Can anyone advise please?

When applying for a retirement visa, do you need your health insurance stamped and a form filled out by the insurer? Just been advised by a well know insurer (international) they don’t do this.

Any pointers?

I am currently in Thailand on a non o-a visa through Jan 2026. Instead of renewing that in January I would like to get a non o visa. I was told at immigration that my options are to leave the country and return on a tourist visa and then apply for the non o, or leave the country and get the non o while out of the country. How difficult/quick would it be to get the non o in one of the nearby countries? I suspect it wouldn't be very quick. I got my non o-a visa totally online prior to coming to Thailand so maybe that's an option? The reason I'd like to come in on the non o is that I was told that the 800k bank funding has to be from an international transfer if I get the visa in country but if I come in with the visa already the bank funding can be from any source (existing money for example. That's not too big of a deal but wanted to see if you guys had any suggestions. Thanks!

Hello everyone, I’m flying to Bangkok on the 15th and staying for a month . I’m not just going for vacation but to see if I would like to live there. If so, how long does it take to get a visa and can I stay there while I wait?

Hi

As I apply for a retirement visa I understand that the cost of the health insurance the Thai embassy want is very high. Something between 60000 Bhat to 80000 Bhat yearly.

Is that so?

Do you have maybe other options?

Thank for your advice

Eyal

Hi, I am currently on retirement visa applied in my home country. It is expiring on 1 December 2025. Anyone has any idea how early can I apply for renewal of the 1 year visa? I am from Singapore, so retirement visa's duration is only for 1 year. I tried calling Thai Embassy in Singapore but no one picked up the phone.

Looking for advice re insurance to support O-A visa from UK Thai Embassy in London. I have previously (for many years, lastly in 2023) used a UK insurance company alongside their completion of the required certificate. This has in the past always been accepted and the visa issued. This year, I have received the attached insurance rejection message. It seems that now a ‘health insurance policy’ is required, rather than a ‘travel insurance’ policy with included medical cover. Does anyone have any experience of this and know any ways to resolve it? Failing this, what’s a cheap insurance company to offer me the cover? - I’ve already bought the UK insurance and it can’t be cancelled.

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Thai Embassy/ The Royal Thai Consulate-General would like to request for additional documents as follows:

Health Insurance issued by a Thai or foreign insurer, covering general illnesses, including COVID-19, with a minimum insured sum of 100,000 USD or 3,000,000 THB.: -

Your travel insurance is not accepted (Health Insurance ONLY). It shall cover the whole duration of your stay and meet all our requirements. You need a new Health Insurance. Please visit [members only]

Foreign Insurance Certificate, as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, must be completed, signed, and stamped by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from [members only].: -

The new Foreign Insurance Certificate must be completed, SIGNED and OFFICIAL STAMPED by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded from. [members only]

Do you have to go in person to immigration to get a yearly extension on a non O / OA or can an agent do it for you? I suppose they need your passport but i have a workschedule of six weeks on six weeks off, how can i get around the only 30 or maybe 45 days before expiration to apply?

As a remote worker i could go for the DTV and not have this problem but there is no certainty that it won't get discontinued or that it can get extended after five years

O to OA and more, oh my. I am currently awaiting the final sale of my home, to my son. Is it still standard to be able to secure a bank account, get an O visa, and apply for the OA? I will be attempting this in Chiang Mai at the end of next month 🙏

Just received this message from my health insurance company. Does anyone know if this in effect yet? Does immigration still mandate a Thai insurance company or can we show international health insurance certificate? We live in Hua Hin and due to renew O-A October 13 - many thanks!

It has come to our attention that there are already immigration offices in certain provinces asking for the 3,000,000 THB certificate for the renewal of your non-OA visa. In some provinces however, immigration still accepts the ‘old’ 400,000/40,000 THB certificate. We therefore kindly advise you to first check with your local immigration office which insurance certificate is needed for the renewal of your non-OA visa,

Im uk based applying for retirement visa. AXA quoted £2600-3800 for global health insurance with £250k - £1M in patient cover . No excess not pre existing health single mid 50s. Seems high for visa requirements . Any advice. Also if you apply from home country how do you open Thai bank account?