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What should I do if my retirement visa renewal was denied due to lack of insurance in Thailand?

retirement visaThailand visavisa renewalinsurance requirementsNon-OA visaimmigration rules in Thailandhealth insurance for visaextension of stay based on retirement
Dec 1, 2021
3 years ago
Stan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Dec 1st 2021

Went to renew my one year retirement visa today this would have been my sixth renewal. I entered 7 years ago on with an OA visa from the Thai embassy London. Last year renewed with out issues however today was refused due to not having insurance. My argument was that my OA visa was replaced by extension of stay based on retirement. Apparently not was told it’s still an OA visa thinking this was just the interpretation of that office went to another in the same district, got the same rejection. Was told I would have to leave the country without re-entry permit return on a 30 day then extend before applying for a new visa that is Not OA might just add I was not on my own 7 others had the same problem I have a month before I would need to leave so any information would be appreciated.

Regards
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is facing an issue with the renewal of their one-year retirement visa in Thailand, which was denied due to the lack of mandatory insurance. Despite having renewed this visa successfully in the past, recent changes in regulations require insurance coverage, which led to the denial. They were informed they need to leave the country and return on a 30-day visa before applying for a different visa that does not require insurance. Many commenters contributed by sharing information on new insurance requirements, alternative visa options, and technicalities related to the retirement extension process.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement 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.
Guenter ********
Can someone post the wording of he relevant police order, please ?
3 years ago
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Guenter ********
Thank you Tod for the clarification
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Guenter *******
 the change is with the insurance providers who went to the 3mill policy to make sure you're covered when the change takes effect. That's why they stopped the
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policy
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Guenter *******
 there is NO change to the police order INSIDE the country as far as extensions of stays on O-A visas

It's still 800K baht banked, 65K baht a month in income from abroad OR a combination of the two AND you still need the 40K/400K out/in-patient mandatory health insurance from one of the 18 approved thai carriers.
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Ken ******
the mandatory health insurance for OA visa was first implemented nov 2019, so.it is quite strange visa renewal possible without immigration asked for it, anyway that saves a lot.of costly insurance premium for a few years for you!
3 years ago
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Stan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks people for your replies has been helpful
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Stan *****
 👍👍
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Stan *****
 which part of the country are you in?
3 years ago
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Stan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dirk *******
 Chonburi
3 years ago
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Stan ******
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Benjamin ******
GROUP RULES REMINDER:

1. We respect Thailand and their rules. I already muted one member for complaining about the rules.

2. For this extension of stay from the Non-OA visa, insurance is a requirement.

3. The insurance requirements for a One Year Extension Of Stay Based On Retirement from a Non-OA visa is not increasing.
3 years ago
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Oliver ********
Absolutely, not everyone likes all the rules, but they must be followed or the consequences can be dealt with. This is the way it is and it will stay that way
3 years ago
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James ********
@Benjamin *****
 they are effective October 1, 2022. That is what one member replied correctly as a matter of information.
3 years ago
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James ********
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Bill ********
I have been informed by my insurance company that as of October 2022 insurance must have a minimum cover of 3.3 million baht up from a minimum of 400k. An 8 fold increase. The insurance company informed me that my premium as a 70 year old will triple in price. This is only a requirement for the O-A extension of stay. As the OP was told by immigration. Leave the country without re-entry permit and return on a 30 day then extend before applying for a new visa that is Not O-A. O extension of stay requires no insurance at present so best to go for that. 800k baht or 65k/month is still required as per O-A.
3 years ago
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Benjamin ******
@Wjd *********
 sadly, this has nothing to do with getting an extension of stay based on retirement. This (may) only affect getting non-oa visas.
3 years ago
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Benjamin ******
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Marty *********
Do you have sufficient time remaining time to buy insurance before your extension runs out?
3 years ago
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Peter ********
But if you choose to leave to get back you need USD50k medical insurance which I think is going to be more expensive.
3 years ago
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Wannikea *********
@Peter *******
 only need for 30 days on an exempt entry, which can be gotten for less than the price of a 1900 baht extension
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Wannikea Wanblee. But if someone is simply going through the exercise just to avoid the insurance, surely it would be better just to get the 7700 baht useless insurance (but which is ok for OA), rather than flying out, applying for TP, getting one month's insurance, flying back in, and paying for one night SHA+. To me, there's no comparison. If someone is actually leaving the country for other reasons, it's worth looking at, but just to avoid buying health insurance it seems extreme
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Bobby *******
 That policy with LMG isn't being issued any more.

See my post above to Tod Daniels
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
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Ellie *******
but it's just one time.
3 years ago
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Peter ********
@Ellie ******
 just trying to help with the pros and cons as no one had mentioned travel insurance needed to get back.
3 years ago
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Peter ********
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Tod *********
The only way to get around the mandatory insurance requirement for O-A extensions would be to leave the country, come back in on a visa exempt or a 60 day tourist visa, then apply in country first for a 90 day Non-O visa <- (note there is no A after the O meaning you don't need insurance) and after you get that apply for the year extension.

It's tough to bounce out and back in now though with countries shutting back down though
3 years ago
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Klaus ********
@Tod ********
 sounds very interesting for me too, this option al least for my upcoming trip (31.12. - 29.04.2022). what are the requirements for a 90 day Non-O (90day) applied for in the county?????
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Klaus *******
 you need to head on over to your immigration office and find out IF they do it and then get the hand out listing the requirements and how many days you need left on your visa exempt or tourist visa entry stamp to apply.
3 years ago
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Tod *********
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Bobby ********
Depending on your age there is a cheap insurance you can get which is pretty close to useless but it ticks the OA box. You can get it for 7700 baht, which is still cheaper than leaving/coming back which still requires a more expensive insurance and all the associated carry-on. Unless you're planning on a trip away just buy this one
3 years ago
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Ken ******
@Bobby *******
 hi may i know the insurer name here or pls pm me? thanks
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Ken Chao. LMG
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Vladimir ************
@Bobby *******
 hi, can you tell which insurance company? I was offered
*****
baht with
*****
0 baht deductible.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Vladimir Rabinovich. What age are you?
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Dave ********
Simple buy insurance !!!!
3 years ago
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John **********
@Bill ********
 it depends on many things. I'm not on an OA so insurance not required but I still have it. I don't think it's that expensive. I'm 64 and ,฿1M is only around ฿45k per annum
3 years ago
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John **********
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Tod *********
I will just cut and paste the messages I sent you as you didn't see them 😮

The immigration office was 100% correct, you were always able to trace the stamps back to your original entry on an O-A visa so you fall under the requirements to get an extension based on having an O-A visa <- meaning you DID need to be covered on the
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out/in-patient health insurance policy by one of the 18 approved thai carriers that sell O-A insurance
3 years ago
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Ken ******
@Tod ********
 it seems the mandatory inpatient coverage has been raised to 3 million! from
*****
0 bahts
3 years ago
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James ********
@Ken *****
 effective now for newly issued OA in home country...

But effective October 1, 2022 for in country extensions of stay based on O-A.
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@James *******
 how much outpatient cover is required with this new 3 million baht rule?
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
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Stan ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 thanks Tod
3 years ago
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Tod *********
how you got a yearly extension from an O-A entry (no matter how long ago it was) at an immigration office last year without having the mandatory insurance is beyond me.
3 years ago
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Marty *********
@Tod ********
 And apparently 7 more people in that office that day.
3 years ago
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Marty *********
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Tod *********
you need to have a policy from one of these carriers.

NOW most people will select LMG and get the policy with 200K baht deductible <- meaning you pay the first 7K USD of any claim.

You're basically getting the policy not to use, but to "tick the box" that you carry the mandatory insurance

Here's the list of companies

*************************************
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Tod ********
 Hi Todd, I went to the LMG website last week and filled in the application form for the 400,
******
,000,. 200,000 deductible "tick the box " policy , which was 6000 for my age group. Next day got an email from them saying they were not doing this policy anymore due to the new requirement for 3million coverage.

Their policies now cover 3.5 million baht with deductible from 300,000 to 1 million.

The new policy with a 1 million deductible for my age group now cost 14,500
3 years ago
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Tod *********
@Dirk *******
 that's because by the time you get another extension you will be on the new insurance requirements and they won't cancel a policy once it's issued or let you upgrade. I knew it was a matter of time until they stopped selling the
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K baht "throw away" 200K deductible insurance
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Dirk Twomey. The 3 million coverage is for visa applications only at this stage. Extensions still have the
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requirement which will remain until September 2022.
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Bobby *******
 yes you are right with what you say, what I am saying is that LMG are not selling that policy already regardless of whether it is an extension or not.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Dirk Twomey. Possibly for new applications but it's available for renewals.
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
@Bobby *******
 it's not available for renewals...... that's what I'm trying to tell you.......I just applied on their website and got and email next day telling me they are not selling that policy anymore.....
3 years ago
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Phuket ******
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