt or a tourist visa, apply for a 90 day Non-O inside the country at the immigration office for 2000baht or you get a 90 day single entry Non-O before you come back.
2 years ago
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Gregor **********
Contrary to above posts, there since February 2022, is a health insurance requirement for aplications for a Non-Imm-O Visa in the threadstarter's home country USA Just NOT YET for extensions out of this visa. . . . . . . . . check here, Thai Embassy Washington DC:
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/17/nonoretirement/
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Gregor *********
 which is why I said to get the Non-O inside the country OR they could go to a nearby thai consulate and apply for it
2 years ago
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Gregor **********
@Tod ********
 to apply for a Non-Imm-O outside of Thailand, he must use the Thai embassy or consulate in his home country. He cannot apply in one of Thailands neighbouring countries, unless he is a resident there
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Gregor *********
 100% NOT correct, you can apply for the 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement at Vientiane and Savannakhet without being a resident of Lao. By showing you're over 50 and you meet the proof of funds.

Also pre-covid HCMC and Hanoi in Vietnam both issued it as well as did Penang Malaysia
2 years ago
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Gregor **********
@Tod ********
 thank you, Tod
2 years ago
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Gregor **********
@Tod ********
 ok I stand corrected, I thought it was only possible for Non-O family in Laos
2 years ago
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Gregor **********
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Heinz ***********
@Tod ********
 So on a visa exempt I can apply for a Non-O inside the country? And stay max. 150 days, right?
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Heinz **********
 that would NOT be the course of action I would choose, just to stay here especially if you have no intention of getting the year extension after you get the 90 day Non-O.

Why not just come in on a 6 month METV multi-entry tourist visa instead ?
2 years ago
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Heinz ***********
@Tod ********
 With the METV I'd have to leave the country every 60 days (after a 30 days extension in the Kingdom).

So better get a TR visa and convert to a Non-O or maybe a Long Stay? inside the country?
2 years ago
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Heinz ***********
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 visa exempt or a tourist visa? Do both options require applying for a visa? Or is one of those the automatic 30 days you get just by entering the kingdom?
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Paul ******
, You need to apply for Non-O retirement in any way.

Apply for Non-O at the embassy/consulate in another country then enter Thailand

OR enter Thailand on a visa/extemp/Tourist visa and apply for NOn-O inside Thailand.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Paul ******
, Your saying "automatic 30days" is a visa-exempt entry.

When it is an extension, either of from a Non-O retirement visa and from a Non-OA is the same except for insurance requirements for the latter.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 so again. No insurance requirement for the O visa. Seems like a real advantage considering most insurance plans seem to be crap here. Better off paying out of pocket here.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Paul ******
, No insurance is required when you apply for Non-O inside Thailand.

Insurance requirement varies each embassy/consulate when you apply for Non-O outside Thailand. But it's not strict as one for Non-OA.

No insurance requirements for following extensions to either Non-O.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 “No insurance requirements for following extensions to EITHER Non-O” ?? Meaning you don’t have to have insurance for either when you’re extending?
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Paul ******
, right. You don't need insurance for extension applications in Thailand if you start with Non-O (whenever you apply and get).
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Graham ******
@Paul ******
 Visa exempt is the free 30 day entry stamp, a purchased Tourist visa is a 60 day entry stamp, both can be extended for 30 days if needed
2 years ago
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Graham ******
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Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 is there any advantage to either visa? I suppose it would be easier just to extend the OA but this insurance thing is a hassle.
2 years ago
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Paul *******
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Lloyd ********
You would need to start from scratch, let the OA expire, or leave without a re-entry if on an extension, and then apply for a brand new Non-O
2 years ago
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Lloyd ********
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