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What should I do upon arriving in Thailand with my Non-Immigrant O-A visa?
Non-Immigrant O-A VisaVisa Arrival ProceduresHealth Insurance RequirementsLong-term Stay in ThailandVisa Extension Process
Aug 26, 2025
8 months ago
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi all. Just got my Non immigrant O-A visa from the Thai embassy in SA. Valid until 25 Aug 26. What do I need to do when I arrive in Thailand. Want to live there full time I have a house there that I built with my Thai partner
TLDR : Answer Summary
After arriving in Thailand with a Non-Immigrant O-A visa, ensure you show your visa and passport to the customs officer, who should stamp your entry for one year. It's also essential to pay attention to your health insurance, as it may need renewal around the same time as your visa expiration. If your insurance is set to expire before your visa, make sure to verify that it’s noted correctly during your entry stamp. It's advisable to prepare to apply for a yearly extension of stay at immigration approximately one month before your visa's expiration.
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Heinz ***********
1 month before your O-A expires go to immigration and apply for a 1 year extension of stay. This EOS you repeat every year.
Dick *********
I think that you will quality for a top O visa rather than O-A, which can only be issued outside of Thailand. The advantage Type O has of O-A is that medical insurance is optional, and less paperwork for you to deal with.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dick ********
thanks Dick. Is it easy to do now that I have the O-A? Would it be a new application through the home embassy or can the O-A be convertedReply to
Pete *******
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Lee ************
Hi Pete, it looks like you've got your health insurance sorted but it's worth checking out Muang Thai Life, who are offering a limited-time 18% discount on the first year of their approved plan. Use code VISA18 when applying online (valid until 31 August 2025):
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Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lee ***********
will do thanksReply to
Pete *******
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Kenneth *******
No house, you own nothing in Thailand. You may not be lucky,
Jim *******
@Kenneth ******
The original poster might think he owns anything in Thai but it is with the partner to register them. That usualy works if the relationship (even kids) are solid.Owning a house in Thai, for foreigners, may be said as owning a kiosk (a construction) on someone elses land that can be removed at any time by the authorities or if the relationship goes down the drain, by the partner.
The financier of the house construction may simply get booted out. Not often but it happens.
Reply to
Jim *******
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Anthony ******************
Where in Thailand are you based?
Henrik *****
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a2Debi *********
What is a OA visa & how do you obtain one for a year. I thought ppl from the USA could only visit for 3 weeks. Thanks
Marty *********
@Debi ********
The main difference is the insurance requirement for the OA. The OA is 1 year. The O is 90 days. Then both are extended 1 year at a time.Being a 1 year visa the OA has a lot of application requirements and has some other features that appeal to some expats.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
thanks Marty. I did request the Non O but they gave me the OA. Do I need to have the cash in the Thai bank as well?Graham ******
@Pete ******
You applied for the Non-OA with all the insurance, health check and police check as you wouldn't get a Non-OA without thesePete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
yes thats what the embassy here asked for, then mailed the requirements to be uploaded on e-visa application.Marty *********
@Pete ******
What is your home country?Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
sorry. It’s the UK. Am British citizen.Marty *********
@Pete ******
OK, so everything I said applies to the UKPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
appreciated. A great source of informationMarty *********
@Pete ******
You will for the 1 year extension. You have 1 year to get a Thai bank account and make the deposit.Reply to
Marty *********
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Ray **********
@Marty ********
you are very helpful. Thank you.Reply to
Ray **********
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Frank **********
@Debi ********
Seriously??Marty *********
@Debi ********
If US citizens arrive without a visa they get a 60 day visa exempt entry like many other countries.The OA visa is one of several long stay visas. You can only get an OA by applying from your home country. It is a 1 year multiple entry visa. It has a variety of requirements including the need for health insurance coverage.
I had an OA for 6 years.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
hi Marty. I got the O-A yesterday. Does this mean I can stay until I die and can I change it in country to Non O?Marty *********
@Pete ******
You can stay in Thailand indefinitely, without leaving the country, with either the O or OA. With both visas you eventually get to a point where you are extending your visa 1 year at a time. You cannot switch from an OA to an O. You will have to wait 1 year for the OA to expire and then leave the country. You then start the process for an O from scratch.
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
thanks Marty. What is the real difference between the 2Graham ******
@Pete ******
Health insurance requirement for every 12 month extension on the Non-OA, financial requirements are the sameReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Debi *********
@Marty ********
is this mostly for school & traiñing, that sort of thing?Marty *********
@Debi ********
You need to be over 50 to get an OA. Other than that and meeting the final requirements you just live here on it long term. Often considered a retirement visa.Nongnuch ********
@Debi ********
no, it is for a longstay. For studying or school you will need the Non-Imm-ED visaReply to
Nongnuch ********
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Peter ****************
@Debi ********
🙄 Start reading.Reply to
Peter ****************
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Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks Kenny. Insurance is due renewal on 31 Dec and I have paid for the next year. Visa does not mention insurance dates, will they ask?
Kenny *****
@Pete ******
i do not remember if they asked, but i had all my application paper with me going thru immigration. If your insurance expire on dec 31 2025 than you will only be stamped until your insurance expire, so not 1 full year. I also lost 2 months when initially entered due to insurance.So what you can do, before your stamp expire buy new insurance for 1 yr in Thailand, leave Thailand - go vacation somewhere close ie Singapore, Malaysia...etc. once you come back provided the same visa and new insurance to immigration. They will stamp you for another year the expiration date of yr new insurance.
This was what i did for the initial 2 yrs.
Giovanni ******
@Kenny ****
this is what I am going to do next week. Exit before the (first year) OA expires and re-enter with new insurance bought here in Thailand. Hoping I did everything right and no issues when I will re-enter.Reply to
Giovanni ******
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Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTERIt’s through my company. Allianz global. I am leaving the company and they agreed to give me another years insurance
Nongnuch ********
@Pete ******
as soon as your theoretically 2 years out of a Non-O/A visa are over, Immigration will require a Thai private tgia-listed Health Insurance. Your Allianz Global will not get accepted by Thai ImmigrationPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nongnuch *******
thanks For this. Is it easy to get Thai insuranceNongnuch ********
@Pete ******
yes it is easy to get a contractReply to
Nongnuch ********
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Bobby ********
@Pete ******
who did you get your insurance throughJan ******************
@Pete ******
Yes, they will ask, and you will be stamped in for one year or until your health insurance expires, whichever comes first.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan, appreciated.Nongnuch ********
@Pete ******
strictly spoken, the Non-O/A visa is NOT the "retirement visa". It is called "longstay visa". The only "real" retirement visa is the 90-days Non-O visa and the subsequent 1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on retirement. Most people call the "extended stay perm it" a "retirement visa", which is WRONG because a stay permit is not a visaReply to
Nongnuch ********
Reply
Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. So it expires on 31 Dec. What happens next? Do I have to leave and come back when it’s been renewed ? Or can I show prof of renewal once I get it? I asked the embassy for non O but they gave o-a. Can that be changed at any stageJan ******************
@Pete ******
Sorry, but you’ll need to do a border bounce after renewing your health insurance in order to obtain another year of stay. After that, you may apply for yearly extensions at the local immigration office, but you will still be required to maintain approved health insurance.Wolf **********
@Jan *****************
so it's true that you will get another 12 months visa with your initial Non-OA if you do a border bounce within the initial year? (Provided your insurance covers that)Jan ******************
@Wolf *********
Yes because it’s a one year multiple entries visa which means that you’ll get one year stay each time upon entry within the validity of your visa. So if you enter one more time or do a border bounce short time before the visa expires, you’ll get another year stay as long as you also update your mandatory health insurance. For the second year you’ll need to purchase re-entry permits in order to get stamped back in on your stay.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
I had requested a retirement visa. Is this what this is?Jan ******************
@Pete ******
Both the Non O and the Non O-A is called retirement visas as you’ll need to be passed 50 years to apply. If you plan to stay in Thailand on a more permanent basis you might at one point just want to cancel your stay based on the Non O-A visa and apply for a Non O at home or inside Thailand. No issues as you already have a bank account and then you’ll get rid of the mandatory Thai health insurance requirement.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
can I apply in Thai for the Non O?Jan ******************
@Pete ******
Yes, you’ll just need to cancel your stay based on the Non O-A by leaving without a re-entry permit and re-enter on a 60 days visa exemption. From there you can apply for a regular 90 days Non O at your local immigration at a TM.87 form using your bank account and do a regular one year extension of stay within 90 days.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. Am 66 in oct and will open a bank account when I get to Thai. Got the visa today as Non O-A.Wolf **********
@Jan *****************
thank you, I was hoping for that. I was just told my Non-OA will come through in a couple of days ☺️Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Wolf *********
thanks Wolf. Is it the same every year?Nongnuch ********
@Pete ******
while you can get another full year admitted stay on a Non-O/A visa if you enter before the visa itself expires, the period you get stamped in depends on the validity of your health insurance which you have to present the Immigration officer at the border. You won't get stamped in for any longer than the validity of your health insurance. During the "second year" of a Non-Imm-O/A visa, you have no more re-entry permit. In case you plan on leaving and re-entering Thailand, you need to buy a re-entry permitPete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
thanks Jan. Appreciated. I was planning a trip to the UK before Dec so guess that will do itJan ******************
@Pete ******
If you manage to extend your insurance before you travel, you will likely be granted one year from the date of entry, provided that you can document both insurance policies.Pete *******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
ok great. I travel Sunday and am pushing for the insurance certificate Appreciate your inputReply to
Pete *******
Reply
Kenny *****
When i arrived with my OA visa, i just show custom officer the print out of the Visa and Passports. Make sure the officer know its a 1 yrs OA visa and stamp you in for 1 yr or the expiration of yr health insurance (if yr insurance runs out before the visa) before leaving.
The stamp should say O-A with a expiration date.
The stamp should say O-A with a expiration date.
Reply to
Kenny *****
Reply
How does a Non-Immigrant O visa work for a Thai National married to a US Citizen moving to Thailand?
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