What are the visa options and medical insurance considerations for retiring in Thailand?

Just my opinion in a month or two living on Ko Chang,  you’ll be bored out of your mind

You can do all of the paperwork yourself but Google importing a dog to Thailand. There is a lot of paperwork all on tight schedules but it can be done. We did and brought our little Maltese in the cabin with us from Boston to Bangkok on Korean Airlines. Only three animals in the cabin per flight so advance planning and coordination is important or your dog will fly in baggage. Korean Air did a nice job. Arrival in Bangkok airport requires final paperwork at animal control but the Thai staff were great and very helpful too. Good luck.

Now after my medical history , visa from what happened to me. Obtained a Non O visa 1 year multiple entries, stamp on it, following wife to Thailand, ok arrived after a few problems as said came here during covid so 2 weeks isolation this end. Arrived at our place of living in Borabue, went to immigration the next day to confirm our address, the told me that I now have 90 days to sort my visa extension for a further 1 year plus gave us all the info. Hadn't even looked at passport said thought I had a year, yes but only 90 day, otherwise leave and come back, ok.

So unfortunately had to return to NZ in July back to immigration and they gave 30 day extension, ending 1 day after I leave for NZ went back to NZ then returned to Thailand doing isolation at both ends. So when I came back another 90 day stamp, time to open a bank account and get through the extension paperwork. Went immigration got a letter saying I now live here etc took it to the bank open an account in my name only and injected 420,000 baht.

Started on the next subject letter from local government (Amphur) told my wife paperwork no good as they consider her single, what!. Eventually found a place in.Bangkok that confirms NZ marriage certificate plus my passport the they take it all to Internal Affairs s and get it rubber stamped, yes we are married think the Bangkok people charged around 3,000 baht did a good job. Local Amphur then issued a letter yes they are married. Had a friend take pics of us together around out house and outside by letter box . Got a map done showing from immigration to our house. Plus about a week before going to immigration got letter from bank showing funds. Went to immigration mid Octobler all paperwork ok and they would come for a visit, so the arrived in November a few forms to fill out all taken care of by our witness the villisge 2IC.

Got a phone call visa approved came and get it. It is certainly easier after doing the extension a few times now

There's an easy way and a difficult way. The difficult way is to arrive in Thailand without a visa.

Easy way:

1. Get a 90 day non-O visa based on being over 50 from the Thai Embassy in the UK.

2. Travel to Thailand, open a bank account as soon as you get here and transfer 800,000 baht into your account within the first 2 weeks.

3. Go to your immigration office and get a list of their requirements to extend your stay for 12 months and the form to apply.

4. Get everything together that the immigration office needs and apply once your money has been in the account for 2 months.

You can then repeat stage 4 each year to extend for a further 12 months.

The form to apply is approximately 15 simple questions (things like; name, passport number, address, date arrived in Thailand etc). Don't believe anyone that says it's complicated as it is not and the immigration officers are helpful. Good luck.

Having had cancer you will probably find it hard to get affordable medical and hospital insurance here.

Robert Harrington don't get to stressed out about the medical care, I came here 6 years ago,yes during covid bloody nightmare, but we had sold up in NZ and living in a motel then finally go the ok to travel. Arrived all ok now, some things over here a bit tricky like insurance I had it from the start but the company made it do complicated I told them forget it and paid for operations myself plus now no insurance. Go to a Private Hospital to see the doctor when I think it is a real problem, like I just had kidney and gall bladder stones, had 2 CT scans stayed two nights 16,000 baht. Sent me to a urologist first two meetings no charges, said drink water to flush them out, did that took about 3-4 moths including two visits to local hospital because of the pain stayed a couple of nights in private room 10,000 baht, to cut a long story short stones passed all good. Now medication I had an old prescription from N Z for meds due to heart operation when 50 had ventricular fibleration so dead for a 20 seconds but came back spending 2 months in hospital then 6 heart grafes. So back to life in Thailand I go to the local chemist and get Losartam, Allopurinol, Atovarstatin plus ASA, all up about 800 baht for 40 days meds.

If you have the 800K that can just sit in an account I highly recommend going the Non O route. It's fairly easy and really does not have as many requirements to be met. No need for an agent. I am going on my 3rd extension next month

Try a few health insurances in thai land. You have to mention precexisting illnesses. Lots online. Someone wiill reply here.I only know Pacific Cross , and Allianz.

If you want clean, accurate unbiased advice; ask ChatGPT

a pre existing condition and 65 will be difficult to get affordable health insurance

In a nutshell. Applying from home country you can do Non-OA but have to get insurance from a limited list of Thai insurers, and police check. It's valid for same duration as insurance.

Or you can do a Non-O which requires neither.

With Non-O you get 90 days on entry and open bank account, deposit 800k, season it, then apply for 12 month extension which you can repeat every year by meeting requirements.