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What are some recommended Thai insurance companies for a Non-OA retirement visa application?
Non-OA VisaRetirement VisaInsurance RequirementsThai Insurance CompaniesVisa Application ProcessIMG GlobalExpat Life in Thailand
Oct 11, 2022
4 years ago
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWe are in the process of applying for our non-OA retirement visas and are stumbling at the insurance portion. We have great insurance with IMG Global but we’re being told by the Thai consulate that we need a particular form filled out, and it doesn’t appear that IMG Global can sign off on it.
The consulate provided a list of Thai insurance companies but wow, are they ever expensive!!! Any recommendations for a Thai insurance company?
(By the way, this entire visa application process is HELL!!!)
The consulate provided a list of Thai insurance companies but wow, are they ever expensive!!! Any recommendations for a Thai insurance company?
(By the way, this entire visa application process is HELL!!!)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is struggling with the insurance requirements for their Non-OA retirement visa application. They currently have insurance with IMG Global, but the Thai consulate requires a specific form that IMG cannot provide. The user is seeking recommendations for affordable Thai insurance companies while expressing frustration with the complex visa application process.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Suzanne ***************
Hi Natalie. We also have IMG Global and it didn’t work for the visa. Ended up purchasing from Tune but it want cheap. This was one year ago. Feels like a scam, for sure!
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Suzanne **************
I’m so frustrated with IMG Global. We’ve been going back and forth and just a few days ago, they finally agreed to sign off on the exact same form but from 2019. 😒. Of course that won’t fly as the Thai government wants to see the words COVID on the form. I tried to reason with them, indicating that it is the same form aside from COVID, and that my insurance with them does cover COVID so what is the problem. No go. Hours wasted!!! So now I am looking at Thai insurance with will be such a waste of money. I’ve never heard of Tune. Do you recommend them?Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Jimmy *********
Axa 65 bucks a month is what I am using
Patrick *******
I would come here on a 60 day tourist visa, then apply for a non -O And if you can prove 65K/M baht income, as a Canadian, you can get a letter of income from the consulate here for about 650 baht. You'll get a 90 day, Non -O retire visa that you can extend for a year. Also, no medicals or police background checks and no insurance for the retire visa or extention is required.
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Patrick ******
how does one prove the income? Our income is all investment-dividend related (no pensions). Do bank statements suffice? Income tax return?Patrick *******
@Natalie *******
not sure. I only had to show my T4 ( before qc taxes 🤣 ) and it was fine. My parents just did theirs last week and showed their pension. Maybe call the consulate to ask. They're pretty helpful. The interesting thing is that it's income before taxes.Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Patrick ******
ah perfect, sounds like the tax return would work then! Thanks!Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Helen ********
@Natalie *******
is your income earned and taxed in Canada? If yes, you don't need to transfer $$ into a Thai bank for a Non O, the Canadian Embassy in BKK or consulate in Chiang Mai will issue you a income verification affidavit.Gordon *******
Consider using an agent, theres plenty around. A lot of people use them for Visa applications, opening bank accounts etc. Some people knock them etc, but if they're that 'bad' how come there's so many of them doing a good business?
Lisa ********************
Kent *****
Not sure if immigration will approve LMG and Luma with 200,000 baht inpatient deductibles, its abit of cheating really. But I believe my own insurance from my home country provides overseas accident coverage.
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kent ****
thank you! Extremely helpful!Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Kent *****
I looked up the cheapest available insurance for oa visa with deductibles, lowest price option is offered by Luma and LMG with 200,000 baht deductibles
Brook ********
I first came on a OA. Left, came back on a tourist visa, converted to NonO and never looked back.
Any CVS or Minute Clinic in the US will sign the medical form without tests. Another option is Dr. Donna in Bangkok via telemedicine.
Any CVS or Minute Clinic in the US will sign the medical form without tests. Another option is Dr. Donna in Bangkok via telemedicine.
Mark **********
Pacific Cross is my preferred carrier as the company is visa friendly in terms of certifications. Best of luck to you.
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *********
thank you, appreciate it!Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Bob **********
Just come and apply for a non-O and extend for a year no insurance
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWerner Heisenberg your piece of advice here is that if I can’t get through the application process, then I can’t get through life in general? Wow, super! You’re the best!
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERWerner Heisenberg oh no, why??? Do you mean to say that the Non-O or ED process from within is more complicated that the Non-OA?
John **********
@Natalie *******
the Non-O process inside Thailand is straightforward. You just need to follow the rules.Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thanks! That’s good to know! I have found the AO process not very straight forward at all, with some documents quite hard to obtain. But I’m persistent if nothing else! Luckily, this group (for the most part) has been truly amazing. 😁Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bob *********
actually thinking this might be our best best. Honestly, I feel we will be throwing away €170 x 2 by applying for the non-OA… I feel they will reject us on a technicality. Are they trying to restrict ex-pat immigration? Is there something I am not aware of?Bob **********
@Natalie *******
no it’s notKool *******
@Natalie *******
they are not trying to restrict ex-pat retirement immigration. It is just from extensive past experiences they have had too many expats and tourists skip on paying their hospital bills when they need hospital medical care, and at some point they will need medical treatment.Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
sorry, probably just venting as I am in the thick of it with no end in sight! 😂😜🫣Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
gotcha! But I wasn’t just referring to the insurance portion… it seems all documents have to be just so and it becomes extremely complicated.Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Jarkko *********
It's rediculous, that there are insurance companies that shouldn't require this joke document. And when one asks for it, they won't provide it. Easier to get Non-O, without insurance and afterwards get insured by one's own means. And also the deal is better..
Steve ********
@Jarqco ***********
It's just easier to have the first 1-2 years on OA in order to get the 65k/month transfers going. Once you've got twelve of those, you do a bounce, kill the OA second year stamp, re-enter on exempt and apply immediately for the O. No need to ship in the 800k because you've already got the 65k gig in actionReply to
Steve ********
Reply
Steve ********
Natalie, contact this lady to get the cheapest available for your requirements
@https://www.fac****************
Jeffrey ************
Just buy the cheapest suitable Thai policy and "write the price off", relying on your original cover.
Steve ********
@Jeffrey ***********
That's another option. It's still better than having to transfer 800,000 baht dead money into a Thai bank accountReply to
Steve ********
Reply
Wayne *********
I used Bangkok insurance for my O-X visa
Steve ********
OA is great if you don't want to transfer the ridiculous 800,000 baht into a Thai bank account. Get the cheapest insurance available from the TGIA website, and as soon as you're in Thailand, cancel it and get the refund for every full month not used
John **********
@Steve *******
that would be a breach of your visa conditionsSteve ********
@John *********
Some people pay mega dollars to agents to circumnavigate visa conditions, but that doesn't seem to bother too many people!John **********
@Steve *******
some (many) people come croppers from paying mega bucks to agents. Just look at all the current problems with volunteer visas. None of it bothers me but it does bother immigration and/or the MFA and folk need to understand there are potential repurcusions for not following the rules. It could mean they can't get a follow on OA visa.Steve ********
@John *********
By the way I agree with you 100% on the subject of agents. I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole!John-Paul ******
@Steve *******
why?Steve ********
@John-Paul *****
Why not? 🤣John-Paul ******
@Steve *******
sorry was not a reply to your post but to another....lol... sorry about that. Actually your suggestion was on point.Steve ********
@John *********
The OP has already said she has a better insurance which covers the criteria. Why would you keep two? The TGIA one gets you the visa. Surely once you have your visa, you assess your situation and say "hey this is a better one", why have two? So you cancel the secondary one. Conditions of the visa don't state anywhere you must keep the same policy. If queried (which it won't be), you simply show the other one which meets the criteriaJohn **********
@Steve *******
except it won't meet the criteria will it because you only get stamped in for the amount of time the correct insurance is valid for.Steve ********
@John *********
You're stamped in for twelve months. There's no requirement to visit an immigration office during that timeJohn **********
@Steve *******
There isn't but others can check passports too. I don't know how much you travel around the country but mine has been checked a number of times at roadside army checkpoints, and not just a quick glance at the stamp. Really why would you risk messing around with this?Steve ********
@John *********
Travel everywhere around the country. I live in Bangkok but travel every month for 7-10 days elsewhere. Never had a passport check anywhere. A few times driving licence and that's it. Somehow I doubt at a police checkpoint you would be asked to show health insuranceJohn **********
@Steve *******
I guess it depends where you travel but I'm referring to army checkpoints, army checkpoints care very much about passports particularly near border areas. Police checkpoints only care about your license.Steve ********
@John *********
Two army checkpoints in Kanchanaburi week before last. Had to roll down the windows and open the boot so they could look inside. That was it. No Passport, no licence check. Funny in 23 years here I've never had a problem.John **********
@Steve *******
doesn't happen all the time, often don't even have to stop. But it has happened to me a couple of times over the years. One of these times was specifically at the start of Covid when international travel was difficult but before they were handing out Covid extensions.Reply to
John **********
Reply
Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
that sounds great but are you sure the insurance policy is not connected to immigration?Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Patrik ********
What's the reason for applying for the Non-Immigrant O-A? Are you moving to Thailand or how long do you plan to stay?
There is also the Non-Immigrant O visa that does not have the health insurance requirement. However, it is works a bit differently from the O-A.
There is also the Non-Immigrant O visa that does not have the health insurance requirement. However, it is works a bit differently from the O-A.
Richard *******
Perhaps the north American doctors get spooked by the words that follow 'is in good physical and mental health ', ie 'free from any defect' . Perhaps they think in signing that off, they are guaranteeing that the individual is literally free from any defect, not just the five listed diseases, and must test for everything to confirm this fact. Australian doctors would sign off in the spirit of the document: no, the patient doesn't have the five diseases of concern and is, to the best of their knowledge and as they present, in good health. North American doctors are possibly more sensitive to the litigious consequences of making the almost impossible statement 'free of any defect', so protect their interests by undertaking every possible test. I'd be astonished if that was the intention of Thai immigration.
Steve ********
@Natalie *******
Every embassy and consulate has their own rules. For example, the OX visa (5+5 years) is the longest term retirement visa, but because it requires $150,000 (Aus dollars) to be placed in a Thai bank account, not many people apply for it. However, the Sydney consulate will accept that amount held in an Australian Bank or Super Account (the only consulate in the world to do so), so the OX is becoming very popular with Aussies. It's a ten year visa, and is a fraction of the cost of an Elite Visa for the same period. Yes for your particular circumstance, probably ED visa is the go. The retirement visas are more for people wanting to stay much longer term in Thailand.
Steve ********
@Natalie *******
I do understand Americans and Canadians have major problems with this health clearance form. It's only five diseases, but for some reason doctors in North America want to carry out a whole series of tests and of course, charge for it. Applicants from Australia and UK get their GP to sign it off free of charge. My doctor actually laughed when he saw what the five diseases were, and I've seen other reports the same. I guess Australians are fortunate in that the Sydney consulate is one of the most user-friendly consulates in the world. I've had several OAs and have experienced no problems at all. I just post in copy of my superannuation statement, police check, the (ahem) medical clearance, the cheque, passport, health insurance certificate and the job's done. It's usually about a seven day turnaround. But yes, if the Canadian embassy is being difficult, choose a different route for sureNatalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
wow, I had no idea it was easier in other jurisdictions. What’s making things tougher is that even though we are Canadians, and for all of our documents while in Canada this summer, we are presently living in Portugal so have to go through the Thai embassy in Portugal for the visa application portion. Their requirements differ from what we were told by the Thai embassy in Canada. We’ve pretty much concluded at this point to come in on a 60 days tourist visa (or heck just the 45 day entry stamp) and then go the ED visa route (our kids will be enrolled in schools in Phuket). Sounds easier? 🤷♀️Reply to
Natalie ********
Reply
Chinpoh ******
@Patrik *******
I applied for non O visa with multiple entry,had to buy medical insurance €309 for 120 days and needed a pension which I didn't have.It was so complicated online.Wasted €175 and had to reapply for tourist visa 60 days without medical insurance.Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Patrik *******
so good question. We are there for a minimum of 8 months (December to July), to put the kids in school. If we love it, we will stay for the following school year. I suppose we are trying to enter Thailand in December with whatever visa will save us grief while in Thailand (so OA for us adults, and O for the kids). No opening of Thai bank accounts, etc…Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTERBut that said, I am pulling my hair out with this damn application! 😬😳🫣
Steve ********
@Natalie *******
Application is easy. What part are you having trouble with?Natalie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *******
I find every single document has been hard to obtain, aside from the criminal record verification. That was straight forward. But the financial info (far from sure that they will accept whatever we produce), the insurance, the medical (I didn’t realize there was an actual form for our doctor to fill out… so while in Canada, we had our doctor write out a letter after undergoing a battery of tests. Not sure this letter will cut it). I am just spent at this point and actually thinking that we will just take our chances, arrive with the 45 day stamp, and get get the ED visas for our kids/ O for us once we pick the school. After all, this is a trial run for us and might not want to stay past July. 🫣Steve ********
@Natalie *******
The health clearance form is page 3 of the link aboveSteve ********
Natalie Roussy
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%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3/Visa_application_form_OA_OX_O_Retirement_as_of_4_April_2022.pdfReply to
Steve ********
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