What Should I Expect When Re-entering Thailand on a Non Imm O-A Visa with Compulsory Health Insurance?

Nov 1, 2019
5 years ago
Steve ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi group. Have we had any information yet from anyone entering on a Non Imm O-A visa since the compulsory health insurance has become affective . I am returning to the U.K. for 2 weeks so keen to know what to expect on my return. I am sure I am not the only one waiting to hear. Many thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is inquiring about experiences of re-entering Thailand on a Non Imm O-A visa since the introduction of compulsory health insurance. Some commenters have mentioned mixed experiences, with one expat being asked for their health insurance certificate, while another reported not being asked for anything.
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Chris ****
i think you get the O-A only IF you have the insurance, but when you have it in your PP , why to ask ?
Eze ********
Chris Po true but as I said, two of the orders make no distinction between new and old visas.

The order regarding extensions, for instance, makes no distinction and people who began extending O-A visas 10 years ago are currently being told that they will require insurance for their next extension.

We don't know if this was the intention or not.

I think that people will have to wait and see what happens over a few months.
Chris ****
@Eze *******
but he has visa already
Eze ********
Unfortunately as the orders are written you are only meant to be able to get a new visa with insurance from October the 31st.

However a second order says that entries made on an O-A visa after the effective date of the order (October 31st) will require insurance. The second and third orders only talk about effective dates and make no distinction between new and old O-A visas.

We'll see how it works in practice but it may be a while before they are all on the same page. It's highly unlikely that the intention of the order was to force someone with a pre-Oct 31st visa coming back from a weekend in Vientiane to buy insurance.
Longy ****
@Chris ***
because Oct 31 has passed, is why he asks
Eze ********
@Chris ***
as the orders are currently written they are supposed to only stamp you in for the period of insurance. This should be noted on the new visas by the embassy. However, if you are outside the period of insurance noted they are supposed to ask for proof or make you insurance buy from an approved Thai company.
Rod ********
And another reported nothing asked for
Adam *********
Yes, another O-A Expat conveyed he was stopped by Immigration and asked for his health insurance certificate (see the attached).
Karsten *************
And did he has it?
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