When Should I Get a Re-Entry Permit for My Non Immigrant O-A Visa in Thailand?

Jan 6, 2020
5 years ago
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Further to my previous question, I have a 1 year Non Immigrant O-A visa multiple entry, issued in London on 18th September 2019 thanks to the help I received from this group.

I entered Thailand on 19th October 2019. I left to go back to England on 9th December 2019 and will return on 27th January 2020, for just under 3 months, but will fly from Chaing Mai to Australia for a family wedding on 26th February 2020, returning on 3rd March 2020 to Chaing Mai. I will then leave again on 20th April 2020 to return to England.

I hope to return to Thailand in late October 2020 over the English winter until March 2021 but returning to England over that Christmas.

I have been advised by this group to get a re entry permit, so my question is -

At what point am I best to get the re entry permit?

Also, do I need Thai health insurance at any point ?

I just have the usual travel insurance at the moment.

Thanks for all your help.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has a Non Immigrant O-A visa valid for multiple entries, and after receiving advice from the community, seeks guidance on the timing for obtaining a re-entry permit and whether Thai health insurance is necessary. Community members clarify that the visa allows for multiple entries and re-entry permits are required depending on the timing related to the visa's expiry. It's also noted that health insurance may not be necessary for visas issued before October 2019, which is the case for the user.
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James ********
Good luck
@Paul ******
.

Commenting closed.
Robert *******
yes IF you go and IF the Immigration Officer is lenient and IF he gives you a 1 year period of stay and IF you visit Immigration to apply for a Multiple Re-Entry Permit and If it is granted, you can travel till the last date of this 1 year period of stay. But if things goes different, this if story is incorrect.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks as I said I misunderstood that.
Robert *******
If the visa is issued before 31 Oct 2019 you did not need health insurance, after 31 Oct 2019 people using this visa to enter Thailand or to apply for Extension of Stay will need a health insurance.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
I thought wrongly by the look of it,if my visas as issued before 31 October 2019 which mine was

,that I didn’t need the health insurance ?

I only mentioned heath insurance because some people in the same situation as me have been asked apparently and thought it may assist.

Again thanks for your help.
Robert *******
I guess the questions is asked as you do not have the health insurance as ordered. Every time you enterThailand with this visa it is leniency of the Immigration to stamp you in for 1 year.

Even with a re-entry permit, you need according the new rules since 31 Oct 2019 the health insurance.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
thanks for quick reply so it would appears it may be safer to go immigration office Chiang Mai now get a multiple re entry permit which should suffice until March 2021.

I’m sorry if I haven’t been clear I’m just trying to get clarity in my own mind.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
All as gone well so far when I returned to Thailand on the 3rd of March 2020 I got a further stamp until the 2nd of March 2021.

No mention of health insurance.

So my question is :

if I do a border run on the 12th of April I will presumably get a stamp until the 11th of April 2021.

Then I go to the immigration office at Chiang Mai and get a multiple re-entry permit.

I should be able to use this re-entry permit with my original Visa a Non immigrant O_A multiple entry visa (which will have expired 17th September 2020 )until 11th April 2021 ?

I checking I’ve read all the information correctly and this is a good plan.

Thanks again for all the help and advice.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks very much to everyone.

I have read the attached links sent by Eze Ogwuma and it is worrying as it’s obviously uncertain what will happen when I arrive.

Chaing Mai were I am based seems to be a issue ( which is were I had my initial problems despite obeying all the rules)

It’s a shame because I thought getting the correct visa would stop the worry on the plane will I get in or not.

However I still want to spend my winter months in Thailand as a genuine tourist as I love the country,so I will do as suggestions above and keep the group updated.

I find the information here so useful.
Stuart *********
If you can time it right, re enter Thailand just before the visa runs out. You’ll be stamped in for a year giving you up to September 2021 (if your timing is right). During this second year you’ll need a (multiple) reentry permit to keep the valid until date alive. Various reports on some requiring health insurance and others not being asked so I’ll let others comment on that aspect.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
thanks very much be good if I could do that.I hope to get guidance re insurance 🤞🏿
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for advice so far I don’t know if I need to post in insurance section, but to re enter Thailand or get re entry permit will I need to get Thai health insurance?
Eze ********
@Paul ******
you shouldn't need the Thai insurance to do those things because your visa was issued before the new requirement came into force.

That is how it should be and how it has worked for many people.

However, not all immigration officers enforce the same rules and it hasn't been that way for everyone.

Carry a copy of your travel insurance certificate and if asked tell them you have insurance but because your visa was issued before October 31st 2019 you don't need it.

Hopefully there will be no further problem but if they and their superior officer still require Thai insurance they *should* stamp you in for 30 days so you can buy insurance (at least this is what they have been doing).

If you arrive on the 28th of January and leave on the 26th of February 2020 you will have the option of doing nothing or going to your local immigration office as detailed below.

If you arrive on the 27th of January you will need an extra day.

You should go to your local immigration office and tell them that you were stamped in incorrectly.

They should correct your stamp to a 1-year stamp.

It may also be possible to extend the 30-day stamp for another 30 days, just like a normal 30-day stamp. However, I have no idea if it actually is possible and I don't remember seeing reports of anyone trying it.

Nothing is certain. While a number of people have had their stamps corrected that way, one person recently posted about being refused the correction Chiang Mai immigration.

How pre-October 31st 2019 O-A visas are handled seems to be down to the luck of the draw but with the odds in your favour... at the moment. Tomorrow might be different.

Keep an eye on this group or ask again before you return.
Biff *******
Your visa is multiple entry and is valid for a year. That means that during that year you can enter Thailand multiple times. You do not need a re-entry permit during the validity of the visa.
Biff *******
Ok, so when you enter Thailand on the 3rd March 2020 you should be stamped in for a year. Before you leave the country again you should get a re-entry permit which will keep your permission to stay as it is then. Covering you till 2nd March 2021.
Paul *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Biff ******
Thanks but when I leave in April 2020 I will not return to October 2020 after my visa as run out in September 2020.
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