If you apply for a regular Non O visa based on retirement there’s no MANDATORY health insurance requirement. Only for the one year Non O-A visa.

@Jim *******

U are probably right, as I understand there’s two international conventions by the UN also approved by Thailand, one called the Geneva-convention from 1949 and the other Paris-convention from 1969 stating that IDP valid for one and three years allows driving for up to 90 consecutive days together with the national licence.

@Stuart **********

you’re correct the conventions approved by the Thai government allows two IDP, one for one and one for three years, but you’re only allowed to drive for up to 90 consecutive days on both.

@Kullapat ****

You didn’t check properly. This is from the Thai consulate in Munich. Says up to 15 working days, which means up to three weeks.

Wenn die erforderlichen Unterlagen (nach Art des Visums) vollständig sind, erhalten Sie das Ergebnis des Antrags innerhalb von 15 Konsulatstage des Königlich Thailändischen Generalkonsulats in München.

Montag bis Freiteg sind 5 Tage, an Wochenenden und konsularischen Feiertage arbeiten wir nicht).

Only if you apply for the initial visa at home.

I agree it’s not the best advice, and it only was meant as a back up if didn’t have time to receive his visa, but he would stil be able to prove that he applied for and left from the country he applied in and was present, and I know several people have done it this way in situations like this.

Don’t know what visa you’re applying for, but as a Belgian citizen you can also enter on a 60 days visa exemption (if you don’t have any recent excessive travel history in and out of Thailand) and do a border bounce to activate your visa when you receive it on email later. You only have to be present at date when you apply for a e-visa.

@Bob ******

Yes, that might be the biggest bottleneck right now and most people need to get an agent to assist with this.

@Len ****

This is not correct. If you enter on visa exemption you apply on TM.87 and fulfil formal requirements.

Just be aware of that your airline might require an onward ticket during check in if you plan to enter on a 60 days visa exemption, but it’s no issues to apply for Non O visa in Thailand.