What are the current health insurance requirements for a Non Immigrant O retirement visa in Thailand for Dutch applicants?

Feb 8, 2023
2 years ago
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello Thailand lovers,

I try to apply for a Non Immigrant O retirement visa at the Thai embassy in The Hague . 67 Year young and Dutch.

I read many times that for the Non Immigrant O retirement visa an health insurance was not required. It should be required for the OA version when I am corerect.

I am fully covered for medical issues by my Dutch health Insurance and an extra travel insurance.

Both insurances sent me an English coverage paper, but the specific amounts (as required by the embassy) they can't be/are not mentioned on it.

The Thai embassy requires a health care insurance now for the Non Immigrant O retirement visa and want me to take a 3th insurance.

Does anyone has experience in this matter?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A Dutch applicant inquiring about the Non Immigrant O retirement visa faces challenges regarding health insurance requirements at the Thai embassy in The Hague. Despite previous beliefs that insurance is only required for the OA version, the embassy now demands additional coverage. The applicant has Dutch health insurance and travel insurance but cannot provide the specific amounts required by the embassy. Other community members offered advice, suggesting alternatives such as obtaining a tourist visa and converting it in Thailand or purchasing a short-term insurance policy. Additionally, discussions included the income requirements for maintaining residency in Thailand.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Robert ************
@Riny ***********
You are welcome.
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert ************
@Riny ***********
STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND (Must be over age 50): i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must promptly open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all, require proof of foreign source of funds (e.g.- CM does not). WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), Must be Over Age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.
Robert ************
@Riny ***********
All I can say is, like you noted, "on paper" it is acceptable. But be advised, use of any Income Method will also require an Affidavit from your Embassy for 1st application (USA, UK, Aussie, no longer provide; don't know about your Dutch).
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ***********
Thank you Robert. I will contact the embassy in BKK to see if they provide such a Affidavit. I have already English confirmation of my income. See if they can/will "legalize" it.
Robert ************
@Riny ***********
It is mandatory for using Income Method.
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
One more last question Robert (or anybody else. The proces of Visa applications is very clear as you posted and I can handle that myself very likely. But have you (or anybody else) experiance with the Combination income requirement? From Thai Embassy website: Income certificate with a monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB OR a deposit account plus a monthly income in total not less than 80,000 THB. My Yearly retirement income is +/- THB 600.000. I can drop THB 400.000 on a Thai bank account. (I don't manage the THB 800.000) Is this combination of earnigs THB 600K and bank deposit of THB 400K accepted as Yearly THB 800.000 requirement? On paper it does, but is it really accepted by the Immigration office(s)? TIA
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you🙂
John **********
@Riny ***********
while that's the theory you need to ask the immigration office in the area you plan to base yourself in. Each immigration office has a lot of leeway, most will, some won't
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert ************
@Riny ***********
You are welcome.
John ******
Have a look at thailandblog. Extensive information about the Dutch Health Insurance . Almost impossible to get a statement about your health insurance that will be accepted by immigration
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes it is.
Ralphy *****
I am getting O visa in Australia then will come to Thailand for up to 3 months allowed. What happens if I want to extend after 90 days ie 1 year? and have multiple entry. Agents charging
*****
baht,
*****
baht multiple entry for 1 year. What's required if I don't use agent in Thailand.
Brandon ************
@Ralphy ****
this is the standard list of requirements for the 1 year extension based on retirement. To make it multiple entry you'd need to purchase a multiple re-entry permit at immigration or the airport for 3800â‚¿
Ralphy *****
@Brandon ***********
might stay in Thailand 3 months at a time lol. Seems OA is the go after all
Brandon ************
Embassies are allowed to make their own requirements as well. So you can either purchase 3 months of insurance if the embassy will not accept your existing insurance, or go to Thailand on a tourist visa or visa Exempt and apply to convert to non-O visa inside of Thailand which has no insurance requirement.
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you !
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you! 🙂
Stuart *********
@Riny ***********
I flew in on a 45 day tourist visa, got a bank account, transferred 800k the over and got all the paperwork required for my application and with 30 days left on my visa I submitted my application for the Non O retirement Visa, paid 2000thb, and they told me to come back in 30 days to get my retirement Visa stamped in my Passport, that was on December 22nd, it's valid for 90 days ( till March 22nd) on February 18th I go back and apply for the 1 year extension for 1900thb, which I am preparing now ( all done) and then every year I just ( renew) get another 1 year extension for 1900thb
Stuart *********
@Riny ***********
@Brandon ***********
is 100% correct, I am doing it now, got my Non immigrant o visa 3 weeks ago , no insurance needed and I came here on a 45 day tourist visa . 😀
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
Did you apply for the Non O Visa in Thailand (after your 45 Days Visa exempt) or did you had to apply in an other country for the Non O? Brandon posted that it is possible to do that in Thailand. Just wondering/interested where you applied for the Non O. TIA
Brandon ************
@Riny ***********
you have to have 14-21 days left on your stay to apply for the non-O so you cannot apply after 45 days unless you get an extension. 14-21 days will be your under consideration period and after that you return and get your new visa. You'll also need to have the money in a Thai bank account already or the income statement from your embassy if using the income method.
Riny ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
I will come on a 60 Days Tourist Visa then. Could be extended with 30 Days I believe. (no sure about that 30 Days extension possibility) but in the first 60 Days Tourist visa I have enough time to do the Non O Retirement Visa apply. That 800K THB on the bank/or sufficiant income statement starts with the 1 Year apply when I am right. For the first 3 Months Non Imm. O Retirement Visa, the 800K on the bank is not asked for/required by the Embassy here. They only want to see an income/retirement statement (minimum, EURO 1000 per Month) which is not a problem.
John **********
@Riny ***********
it depends. If you're embassy in Thailand provides an income affidavit that is all you need both for the initial 90 day Non-O visa and for subsequent extensions from it. If your embassy does not provide an income affidavit then you need 800k baht in a Thai bank in order to apply (no seasoning required but it must come from overseas). You then need 800k baht in your account two full months before applying for an extension.
Brandon ************
@Riny ***********
to get the 90 day non-O in Thailand you have to prove the money already.

A tourist visa can get a 30 day extension.
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