Answered4 years ago
What are the requirements and tips for obtaining a Thai OA visa?
Received our OA visas today. Thank you for the tips etc. bring on Aug 11.
Answer summary
A user shared that they received their OA visas and thanked the community for their tips. Commenters congratulated them and provided insights on the OA visa, noting that it allows a two-year stay without the need to transfer money into a Thai bank account. Discussions also included the efficiency of processing times and the importance of health insurance, outlining that insurance requirements can differ when applying from a home country versus within Thailand. Several users shared their experiences with the insurance process, highlighting the differences in requirements for those with retirement extensions.
29 repliesnewest first
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Bob ********
Jeeez!.. I have just renewed my Retirement Ext. here in Thailand (it had expired during the Covid while I was stuck abroad). ..I have booked a ticket back to Ireland to tie up loose ends and intend to return to Thailand early November...I thought it would be a simple matter of purchasing a ticket back to here, same as before the Covid....but after reading the posts here about Insurance , health certs and police reports....it has put the heart crossways in me.
I assume it is because you are getting your Visas from your home country rather than in Thailand...or has it
something to do particularly with Australia ?
I assume it is because you are getting your Visas from your home country rather than in Thailand...or has it
something to do particularly with Australia ?
Bobby ********
@Robert *******
Insurance for OA visa was introduced well before covid. It's no big deal but some people are frightened of insurance. You can use home country insurance if you don't wish to buy Thai insurance.
Kathryn *******
OP@Bobby *******
you really have to do your research on insurance for price or try and get that Thai form complete by your home insurance company - that was the tricky part as our insurance is ongoing covered by our high level credit card so we had no expiry date no policy number etc - so for us was way easier just to buy Thai ins. Quotes started at $5k Pp so yes you need to shop around. Actually the embassy hand wrote on the visa stamp the exp date of our insurance.Kathryn *******
OP@Bobby *******
yes no way would I travel without top cover. You just never know what’s around the corner. The Thai insurance we purchased for OA has a huge excess of USD $12k to keep price cheap 😂. All good. Can’t wait to get there now 😎
Bobby ********
@Kathryn ******
You can get a Thai insurance (although it's pretty useless as it has an excess of 200,000 baht) for around $300 Aussie dollars (7700 baht) which satisfies the requirements for the OA and OX. However, I get a decent insurance through an Allianz broker, who signs the form for me, and it's accepted by the Thai consulate in Sydney. I refuse point blank to stay in any foreign country without adequate health insurance, but there are so many cheap Charlie expats who work hard at avoiding insurance! Don't worry, I've done the research!Bob ********
Bob ********
@Bobby *******
Yes...I'm aware Insurance is an individual choice... What I mean is it has never been a "requirement" when either renewing my Retirement Ext. here in Thailand or travelling back and forth from Europe....I understand it may be required if applying for it outside Thailand at a Consulate or Embassy.Bob ********
@Bobby *******
Thank you Bobby....but....I have been on a Retirement Ext here for the past 23 years, travelling back and forth to Europe for a holiday...and never had to buy Insurance until coming back this time. Am I right when I say I think that is because my Retirement Ext. is issued in Thailand ?
Bobby ********
@Robert *******
I don't know the individual circumstances of your visa. I've lived in Thailand for about 9 or 10 years but wouldn't even consider living here without health insurance, so I'm not in a position to give you an accurate answer
Todd ***********
How long did the whole process take?
Kathryn *******
OP@Todd **********
a couple months as we both worked at the time of preparing the application. However the embassy received the application on a Monday and processed it the same day according to the date of visa in our passport. Very efficient.Kathryn *******
OPI must say the insurance component investigation took a lot of research.
Bennito *********
Thanks for sharing this information. Everybody was waiting for it 🙄
Madhu *****
That's awesome! Congratulations!
Bobby ********
Good choice. You can get two years stay from this and do not have to transfer any money into a Thai bank account. If down the track you want longer time you can get the OX which gives you five years, which can be extended a further five years.
John-Paul ******
@Bobby *******
That is right abut O/X visa. But: 1. Age of 50 years old or over2. Applicants must hold passport and nationality of (1) Japan (2) Australia (3) Denmark (4) Finland (5) France (6) Germany (7) Italy (8) Netherlands (9) Norway (10) Sweden (11) Switzerland (12) United Kingdom (13) Canada (14) United States of America
3. Financial qualifications
(a) Applicants must have money deposited in Thai bank located in Thailand with the amount of not less than 3 million Baht; or
(b) Applicants must have money deposited in Thai bank located in Thailand with the amount of not less than 1.8 million Baht and have income with the amount of not less than 1.2 million Baht per year. Once the applicants enter Thailand, they must have accumulated money deposited in Thai bank located in Thailand not less than 3 million Baht within 1 year.
The money in (a) and (b) must be kept in bank account at least 1 year before withdrawing and, within another next year, the money must be left in the account with the amount of not less than 1.5 million Baht and can only be spent in Thailand.
4. Applicants must have no forbidden diseases according to the Ministerial Regulation No. 14 (B.E. 2535) which include Leprosy, Tuberculosis, Elephantiasis, drug addiction and third stage of Syphilis.
5. Applicants must have Thai medical insurance during their stay in Thailand (per the approval of the Office of Insurance Commission) and medical claims for outpatient must not be less than 40,000 Baht, for inpatient must not be less than 400,000 Baht.
John-Paul ******
Well that is a wonderful thing.
Bobby ********
@John-Paul *****
For Australians there is no requirement to transfer money into Thai bank account. Can show money in Australian bank account. The rest of the criteria is easy. Best visa for Aussies
Andrew *******
Congratulations!! Have a happy retirement in Thailand. You will love it.
Kathryn *******
OPThank you Andrew. We are only staying 7 months or so until
our new home is built in Australia. We are more than excited to travel Thailand staying 1 month at a time in different areas or how ever long we decide. This has been on our bucket list for 15 yrs. Now we r free to do so.
To everyone - yes we needed proof of insurance.
Yes we needed proof of funds in Australian bank. No we did not need to put $$ in a Thai back. 😎
our new home is built in Australia. We are more than excited to travel Thailand staying 1 month at a time in different areas or how ever long we decide. This has been on our bucket list for 15 yrs. Now we r free to do so.
To everyone - yes we needed proof of insurance.
Yes we needed proof of funds in Australian bank. No we did not need to put $$ in a Thai back. 😎
Andrew *******
@Kathryn ******
that’s a great decision. Where in Thailand have you decided on ?Kathryn *******
OP@Andrew ******
initially travelling north to chaing rai then over to the east. Make our way Down to Samui eventually for 1 month. Not sure after that. We will see when we are there.😎.
Donna *******
@Kat****
ok thanks we also used Mr Prakan Tune for STV was wonder if you had found a cheaper Aussie company.Kathryn *******
OP@Donna ******
well I wish we could have got the “form” completed by our medical/travel insurer however being a corporate no one would sign off. Safest thing to do was use a recommended Thai insurance that satisfied the OA application requirement. Yes tune is cheap but the cover not high enough in USD for OA.Donna *******
@Kat****
Hi, can I ask what insurance company you used? I'm currently in Thailand on a STV and looking to come back to Aus to apply for OA after my 9 months on STVKathryn *******
OP@Donna ******
we were advised by the embassy the STV is ceasing in September and we could not stretch it out to cover our 7-8 months hence the OA . Liberty insurance which is listed in the embassy website and we dealt with it via Misterpraken .com
Jingle *****
@Kathryn ******
May I know what type of insurance needed? Does it have to be from Thai Insurance company?Kathryn *******
OP@Jingle ****
due to the outdated and 1970s type of insurance form that is required by the Embassy - yes we got the cheapest Thai insurance with the highest deductible that we will never use as we have our own travel ins on our credit card that also covers the covid requirement. However this form wanted “fax”number and I think from memory the Manager of the company to sign the form plus a statement saying covered for covid in hospital and out as well as the policy. If you down load the form you will see what I mean - no insurance company will fill that out. We used Liberty purchased through Mister Praken .comFor both of us was about aud $1500 1 yr. We can cancel after we come home and get % refund.
Liberty have a policy just to satisfy the OA requirement. We could suspend our private health insurance in Aust for up to 2 yrs which was a blessing.
Kathryn *******
OPYes we did. Took form to Dr to complete and did the Federal Police check for visa purpose on line. Came back o/n.
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