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What are the requirements and procedures for obtaining an O-A retirement visa in Thailand, specifically regarding the 90-day reporting and medical insurance?
O-A VisaThailand VisaRetirement Visa90-Day ReportingMedical InsuranceExpat Life in ThailandRenting in ThailandShort Term RentalsApartment Rentals
Jul 11, 2022
4 years ago
David ****
ORIGINAL POSTERGood morning folks, I’d appreciate some help regarding a O-A retirement visa. I’m planning to stay in Thailand approximately 9 months so this visa might be my best choice. Even though it’s a 1 year visa, my understanding is that every 90 days I must goto immigration and pay a fee to renew, is this correct? Also, regarding medical insurance, can I buy 90 days at a time since I’ll don’t plan to stay the full year.
Finally, are there any websites for short term apartment rentals other than Airbnb? Probably 3-6 months lease and then monthly.
Thanks in advance.
Finally, are there any websites for short term apartment rentals other than Airbnb? Probably 3-6 months lease and then monthly.
Thanks in advance.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The O-A retirement visa allows for a one-year stay in Thailand, but a 90-day report is required to inform immigration of your continued stay. This report is free, and subsequent reports can be done online. It's important to note that your medical insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the visa; purchasing insurance for shorter periods can limit your entry stamp to match that shorter duration. For accommodations, while short-term leases (3-6 months) can be challenging to find, serviced apartments may provide more flexibility, and there are various Facebook groups dedicated to renting condos in Thailand.
90 DAY REPORTING RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Use the trusted Thailand 90 Day Reporting Serviceto get your in-person report done and mailed to you for as low as 375 THB (even if the online system doesn't work for you).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
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Brett **********
If you have an O-A visa you'll be stamped in for however long you're insured for so if you just want 9 months just buy 9 months insurance (you'll probably have to use Tune as I think most of the other providers only do 1 year policies but I may be wrong). The insurance for your whole stay must be purchased up front
Bobby ********
If you plan to enter and simply leave after nine months there's no point in doing the 90 day report as you'll never have any reason to visit immigration and the officers at the airport don't give a stuff about 90-day reports
Bobby ********
@David ***
I used the border at Chong Mek. Although we live in Bangkok my lady comes from out that way, so we'd combine a visit to her family with a drive to the border. She'd come over with me, and we'd generally spend an hour or two. It's a crap place on the Laos side, but a few shops and restaurants to look at, have lunch and come back over. It's a strange place, with a tunnel that doesn't actually go under anything except a car park. Fortunately there's signs in English pointing to Laos and Thailand!David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
I really appreciate all the info you’re sharing. Seems like it’s a simple process. When you do a border bounce, do you extend your medical insurance for another year. Is it required?Bobby ********
@David ***
Yes I organised the extension to health insurance a week or so before the bounce, but had it start on the proposed date so I got the full year.Reply to
Bobby ********
Reply
David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
thanks for the reply. So you’re saying that unless I plan to renew the visa for another year, the 90 days report isn’t necessary?Bobby ********
@David ***
And you don't renew the visa. At the 12-month stage you border bounce and get another 12-month stamp.David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bobby *******
thank you for this useful advice. Where do you border bounce? Laos? And usually for how long before returning to Thailand?Reply to
David ****
Reply
Bobby ********
@David ***
By law it's required, but it'll never be picked up. Pre-covid I lived for nine years in Thailand on OA visa, using the border bounce to get the free year, and returning to my home country for a visit every two years, picking up a new OA in the process. In those nine years I never had to transfer money into a Thai bank account and never went to an immigration office. Covid killed that but now it looks like it's back on track! I was never once queried about 90-day report, and if absolute worse comes to worse it's a 2000 baht fine. Some people pay more than that to agents to do it for them!Ադամ ********
@David ***
90 day report has nothing to do with your visa and it is free. I have an O-A for some years. Never did a 90 day report because I never stayed over 90 days in Thailand!Brandon ************
@David ***
technically yes. But if you ever return to Thailand need to use immigration, they may notice and fine you at that time.David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thanks again. I definitely plan to return and eventually retire in Thailand so I’ll certainly follow the rules as do my reporting as required.Reply to
David ****
Reply
Clarissa *****
They are so many Facebook groups about renting condos here. Where are you gonna stay?
Alan *******
It is a 90 day report you will need to do, not a renewal, no fee. The first report must be done at an Immigration Office, the following reports can be done on line. As far as insurance goes, I'm not sure about short period policies, but why not pick a policy and select monthly payments and then just stop paying when you don't need it.
David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alan ******
thanks for the reply. I’m starting to get a better sense of how immigration works there.Reply to
David ****
Reply
Brandon ************
No you cannot do 90 days at a time. When you submit your application to the embassy, they will require 1 year of insurance, because you are applying for 1 year visa.
Your insurance will also be checked when you enter Thailand, and if you do not have 1 year of insurance, you will only be stamped in for as long as your policy lasts. So if you had a 90 day policy, you would only be given 90 days inside Thailand.
You can look for a serviced apartment. But for the most part leases in Thailand are for 12 months and landlords don't want to deal with shorter leases, especially now that the country has opened back up.
It's difficult to search for places to stay as there is no centralized listing place, each agency has their own units and no access to what other agents have, so you would have to reach out to multiple agents.
Your insurance will also be checked when you enter Thailand, and if you do not have 1 year of insurance, you will only be stamped in for as long as your policy lasts. So if you had a 90 day policy, you would only be given 90 days inside Thailand.
You can look for a serviced apartment. But for the most part leases in Thailand are for 12 months and landlords don't want to deal with shorter leases, especially now that the country has opened back up.
It's difficult to search for places to stay as there is no centralized listing place, each agency has their own units and no access to what other agents have, so you would have to reach out to multiple agents.
David ****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thank you for the reply. I clearly need to do a bit more research and most likely will need to purchase a year policy. Someone said the 90 day reporting isn’t necessary if I don’t plan to renew the visa. Any thoughts on that?Brandon ************
@David ***
I already replied under that commentReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Robert ******
@Brandon ***********
🙄 *****************************************************
Brandon ************
@Robert *****
that's a single agency. They don't have access to every single rental like places in the US do when everything is on a central database that realtors have access to. The website you provided only has what landlords have listed with them. And another website would have different units. X1000Robert ******
@Brandon ***********
OK 👍Reply to
Robert ******
Reply
David *********
The only fee is for when you first get your visa. There is no charge for the 90 day report. Health insurance has to be valid for the number of days your visa is valid. If you only purchase for 90 days then immigration will only stamp you in for 90 days even though you have a one year visa.
Wayne *********
Normally they require insurance for the period of the visa. But its been known they only stamp you in for the period of insurance. So if only 3 months they may only stamp you in for 3 months. Others may help, this is just what I have read in the past not from personal experience
Ադամ ********
My experience is US only. You must pay for one full year of insurance in advance to even apply for the O-A Visa.
Wayne *********
@Adam *******
my understanding as well. I needed min 1 year for my 5 year visaReply to
Wayne *********
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