Non-Immigrant Visa, OA code (1 year term) holders to require Covid insurance

[Robinhood]

The £5k loss on your funds, HH Tel - is that mainly exchange rates rather than the Thai Bank doing anything underhand?

Supplementary question - with O and OA visas, can I spend any amount of time in the UK or Thailand in a year, providing I have the necessary Re-Entry permits?

[HHTel]

100% down to exchange rate. The bank gave me 1.5% for the first year and since then - nothing.

On the second question. I'm not an authority but I guess that once your extension has gone through and as long as your funds are within the requirements over the following year, then I don't think you need to be here as long as you re-enter before your next extension is due.
I'm sure somebody with more knowledge will correct that if I'm wrong.

[Dannie Boy]

A few years ago I spent 19 months out of the country, other than about 3 or 4 short visits for 1-2 weeks (including one to renew my visa) and it was not an issue.

[StevePIraq]

I arrived back in Thailand on a new O-A visa in April 2021 and had taken out the required insurance at a cost of 32,000 Baht with Tune insurance via AA brokers. Now I am preparing to extend my visa in April and inquired about insurance and the best option from AA brokers is 103,000 Baht which is crazy.

Has anyone recently taken out insurance to extend an O-A visa, if so with which company.

By the way self insurance is still not approved, the insurance companies are fighting this tooth and nail.

[Dannie Boy]

I arrived back in Thailand on a new O-A visa in April 2021 and had taken out the required insurance at a cost of 32,000 Baht with Tune insurance via AA brokers. Now I am preparing to extend my visa in April and inquired about insurance and the best option from AA brokers is 103,000 Baht which is crazy.

Has anyone recently taken out insurance to extend an O-A visa, if so with which company.

By the way self insurance is still not approved, the insurance companies are fighting this tooth and nail.

Sorry I can’t help as I did mine at AA insurance so presumably the 103k is the cheapest available? For this reason, I intend to transfer to an O visa by leaving the country and returning on a tourist visa - assuming of course that they don’t change the rules in the meantime!!


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[StevePIraq]

I arrived back in Thailand on a new O-A visa in April 2021 and had taken out the required insurance at a cost of 32,000 Baht with Tune insurance via AA brokers. Now I am preparing to extend my visa in April and inquired about insurance and the best option from AA brokers is 103,000 Baht which is crazy.

Has anyone recently taken out insurance to extend an O-A visa, if so with which company.

By the way self insurance is still not approved, the insurance companies are fighting this tooth and nail.

Sorry I can’t help as I did mine at AA insurance so presumably the 103k is the cheapest available? For this reason, I intend to transfer to an O visa by leaving the country and returning on a tourist visa - assuming of course that they don’t change the rules in the meantime!!

Dannie, thats ok if you are happy to be without insurance, the issue comes as one gets older, and it becomes impossible to get insurance, personally I want insurance.

[Dannie Boy]

I arrived back in Thailand on a new O-A visa in April 2021 and had taken out the required insurance at a cost of 32,000 Baht with Tune insurance via AA brokers. Now I am preparing to extend my visa in April and inquired about insurance and the best option from AA brokers is 103,000 Baht which is crazy.

Has anyone recently taken out insurance to extend an O-A visa, if so with which company.

By the way self insurance is still not approved, the insurance companies are fighting this tooth and nail.

Sorry I can’t help as I did mine at AA insurance so presumably the 103k is the cheapest available? For this reason, I intend to transfer to an O visa by leaving the country and returning on a tourist visa - assuming of course that they don’t change the rules in the meantime!!

Dannie, thats ok if you are happy to be without insurance, the issue comes as one gets older, and it becomes impossible to get insurance, personally I want insurance.

It looks like it’s going to cost you then - I assume this is now the 3.5m cover?


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[StevePIraq]

I just found this on the TGIA web site relating to insurance.:
https://longstay.tgia.org/guidelineoa

First Year Applicant
The applicant is-invalid required toast have a valid-feedback health insurance policy, either form Thai or from Overseas insurance companies, which the minimum coverage of 100,000 USD accounting for 3 million baht and it includes the treatment of Covid-19. The insurance certificate is strictly required to be presented to the immigration. ( no idea if the toast must be white or brown bread).

Renewal (before Sep,1 2022)
The applicant must have the valid local health insurance policy with the minimum of coverage of 400,000 Baht for inpatient treatment and 40,000 Baht for outpatient treatment.

More confusion compared to what AA are telling me. I will go to Immigration tomorrow to get clarity.

[handdrummer]

It's cheaper to pay for treatment than to buy a policy and still have to pay a percentage for treatment. Another Thai ripoff.

[StevePIraq]

It's cheaper to pay for treatment than to buy a policy and still have to pay a percentage for treatment. Another Thai ripoff.

That all depends how serious your illness or injury is,

[PET]

Why do people get the 0-A visas when the Non-O for retirement purposes is available to those of 50yrs plus. Is it to avoid the large amount of cash that needs to be in the bank. If not then they have the medical insurance also?

I think it depends on your circumstances - when I decided to move to Thailand when I retired, I was working and living in the UAE and the only long-term Visa they offered me was an O-A, so that’s what I took and that was 10 years ago. With the new insurance requirements, I’m looking to switch over to an O visa next year when my current O-A visa expires - I plan to leave Thailand before the O-A expires and without a re-entry permit so that I come back on a 30 day tourist permit or obtain a 2-3 month tourist visa from the Uk Thai Embassy and then apply for the O visa in Thailand - assuming of course that they don’t change the insurance requirements for an O Visa!!


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Why do you not do the same Steve and avoid all the insurance requirements?

[StevePIraq]

Why do people get the 0-A visas when the Non-O for retirement purposes is available to those of 50yrs plus. Is it to avoid the large amount of cash that needs to be in the bank. If not then they have the medical insurance also?

I think it depends on your circumstances - when I decided to move to Thailand when I retired, I was working and living in the UAE and the only long-term Visa they offered me was an O-A, so that’s what I took and that was 10 years ago. With the new insurance requirements, I’m looking to switch over to an O visa next year when my current O-A visa expires - I plan to leave Thailand before the O-A expires and without a re-entry permit so that I come back on a 30 day tourist permit or obtain a 2-3 month tourist visa from the Uk Thai Embassy and then apply for the O visa in Thailand - assuming of course that they don’t change the insurance requirements for an O Visa!!


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Why do you not do the same Steve and avoid all the insurance requirements?

Very simple, I want insurance. Also to get a Non O I have to leave the country, come back on a tourist visa, then apply for Non O, it is a lot more messing around.

Also AA Brokers have now come back to me with a very reasonable offer for 3.5m insurance, so I am quite happy with that.

[buksida]

Also been chatting to AA, and the way they put it - every foreigner entering Thailand needs covid/health insurance. This isn't too bad for tourists since they can get 1 month of coverage for a few bucks, but expats on long-stay visas need a package that runs to the end of their visa which is $$$$. So it seems no visa class is exempt from insurance under the current rules.

[PET]

Also been chatting to AA, and the way they put it - every foreigner entering Thailand needs covid/health insurance. This isn't too bad for tourists since they can get 1 month of coverage for a few bucks, but expats on long-stay visas need a package that runs to the end of their visa which is $$$$. So it seems no visa class is exempt from insurance under the current rules.

I do not agree with the last sentence because I have just extended my No- O for retirement purposes, and there was no need for any insurance. As all persons on this visa are required to have in a Thai Bank either bht 800,000 or 400,000 (if married visa) so the govt know money is available- I know some still get a letter from their embassy for this purpose.

[buksida]

If you leave Thailand and want to return, you currently need a full health/covid package that runs until your visa expires (regardless of visa type). Those wishing to spend the rest of their days within Thailand's borders need not be concerned with it ... for now. So yes, you're correct in that renewing an O visa extension doesn't require it (yet).