Answered4 years ago
What are the advantages of applying for a Thai O-A retirement visa from your home country compared to applying for an O visa in Thailand?
Are there any benefits (other than not needing to show funds in a Thai bank account) of applying for an o-a retirement visa in one's native country instead of an o retirement visa within Thailand? I believe that the former requires health insurance, and the latter doesn't.
Answer summary
Applying for an O-A retirement visa in one's native country offers benefits such as the requirement of health insurance (3 million baht coverage) and the ability to stay for nearly two years without frequent immigration checks. The O-A visa allows for extended stay with less hassle compared to the O visa, which has fewer upfront requirements (no health insurance, police background check, or medical certificate) but may require proof of funds from within Thailand. Over time, the advantages of an O visa may become more appealing for long-term residents as insurance requirements for O-A have increased.
19 repliesnewest first
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Jimmy *********
If you get the OA, you don't need to check in with immigration for the year? Is that what yall are saying?
Ellie *******
@Jimmy ********
, no. If you have Non-OA, you don't have to apply for a 1-year extension at the immigration office to stay longer than 90 days (you can manage to stay for nearly 2 years from 1 Non-OA visa). You still need to do 90 days report which you can do online.Jimmy *********
@Ellie ******
thank youJimmy *********
@Ellie ******
perfect
John ********
As you get older, and stay longer, the O option advantages outweigh the OA advantages in my view ....
Tod *********
Sorry I mis-remembered what you asked
you're asking about doing an OA in your country (where you show proof of funds there, show the mandatory 3 million baht insurance, do the police background check and medical certificate
versus
getting the O visa/year extension inside the country which you show proof of funds inside the country but doesn't require a police background check, medical certificate OR any insurance
The OA visa can afford a person almost 2 years of stay (so no need to bank any money here for that time) as long as you exit/re-enter the country just before the VISA itself runs out (and you have another year of the mandatory 3 million baht insurance). You'll get stamped in for a whole new year (or as long as your insurance is good for)
Many people were taking the OA visa when it had the lower insurance requirements 40k/400k out/in-patient coverage but since it went to the 100K USD, (3 million thai baht) coverage a LOT of people are getting off them and getting an O visa then the year extension
Sorry I didn't read your initial post correctly, I deleted my bad response
you're asking about doing an OA in your country (where you show proof of funds there, show the mandatory 3 million baht insurance, do the police background check and medical certificate
versus
getting the O visa/year extension inside the country which you show proof of funds inside the country but doesn't require a police background check, medical certificate OR any insurance
The OA visa can afford a person almost 2 years of stay (so no need to bank any money here for that time) as long as you exit/re-enter the country just before the VISA itself runs out (and you have another year of the mandatory 3 million baht insurance). You'll get stamped in for a whole new year (or as long as your insurance is good for)
Many people were taking the OA visa when it had the lower insurance requirements 40k/400k out/in-patient coverage but since it went to the 100K USD, (3 million thai baht) coverage a LOT of people are getting off them and getting an O visa then the year extension
Sorry I didn't read your initial post correctly, I deleted my bad response
George *********
So the 65,000 baht per month, unlike the deposit of 800,000 baht in one lump sum, can be completely withdrawn each month...and just replaced the following month with the same money. I thought you had to show 12 months of regular monthly deposits, so presumably you can only do this in the second year....or am I missing something here...
Dominic ****
OP@George ********
sounds like this method can only be used if planned well in advanceTod *********
@George ********
you need to transfer IN to the country from abroad a minimum of 65k baht a month. As long as the transfer comes from overseas into a thai bank account in your name only every month for the previous 12 months and codes in your bank book as an international transfer you're fine.Tod *********
it's that increased insurance requirement that is steering people away from it.
While this isn't a "how to get insurance for my OA visa" group the cheapest 100K USD coverage you can get for that OA now is by LMG and it has a MILLION baht deductible yet still high premiums compared to the old
While this isn't a "how to get insurance for my OA visa" group the cheapest 100K USD coverage you can get for that OA now is by LMG and it has a MILLION baht deductible yet still high premiums compared to the old
******
that was required
Alex *******
@Tod ********
Is there a maximum permissible size of the deductible or can it be ANY as long as the headline figure of the policy without taking into account the deductible is at least 100,000 USD / 3,000,000 THB?
James ********
@Alex ******
amounts of deductibles are not an issue. Just show PROOF of having met the health insurance REQUIREMENTS.Dominic ****
OP@Tod ********
good points. But then keeping 800k in a Thai bank account (or 400k for most of the year) with no interest instead of keeping it in bonds overseas paying 4.75% interest costs tens of thousands of baht in lost interest, making the health insurance effectively free for someone aged under 70 IMOTod *********
@Dominic ***
yep, it's definitely a personal decision, although I know a LOT of people on the O visa/extension who just transfer the 65K baht a month into their thai bank account from abroad for 12 months and use monthly income that way to get the year extension. OFF TOPIC:
one guy I know transfers in the 65K baht a month from his bank account in Cambodia, then takes it out in cash, goes to Dee Money and sends it back to himself and then does it again next month.
He's done that now since his embassy stopped issuing income affidavits and not had any issue at all getting his extensions. He says the small amount he loses in transfer fees is totally worth it to NOT bank the 800K baht here
Tod *********
here's the old
considerable change for the 100K USD premium
most people were just getting the
******
coverage premiums considerable change for the 100K USD premium
most people were just getting the
******
with the 200K deductible and factoring it in as a way to "tick the box" to show the OA insurance for your extension. Now with the premiums what they are for the 100K policy more people are getting off the OA and going to the O and the year extension
Steve *********
@Tod ********
My understanding is that with the increased insurance requirement they have dropped the requirement that the insurance must be from a specific Thai insurance company.Ellie *******
Another small point might be: with Non-OA you can stay up to almost 2 years in Thailand without needing to go to the immigration office, with one application (and one border-run). Works for some people living far from Immigration offices but still traveling at least once a year.
Dominic ****
OP@Ellie ******
utilising online 90 day reporting presumablyEllie *******
@Dominic ***
, right, or by postal service. (or travel more often)Activity
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