Answereda year ago
What are the requirements for health insurance to support an O-A visa application from the UK?
Looking for advice re insurance to support O-A visa from UK Thai Embassy in London. I have previously (for many years, lastly in 2023) used a UK insurance company alongside their completion of the required certificate. This has in the past always been accepted and the visa issued. This year, I have received the attached insurance rejection message. It seems that now a ‘health insurance policy’ is required, rather than a ‘travel insurance’ policy with included medical cover. Does anyone have any experience of this and know any ways to resolve it? Failing this, what’s a cheap insurance company to offer me the cover? - I’ve already bought the UK insurance and it can’t be cancelled.
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Thai Embassy/ The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like to request for additional documents as follows:
Health Insurance issued by a Thai or foreign insurer, covering general illnesses, including COVID-19, with a minimum insured sum of 100,000 USD or 3,000,000 THB.: -
Your travel insurance is not accepted (Health Insurance ONLY). It shall cover the whole duration of your stay and meet all our requirements. You need a new Health Insurance. Please visit [members only]
Foreign Insurance Certificate, as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, must be completed, signed, and stamped by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from [members only].: -
The new Foreign Insurance Certificate must be completed, SIGNED and OFFICIAL STAMPED by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from. [members only]
——
Thai Embassy/ The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like to request for additional documents as follows:
Health Insurance issued by a Thai or foreign insurer, covering general illnesses, including COVID-19, with a minimum insured sum of 100,000 USD or 3,000,000 THB.: -
Your travel insurance is not accepted (Health Insurance ONLY). It shall cover the whole duration of your stay and meet all our requirements. You need a new Health Insurance. Please visit [members only]
Foreign Insurance Certificate, as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, must be completed, signed, and stamped by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from [members only].: -
The new Foreign Insurance Certificate must be completed, SIGNED and OFFICIAL STAMPED by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from. [members only]
Answer summary
The Thai O-A visa requires a specific health insurance policy that covers a minimum of $100,000 (about 3 million THB) for general illnesses, including COVID-19. Recent changes indicate that travel insurance is no longer acceptable. Users have shared experiences highlighting the necessity for insurers based in Thailand and recommended providers like AXA Thailand, noting their competitive pricing and requirement compliance. It's critical to choose an insurance provider that can issue a Foreign Insurance Certificate endorsed by the Thai Office of Insurance Commission.
16 repliesnewest first
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Pedro **********
As an example, Travel insurance for out of country travel (from Canada) will not cover beyond 30 days or so. AI spat out "Travel insurance provides short-term, trip-specific coverage for emergencies, lost luggage, and trip cancellations, while health insurance offers long-term, comprehensive coverage for routine medical care and ongoing health needs"
Johnson *****
I've been on a non OA Immigrant Visa for 3 years now. During the first year, I was able to use my home country insurance. However, since then, the embassy required an insurance company based in Thailand. I've done price comparisons and found AXA Thailand to not only meet the requirements but also competitively priced. Hope that helps 🙂
Rok ********
Insurance must be from approved thai providers - why Non-OA? Non-O is much simpler. At least that’s what I thought when attempting Non-OA and gave up.
Brian **********
The advantage is that you can keep your money in your home country, where it can be invested , getting more favourable returns.
Brian **********
@Rok *******
I think the main advantage of the O-A Visa, is that there is no requirement for any funds in Thailand.Money can be kept in home country, where it can be invested, far more favourably.
This also means that there is no requirement to prove any funds, within Thailand, when it comes to Extension of Stay,
All that is required, for extension, is to leave Thailand; and re-enter, before the Visa expires.
You need to renew your Health Insurance.
You will then be “stamped in” to Thailand, for a further year, or until the end of your Insurance Policy.
Jack *********
@Brian *********
wowI’m on a OA and I have my ฿800,000 in the bank here. I was led to believe it was required
Greg ***********
@Brian *********
after the 2 years out of a O/A visa, you must show the 800,000 THB in a Thai bank if you chose to continue to stay in Thailand on the yearly extension. So unless you return to your home country and apply for the 365-days Non-Imm-O/A visa again, there is no advantageJack *********
@Brian *********
I’ve been in country over 7 years and I’ve m on extensions of course but I have to have the show money as wellBrian **********
@Jack ********
The additional year, being “stamped in” isn’t actually an “extension of stay”.It’s simply that, the Visa enables you to be stamped in for 1 year, every time that you enter Thailand, while the Visa is valid. You need to have health insurance, to cover that time. Otherwise, you will only be stamped in until the expiry date of the insurance.
This enables you to get almost 2 years stay in Thailand, from the one Visa.
I think that, if you want to stay longer, it’s best to start again, with an O-A Visa, which can only be obtained from your home country.
Alternatively, you could get a Non-O Visa, from inside Thailand, or any other country.
Rok ********
@Jack ********
exactly … everybody offers a different advice … at which point i gave up and went for simper non-o
John ***************
@Brian *********
O visa = general non-immigrant visa for retirees, dependents, or other reasons.O-A visa = long-stay retirement visa issued outside Thailand.
The O-A (retirement) visa does have financial requirements.
Here are what the rules do require (as of 2025):
Must be 50+ years old.
One of:
• A bank deposit of THB 800,000 in a Thai bank (or outside + proof)
• A monthly income (pension / regular) of at least THB 65,000
• A combination of income + savings equalling 800,000 THB
If you mean first-year without extension, some aspects are a bit more flexible (e.g. funds outside Thailand or home-country bank statements) but even then you still need to show those sums.
Key differences:
Where issued: O-A is applied for at a Thai embassy/consulate outside Thailand. O is usually issued inside Thailand or abroad for shorter stays.
Length: O-A grants 1 year on entry. O typically gives 90 days, then you extend inside Thailand for 1 year.
Financial proof: O-A requires showing 800,000 THB or 65,000 THB/month before getting the visa. O only needs proof when applying for the 1-year extension.
Insurance: O-A requires mandatory health insurance covering at least 400,000 THB inpatient and 40,000 THB outpatient. O does not (as of 2025) unless required for certain hospitals.
Renewal: O-A renewal can be done inside Thailand, but if you leave it too long you may need to re-apply outside. O extensions are done entirely in Thailand.
Ellie *******
@John **************
, Non-O initial visa for retirement/being over 50 also has the same financial requirements as Non-OA (banked 800K baht equivalent or 65K baht equivalent monthly). Most of the other Non-O initial visas have their own financial requirements, too.Brian **********
I got insurance with AXA Thailand, from the approved Embassy list.
They have fixed prices, depending on age.
They don’t cover pre-existing conditions, but they do cover accidents.
You can also reduce the premium, by accepting a larger “excess”.
I’m not sure how effective this would be, if you really need to claim. I’m hoping/ expecting, not to need to.🤞
However, I found it to be relatively competitive, price wise.
They have fixed prices, depending on age.
They don’t cover pre-existing conditions, but they do cover accidents.
You can also reduce the premium, by accepting a larger “excess”.
I’m not sure how effective this would be, if you really need to claim. I’m hoping/ expecting, not to need to.🤞
However, I found it to be relatively competitive, price wise.
Philip *********
As noted by Tod above but to add to this..
When I redo my oa they will not accept the printed certificate. They check that insurance is entered into the tgia system- and if it’s not there they reject it regardless.
So from that, unless you use a company that will write the certificate and will/can enter it, probably you will have problems .
I can’t recommend a uk provider but as Tod says, you must have a certificate and it is entered with tgia
My understanding for what it’s worth.
When I redo my oa they will not accept the printed certificate. They check that insurance is entered into the tgia system- and if it’s not there they reject it regardless.
So from that, unless you use a company that will write the certificate and will/can enter it, probably you will have problems .
I can’t recommend a uk provider but as Tod says, you must have a certificate and it is entered with tgia
My understanding for what it’s worth.
Tod *********
Don't quite know what to tell you, even AI got it right when I asked when the 100K USD mandatory insurance took effect for OA visas
The requirement for the Thai Non-Immigrant "O-A" Visa to include $100,000 (approximately 3 million Baht) in health insurance coverage, specifically including COVID-19 treatment, officially began on October 1, 2021. While the change was confirmed by the Thai government in June 2021, and announced for implementation around that time, the implementation date for the new, higher coverage was set for October 1, 2021.
Most all consulates the world over require that 100K USD mandatory insurance many of them require it through a Thai carrier because foreign carriers will not sign the foreign insurance certificate
The requirement for the Thai Non-Immigrant "O-A" Visa to include $100,000 (approximately 3 million Baht) in health insurance coverage, specifically including COVID-19 treatment, officially began on October 1, 2021. While the change was confirmed by the Thai government in June 2021, and announced for implementation around that time, the implementation date for the new, higher coverage was set for October 1, 2021.
Most all consulates the world over require that 100K USD mandatory insurance many of them require it through a Thai carrier because foreign carriers will not sign the foreign insurance certificate
Tod *********
that link they gave you is for the thai authorized providers
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