Ask question

This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

What is the best retirement visa option for an expat living in South Africa, Non O or Non OA, and what are the requirements for police clearance and medical insurance?

Retirement Visa Non O Visa Non OA Visa Visa Requirements Medical Insurance Police Clearance Trailing Spouse Visa Thai Immigration Long Term Resident Visa

Jan 4, 2023

3 years ago

Kate **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi. I've got a few questions...

We're looking at a retirement visa for him and not sure which is the best route to go - Non O or non -OA.

My husband, who is British but has permanent residency in South Africa (where we are currently living) will need police clearance if we apply from home... can he get this from SA or does he need to get it from the country corresponding to the passport he will be using?

Lastly, which medical insurance policies are recommended to be approved for visas ... or are decent coverage, if done within TH?

Any other guidance / opinions? 

Thank you in advance ☺

1,881

views

3

likes

41

all likes

17

replies

3

images

7

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about the best retirement visa options (Non O or Non OA) for their British husband, who currently resides in South Africa and will need police clearance for visa application. They also seek recommendations for medical insurance that is accepted for visa applications in Thailand. Responses suggest that entering Thailand on a visa exemption might be simpler, after which they can apply for a Non O Visa. Additionally, it is noted that insurance isn't required for the Non O, and police clearance may not be necessary for this visa application.

LONG TERM RESIDENT (LTR) VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic LTR Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the Long Term Resident (LTR) Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Pelle Eriksson

Pelle Eriksson★★★★★

Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...

recently on Facebook

Luca G.

Luca G.★★★★★

I used this agency for my DTV Visa...

recently on Google

Trusted DTV Visa Agent

OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED

#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND

Marty *********

You might also want to look at the new 10 year Long Term Resident visa. The information is on the Thai Board of Investment website. There is a category for pensioners.

Like

Reply

Robert *******

Apply for the Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age and for the spouse the Non Immigrant O visa as dependant at the Thai Embassy in Pretoria who are very helpful and have good service.

Get 90 days on entry and before these 90 days ends, apply both for the 1 year Extension of Stay.

Easy and relax.

Like

Reply

Steve ********

Depends whether you want to transfer 800,000 baht into a Thai bank account, or whether you want to keep your money in your home bank account

Like

Reply

Steve ********

@Heather ******************

Yeah I get that. I couldn't wait to offload the Thai insurance policy. It meant having to leave and come back as you can't switch from OA to O within the country. But the 65k per month works for me. I just squirm when I think of 800,000 earning 0.5% interest, and effectively tied up for the rest of my life (or at least until I leave Thailand)

Like

Reply

Greg **********

if you have wife of children that you plan on leavening anything to when you die. It’s just a little bit to leave it for them. Look at it that way and it’s not so bad.

Like

Reply

Steve ********

@Greg *********

If I had wife/kids in Thailand I'd be on the married visa and it would only be 400k which is accessible. The 800k deal effectively means you can't use it.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Steve ********

Reply

Steve ********

@Heather ******************

Yes it depends on what interest you're getting in your home country. In my case, as Australia has a very good superannuation system, I earn around 7 to 8% interest tax free. That equates to around 60,000 baht per year. My insurance cost me 22,800 baht, which means I'm still 37,000 baht in front. I also started the 65,000 baht monthly transfer, so after two years, I left the country, allowing the OA to expire, and then reentered on an O, and used the 65k per month to get the extensions. For me, a no-brainer, although next time I go back to Aus, I'll be getting the five year OX

Like

Reply

Heather *******************

Makes sense. I can't get anywhere near that rate in the US, so the non-O works best for me. I also hate paying for unnecessary insurance; my policy covers me overseas but the company won't fill out the required Thai document, so I would have to pay for a policy I really didn't need.

Like

Reply

Reply to

Heather *******************

Reply

Heather *******************

And whether or not you want to commit to paying lots of $$$ for an insurance policy yearly (OA).

Like

Reply

Reply to

Heather *******************

Reply

James ********

I have placed the TOPIC of TRAILING SPOUSE on your post... CLICK on it and all posts about it will pop up to read.

Like

Reply

David ************

Where can I find these TOPICS. I look at the top of the home page and see only “Featured” “Photos” “Files” and “Reels”. TOPICS seen like it would be an extremely helpful tool if only I could find it.

Like

Reply

James ********

@David ***********

log into the Thai Visa Advice forum using your laptop or desktop computer or phone. The topics placed on the posts will be seen in BLUE color

Like

Reply

David ************

Got it… Thanks

Like

Reply

Reply to

David ************

Reply

James ********

Like

Reply

James ********

Like

Reply

James ********

Like

Reply

James ********

Simple answer...

FORGET about getting any Thai Visa in South Africa...

You're worrying too much about what to do...

Both of you...

Enter Thailand Visa EXEMPT..

Gets you 45 days stamp on arrival plus One 30 day extension of stay at Thai immigration office for 1900 Thai baht.

Then go to the Thai immigration office where you will be living and ask for their list of requirements for the Non O Visa as retiree and the One year extension of stay as retired.

Transfer the 800,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank account in his name only... Apply for the Non O Visa and One year extension of stay as retired.

Spouse will need to go to a Thai Embassy or Consulate nearby to get a Non O Visa ...

ENTER Thailand with it and visit Thai immigration office to get a TRAILING SPOUSE extension to match that of the one year extension of stay as retired that your husband already has in his passport.

NO insurance required, NO Police clearance required.

Like

Reply

Reply to

James ********

Reply

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

What are the best visa options for a UK citizen over 50 planning to retire in Pattaya, Thailand?

66 comments

a year ago

What are the best visa options and health insurance solutions for retirees living in Thailand?

30 comments

2 years ago

What are the requirements and process for obtaining an O visa for retirees in Thailand if you don't meet financial criteria?

103 comments

2 years ago

Can I apply for a Non-O Retirement Visa in Thailand, and what are the financial and health insurance requirements?

11 comments

2 years ago

What is the best visa option for a 54-year-old planning to retire in Thailand?

15 comments

2 years ago

What are the best visa options for a 67-year-old UK expat considering health insurance challenges in Thailand?

72 comments

2 years ago

What are the visa options and requirements for British expats looking to stay in Thailand long-term?

4 comments

2 years ago

What are the best visa options and insurance requirements for a 5-month stay in Thailand for a retired expat married to a Thai citizen?

8 comments

2 years ago

Should I apply for a retirement (Non-O) visa in the UK or Thailand, and what are the necessary requirements?

42 comments

3 years ago

What are the best visa options for retirees in Thailand who prefer minimal paperwork and self-insurance?

42 comments

3 years ago

What are the best options for obtaining a Retirement Visa in Thailand considering my recent visa history?

9 comments

3 years ago

What is the process for UK expats to obtain a Non-Immigrant O Visa and its extension in Thailand?

12 comments

3 years ago

Should I apply for a 60-day tourist visa or use the 30-day visa exemption to obtain a Non-immigrant O visa in Thailand?

19 comments

3 years ago

What are the steps for obtaining a long stay retirement visa (O-A) for my mom traveling from South Africa to Thailand?

8 comments

4 years ago

Should my husband and I apply for a Non-O A visa, or a Non-O visa, given our circumstances as expats in Thailand?

10 comments

4 years ago

What is the best visa option for retiring in Thailand: Non-O or O-A?

27 comments

4 years ago

Should I choose a Non-O or Non-OA visa for retirement in Thailand?

19 comments

4 years ago

What is the best visa option for a UK citizen married to a Thai national looking to relocate to Thailand?

8 comments

4 years ago

Can I apply for a Non-Imm O visa for retirement in Thailand instead of an O-A?

28 comments

4 years ago

What are the differences between Non O-A and Non O visas for expat parents visiting Thailand?

16 comments

4 years ago

What Are the Requirements for Applying for a Non-O Retirement Visa in Thailand?

14 comments

6 years ago

What Are the Insurance Requirements for Switching a Non O-A Visa to a Non O Visa Based on Marriage in Thailand?

11 comments

6 years ago

Can we apply for a NON-OA or OX visa while in Thailand if we obtain a 90-day visa first?

31 comments

7 years ago

Is it better to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand or from abroad?

36 comments

7 years ago

What are the steps to obtain a retirement visa in Thailand for a British passport holder living in Vietnam?

12 comments

7 years ago

What is the best cannabis dispensary in Bangkok?

7 comments

a month ago

Where can I find the best cannabis dispensary in Chon Buri?

9 comments

a month ago

What are the best dispensaries in Phuket?

21 comments

a month ago

What is the best cannabis dispensary in Surat Thani?

16 comments

a month ago

Where can I find the best weed in Chiang Mai?

8 comments

a month ago

Data protection policy Terms and conditions Disclaimer Privacy policy Refund policy

The asq:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.