Answered6 years ago

Is the O-A Retirement Visa always valid for 1 year regardless of the stay duration mentioned in the application?

O-A Visa Retirement Visa Thailand Visa Rules Visa Validity Immigration Health Insurance Requirements

Chris *****

asked Nov 29, 2020

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Is the retirement Visa O-A always valid for 1 year?  

Or will it only be valid for the specific number of days based on my date of arrival and date of departure that I wrote in my Visa application?  

I'm assuming the Visa O-A is valid for 1 year...but in my Visa application I wrote "6-months" in the reply for how long I will be in Thailand.

Answer summary

The O-A Retirement Visa is generally valid for one year from the date of issue. However, the duration of your stay permitted upon entry into Thailand may depend on your health insurance coverage and any length of stay stated in your visa application. If your health insurance is only valid for a specified period (such as 6 months), the immigration authorities may stamp your visa for that duration. Thus, the visa itself may be issued for one year, but the entry stamp could be less based on insurance validity.

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Tod *********

an O-A visa is good for ENTRY to thailand for a year from the date it's issued AND when you show up here you're stamped in for the validity of your health insurance (up to one year).

What you wrote on the application has nothing to do with the visa validity OR how many days you get stamped into the country ON the visa when you arrive

6 years ago

Joe ***********

In normal non Covid times - when the Thai Border and neighbor country borders are open - the Non Imm O-A Visa Multi-Entry has an unusual property... (again in normal times). At near the first year Expiry of the O-A Visa (a few days before expiry) One could just Exit -Thailand - Enter the Neighbor Country - then Turn Around Exit that country and next Reenter Thailand AND get a full 12 months / one year added. Thus the O-A Visa became a 2 year Visa without a formal Extension of Stay being processed.

I am absolutely certain this is true. However, the borders have to be open to allow a classic border run at near the Expiry of the Non Imm O-A Multi-Entry Visa. However in this type of O-A second year the rules operate more like an O Visa Extension of Stay where any exit of Thailand requires a Reentry Permit.

6 years ago

Chris *****

My OA insurance is 1 year (LMG) but my Covid insurance is only 6-months (AXA). I stated my length of stay as 6-months.

6 years ago

Kathy ****************

In the US you always have to get the multiple entry also.. $200.00

6 years ago

Stuart *********

The OA visa gives you one year on arrival - dependant on your health insurance cover. If that’s only valid for 6 months you’ll only get a stamp for 6 months.

6 years ago

Janin ******

If you have a OA visa it is valid for one year. By the renewal your visa will be extended only as long as your insurance is! You only need C 19 insurance to enter Th.

6 years ago

Chris *****

Thanks!

6 years ago

Chris *****

@Stuart ********

are you sure? My health insurance is for 6-months...so if you are correct...my O-A Visa will only be valid for 6-months?

6 years ago

Stuart *********

@ChrisCho ***********

No I'm not sure. Definitely sure if you are trying to get an extension of stay based on retirement using an OA the length they'll give you is based on what date your insurance is valid until, but on initial entry - no. Perhaps its 365 days regardless, but I'll leave it up to others who have experience to say.

6 years ago

Kathy ****************

@Stu***

actually it is 1 year from date of issue.. We learned the hardway about date of entry..

6 years ago

Steve *******

@Kathy ***************

The OA visa is valid for 1 year from date of issue but also gets you stamped into the country for 1 year each time you enter, hence you can get nearly 2 years out of the visa.

6 years ago