What Are the Differences Between O and OA Visas in Thailand?

You look at the first page of your current passport (the page where they transferred the previous visa/extension stamps from your old passport and it will have the original VISA type that you started getting yearly extensions on (even if you've switched passports many times during the time you've been getting extensions).

The transfer stamps look like this

Non-Immigrant VISAS are sold under a lot of different categories (F, B, IM, IB, ED, M, R, RS, EX, O, O-A and O-X) :O

IF it is a visa without an A or an X after it, the visa is sold two ways, as a 90 day single entry OR as a year long, multi-entry. Each entry gets you stamped in for 90 days only

IF the visa has an A after the original type, (ED-A, B-A, O-A etc) it means that visa is valid for one year and you get stamped in for a YEAR at a time on every entry while the visa is valid.

IF the visa has an X after the original type (O-X only) that means the visa is valid for 5 years and you get stamped in for FIVE years every entry while the visa is valid.

You can ONLY get an O-A or an O-X visa in your country before you come here. They require a police background check, a medical certificate, proof of health insurance and proof of funds.

.

1. The "O" stands for "Other", this may include:

a. Marriage

b. Volunteer

c. "retirement" (i.e. being over 50 years old)

2. "Non" stands for "non-immigrant". It means you are not planning on being a Thai citizen, and you aren't here as a tourist.

3. There is no difference between an "O" and a "Non-O" visa.

4. A Multiple Entry Non-O visa allows a person to enter and leave Thailand multiple times on the same visa. On a single entry visa, their visa is "used" as soon as they enter Thailand, and can not leave without an re-entry permit (or a new visa). However, most people can only stay 90 days on a multiple entry Non-O visa without getting an extension of stay.

What's your plans for entering and staying in Thailand?