OA only available outside Thailand, you can show the funds in an account from your home country. Alternatively as mentioned you can come on an O or Tourist visa & try to open a Thai bank account very quickly to season your funds.

I think you may be confusing the initial visa & they yearly extension of stay that you will apply for in Thailand at 1900bt a year.

The benefit of the OA is that it can all be done before you leave, the downside is the ongoing Insurance requirement which can get expensive as you age.

There is currently no Insurance requirement with the O visa leaving you free to choose your own level of cover, you will just need to fulfill the Thaipass requirement if it's still going.

I live in Hua Hin & life is pretty much bach to normal. Tourists begining to return & busy at weekends with visitors from Bangkok.

Some bars & restaurants have closed & will probably never reopen so there are changes. Ferry to Pattaya has gone & busses not quite as frequent. Bars generally close when you leave depending on the area but I've been in binta bar until 4am recently, just not so easy to get a taxi home.

You will find that wearing a mask is still required when on the street, in shops & taxis & 99% comply. Pretty obvious that you are a tourist if you don't & expect to get dirty looks from Thai & Farang alike.

Anything more specific feel free to ask

If using the trailing spouse route then look up how to get your marriage certificate legalised for use in Thailand. Different methods for different nationalities & might be easier in your home country

If you are struggling with mor chana app then take a photo of test & email to your test & go hotel.

Take the test! Do you really want to be worrying about a possible fine at the airport? If you've list it you can buy them at

Just a heads up, everyone is still required to wear masks, some places will require vacination for entry or possibly a test at entry, so it may be wise to check with any where you plan to visit what their requirements are so save wasted journeys.

White temple in Chiang Rai is pretty unique & beautiful, if you're here during Loi Kratong then Chiang Mai used to have an amazing festival. The coach between the 2 towns is about 4 hours of amazing scenery on a twisting mountain road so an experience in itself.

For sure eat steet food which can be amazing but stick to bottled water!

If you are experienced then hire mopeds & get lost down smaller sois & up mountain tracks just be very careful! Take ferries to the islands, they're all beautiful but different. Long tail boat on khoa lak & overnight on floating rafts is pretty spectacular

Thai people on the whole are very helpful & honest. You need to be patient & smiley. The disasters you might have along the way are the stories you'll still be telling in 10 years🤣

If you ride a scooter in the uk you have to do compulsory bike training course even to ride a 50cc. If you haven't then Thailand is not the place to learn! Please check your travel insurance too, so many people see the kids here in mopeds & think its a great idea. You need to be legal & insured, a traffuc stop is a small fine but any accident, your fault or not, will be a major problem

If using this route try to get your marriage certificate legalused for use in Thailand before you come as it will save you time & hassle. Google has several articles on this

@Melody *************

google dlt e learning. It gives you a certificate to downliad to your phone when completed

Once you have o visas you can still piggyback but you will need your marriage licence translated & legalised for use in Thailand which means only 1 lot of money in the bank. Ask Thai consulate nearest you how to get it legalised as it seems every country differs