@John *********

Yeah, you wouldn't want to cover yourself in case of accident or illness would you? 🤣

You could just get the OA retirement visa from Australia (using proof of funds in an Aussie bank or Super scheme) which gives you a clear 12 months with no requirement to visit an immigration office or bounce out to another country. Whilst in Thailand you can open a bank account and start the process of transferring baht each month (which you can immediately withdraw). Keep that up for 12 months and your eventual retirement funding is already in place, negating the need to transfer 800,000 baht as an untouchable lump sum into your account when you do choose to retire

@John *******

This is the MFA document relating to changes to the insurance. It mentions only the OA visa, so I'd say you're pretty safe. I've been looking into getting the OX on my next visit back to Aus, and I've seen nothing about changes to the insurance. There's very few people get the OX due to the stringent financial requirements, and as

@James *******

has pointed out Sydney seems to stand alone as the only consulate which specifies money in your home country, making it possibly the best long-term visa available anywhere in the world

The_Amendment_to_Additional_Criteria_for_Purchasing_Health_Insurance_fo_Non-Immigrant_O-A_Visa

If you have the equivalent of 800k baht in a bank account in your home country, you could apply for the OA visa, which can effectively give you two years in Thailand without having to transfer the lump sum. During the two years you can progressively transfer 65k every month, so at the end of the two years you will be able to show the monthly transfers

To get the right advice read this post first

7/

@Jeff *********

Yes. Although I always carry a hard copy of the flight reservation (not that I think it makes any difference).

Although in theory you can wait until Monday (as the office is closed on the Sunday), but you will get a small stamp indicating one day overstay - fine waived due to office closed. As you have 30 clear days before to get the extension, I agree with

@Brandon ***********

. Do it beforehand

I've used my Aussie licence many times

Download the app and do it online

@Mick ******

Depends on the bank. I opened my first bank account with just lease document. Most user friendly bank in Bangkok is probably the Bangkok Bank Head Office branch in Silom. They have an international section on the second floor where they all speak English