Answered6 years ago

Should I apply for a Thailand retirement OA visa in Australia or switch from a tourist visa in Thailand?

Thailand Retirement Visa OA Visa Non-O Visa Visa Application Process Health Insurance Requirements COVID Insurance

Darrell ******

asked Apr 12, 2021

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Just after some advice from you gurus of visa info.

I am looking to retire in thailand on a retirement visa.

What I want to know is it better to get the OA visa in my home country,Australia, with the eqivalent 800k baht in a bank in Aust, get the health insurance for 400k/40k and the covid insurance for length of stay,1 year OR

Enter thailand on a tourist visa after extending for 30 days giving me 90 days and change to a retirement visa in country. Does this require me to have seasoned 800k in thai bank, does this way require me to have health insurance and covid insurance?

Thanks in advance

Answer summary

The post inquires about the optimal route for obtaining a retirement visa in Thailand, focusing on whether to apply for the OA visa in Australia or to enter Thailand on a tourist visa and switch to a retirement visa while there. The responses suggest that entering on a tourist visa and later converting it to a Non-O visa may be advantageous, as this approach might allow for more flexibility regarding the requirement of maintaining a substantial amount in a Thai bank account and insurance obligations.

8 repliesnewest first

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Ellie *******

I guess it depends on which country do you want to keep your money in and how do you want your insurance..

6 years ago

Michael ********

@Ellie ******

But no insurance is required with Non O

A big incentive to get the Non O

6 years ago

Ellie *******

@Michael *******

right, but some people want to get insurance anyway. One of my friends strongly prefers to get Non-OA than Non-O+extension in Thailand.

6 years ago

James ********

Forget the OA visa... Follow the good advice of

@Tod ********

6 years ago

Tod *********

Entering thailand on a 60 day tourist visa, and transferring the 800K baht into the country into a thai bank account in your name only will let you apply for the in country Non-O visa based on being over 50. That does NOT require insurance and as far as your covid coverage you'd need to be covered the amount of time you'd stamp in (so on a tourist visa you'd need a MINIMUM of 60 days coverage if you can find one that short)

6 years ago

Tod *********

I'd say come in on a tourist visa, move the money, apply for a 90 day Non-O visa, get that, wait until the money is seasoned the 2 months and then apply for the year extension.

6 years ago

Biff *******

@Tod ********

Insurance that covers the requirement for entry on short visas/exempt entry can be found here.

It's available for

*****

/90 days. Longer terms may be better served by other providers,

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6 years ago

James ********

@Biff ******

and be sure to compare the price of this COVID ONLY INSURANCE with cost of real health insurance . As the rates are based on the COVID experience of countries subject to review every month by the Thai group of insurers.

UK... US.. India high risk group.

COVID only 90 days is 6,400 Thai baht

REAL HEALTH ACCIDENT and COVID insurance policy 90 days costs 7,400 Thai baht from LUMA Thailand.

So 1,000 Thai baht gets you a NO DEDUCTIBLE $100,000 REAL health insurance policy.

6 years ago