Converting Retirement OA visa to O

[JetsetBkk]

Phuket immigration said this can be done at Satun, using an agent. 

If it saves getting the health certificate (34,500 baht) and all the form filling hassle, I may do it next year. This year's extension was a horrendous pain given that for the last 4 years no health insurance has been necessary.

Finding out that the rules had changed so that I needed it, and getting it all done in two weeks, with three public holidays and two other national holidays during that time was stressful. 

Fortunately the IOs at Phuket have been very helpful and got the insurance done in 2 hours, compared to the AXA rep. who needed 7 to 14 days. I don't blame the rep., but the IO had a direct line to the "boss". 

So, has anyone done the change from OA to O? 

 

[DrJack54]

You would not be converting a Non O-A to Non O as your title suggests.

You would be using an agent to circumvent the insurance requirement for a fee.

 

Suggest the best option is to start over (as many have done) 

Exit Thailand without a reentry permit and from visa exempt entry obtain a Non O.

 

Alternatively if you want to use agent then kill off the Non O-A as suggested then use agent to obtain Non O + ongoing annual extensions 

[JetsetBkk]

I already got the insurance from AXA. (deleted: repeating my first post) 

She said I could go to Satun "border town" with an agent next year and he could get it done, obviously for a price. 

Maybe I have to go with him to the Thai consulate in Penang and he expedites it. 

It all depends on the cost/benefit ratio. 

The alternative is to keep 3 million in the bank to be exempt from the insurance. 

[DrJack54]

57 minutes ago, JetsetBkk said:

I already got the insurance from AXA. (deleted: repeating my first post) 

She said I could go to Satun "border town" with an agent next year and he could get it done, obviously for a price. 

Maybe I have to go with him to the Thai consulate in Penang and he expedites it. 

It all depends on the cost/benefit ratio. 

The alternative is to keep 3 million in the bank to be exempt from the insurance. 

You are making simple difficult.

You need start over.

No agent required.

Exit Thailand without reentry permit.

From visa exempt entry apply for Non O retirement visa at your immigration office.

Subsequently apply for ongoing extensions based on retirement.

No insurance requirement

Process here...

https://aseannow.com/topic/1311886-visa-exempt-to-retirement-extension-process-and-cost/

[OJAS]

13 hours ago, JetsetBkk said:

obviously for a price. 

 

As well as totally illegally - meaning that you could then find yourself running the risk of eventually ending up in deep, deep doo-dah with IMM. Much better to follow the procedure set out by @DrJack54 IMHO.

[safarimike11]

On 5/8/2025 at 7:32 PM, JetsetBkk said:

Phuket immigration said this can be done at Satun, using an agent. 

If it saves getting the health certificate (34,500 baht) and all the form filling hassle, I may do it next year. This year's extension was a horrendous pain given that for the last 4 years no health insurance has been necessary.

Finding out that the rules had changed so that I needed it, and getting it all done in two weeks, with three public holidays and two other national holidays during that time was stressful. 

Fortunately the IOs at Phuket have been very helpful and got the insurance done in 2 hours, compared to the AXA rep. who needed 7 to 14 days. I don't blame the rep., but the IO had a direct line to the "boss". 

So, has anyone done the change from OA to O? 

 

I just count myself lucky that when I decided to relocate to Thailand (in 2005), I did so via a Non-A visa. At the time, there was a choice between this and a Non-O visa ; if I am wrong, so be it. I remember that some years later, the Non O-A visa came into being and since that date I have heard nothing but trouble that this visa has caused people.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, safarimike11 said:

....Non O-A visa came into being and since that date I have heard nothing but trouble that this visa has caused people

To be fair... The Non O-A visa was a fantastic option for many prior to introduction of insurance requirement

[safarimike11]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

To be fair... The Non O-A visa was a fantastic option for many prior to introduction of insurance requirement

Acknowledged and acknowledged.

[JetsetBkk]

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

To be fair... The Non O-A visa was a fantastic option for many prior to introduction of insurance requirement

That's what I thought 23 years ago! 😁

[DrJack54]

31 minutes ago, JetsetBkk said:

That's what I thought 23 years ago! 😁

The insurance requirement is relatively recent.

As posted above ...many folk have killed off their Non O-A.

Starting over is not huge task.

You have been given advice re options moving forward.

Up to you.