You should apply for a Non-O visa instead.

Then you are free to choose any insurance company, anywhere in the world… or no insurance at all.

You can open a money market account in a Thai bank instead of a regular account and get about 1-2% interest annually.

At least it’s something.

Which airlines at which airport does this occur?

@Chan *****

You can open a bank account on a tourist visa.

Ask more branches. Dress well and make a sizable opening deposit. If all else fails get an agent to assist you.

Open two accounts.

One for day to day banking.

The other should be a separate money market account for your ฿801,000 that will pay about 1.5% annual interest, with an interest only penalty for early withdrawal.

The extra ฿1-3k baht is intentional, in case of unexpected fees.

I also suggest you decline any insurance as well as the ATM card, which is almost completely replaced by the app.

@Chan *****

My agent is in chiang mai. You should find an experienced, competent, reputable agent in your home province.

This was a three step process;

1. Arrive visa exempt

2 Convert to Non O (90 day)

3. Apply for one year extension based on retirement on 65th day (with multiple re-entry permit).

Steps 2 and three were each about ฿7-8k

My Agent charged ฿7,000 for my non-o based on retirement.

I was in the CM immigration office all of 1 minute.

@Bobby *******

Sorry, to retire in Thailand you renew your retirement

visa at Thai Immigration. To renew an OA visa, Thai immigration requires a health insurance policy from one of 14 approved Thai companies.

No amount of net worth or insurance denial letters will alleviate that requirement.

@Bobby *******

And Thai Immigration renews the OA Visa for Australians without a health insurance policy from one of the 14 approved Thai health insurance companies?