Non-Imm O-A Multi Entry Visa - Re-entry Permit & Insurance queries

[aussienam]

Hello, 

I have a Non-Imm O-A Multi-Entry visa issued from Australia.  I entered Thailand in September 2019 before the new mandatory health insurance requirements came into effect.  Hence I was not prompted by Immigration upon arrival to provide evidence of this.  

 

However, I use a comprehensive travel insurance that includes unlimited medical cover - will cover in and out-patient services.

 

I plan to return to Australia for a month or two in March.  

 

RE-ENTRY PERMIT? 

Question #1)  As I have a Multi-Entry Non-Imm O-A Visa I 'assume' I do not need to apply for a re-entry permit.  However, from reading several websites and YouTube video, there is no clear statement confirming that I do not need to obtain one.  I know that a single entry non-imm O-A would need one.  It seems obvious I would not need one (but TIT).  I will go to immigration if needed to confirm.  But I expect several members can at least steer me to an official website etc.  Anyone?

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE &/OR HEALTH INSURANCE?

Question #2)  When I return to Australia, my travel insurance therefore expires as per the policy.  I will take out new Travel Insurance for 6 months (I go back in Sept/Oct to renew visa in Australia)

Will I be asked to produce proof of insurance as well as a signed Foreign Insurance Certificate?  Or am I unaffected until my current valid visa expires?

The insurance cover is applied online and is an Australian based company (Insure & Go). 

If I need to provide proof, I have no idea how I am going to then have to get that company to sign a certificate, or even if this type of insurance is allowed? 

I would hate to think I have to double up on insurance cover (Travel that includes unlimited medical + Thai based Health Insurance) as that would be very costly and totally unnecessary.   My travel insurance covers me for so much more.  

 

Thank you.  

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

You don't need Thai health insurance.

You do not need reentry permit with your plan. 

[ubonjoe]

You not need a re-entry permit until your visa expires in September and then only to keep your last one year entry form it valid if you want to travel,

No need for any insurance at this time.

[aussienam]

5 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You not need a re-entry permit until your visa expires in September and then only to keep your last one year entry form it valid if you want to travel,

No need for any insurance at this time.

Thanks.  Much appreciated to all.  

Ah, so I see, if I enter Thailand again prior to my Visa expiry, the immigration passport stamp gains me an additional year entry that surpasses the visa expiry date, hence why I would need a re-entry permit until I apply for a new visa.  (Effectively from what I understand, that means I could stretch a one-year visa into nearly 2 years of staying in Thailand if I get it stamped just before the visa expires).    

[DrJack54]

OP, just bringing to your attention that initially after Oct 31. O-A folk in your situation were (in some cases) being given only a 30 day visa exempt because no insurance. That was quickly corrected. Just heads up to check your entry stamp for 12 month permission of stay was issued correctly. Don't put up with nonsense that insurance is required

[aussienam]

27 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, just bringing to your attention that initially after Oct 31. O-A folk in your situation were (in some cases) being given only a 30 day visa exempt because no insurance. That was quickly corrected. Just heads up to check your entry stamp for 12 month permission of stay was issued correctly. Don't put up with nonsense that insurance is required

 

I apologise for questioning your responses, but it does gets confusing.  Has the insurance issue been put on hold at the moment? 

 

On the Thai Embassy Canberra (Australia) website (https://canberra.thaiembassy.org/non-immigrant/) it currently lists as part of the requirement for the Non-Imm O-A visa: 

 

• Health Insurance certificate covering the entire period of stay in Thailand with the details of coverage as follows: In-patient, at least THB400,000/policy year                                                                                        Out-patient, at least THB40,000/policy year
• Original health insurance policy (a copy of policy can only be accepted only if purchased from participating Thai insurance companies (http://longstay.tgia.org/))

And, it seems that it means that the 'Health Insurance Certificate' may mean needing the signed 'Foreign Insurance Certificate' to accompany the insurance policy. 

I will email the Thai Embassy Canberra to double check.  

 

I have been only taking out 6 month travel insurance that is not multi-entry as I return to Oz a couple of times a year and it is cheaper just to take out a new travel insurance cover for the next trip back.  

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, aussienam said:

 

I apologise for questioning your responses, but it does gets confusing.  Has the insurance issue been put on hold at the moment? 

 

On the Thai Embassy Canberra (Australia) website (https://canberra.thaiembassy.org/non-immigrant/) it currently lists as part of the requirement for the Non-Imm O-A visa: 

 

• Health Insurance certificate covering the entire period of stay in Thailand with the details of coverage as follows: In-patient, at least THB400,000/policy year                                                                                        Out-patient, at least THB40,000/policy year
• Original health insurance policy (a copy of policy can only be accepted only if purchased from participating Thai insurance companies (http://longstay.tgia.org/))

And, it seems that it means that the 'Health Insurance Certificate' may mean needing the signed 'Foreign Insurance Certificate' to accompany the insurance policy. 

I will email the Thai Embassy Canberra to double check.  

 

I have been only taking out 6 month travel insurance that is not multi-entry as I return to Oz a couple of times a year and it is cheaper just to take out a new travel insurance cover for the next trip back.  

For your current situation I wouldn't bother contacting au re insurance.

If you continue with non O-A in future you will require insurance. 

IMO after your current O-A is done and dusted next time obtain non o based on retirement. Cannot obtain that in oz. 

You can enter visa exempt and do conversion to non O at immigration.

Peter Dennis (avatar) has written up "roadmap" for the process. 

You could also continue obtaining Tavel insurance from AU if you wish

[aussienam]

44 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

For your current situation I wouldn't bother contacting au re insurance.

If you continue with non O-A in future you will require insurance. 

IMO after your current O-A is done and dusted next time obtain non o based on retirement. Cannot obtain that in oz. 

You can enter visa exempt and do conversion to non O at immigration.

Peter Dennis (avatar) has written up "roadmap" for the process. 

You could also continue obtaining Tavel insurance from AU if you wish

I have a Non O-A visa based on retirement that I obtained in Oz.  Requirement was equivalent of 800,000 THB in Australian bank account.  Valid for a year.  Multi entry.  

Getting the Non O retirement visa in Thailand means shifting money from Oz into Thai bank account at woeful exchange rate which I don't want to do.  I prefer going back to Oz to renew and getting better interest and investments in Oz.  And I go back to Oz a couple times a year anyway.  

 

Travel Insurance: Every time I return to Australia, the travel insurance is voided from the point of return.    There is no pro-rata refund on any unused period.  

 

With new requirements it means Thai Immigration want health insurance cover that covers the one year period.  It would mean taking out one year travel insurance policies that I would be cutting short when I return before the expiry date.  So that doesn't make sense.  

 

So, I would need to take out Thai Health cover in Thailand for a year period and pay for coverage even when I am back in Australia (Are any companies that allow you to temporarily suspend cover whilst overseas?).  That sux.  

 

I use travel insurance when abroad anyway for other cover, which sux because it means doubling up on health cover. 

Ridiculously, I would most likely not use the Thai health insurance company cover, because my travel insurance medical cover is unlimited, whilst the ones I have seen in Thailand are capped.  Hence travel insurance cover is far more superior.  

So, basically I will be paying for a Thai Health cover that I would never use, except to qualify for the Non Imm O-A visa.  What a bloody rort.  How much is this going to cost me?  (Thinking I am 51 soon, pre-existing medical conditions, etc)  May be the clincher to re-consider staying in Thailand or moving elsewhere unfortunately.  

[DrJack54]

OP, as saying goes "up to you". I have visas to Vietnam for year long stay. Very simple. Also many folk will talk about all other options. The 800k in bank is ~ 40k aud. 

The interest rate here on that is miserable 1.55%. In oz miserable rate is ~2.5%.

Yes you can inject into your super. Mine (also in oz) is maxed out. Guess it all depends on financials.

Other members will tell you what your Thai insurance will cost. But it's useless and not cheap.

IMO thinking your "cutting off nose to ...

Just making life hard. The wasted opportunity cost on parking 40aud here is part of deal. Accept or live elsewhere as you point out that your considering.

 

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, aussienam said:

I have a Non O-A visa based on retirement that I obtained in Oz.  Requirement was equivalent of 800,000 THB in Australian bank account.  Valid for a year.  Multi entry.  

You will not need to worry about insurance until you apply for your next OA visa in Australia.

As said you can get a total stay of almost 2 years from you current visa. You just need to be sure you have a re-entry permit to keep your last one year entry from it valid.

At this time travel insurance is not enough to qualify for a OA visa. I think things will change before you need to apply for your next one.

[tinca tinca]

15 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You don't need Thai health insurance.

You do not need reentry permit with your plan. 

everyone NEED re entry permit....when going out of country, other wise a visa beomes INVALID

[DrJack54]

31 minutes ago, tinca tinca said:

everyone NEED re entry permit....when going out of country, other wise a visa beomes INVALID

Some visas are multi entry METV to name one. A non O-A is multi entry visa valid for 12 months. If someone exits and reenters prior to it's expiry they will be given 12 month permission of stay from date they reenter. After expiry of oa  if they wish to exit and keep that permission of stay valid they will need reentry permit.

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, tinca tinca said:

everyone NEED re entry permit....when going out of country, other wise a visa beomes INVALID

Not exactly correct. Visas become invalid due to an expiry date or are single use. 

[aussienam]

I sent an email to the Thai Embassy Canberra seeking clarification regarding the insurance issue.  

Bottom line is that travel insurance can be accepted as long as it covers the entire period of my stay in Thailand and the foreign insurance certificate is signed by the insurance company to verify it covers the minimum in and out-patient limits.

 

Down side is that if you return to your home country one or more times a year, travel insurance is cancelled each time and you need to take out new insurance each time to again cover the full length of stay in Thailand, even if you plan to come back to your home country a few times a year.  So, in other words, it would get bloody expensive.  Looks like I will be getting Thai health insurance at the cheapest price, then doubling up with the travel insurance for travel periods to cover me as well for medical + other cover (liability etc). 

Let's hope as commented above that the laws are amended to allow more flexibility.