Bodger2222

Thanks so much to everyone for the brilliant feedback - really has helped me significantly. Great forum as always and much appreciated.

Are you saying that when i check in at the departing airport that they might want to see an onward flight? Apologies for all the questions. This is the last one!! Moving to a Non O has been a huge help. Just want to be sure I have everything clear. Thanks very much

ive done one way tickets with Qatar a few times and they have never queried it. Do you mean when i check in at the departing airport that they might want to see an onward flight? Thanks

you said....Your airline is likely to insist that you have an onward flight ticket out of Thailand within 30 days. So if the airline is Ok then its not an issue - i.e. will thai immigration want to see a return flight? I really appreciate all the help and advice. Thanks so much

Phang Nga Immigration

Thanks again for the help. The Non O sounds a definite game changer. You said.... You could consider obtaining tourist visa for entry . Don't know if SA have eVisa. What would be the reason/benefit for applying for a tourist visa/eVisa versus visa exempt? And any thoughts on the one way flight? Thanks very much

I can enter on visa exempt from South Africa. I already have the thai bank account with the required funds as I previously was on the O-A retirement visa prior to coming back to South Africa 18 months ago and then the visa expired. So I am starting from new but can produce the bank statement no problem. So it seems the best way is to just arrive on the visa exempt and then convert to non O at the Phang Nga Immigration based on retirement? I plan to be there long term with the odd trip out of Thailand. The Non O sounds much better than the O-A. As long as i can apply within Thailand once I'm there on the visa exempt then I dont see why that wouldnt be a much better plan. No insurance required and no planning before I leave. As soon as im ready I can just book a flight. One question - if i am entering on a visa exempt do i need to have a return ticket or can I enter on a one way ticket as i know I wont be leaving again any time soon? Any other considerations? Thanks again

I looked into the Non O, but unfortunately I can't apply for a Non O from South Africa - not available anymore according to the consulate! How do you convert a tourist visa to Non O? Thanks for the advice.

I plan to be in Thailand full time and will be renewing the visa each year. So it will be an ongoing renewal. Even if I apply as close as possible to departure date, the medical insurance will still be expiring before the visa ends and I have to commit to a start date when I make the application. Is there any issue with the medical insurance expiring before the visa expires 12 months after entry or any way to avoid it.

Hi I am in the process of applying for a Non O-A Long Stay Retirement Visa from South Africa. I am not planning to actually leave South Africa until October/November but if all goes to plan I will receive the visa in my passport in September. I have to provide medical insurance to apply for this visa. I am applying with LMG and they are asking for a start date for the policy. I also have to provide a provisional flight booking for within 2 weeks of the date that I submit the Visa application. (I'm not obligated to use this booking its just for the purpose of the application). Ideally I want the Medical Insurance to start when I first enter Thailand but I can't enter that date as part of my application to the Consulate as I dont know it yet. Also my understanding is that the 12 month visa only actually starts on the day I enter Thailand e.g. 1 November 2023 to expire on 31 October 2024. But my Medical Insurance is going to have a start date of some time in September when I submit the application, so it will expire before the 12 months Visa will expire. So its quite confusing what start date I must put on the Medical Insurance. Of course i can delay the application to closer when I want to leave but Id rather get it in my passport sooner so Im free to go at short notice as I cant commit to a real travel date right now. Either way the medical insurance will still expire before the Visa expires. Would appreciate your advice on how to best handle this situation. Thanks very much