I am not sure whether someone has reported on this. I have not been coming to this forum as often ever since AseanNow has this new layout.

 

If you are still on O-A retirement extension in Phuket, the no health insurance required extension honeymoon is over. Phuket Immigration now requires the 3 million baht health insurance if you are extending your retirement stay based on your original Non-Imm O-A visa.

 

If you have existing insurance cover, good for you.  Otherwise, time to ditch the O-A and move over to Non-Imm O visa.

This probably should go to the visa forum to get some replies, but I thought it was always the same, applying for retirement visa from home country required health insurance, and subsequent extensions from inside the country needed that health insurance too...!? 

On 11/22/2024 at 6:56 PM, Agusts said:

This probably should go to the visa forum to get some replies, but I thought it was always the same, applying for retirement visa from home country required health insurance, and subsequent extensions from inside the country needed that health insurance too...!? 

Phuket was the one exception. They grandfathered the requirement for visas issued before this criterion was introduced. 

Checking the Immi Volunteers site, it seems they have been brought back in line.

On 11/27/2024 at 7:03 PM, Old Croc said:

Phuket was the one exception. They grandfathered the requirement for visas issued before this criterion was introduced. 

Checking the Immi Volunteers site, it seems they have been brought back in line.

That is correct, the grandfathering rule which Phuket immigration used isn't available anymore.

All Non-OA extensions need now a health insurance.

They properly destroyed the best visa they had.

I now spend less than half the time I used to in Thailand.

Just adapt to the rules. There is more places on this planet, no big deal.

It did change my retirement plans. I did plan to spend a bit more then half the year here.

But now 2-3 month will have to do. Probably for the best,

I'm not here long enough to get to frustrated over the way things are here.