(Last updated: August 10, 2021)

From October 31, 2019, foreigners applying for a Non-Immigrant OA visa and entering Thailand must prove that they have valid health insurance covering their entire stay.

What is a Non-Immigrant OA visa?

The Non-Immigrant OA visa is a long-term visa that can be applied for at Thai embassies or consulates abroad. Applicants for a one-year retirement visa must be at least 50 years old. They need a police clearance certificate, a medical certificate, and health insurance. To have their application approved, they must prove either a monthly income of at least 65,000 baht or a balance of at least 800,000 baht in their own or a Thai bank account. This visa allows the holder a single, uninterrupted stay in Thailand from the date of entry.

What new requirements apply to the Thai OA visa for retirees?

The new regulation stipulates that applicants or visa holders must provide proof of health insurance with coverage of at least 40,000 baht for outpatient treatment and 400,000 baht for inpatient treatment. The insurance can be obtained from domestic or foreign insurers, but the coverage amount of foreign policies must not be less than the amount stipulated for Thai policies.

Mandatory health insurance for foreign pensioners ensures they receive medical care in case of illness or accident. This measure will help prevent over 100 million baht in unpaid fees for foreign patients and prevent foreigners from evading hospital bills.

Who is required to have health insurance?

The new rules apply to those applying for a Non-Immigrant OA visa at the Thai embassy or consulate in their home country, to those entering Thailand for the first time with a Non-Immigrant OA visa, and to those wishing to extend their Non-Immigrant OA visa within Thailand.

Who is NOT required to have health insurance?

According to the immigration authorities, the regulation only applies to foreign pensioners with a Category OA (non-immigrant) visa. They must present their insurance policies showing the remaining validity period of their stay; otherwise, they will be denied entry or their visa extension will be refused. The order states that health insurance is not required for those applying to extend their stay with a Category O (non-immigrant) visa based on pension entitlements or marriage to a Thai citizen.

Which companies participated in this program?

Here are some of the insurance companies where applicants can take out their health insurance:

  • Pacific Cross Health Insurance

    • What options do I have if I am not entitled to health insurance?

    Some foreign pensioners are not entitled to health insurance due to their age or pre-existing medical conditions. Here are the options for circumventing the health insurance requirement and still obtaining a one-year visa extension:

    1. First-time applicant

  • If this is your first application, you can avoid the health insurance requirement by applying for a Category O Nonimmigrant Visa instead of a Category OA Nonimmigrant Visa. You can obtain this visa from the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your home or country of residence.
  • In your application, you state "with a view to retirement" as the purpose of your trip.
  • In some countries, receiving a state pension automatically entitles one to obtain a non-immigrant visa of category O.
  • You are entering Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa. You must meet the financial requirements and either prove you have 800,000 THB in savings in a Thai bank account or provide proof of income from your embassy.
  • In the last 30 days of your residence permit, you apply for a one-year extension of your retirement visa.

    • 2. Current holder of a nonimmigrant OA visa or an OA visa extension

  • If you are already in Thailand and have a Non-Immigrant OA visa or an extension of stay, you only have one option: you must cancel or let the visa expire and leave Thailand to avoid being an illegal stay.
  • You can return to your home country and apply for the non-immigrant visa O mentioned under Option 1.
  • If you do not wish to return to your home country, you can also travel to a neighboring country of Thailand and return as a tourist. You can enter with a 60-day tourist visa or a 30-day visa waiver. If asked by the immigration officer upon your return, you can state that you will be applying for a non-immigrant visa (category O) due to your retirement.
  • Upon your return to Thailand as a tourist, you will immediately set up your Thai bank account to meet the financial requirements.
  • You are applying for a visa change. You are applying for a non-immigrant visa, category O, based on your pension. Processing takes 15 days. It is recommended that you contact your local immigration office for further information. Please note that some immigration offices do not accept monthly income as proof of income when changing your status from a tourist visa to a non-immigrant visa, category O.
  • Once you have switched to a non-immigrant visa category O, you must wait until you have reached half of the visa's validity period or until you are in the last 30 days of the validity period before you can apply for the one-year extension.
  • To apply for the one-year extension, you only need to meet the financial requirements and provide proof of address. A medical certificate, a police clearance certificate, and health insurance are not required.

    • 3. Change from non-immigrant visa OA to spouse visa

  • There have been cases where the holder of a non-immigrant visa or visa extension was married to a Thai national. In this case, a spousal visa can also be applied for.
  • The non-immigrant OA visa or its extension should be cancelled first.
  • You must leave Thailand and apply for a new non-immigrant visa of category O at a Thai embassy in a neighboring country of Thailand due to marriage.
  • They will re-enter Thailand and settle the financial formalities.
  • Before the 90-day validity period of your non-immigrant visa expires, you can apply for a one-year extension due to your Thai wife.
  • The application for a one-year spouse visa or an extension of stay due to marriage is not subject to mandatory health insurance.