OA visa question

[Peter Denis]

30 minutes ago, Sea Traveller said:

...

My current plan is to "officially" retire in 4-6 years time with same plan as of living like 50-50 in Sweden and Thailand then. I plan to still then be "officially" registered as be living in Sweden. By doing so I am not only entitled as to use the Swedish health care system, but I can also purchase "Travel Insurances" as with a coverage as for up at least 6 Months periods that also are valid in Thailand. I do always make sure that I have a such valid insurance when I am I staying in Thailand and keeping info with me all time as of the inurance reference number and telephone number to SOS International. To my understanding this kind of insurance "has worked" when bad things had happened to people that spend their time in Thailand on short time or longer periods. If you have a Home Insurance in Sweden you have automatically a such Travel insurance for 45-60 days (depending on the insurance company) starting counting from the day leaving Sweden.

Yes, if you are well-covered in your home-country by health-care provided there, taking a travel-insurance policy to cover your stays in Thailand makes full sense.  I am from Belgium (with my residence still there) and stay approx 10 months a year in Thailand.  So I did take an annual travel-insurance policy that covers all my trips abroad for up to 6 months.  After 6 months my trip is not covered anymore, and need to return to my home-country for 2 weeks in order to be covered again for my next trip.  Suits me fine, as I visit my home-country approx 1-2 times a year. And I subscribe to an on-line travel-insurance policy on-the-fly to cover my non-insured stays of longer than 6 months.  Cheap and perfect solution to be well-covered for anyone in same situation like you or me.

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Sea Traveller said:

...

1. I am Not Married with a Thai or have childrens in Thailand.

 

2. I am not officially Retired which is required as to get an "Pension Certificate" as is required if I am to apply for a Non Immigrant "O" Visa based on "Retirement" from the Thai Embassy in Stockholm at least.

 

3. I have a Non Immigrant "O-A" Visa issued 25 June 2019 that is expire 24 June 2020 issued in Stockholm. I have by the way so far not been requested to present any health Insurance by any of the approved companies in Thailand when passing the Immigration at Suvarnabhumi or when visiting local Immigrations for do 24 hours TM28 for me or TM30 reports for my woman that have a house. 

 

4. I am scheduled to arrive straight from a ship to Thailand in beginning of April and during this my free period for 4 weeks move from living in Thailand to live in Sweden again. Based on that this gets as planned I hope to get Square Stamp saying I am "Admitted to stay in Thailand until 2 or 3 April 2021 when I pass Immigration at most likely Suvarnabhumi airport on 3 April 2020.

 

From like October we are going to move back to have Thailand as our living base until April 2021.

3. You OA Visa was issued before 31 Oct 2019.  So you will NOT be required to present health-insurance when entering or re-entering Thailand on the permission to stay that Visa granted you.  The health-insurance requirement will only kick-in when on expiry of your permission to stay, you would apply for an extension of stay based on your OA Visa for reason of retirement.

4. When you re-enter Thailand on 4 April 2020 with that OA Visa which is valid till 20 June 2020, you will be stamped in for the full year that the OA Visa entitles you.

Your permission to stay will thus be valid till 3 April 2021. 

IMPORTANT > Before exiting Thailand again as your plan to do end of April, you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep that permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  Because exiting Thailand without such a re-entry permit will void your permission to stay when re-entering after your Visa validity date (20 June 2020).

A single-entry re-entry permit can be bought at any IO (1000 THB) or at the departure hall of all major thai international airports.

Edited January 1, 2020 by Peter Denis

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Sea Traveller said:

As to get a Multiple Re-entry Permit in conjunction with I visit local immigration for do the after arrival 24 hours reporting  as for currently 3.800 Baht (based on let say the last stamp says "Admited to stay until 3 April). Maybe then leaving Thailand on 10 April to live in Sweden.

 

A. Do I then have had to place +800.000 Baht on my Bank Account at Bangkok bank 2 (or is it 3) Months? prior to 3 April as a requirement as for  me to get a such Multiple Re-entry Permit?

 

B. OK let's say I got this Multiple Re-entry Permit. I am now going to pass Immigration at Suvarnabhumi airport to enter Thailand in let say October 2020 next time. Will Immigration let me in without having a Thai approved Insurance as to stay in Thailand until 2-3 April 2021?

 

C. Ok lets say the "B" did not work as for for reason the rules been changed again. Can I assume that I at least will be allowed to enter on a 30- day "Visa exemption. This works fine for me when I stay less than 30 days in Thailand when I work 4-4 weeks on/off swings.

A. There are no financials that you need to prove when buying a re-entry permit.

You only need to prove that you have the required financials (800K on a thai bank-account being one of the ways to do this) when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO.

In your case, with a permission to stay till 3 April 2021, you would to that earliest May 2021.

 

B. When you bought a single-entry or multiple-entry re-entry permit BEFORE exiting Thailand end of April 2020, that will keep your permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  So on entry in October 2020, you will be stamped in till 3 april 2021 (and without the need to show health-insurance as your original OA Visa was issued pre Oct 31).

 

C. If for any reason you would not be allowed entry on that re-entry permit in October 2020 (only reason I can think of is that you lost your passport or ruined the page with the re-entry permit), you can enter the country Visa Exempt and will be stamped in for a permission to stay of 30 days. 

Note: Such a re-entry permit can be easily extended with an additional 30 days at any IO, if you want to stay longer in Thailand. You could of course then also decide to initiate the Non Imm O - retirement process.

 

 

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Sea Traveller said:

Why do I have an "O-A" Visa some might ask? Well I like to next time in november 2020 get 5 year Thai Driving Licences instead of so far only 2 Years. We have planned to purchase a car in Thailand as has to be in my name and as I can figure out is not possible to do that with only a 30-day Visa exemption".

TVF Member Help required on this one.

I am quite confident that there are more options to get a 5 year thrai driving licence, than having a Non Imm OA Visa.

But I am not fully knowledgeable on that topic, hence some HELP requested here from TVF Members.

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Sea Traveller said:

Why don't I then get  Multiple Tourist Visa? Well I have no control of my self of booking of flight tickets as going to and back from my job as this is done case by case by my employer so I can't attach this when apply for Muliple Tourist Visa "Copy of ticket reservation, showing arrival and departure dates for Thailand. Make sure to have a copy of the ticket for each application" As to travel from South East Asia on were I have my work location since several years to Sweden as to apply for a Single Tourist Visa and then to Thailand on my private expenses is neither a option.

Not fully sure whether I understand the issue her.

But if it is that you need to show a return-ticket when applying for a Visa, this is easily solved by either:

- booking the cheapest one-way outbound flight from Thailand (e.g. HuaHin to KL with AirAsia for approx 850 THB)

- booking a fully refundable ticket using Expedia, that can be cancelled after arrival at no cost

- booking a rental-ticket (Google > fly onward) that is valid for 24 to 48 hours, cost approx 10 US $

[Peter Denis]

1 hour ago, Sea Traveller said:

I might then apply for a new "O-A" Visa in Sweden later this year and pay the the Pacific Cross "Standard Extra Plan" which meets the minimun requirements that will cost me (age bracket 56-60) 31.601 Baht  and with a deductable of 40.000 Baht (25% discount 23.701). As I can understand the Thai insurance can't be trusted to cover anything (reading this forum) I will still then pay for Travel Insurance by I Swedish insurance company that basically have no upper covarge limits and also cover costs for transportation back to Sweden if this is desired to be best option by the insurance company (which normally is unlikely due to the very high costs).

When applying in Sweden (or any other country for that matter) for a new OA Visa, health-insurance is now required.  There are 2 options then:

a) If you have a health-insurance policy in Sweden that meets the thai IO requirements, you could request your insurer to fill-in and sign the Foreign Insurance Certificate.  But as that Certificate refers to thai legislation and requires 2 director-level signatures from the insurance company, that might prove difficult to get (at the present moment).  However, there are already some foreign thai embassies that are willing to provide the OA Visa, when shown the cover-page and relevant clauses of your present insurance policy that prove that it meets the (ridiculously low) requirements.

b) When you do not have foreign insurance, you could indeed sign up to the cheapest thai insurance policy (Pacific Cross standard with a deductible of 300K).  That would cost you approx 20.000 THB for a year.  But that's a lot of money for a bogus insurance policy which is as good as worthless.  So, if you do this don't consider this a valid insurance alternative (it is not), but simply see it as wasted money for a paper ticket to be provided your OA Visa. 

Also take into account that there is the  (easy) alternative to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa, which - once in the extension of stay stage - has exactly the same conditions/requirements as the Non Imm OA Visa, but does NOT require health-insurance.  So a No-Brainer, which one is the Visa of choice at the moment.  

 

[Isaan Alan]

On 12/29/2019 at 12:46 PM, jacko45k said:

But it will be expired when you plan to return. 

Without a Re-Entry Permit your August 2020 Permission of Stay will be lost, If you can return before 23rd January, you will be able to use the Visa, not after. 

 

I am sure Peter Denis above will have explained this.

I learnt this thru bitter experience. I had an O-A obtained in Australia, left Thailand and re-entered before the end of the first year and got (so I optimistically thought) stamped for almost another full year when I re-entered. I left again in the 2nd year and lost most of my 2nd year because I didn't know about re-entry permits. Naive I just saw the O-A visa was multiple entry. But not in the 2nd year without a re-entry permit.  Such a trap and a revenue-raising scam really. A visa is either multiple entry or it isn't. Thai logic at work. but it was Thai logic to allow 2 years if you followed their other Thai logic. 

[Martyp]

32 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

I learnt this thru bitter experience. I had an O-A obtained in Australia, left Thailand and re-entered before the end of the first year and got (so I optimistically thought) stamped for almost another full year when I re-entered. I left again in the 2nd year and lost most of my 2nd year because I didn't know about re-entry permits. Naive I just saw the O-A visa was multiple entry. But not in the 2nd year without a re-entry permit.  Such a trap and a revenue-raising scam really. A visa is either multiple entry or it isn't. Thai logic at work. but it was Thai logic to allow 2 years if you followed their other Thai logic. 

There is no scam. If you had read your visa you would have seen that it expired after one year. The expiration date is printed on the visa. Your error, a common one for many people, was not understanding the difference between a visa and a permission to stay stamp. I didn’t understand it either but I learned about it when I tried to apply for a 1 year extension and they showed me that I had 9 more months on my permission to stay stamp. 

Edited January 1, 2020 by Martyp

[Peter Denis]

3 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

I learnt this thru bitter experience. I had an O-A obtained in Australia, left Thailand and re-entered before the end of the first year and got (so I optimistically thought) stamped for almost another full year when I re-entered. I left again in the 2nd year and lost most of my 2nd year because I didn't know about re-entry permits. Naive I just saw the O-A visa was multiple entry. But not in the 2nd year without a re-entry permit.  Such a trap and a revenue-raising scam really. A visa is either multiple entry or it isn't. Thai logic at work. but it was Thai logic to allow 2 years if you followed their other Thai logic. 

Hi Isaan Alan,

I agree that (relative) Newbies in Thailand, are often not aware of the existence/purpose of a re-entry permit.

And that's not their fault, because apart from the TV Forum there is very little info available on the subject.

Putting large-size poster signs at the departure halls of the main thai international airports (where you can also buy a re-entry permit) would be a good move imo to inform thai Visa holders.

Note: The fact that even thai Immigration uses the term 'Visa' when they actually refer to the permission to stay, doesn't help also.  So much confusion on this subject!

In my posts on the forum I do not refer to a Visa-date anymore but for sake of clarity use:

- Visa validity date (as printed on the Visa-sticker in your passport)

- Permission to stay (as stamped into your passport by IO)

 

 

[jacko45k]

24 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

Such a trap and a revenue-raising scam really. A visa is either multiple entry or it isn't. Thai logic at work. but it was Thai logic to allow 2 years if you followed their other Thai logic. 

I think that is an unjust determination and perhaps making excuses for your own oversight. The Visa has a clear expiry date, and it says on it... Enter Before! It is Multiple Entry, during it's validity. 

[jimn]

24 minutes ago, Isaan Alan said:

I learnt this thru bitter experience. I had an O-A obtained in Australia, left Thailand and re-entered before the end of the first year and got (so I optimistically thought) stamped for almost another full year when I re-entered. I left again in the 2nd year and lost most of my 2nd year because I didn't know about re-entry permits. Naive I just saw the O-A visa was multiple entry. But not in the 2nd year without a re-entry permit.  Such a trap and a revenue-raising scam really. A visa is either multiple entry or it isn't. Thai logic at work. but it was Thai logic to allow 2 years if you followed their other Thai logic. 

I cant see your logic here. Yes the OA is a multiple entry for 1 year. If you enter and get a 1 year permission to stay just before your visa expires you get a 1 year permission to stay. If you leave Thailand you lose your permission to stay. A re entry permit would have kept this alive. I cant see how this is  scam? It is you unfortunately not understanding the terms of the visa. Sorry.

[Sea Traveller]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi Sea Traveller,

I will respond to your message and the questions/comments you have, in separate posts.  That will allow TVF members interested in particular topics to respond to these without having to re-post the full message.
Happy NewYear for you too!

Hi Peter!

Thanks for all replys and for make it more structural by make comments in separate post. Is highly appreciated. I am a newbe on this forum but also on others so I have a lot of things to learn of how to do ???? 

I am aware that it went a  too long text from me, but i liked to make it clear that I have somewhat different situation compared with if I was retired or married with a Thai women. For us that are working at sea it is however not uncommon that we live fully or partly in for example Thailand or the Philppines (more common) but are for example European citizens. 

[Sea Traveller]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

3. You OA Visa was issued before 31 Oct 2019.  So you will NOT be required to present health-insurance when entering or re-entering Thailand on the permission to stay that Visa granted you.  The health-insurance requirement will only kick-in when on expiry of your permission to stay, you would apply for an extension of stay based on your OA Visa for reason of retirement.

4. When you re-enter Thailand on 4 April 2020 with that OA Visa which is valid till 20 June 2020, you will be stamped in for the full year that the OA Visa entitles you.

Your permission to stay will thus be valid till 3 April 2021. 

IMPORTANT > Before exiting Thailand again as your plan to do end of April, you need to buy a re-entry permit in order to keep that permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  Because exiting Thailand without such a re-entry permit will void your permission to stay when re-entering after your Visa validity date (20 June 2020).

A single-entry re-entry permit can be bought at any IO (1000 THB) or at the departure hall of all major thai international airports.

 

The base here is that I am not wanting to renew my O-A Visa later this year as I will not be able to do so without purchase a expensive Thai health insurance.

 

Yes a single re-entry before to exiting Thailand in April will also work fine for me as to be able to be able to return in like October. I can then use this kind of system when having my base in Thailand going out to work as to then be allowed to enter Thailand again with keep my "permission to stay" valid until 3 April 2021. Or start with get a Multiple re-entry permit If a get this correct?

 

I am not booking my trips my self as leaving Thailand when going out to work and it can sometimes be short of time when to change from Domestic to International departures so I feel somewhat insecure if I will have time to purchase re-entry permits on for example Suvarnabhumi departure hall. But can't I do this instead on for example the local Immigration office in Udon Thani as is my location. Maybe possible to fix at same time i go and do the 24 hours TM28 reporting after arrival to Thailand (and TM30 report for my Thai women)?     

[Sea Traveller]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

A. There are no financials that you need to prove when buying a re-entry permit.

You only need to prove that you have the required financials (800K on a thai bank-account being one of the ways to do this) when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO.

In your case, with a permission to stay till 3 April 2021, you would to that earliest May 2021.

 

B. When you bought a single-entry or multiple-entry re-entry permit BEFORE exiting Thailand end of April 2020, that will keep your permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  So on entry in October 2020, you will be stamped in till 3 april 2021 (and without the need to show health-insurance as your original OA Visa was issued pre Oct 31).

 

C. If for any reason you would not be allowed entry on that re-entry permit in October 2020 (only reason I can think of is that you lost your passport or ruined the page with the re-entry permit), you can enter the country Visa Exempt and will be stamped in for a permission to stay of 30 days. 

Note: Such a re-entry permit can be easily extended with an additional 30 days at any IO, if you want to stay longer in Thailand. You could of course then also decide to initiate the Non Imm O - retirement process.

 

 

 

A. Very good news! Lets hope it stays as I am fully aware that rules can change at any time when it is about Thailand. 

 

B. Yes I am aware about that both single as multiple re-entry permits must be purchased Before exit Thailand. But is very good that you say this as I see also on other forums that so many seems not to be aware about this.

 

C. Yes I have at one or two occasssions when enterered on 30-day Visa excemptions had to extend for further 30 days to a cost of 1.900 Baht as i can remember. It had thus to do we worked 5-5 weeks on/off periods and I thus ended to stay some extra days. The local immigration office told me thus that no problem just pay fine for some days...But I did not go that road as I don't want to any kind of overstay records.

 

I can't however see how I can get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa based on "Retirement" as I can't any "Pension Certificate" until i have at least taken as minimun 25% retirement as can happen from an age of 63 earliest for me according to the pension rules in Sweden. I have noted however that if i look on requirements in some other contries than Sweden there is not required to present a such "Pension Certificate". But I am not wanting to get later issue that I have in anyway told that I am retired but in fact are still not so

 

This is about Non Immigrant Visa "O" based on Retirement as taken from the Thai embassy in Stockholm 

This type of visa is granted to a person who is retired and receive pension from government. 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

Quick Checklist

• Application form (click here to download)
• Original passport
• Copy of passport (the page with your information)
• Two photographs
• Pension certificate from Pensionsmyndigheten/ Försäkringskassan 
• Pension statement showing at least 18 500 SEK in pension income per month after taxes 
• Or Bank statements) with an amount of at least 57 000 SEK
• Personbevis
• Visa Fee. 700 SEK, single entry
  1750 SEK, multiple entries

 

 

  

[Peter Denis]

33 minutes ago, Sea Traveller said:

 

The base here is that I am not wanting to renew my O-A Visa later this year as I will not be able to do so without purchase a expensive Thai health insurance.

 

Yes a single re-entry before to exiting Thailand in April will also work fine for me as to be able to be able to return in like October. I can then use this kind of system when having my base in Thailand going out to work as to then be allowed to enter Thailand again with keep my "permission to stay" valid until 3 April 2021. Or start with get a Multiple re-entry permit If a get this correct?

 

I am not booking my trips my self as leaving Thailand when going out to work and it can sometimes be short of time when to change from Domestic to International departures so I feel somewhat insecure if I will have time to purchase re-entry permits on for example Suvarnabhumi departure hall. But can't I do this instead on for example the local Immigration office in Udon Thani as is my location. Maybe possible to fix at same time i go and do the 24 hours TM28 reporting after arrival to Thailand (and TM30 report for my Thai women)?     

1. No need to apply for a new OA Visa, or extend your present OA Visa, as both will require health-insurance, and there are many alternatives (especially in your circumstances) for staying long-term in Thailand without succumbing to the bogus thai-approved health-insurance scam. 

2. When you buy a single-entry or multiple-entry re-entry permit BEFORE exiting Thailand end of April 2020, that will keep your permission to stay till 3 April 2021 alive.  So on entry in October 2020, you will be stamped in till 3 April 2021 (and without the need to show health-insurance as your original OA Visa was issued pre Oct 31). As you probably won't need a multi-entry re-entry permit (3800 THB), a single re-entry permit will do (1000 THB).

3. Yes, you can buy a re-entry permit at any local IO.  If during your stay in Thailand you need to visit an IO, you can make use of the occasion to buy a multi-entry permit.  Alternatively, you can also buy them at the departure hall (just before you go through Immigration to be stamped out) at the major thai international airports.

Note: You do not need 'to file a TM30 for your thai woman.'  The owner of the hotel / guesthouse / friend's place, you are staying needs to report to local IO within 24 hours of YOUR arrival, that you are staying at their premises.  But if you do not need to visit a local IO for something that requires your address (like an extension of stay, or a residence permit) there is no need for your girlfriend or yourself (when you have you own condo) to file such a TM30.  

 

Edited January 1, 2020 by Peter Denis

[Sea Traveller]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

When applying in Sweden (or any other country for that matter) for a new OA Visa, health-insurance is now required.  There are 2 options then:

a) If you have a health-insurance policy in Sweden that meets the thai IO requirements, you could request your insurer to fill-in and sign the Foreign Insurance Certificate.  But as that Certificate refers to thai legislation and requires 2 director-level signatures from the insurance company, that might prove difficult to get (at the present moment).  However, there are already some foreign thai embassies that are willing to provide the OA Visa, when shown the cover-page and relevant clauses of your present insurance policy that prove that it meets the (ridiculously low) requirements.

b) When you do not have foreign insurance, you could indeed sign up to the cheapest thai insurance policy (Pacific Cross standard with a deductible of 300K).  That would cost you approx 20.000 THB for a year.  But that's a lot of money for a bogus insurance policy which is as good as worthless.  So, if you do this don't consider this a valid insurance alternative (it is not), but simply see it as wasted money for a paper ticket to be provided your OA Visa. 

Also take into account that there is the  (easy) alternative to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa, which - once in the extension of stay stage - has exactly the same conditions/requirements as the Non Imm OA Visa, but does NOT require health-insurance.  So a No-Brainer, which one is the Visa of choice at the moment.  

 

A. I am when travelling to and from and while on work covered by health insurances that my employer by laws and agreements must have for me. I am however not on my free periods as in Thailand covered by this health insurance. As when go straight from my work to Thailand I can't fill in with a Travel Insurance from most of the Swedish Insurances as I have as you then stayed minimum 10 days but in Sweden. But there is one excemption and it is European ERV Insurance company. As for this current leave period i do spend fully in Thailand I did go in and bought a such Travel insurance valid for my 28 days of holiday. ERV is as most others sharing the service with SOS International call center as is located in Denmark. Call and SOS International will advise you to got to Bangkok hospital for example. If an emergency I keep always a card on me with in my wallet and in my passport which I hope they find as to get me to best possible treatment there is availble. I have even taken Swedish insurance for my Thai women as i want also her to get the best health care there is if somethings serious would happen.

 

B. Did comment as in other that i am not retired and at least can't thus get a "pension certificate" as is required if to apply for Non Immigrant Visa caterogy "O" from the Thai Embassy as in Stockholm.  

[Peter Denis]

9 minutes ago, Sea Traveller said:

...

C. Yes I have at one or two occasssions when enterered on 30-day Visa excemptions had to extend for further 30 days to a cost of 1.900 Baht as i can remember. It had thus to do we worked 5-5 weeks on/off periods and I thus ended to stay some extra days. The local immigration office told me thus that no problem just pay fine for some days...But I did not go that road as I don't want to any kind of overstay records.

 

I can't however see how I can get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa based on "Retirement" as I can't any "Pension Certificate" until i have at least taken as minimun 25% retirement as can happen from an age of 63 earliest for me according to the pension rules in Sweden. I have noted however that if i look on requirements in some other contries than Sweden there is not required to present a such "Pension Certificate". But I am not wanting to get later issue that I have in anyway told that I am retired but in fact are still not so

,,,

C. Yes, definitely you need to avoid overstay.  When you have the choice of applying for an extension of stay (1900 THB) which grants you 30 days extra, OR paying the fine for 3 days overstay (1500 THB - 500 THB per day).  You should DEFINITELY avoid the overstay, as it can jeopardize any later options for staying in Thailand (and might put you in big trouble when checked during your overstay-days).

 

>>> Yes, in Sweden you need to have a Pension certificate, when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

And that's why you applied for a Non Imm OA.

BUT there is no such requirement when applying for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO in Thailand.  Attached a link with the requirements >

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

Note: Clause 8 of the requirements asking for evidence of a Rental Agreement between the Applicant and the Landlord, as well as a Location map of the house is ONLY applicable when you apply at Chiang Wattana (CW government complex in Bangkok).

[Sea Traveller]

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

TVF Member Help required on this one.

I am quite confident that there are more options to get a 5 year thrai driving licence, than having a Non Imm OA Visa.

But I am not fully knowledgeable on that topic, hence some HELP requested here from TVF Members.

The matter of get as currently two years or five years drivings licences as for motorcycle and car is not so important.

 

The matter of be able to purchase a car and register it on me is more important. As i been reading after searching on this topic on forums I will not be able to purchase a car in my name if I am in Thailand on 30-day Visa excempt or on a Tourist Visa. I am not sure if this is correct or not however as for matter of fact? It looks anyhow as more straight forward as to do a purchase when I have a O-A Visa as the base. 

 

 

 

[Peter Denis]

1 minute ago, Sea Traveller said:

The matter of get as currently two years or five years drivings licences as for motorcycle and car is not so important.

 

The matter of be able to purchase a car and register it on me is more important. As i been reading after searching on this topic on forums I will not be able to purchase a car in my name if I am in Thailand on 30-day Visa excempt or on a Tourist Visa. I am not sure if this is correct or not however as for matter of fact? It looks anyhow as more straight forward as to do a purchase when I have a O-A Visa as the base.

I suggest you create a new thread to address this topic, as it is presently being 'drowned' in a thread addressing issues re OA Visas.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Sea Traveller said:

The matter of get as currently two years or five years drivings licences as for motorcycle and car is not so important.

 

The matter of be able to purchase a car and register it on me is more important. As i been reading after searching on this topic on forums I will not be able to purchase a car in my name if I am in Thailand on 30-day Visa excempt or on a Tourist Visa. I am not sure if this is correct or not however as for matter of fact? It looks anyhow as more straight forward as to do a purchase when I have a O-A Visa as the base. 

 

 

 

There are forums about this issue. Side note look into pink card from agent on net or from friends.

[Sea Traveller]

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Not fully sure whether I understand the issue her.

But if it is that you need to show a return-ticket when applying for a Visa, this is easily solved by either:

- booking the cheapest one-way outbound flight from Thailand (e.g. HuaHin to KL with AirAsia for approx 850 THB)

- booking a fully refundable ticket using Expedia, that can be cancelled after arrival at no cost

- booking a rental-ticket (Google > fly onward) that is valid for 24 to 48 hours, cost approx 10 US $

 

The tickets are not bought by my self going as between my work and Thailand. The tickets are bought through an travel agency looking for the cheapest "seaman tickets" (econmy class but fully re-bookable) there are like two weeks before to travel normally  I do however always stress on that I have already must have my departure ticket as out from Thailand with me when I arraive to Thailand every time (and i have always minimum 20.000 Baht with me). This becuause I hope not meet a Immigration officer one day that say  i am not allowed to enter Thailand because I have not any departure ticket or enough money. 

 

I shall already when apply for Multiple Entry Tourist be able to shows several arrival and departure tickets into and from Thailand which I possibly can't do. I can possibly do as your suggestions but? A single Toursist Visa would not work either as I have then to fly to Sweden from my work locations as in south east Asia (no in Thailand) as for matter when to apply every time. And my place of living in Sweden is far from both Stockholm and Gothenburg.

______________

4. Copy of reservation tickets, showing arrival and departure dates for Thailand.

_____________

 

The Multiple Entry Tourist Visa is challenging as to get for me as to say as i need to present at least reservation tickets for miniumum two arrivals and two departures from Thailand to attach to the application.  

 

http://thaiembassy.se/en/tourist-visa/

 

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa

 

Required Document in detail

1. A completed and signed visa Application form (Click here to download) Children must have their own visa application and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) must sign the form on the child's behalf.
2. An original Passport with a validity of at least 6 months. Containing at least two empty visa pages.
   Copy of passport on A4 paper size, do not cut or alter the copy. Page with your face and information on it.
3. Two photographs, size approximately 3cm. x 5cm. Front facing and not older than six months. No photographs.
4. Copy of reservation tickets, showing arrival and departure dates for Thailand.
5. A bank statement showing deposit account (CASH ONLY) with an amount of at least 57 000 SEK (200 000 baht) in the past 6 months.
6. An employment certificate in English from an employer mentions the applicant's job position, salary, the purpose of visiting Thailand, and the date when the applicant is expected to return to work. For self-employed, Please submit the business license or business registration indicating the applicant's name. For a student, please submit an original certificate of student status in English from the school, college, or university. In the case of unemployment, you are not eligible to apply for this visa.
7. A copy of the hotel/Accommodation reservation in Thailand. (showing your name, date of arrival and departure and full address of hotel reservation) OR if the applicant stays at a friend's house, please submit a letter of invitation, a copy of the friend's ID card or passport and a copy of house registration or leasing contract.
8. A copy of Personbevis showing relationship for applicants who traveling with family.
9. For EU citizens (except Swedish citizens) a copy of personbevis and a copy of a valid Swedish visa/residence permit (Uppehållstillstånd) Swedish visa/residence permit must be valid during the period of traveling and returning to Sweden.

[Sea Traveller]

44 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

C. Yes, definitely you need to avoid overstay.  When you have the choice of applying for an extension of stay (1900 THB) which grants you 30 days extra, OR paying the fine for 3 days overstay (1500 THB - 500 THB per day).  You should DEFINITELY avoid the overstay, as it can jeopardize any later options for staying in Thailand (and might put you in big trouble when checked during your overstay-days).

 

>>> Yes, in Sweden you need to have a Pension certificate, when applying for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

And that's why you applied for a Non Imm OA.

BUT there is no such requirement when applying for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO in Thailand.  Attached a link with the requirements >

https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

Note: Clause 8 of the requirements asking for evidence of a Rental Agreement between the Applicant and the Landlord, as well as a Location map of the house is ONLY applicable when you apply at Chiang Wattana (CW government complex in Bangkok).

Very interesting about the option as to be able to apply for  Non Immigrant "O " Visa based on "Retirement" as from my local Immigration Office. I noted the requirements as in the link are somewhat different than in Sweden.

 

It feels that i have missed something important as I read that so many are going to Laos or Malaysia mainly as when they are to apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visas for both reason for "Retirement" or for "Marriage" with a Thai citizen or having Thai childrens. Why are they doing so when it appears like you have not go longer than to the local Immigration office as to get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa? Maybe this also is matter for another thread? 

 

 

  

[Peter Denis]

27 minutes ago, Sea Traveller said:

It feels that i have missed something important as I read that so many are going to Laos or Malaysia mainly as when they are to apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visas for both reason for "Retirement" or for "Marriage" with a Thai citizen or having Thai childrens. Why are they doing so when it appears like you have not go longer than to the local Immigration office as to get a Non Immigrant "O" Visa? Maybe this also is matter for another thread?

I think that one of the main reasons is a misunderstanding by many.

When you are on (an extension of) an OA - retirement Visa and want to switch to an O - retirement Visa, unfortunately you cannot simply apply to do that at your local IO.  Because the 'IO rules' stipulate that you cannot simply switch Visa category, but the permission to stay of your present Visa needs to have expired before you can apply for a different Visa category.  In practice that means that you have to exit Thailand just before the present permission to stay of your OA Visa expires.  Having done that, the permission to stay based on that OA Visa is 'dead'.  And then you can apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - immigrant Visa.  But the misunderstanding by many is that this has to be done where you exited Thailand.  Indeed, you CAN do it there but it is also possible to this at your local IO, which is actually more convenient. 

Another possible reason is that the origins of the funds to meet the financial requirements need to be proven (again) when applying at your local IO.  When those funds on your bank-account date from yesteryear it might be difficult to prove that, which would force you to transfer the funds abroad and then re-transfer them to Thailand.  But the origin of the funds does not need to be proven when applying abroad, so that might be a factor to do the application in a neighboring country.

Navigating the thai visa-jungle is not always easy...

[Sea Traveller]

1 hour ago, Peter Denis said:

I think that one of the main reasons is a misunderstanding by many.

When you are on (an extension of) an OA - retirement Visa and want to switch to an O - retirement Visa, unfortunately you cannot simply apply to do that at your local IO.  Because the 'IO rules' stipulate that you cannot simply switch Visa category, but the permission to stay of your present Visa needs to have expired before you can apply for a different Visa category.  In practice that means that you have to exit Thailand just before the present permission to stay of your OA Visa expires.  Having done that, the permission to stay based on that OA Visa is 'dead'.  And then you can apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - immigrant Visa.  But the misunderstanding by many is that this has to be done where you exited Thailand.  Indeed, you CAN do it there but it is also possible to this at your local IO, which is actually more convenient. 

Another possible reason is that the origins of the funds to meet the financial requirements need to be proven (again) when applying at your local IO.  When those funds on your bank-account date from yesteryear it might be difficult to prove that, which would force you to transfer the funds abroad and then re-transfer them to Thailand.  But the origin of the funds does not need to be proven when applying abroad, so that might be a factor to do the application in a neighboring country.

Navigating the thai visa-jungle is not always easy...

Hi Peter!

 

Thank you so much for your effort as to spend so much of your time today as to reply me! Sorry for a long text again but is like a summing up as from my side as I now for sure knows a lot more than i did before. 

 

I do now understand a lot better and you was so correct about that reason why I applied for O-A Visa as of course was because it had not a requirement to present a "Pension Certificate". I am above 50 and it took a little effort and time to get the other requirements as required collected togther before I sent these togther with my Passport to an agency in Stockholm. It took then almost two weeks before I had my passport returned with my Thai O-A Visa, but it was on worst possible time of the year and should normally go quicker. 

 

One reason why i decided to apply for O-A Visa is because I have work mates that was stopped to use the 30-Day Visa excempt methode by Thai immigrations. Because they was less than 50 years of age they solved the problems by get Tourist Visas. They had like me relation with Thai womens in Thailand and even childrens together. Even though I am aware they did do this year around and my self not only staying in Thailand like October to April, i simply did not want to risk to also get stopped to enter Thailand. So one of my resons to apply for O-A Visa was just a preventative action. 

 

As I can see I have several options looking ahead.

1. Leave Thailand as in April without requesting any re-entry permit (single or multiple) and just let my O-A Visa to expire as on 24 June 2020. Then return to Thailand in like October and use only 30-Day Visa Excempt methode again as I have done for about 5 years before I got the O-A Visa.

 

2. Same as the above but with the difference that I apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visa at local immigration office in Thailand which in my case is in Udon Thailand when I am returning to Thailand in maybe October.  As I am leaving Thailand way more often than 90 days so I see no problem with change to use "O" VIsa. 

 

3. Purchase a Single or Multiple re-entry Permit before to in April move from living in Thailand to start live in Sweden again. Base on that i have got a "Permission to stay" until 3 April 2021 in my Passport then use this for do entries into Thaland as long as i can do so. Is well noted that i don't then should have to purchase the Thai health insurance. I think this might be my prefferred method as thinks it might help me to get 5 Year renewals of my Thai driving licences and if i go the road as of purchase a car in Thailand. I should tomorrow look if i can find some facts as how it is and create a another tread as is likely not only me that is wonder how it is?

 

4. Apply for a new O-A Visa after my current has expired. I see clearly this as Not a prefrerred option! And I am not voluntary want to purchase a possibly useless Thai Health insurance or with a coverage that is not cover much ecomically vs the price I have to pay. I have also observed how expensive it will become looking some years ahead when i have become older (without having any pre-existing conditions to my knowledge). My long term preferred is solution is to keep on purchase my Travel insurances based on still be registered as be living in Sweden. by Swedish insurance companies. Yes it will also be more expensive as the older I get but the coverage is very high as in comparison vs the price and there is no age limits either. So for sure best option as I see it.   

 

5. Tourist Visas either Single or Multiple is not prefreed either as for reason i mentioned earlier, but if the only options why not? It might even be other Visas that I have not even thought about so far that i could possibly get? If the vessel I am working on is to move to operate in Thailand waters I will have to get  a Thai Non Immigration "B" Work Visa plus Work Permit. I hold such in Malaysia and Australia currently by the way and has in past have Work visas it in other contries as well. 

 

As a preventative action I plan also place like 850.000 baht on my savings account at Bangkok Bank as it will make it much simplier to thus get evidence of that i have enough savings than try to show savings as on a bank account in Sweden. I will then just go to Bangkok bank and let them make a statement as to give to Thai Immigrations (or whom that others that asks for it?) 

 

I am aware that I should not have to present a departure ticket out from Thailand when I am holding a O-A Visa (as I believe) to either present to the immigration on requests or when to check in on the airports when travvelling to Thailand. This is to my experience however a must when to travel to Thailand and enter on the 30-day Visa excempt methode. I have just kept this practise to let my company to send me also the departure tickets as before I travel to Thailand every time. I might from next authum be back on using 30-day Visa exemptions so i will just keep this practise to go on unchanged. 

 

Well I see now also that I should been changed to English language and spelling correction somewhere as my laptop is set to Swedish. Almost every single word is marked as incorrectly spelled with a red under-score line making it hard to read as for my self. So sorry for all errors it might be.

 

[Sea Traveller]

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

There are forums about this issue. Side note look into pink card from agent on net or from friends.

Thanks I will look into the Pink Card.

 

I now found this thread as did give answers on the questions that I had.

 

For how long time you can get Thai driving licenses is however connected to which kind of Thai Visa your are on. So I see it at least partly as an matter for  he Thai Visa forum. You need to have as i can see as minimum a Non Immigrant "O" 90 day as be able to get 5 Year Thai Driving licences as "kind of tumb of rule only".    

 

Turning a 2 year temporary license into a full 5 year one?

 

 

About to eventually purchase a car in Thailand is possible also linked to which Thai Visa we are on. But was very much a side note but is like my women wants as car ha ha..But I am not going to purchase a car until there have something positive SEK (Swedish krones) vs Thai Baht. If you compare SEK and how it gone vs Euro and USD you get the picture. My philosophy is to not spend more than I have to do in Thailand as it is. Hoping that Baht is going down by sit in the boat and just wait... 

 

A total side note is that i did see on Swedish forum that one guy living permanently in Thailand but are working in Norway says that he have a NOK (Norwegian krones) Foreign account at Bangkok Bank and that he is getting much better exchange rates when he moves money between his NOK account to his Thai Baht accounts and he say it is possible to also create same but as for SEK. Very interesting If anybody reading knows about this and can give some advice or link as for to read more about this. 

 

Sorry I am really a newbe not only on this but also on other forums. This is the firts time I do write on any forums actually. 

 

[Peter Denis]

13 hours ago, Sea Traveller said:

As I can see I have several options looking ahead.

1. Leave Thailand as in April without requesting any re-entry permit (single or multiple) and just let my O-A Visa to expire as on 24 June 2020. Then return to Thailand in like October and use only 30-Day Visa Exempt method again as I have done for about 5 years before I got the O-A Visa.

 

2. Same as the above but with the difference that I apply for Non Immigrant "O" Visa at local immigration office in Thailand which in my case is in Udon Thailand when I am returning to Thailand in maybe October.  As I am leaving Thailand way more often than 90 days so I see no problem with change to use "O" VIsa. 

 

3. Purchase a Single or Multiple re-entry Permit before to in April move from living in Thailand to start live in Sweden again. Base on that i have got a "Permission to stay" until 3 April 2021 in my Passport then use this for do entries into Thailand as long as i can do so. Is well noted that i don't then should have to purchase the Thai health insurance. I think this might be my preferred method as thinks it might help me to get 5 Year renewals of my Thai driving licenses and if i go the road as of purchase a car in Thailand. I should tomorrow look if i can find some facts as how it is and create a another tread as is likely not only me that is wonder how it is?

 

4. Apply for a new O-A Visa after my current has expired. I see clearly this as Not a preferred option! And I am not voluntary want to purchase a possibly useless Thai Health insurance or with a coverage that is not cover much economically vs the price I have to pay. I have also observed how expensive it will become looking some years ahead when i have become older (without having any pre-existing conditions to my knowledge). My long term preferred is solution is to keep on purchase my Travel insurances based on still be registered as be living in Sweden. by Swedish insurance companies. Yes it will also be more expensive as the older I get but the coverage is very high as in comparison vs the price and there is no age limits either. So for sure best option as I see it.   

 

5. Tourist Visas either Single or Multiple is not prefered either as for reason i mentioned earlier, but if the only options why not? It might even be other Visas that I have not even thought about so far that i could possibly get? If the vessel I am working on is to move to operate in Thailand waters I will have to get  a Thai Non Immigration "B" Work Visa plus Work Permit. I hold such in Malaysia and Australia currently by the way and has in past have Work visas it in other countries as well. 

 

#. As a preventative action I plan also place like 850.000 baht on my savings account at Bangkok Bank as it will make it much simplier to thus get evidence of that i have enough savings than try to show savings as on a bank account in Sweden. I will then just go to Bangkok bank and let them make a statement as to give to Thai Immigrations (or whom that others that asks for it?)

2. I have PM-ed you a comprehensive roadmap containing al details and options, on how to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

 

3. Health-insurance is only required when applying for a Non Imm OA (long-stay) Visa in your home-country, AND when applying for a 1-year extension of stay based on that Non Imm OA Visa for reason of retirement.

 

#, When you apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO, and you use the money-in-bank method to show the financials, you need to prove that the funds originated from abroad.  A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do.  So better enquire before sending over the funds that such evidence will be available when the money arrives on your thai bank-account.

 

 

[Sea Traveller]

4 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

2. I have PM-ed you a comprehensive roadmap containing al details and options, on how to apply for a Non Imm O - retirement Visa.

 

3. Health-insurance is only required when applying for a Non Imm OA (long-stay) Visa in your home-country, AND when applying for a 1-year extension of stay based on that Non Imm OA Visa for reason of retirement.

 

#, When you apply for a 90-day Non Imm O - retirement Visa at your local IO, and you use the money-in-bank method to show the financials, you need to prove that the funds originated from abroad.  A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do.  So better enquire before sending over the funds that such evidence will be available when the money arrives on your thai bank-account.

 

 

Hi Peter!

 

Tank you and I have been reading the extensive Roadmap PM and I try use my Ipad but it did not work well so I went now back to use my laptop.

 

Not sure yet which option that will best suited as for me yet and it also depends on what changes there might come about Thai Visas and the Thai Health Insurances? I hope like many that my foreign insurances should qualify for O-A Visa, but I am not expecting it will become so.

 

One option that ii forgot about is the Thai Elite membership and the PE (Priority Entry) Visa. But that option can only be of interest as to be used in a future and as last option as to able to enter Thailand and if the currency rate Swedish krones vs Thai Baht goes very much in the right direction. It would also be a quite a bad experience to after get for Elite that also then only Thai Health insurance might get necessary for be able to enter on a PE Visa. I don't think it will be like that however saying no more... 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

This seems quite important and I try look up on internet myself but I failed to figure out what and how to be done?

 

I read in the PM that is an option when using Transferwise to get this matter right from the very beginning. I have now created a Login on Transferwise but not done any transactions yet. But I see it is possible to make like "Test Transactions" and did thus get a message when i did a really large test transfer that Transferwise did say "sorry we are in this case not the cheapest option". A Very good start and I will test to use Transferwise. 

[Peter Denis]

2 hours ago, Sea Traveller said:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A TFF-code next to the amount transferred in your thai bank-book will do

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...

I read in the PM that is an option when using Transferwise to get this matter right from the very beginning. I have now created a Login on Transferwise but not done any transactions yet. But I see it is possible to make like "Test Transactions" and did thus get a message when i did a really large test transfer that Transferwise did say "sorry we are in this case not the cheapest option". A Very good start and I will test to use Transferwise. 

TransferWise is a very fast and inexpensive way to transfer funds from your foreign bank-account to a thai bank-account.  Many TVF members are making use of that service, and there are many threads on it on the Forum.

TransferWise uses the mid-exchange rate (which is the actual conversion rate and not the inflated rate that banks charge you) and charges a relatively small fee for its service.

Their 'trick' is that they do not physically transfer your funds, but they have agreements with partner-banks in Thailand and your transfer is actually a domestic transfer, as it is their partner-bank that transfers the funds to your bank-account. 

But the transfer WILL show up in your Thai bank account as an International Transfer WHEN:

1. your account is from one of the three partner banks TW use (Bangkok bank, Kasikorn bank and TMB)

2. you have (previously) requested that TW tag that bank as your preferred direct transfer route (you only have to do this once, NOT for every transfer)

3. you designate that account as the receiving Thai account on your transfer applications and

4. you choose the "long term stay in Thailand option in the reason for transfer in your transfer applications.

If your Thai bank-account is NOT with one of the three partner banks TW WILL still route your transfer via one of those three banks, to be forwarded (immediately) to your own account. But, because the final leg of the transfer is between two Thai banks the code shown in your own bank account will be a "local transfer" code and NOT an International Transfer.

So simply make sure that the 4 conditions have been fulfilled the first time you do a test-transfer and check whether the correct international transfer-code appears next to the transaction in your bank-book.  If that's the case, you can from then on use TransferWise to do all your foreign transfers to that thai bank-account and they will show up as international transfers.

[wozza]

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

TransferWise is a very fast and inexpensive way to transfer funds from your foreign bank-account to a thai bank-account.  Many TVF members are making use of that service, and there are many threads on it on the Forum.

TransferWise uses the mid-exchange rate (which is the actual conversion rate and not the inflated rate that banks charge you) and charges a relatively small fee for its service.

Their 'trick' is that they do not physically transfer your funds, but they have agreements with partner-banks in Thailand and your transfer is actually a domestic transfer, as it is their partner-bank that transfers the funds to your bank-account. 

But the transfer WILL show up in your Thai bank account as an International Transfer WHEN:

1. your account is from one of the three partner banks TW use (Bangkok bank, Kasikorn bank and TMB)

2. you have (previously) requested that TW tag that bank as your preferred direct transfer route (you only have to do this once, NOT for every transfer)

3. you designate that account as the receiving Thai account on your transfer applications and

4. you choose the "long term stay in Thailand option in the reason for transfer in your transfer applications.

If your Thai bank-account is NOT with one of the three partner banks TW WILL still route your transfer via one of those three banks, to be forwarded (immediately) to your own account. But, because the final leg of the transfer is between two Thai banks the code shown in your own bank account will be a "local transfer" code and NOT an International Transfer.

So simply make sure that the 4 conditions have been fulfilled the first time you do a test-transfer and check whether the correct international transfer-code appears next to the transaction in your bank-book.  If that's the case, you can from then on use TransferWise to do all your foreign transfers to that thai bank-account and they will show up as international transfers.

Correct Peter i did exactly as you have indicated checked my statement,(Bangkok Bank) and it shows international transfer with the code AUTO

[OJAS]

On 1/1/2020 at 4:42 PM, Sea Traveller said:

The matter of get as currently two years or five years drivings licences as for motorcycle and car is not so important.

 

The matter of be able to purchase a car and register it on me is more important. As i been reading after searching on this topic on forums I will not be able to purchase a car in my name if I am in Thailand on 30-day Visa excempt or on a Tourist Visa. I am not sure if this is correct or not however as for matter of fact? It looks anyhow as more straight forward as to do a purchase when I have a O-A Visa as the base. 

Is there really any good reason why a new car has to be in your name rather than your wife's? IMHO you may be making life unnecessarily difficult for yourself if this is the main reason for you needing a fresh non-immigrant visa of the OA or O variety.

 

I have, in effect, personally purchased 2 cars in my wife's name since moving out here in 2008, with zero adverse consequences arising from these vehicles being in her name rather than mine!

 

Edited January 3, 2020 by OJAS