Answered6 years ago
What are the differences between Non O-A and Non O visas for expat parents visiting Thailand?
Hi all, after a bit of advice from you all! Partner and I live in Thailand and we are going to try and get my parents (who have been vaccinated and are from the UK) out to Thailand for several months but we have a bit of a dilemma with the visas.
We are debating between the Non O-A or the Non O based on being over 50.
As I understand it, the Non O-A has a year stamp on entry. You can use your own insurance, but if you do you can't extend in country? You also need a medical and a police check (does the embassy do the police check?). Is this correct?
The Non O on the other hand has no insurance, medical or police check requirement and has a 90 day stamp on entry. Is this correct?
Now, the reason we were leaning towards the Non O-A was it was for a year's stay, so it gives some flexibility if my parents want to stay longer than 90 days if they are enjoying it or if things change regarding quarantine going back to the UK. Can the Non O be extended in country (I've heard of the yearly extension with the 800k baht requirement), if it can be extended how long can it be extended for?
Is my understanding of the visas correct and which one do you think they should go for? or would a normal 60 day tourist visa be a better option?
Thanks for any input!
We are debating between the Non O-A or the Non O based on being over 50.
As I understand it, the Non O-A has a year stamp on entry. You can use your own insurance, but if you do you can't extend in country? You also need a medical and a police check (does the embassy do the police check?). Is this correct?
The Non O on the other hand has no insurance, medical or police check requirement and has a 90 day stamp on entry. Is this correct?
Now, the reason we were leaning towards the Non O-A was it was for a year's stay, so it gives some flexibility if my parents want to stay longer than 90 days if they are enjoying it or if things change regarding quarantine going back to the UK. Can the Non O be extended in country (I've heard of the yearly extension with the 800k baht requirement), if it can be extended how long can it be extended for?
Is my understanding of the visas correct and which one do you think they should go for? or would a normal 60 day tourist visa be a better option?
Thanks for any input!
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the appropriate visa options for the user's parents, who plan to visit Thailand from the UK. The user is considering either the Non O-A visa, which allows a one-year stay but has more stringent requirements including health insurance, a medical examination, and a police background check, or the Non O visa, which permits a 90-day stay and is simpler in terms of requirements. Various commenters suggest starting with a 60-day tourist visa for flexibility and as an entry point to evaluate further visa options during their stay.
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Lavinia ***************
We took an Non O A visa in November and did all the requirements, but because our insurance company could only grarantee six months at entry they stamp you six months only and also state it on your visa, we asked at immigration the other day when we would return what would be our best option to stay permanently, we was advised to do the 60 day tourist visa on entry and then apply for the retirement in Thailand due to the insurances changing so much from your home country -
James ********
@Lavinia **********************
so let me understand this... You obtained the OA visa last November 2020 in your home country?
Did you enter Thailand on it since then?
Lavinia ***************
@James *******
yes we got it from the London embassy we did quarantine etc and have just had to do the 90 day check ins about a month ago and that’s. when I asked about us returning 
Donna ********
OP@Lavinia **********************
interesting, thanks for sharing your experienceJames ********
@Donna *******
confusing at best from what she said... Will try to get a clarification of the facts James ********
I agree with
What is their ages?
@Tod ********
....once they are in Thailand then they can look over their options to stay. What is their ages?
Donna ********
OP@James *******
they are 65. They've been talking about living out here but I'm not sure they could handle it, so this is an opportunity for them to see if they could live for an extended time as they've only been for 3 week holidays.I just wanted a little flexibility with the visa in case of flight cancellations or Thailand being put on any kind of quarantine list by the UK
James ********
@Donna *******
Official #COVID19 update in #Thailand on Sunday:👉🏾 Since January 2020
♦️ 32,625 people infected (+3 imported cases & +964 local cases)
♦️ 3,198 of these cases were imported
♦️ 97 dead +0 (0.30%)
#โควิด19 #โควิดวันนี้ #ThaiNewsReports
* Standby for more updates
Donna ********
OP@James *******
yes we've been keeping up to date. We are still discussing with my parents about what to doJames ********
@Donna *******
bring them over later this year. Now is not a good time due to the COVID spike in Thailand. Hopefully by October the quarantine will be not required... Especially for those who have evidence of the vaccine shots.
Once here they have options to extend their stay... If they choose to do so.
Tod *********
I'd say if your parents have never been here don't bother jumping thru the hoops to get the a Non-O-A (Long Stay) visa (that's the one with the medical certificate, the background check, the proof of funds and proof of insurance) from the consulate back there
I'd say get a single entry tourist visa. That will get them stamped in for 60 days, they can extend that for 30 more and certainly in that amount of time they'll figure out if this place is for them (and pursue a longer visa to stay) OR go back to where ever it is they came from.
I'd say get a single entry tourist visa. That will get them stamped in for 60 days, they can extend that for 30 more and certainly in that amount of time they'll figure out if this place is for them (and pursue a longer visa to stay) OR go back to where ever it is they came from.
Donna ********
OP@Tod ********
they have been coming to Thailand for the last 14 years once a year for a holiday to visit us for 3 week holidays. They are talking about living here in the future but I think they need to see if they can live here first, so this is an opportunity to do that.Benjamin ******
@Donna *******
In that case, I recommend entering on a tourist visa and getting the Non-O visa inside Thaiand. They would avoid the health insurance requirements. Donna ********
OP@Benjamin *****
we agree completely about living here and the mindset, which is why they need to try it and see if they can cope!Benjamin ******
@Donna *******
*IF* they move to Thailand, they'll eventually need to transfer the 800K THB (or 65K THB in monthly transfers) to get an extension of stay based on retirement. Thailand's a great country to visit, but it requires a certain type of mindset to live here though.
Donna ********
OPI'm edging towards the tourist visa too, because I really don't think they can live here. But on the offchance they surprise me, it would have been nice to have had a bit of leeway with the visa. In the past when I've mentioned having to have 800k in the bank here for the Non O, they haven't seemed keen
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