Me: above 50 and a frequent traveler to Thailand for almost 20 years, married and have a second home here. Due to my offshore rotation I usually stay in the kingdom about 3 weeks pr trip.  Not so much travelling the last 6 years, but the wife moved back to Thailand a year a go and then I picked up travelling regularly again. Before I used to apply for the 12 month Non O 90 day per stay visa, which was perfect for me, but now that visa does not exist anymore. I will be travelling about 5 trips a year until retirement which will be in about 5 years from now. 

 

So I`m considering to apply for this visa next year: https://oslo.thaiembassy.org/en/page/non-immigrant-o-a-long-stay?menu=671109c4932a1f02e838a053

If I buy a Thai health insurance from the approved list can I then look away from any requirements below nr 7.1.1 in the document? 

1 hour ago, Namplik said:

If I buy a Thai health insurance from the approved list can I then look away from any requirements below nr 7.1.1 in the document? 

Correct.

 

Are you aware of how the Non O-A works?

7 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Correct.

 

Are you aware of how the Non O-A works?

 

Works? What do you mean? I do understand the requirements. 

Yes, how it works.

It's a multiple entry visa, with the same concept as the non-O ME you used to use.  But a few important things to keep in mind.

 

EVERY time you enter Thailand, while the visa is still valid (the dates on the visa that was issued by the embassy, not related to any stamps in your passport which is your permission to stay, not your visa), you will be stamped in for a full year, or until the end of your insurance, whichever is sooner.  So when you enter, you'll get a full year stamp as permission to stay.  Then you leave, and when you return, you receive another full year stamp.  Because it sounds like your travel might be a little spradic, try to know when your last entry will be before the actual visa expires.  Purchase a fresh year of insurance before this entry, that way they will stamp you in for another full year.  Then before you leave (or at the airport on the way out) purchase a re-entry permit.  That means the full 1-year stamp that you received will remain alive after your visa expires, and you can continue to enter on that stamp but each of your entries at that point will only be until that stamp expires, because the visa already ended so does not offer anymore entries.  Then when this is about to run out, you can go back to Norway and get a new non-OA visa. Then you repeat the process of getting the full 1-year stamps, get a re-entry permit before leaving on your last trip before the visa expires, etc.  Some people do this in a 2-year cycle for many years (until the insurance gets too expensive due to age) as they don't want to deal with Thai immigration or Thai banks, and they are already planning on returning home every 2 years to visit family or check on their home etc.

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

Yes, how it works.

It's a multiple entry visa, with the same concept as the non-O ME you used to use.  But a few important things to keep in mind.

 

EVERY time you enter Thailand, while the visa is still valid (the dates on the visa that was issued by the embassy, not related to any stamps in your passport which is your permission to stay, not your visa), you will be stamped in for a full year, or until the end of your insurance, whichever is sooner.  So when you enter, you'll get a full year stamp as permission to stay.  Then you leave, and when you return, you receive another full year stamp.  Because it sounds like your travel might be a little spradic, try to know when your last entry will be before the actual visa expires.  Purchase a fresh year of insurance before this entry, that way they will stamp you in for another full year.  Then before you leave (or at the airport on the way out) purchase a re-entry permit.  That means the full 1-year stamp that you received will remain alive after your visa expires, and you can continue to enter on that stamp but each of your entries at that point will only be until that stamp expires, because the visa already ended so does not offer anymore entries.  Then when this is about to run out, you can go back to Norway and get a new non-OA visa. Then you repeat the process of getting the full 1-year stamps, get a re-entry permit before leaving on your last trip before the visa expires, etc.  Some people do this in a 2-year cycle for many years (until the insurance gets too expensive due to age) as they don't want to deal with Thai immigration or Thai banks, and they are already planning on returning home every 2 years to visit family or check on their home etc.

 

Yes, this is my plan 👍I think this could fit quite well to my travel pattern in the coming years. 

3 hours ago, Namplik said:

 

Yes, this is my plan 👍I think this could fit quite well to my travel pattern in the coming years. 

Yes the Non O-A is an option for your situation. 

Previously the multi entry Non O would be perfect and suited roster workers, however no longer available. 

The only other thing you could have looked at is option such as DTV

9 hours ago, Namplik said:

 

Yes, this is my plan 👍I think this could fit quite well to my travel pattern in the coming years. 

Note that the period of visa validity is different from the period of stay.

 

Visa validity is the period during which a visa can be used to enter Thailand. The validity of a visa is granted with discretion by the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General and is displayed on the visa sticker.

The period of stay is granted by an immigration officer upon arrival at the port of entry and in accordance with the type of visa. The period of stay granted by the immigration officer is displayed on the arrival stamp.

 

A multi entry Non Imm O-A Visa. (Long stay). Valid 1 year. It can be issued to those who are over +50 who intend to remain in Thailand for long periods. This Visa allows unlimited 1 year entries before the ‘enter before’ date of the Visa, at which point this Visa is ‘used’.

If you leave and re-enter just before the ‘enter before’ date of this Visa type, you are granted another 1 year permission to stay. You will however require a re-entry permit if you intend to leave and re-enter Thailand during this 2nd year permission of stay period.

This is because when the Visa expires on the ‘enter before’ date, so does the ME facility, which is only valid for the duration of the Visas validity (1 year)

If used correctly, you can stay in Thailand for almost 24 months with this Visa type.

 

If the Visa was issued 1st July 2022, it would be valid until 30th June 2023. You enter Thailand 10th July 2022, you'll be granted a permission of stay (POS) until 9th July 2023*.

 

You exit Thailand in Sept and re-enter Oct 4th 2022.

On entry you'll be granted POS until Oct 3rd 2023*. (1 year).

 

You exit Thailand again in Feb 2023 and re-enter March18th 2023.

On entry you'll be granted POS until March 17th 2024*. (1 year)

 

To take full advantage of the Visas potential, do a border run and re-enter on June 29th 2023, the day before the Visa expiry date.

On entry you'll be granted POS until June 28th 2024*.(1 year).

 

However because the validity of Visa has now expired, so has the multi entry facility attached to the Visa. If you want to exit and re-enter between the June 29th 2023 and June 28th 2024*, you can protect this period of stay by purchasing a re-entry permit, 1000 baht single entry, 3,800 baht multi entry.

 

If you exit and re-enter anytime now during the period June 29th 2023 and June 28th 2024, on each entry you'll be granted permission of stay until June 28th 2024*.

From the above example you can clearly see how you can stay for almost 2 years before either applying for a new Non Imm O-A Visa, or apply to extend your stay at a local Immigration office. (Financials apply)

 

*Subject to the mandatory Health Insurance policy validity date. (see below).

 

A mandatory Health Insurance policy requiring 3,000,000 THB ($100,000) cover is required for the Non Imm O-A Visa application. The permission of stay granted is impacted by the expiry date of the Insurance policy.

Any permission of stay granted on entry will be limited to the expiry date of the Insurance policy. You should therefore consider a 2 year Health Insurance policy so as not to affect the periods of stay granted on multiple entries.

 

On 11/2/2025 at 11:55 PM, DrJack54 said:

Yes the Non O-A is an option for your situation. 

Previously the multi entry Non O would be perfect and suited roster workers, however no longer available. 

The only other thing you could have looked at is option such as DTV

 

So if I utilize this visa for almost two years, do I have to show proof of financial requirements for the "second year" ? Or is it enough with only valid insurance and a multi entry permit?

17 minutes ago, Namplik said:

So if I utilize this visa for almost two years, do I have to show proof of financial requirements for the "second year" ?

No, just for the initial, visa.

 

18 minutes ago, Namplik said:

Or is it enough with only valid insurance and a multi entry permit?

For the second year, valid Insurance and multi re-entry permit.

5 hours ago, Namplik said:

 

So if I utilize this visa for almost two years, do I have to show proof of financial requirements for the "second year" ? Or is it enough with only valid insurance and a multi entry permit?

You have correct advice above. 

 

In your forward planning be aware that at some point you may wish to change to Non O retirement + annual extensions. 

Often referred to "kill off" the Non O-A. 

Folks do that as the Non O + extensions does not require insurance. 

To do that you will allow the pérmit to expire and obtain the Non O on the eVisa platform. 

Got my final document ready on Tuesday this week and sent the application on the same day. 

I got the visa approved yesterday evening. So it was a quick approval from the embassy in Oslo! Only about 3 working days 👍

 

So then I'm all set for the next couple of years, thanks for all the reply in this thread 😎

46 minutes ago, Namplik said:

Got my final document ready on Tuesday this week and sent the application on the same day. 

I got the visa approved yesterday evening. So it was a quick approval from the embassy in Oslo! Only about 3 working days 👍

 

So then I'm all set for the next couple of years, thanks for all the reply in this thread 😎

Congratulations and best wishes.

hmm, so is there a thread for folks seeking the O-As ? 

 

I'm a bit confused as to the sequence of when to apply for the health insurance via Cigna or AXA, and when to apply for the O-A (which require the insurance). 

 

Assuming, that I'm going to be allowed get insurance . Do I just guess on the dates I want to start the insurance, something like 2 months ahead of travel?   Then waited an undefined period of time for acceptance, then only apply for the O-A after my presumed date of travel and insurance is accepted ? 

 

btw, for someone with existing US coverage, any suggestions on which carrier to use for 2 years of acceptable O-A insurance?   I guess then there'd be no need to carry "travel insurance" as I usually do.

When I first acquired the required health insurance, I applied (filled out all the forms) about 3 months before my O-A Visa was due for extension.

 

It took about a month for my application to be approved, after which I requested that the health insurance begin on the same day that my visa was due for extension.  They have aligned ever since.

 

Good luck.

3 hours ago, khlongtoey said:

I'm a bit confused as to the sequence of when to apply for the health insurance via Cigna or AXA, and when to apply for the O-A (which require the insurance). 

Health Insurance requirement for Non-Immigrant O-A 
Effective from 1 October 2021, the applicant must be insured for the entire period of stay in Thailand with the following coverage:
– Health insurance must cover COVID-19 disease with the total sum insured of no less than 3,000,000 THB or $100,000 per policy year
The applicants must submit the following:

Health insurance policy document issued by a Thai or foreign insurance company, stating that the applicant is medically insured for the period and with coverage as mentioned above:
(a) In case of a foreign insurance company, the applicant must submit the insurance policy document; Foreign Insurance Certificate as stipulated by the Office of Insurance Commission and Health Insurance of Thailand, which must be completed, signed, and stamped by the insurance company. The form can be downloaded here: Foreign Insurance Certificate Form. Please contact your insurance company since this Foreign Insurance Certificate is mandatory. 

(b) In the case of a Thai insurance company that is on the list, the applicant must submit the insurance policy document. A list of Thai insurance companies participating in the scheme can be found here: http://longstay.tgia.org

https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-type-o-a

 

In the case of a) a foreign Insurance company, they will probably refuse to sign the required form, therefore you will have to obtain Insurance through one of the listed companies on the TGIA website. LMG have always been the cheapest.

 

3 hours ago, khlongtoey said:

Assuming, that I'm going to be allowed get insurance . Do I just guess on the dates I want to start the insurance, something like 2 months ahead of travel?   Then waited an undefined period of time for acceptance, then only apply for the O-A after my presumed date of travel and insurance is accepted ? 

Ideally, have the Insurance post dated to start the day you intend to enter Thailand.

13 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

When I first acquired the required health insurance, I applied (filled out all the forms) about 3 months before my O-A Visa was due for extension.

 

It took about a month for my application to be approved, after which I requested that the health insurance begin on the same day that my visa was due for extension.  They have aligned ever since.

 

Good luck.

 

I've had the O-A's in the past, pre health-insurance, but expired now.  So, apply for the health insurance (through which carrier?),  1st?, 3 months in advance of travel,  wait for the approval, possibly in a month,  then use the approval to apply for the O-A ? Approximately, 2 months before travel?

 

Did you apply for 2 year's of coverage?  or just the 1 year ?  Since, the O-A with re-entry permit, might be used for 2 years of time in country?

 

About what was the cost of coverage? 

On 11/25/2025 at 11:40 PM, khlongtoey said:

hmm, so is there a thread for folks seeking the O-As ? 

 

I'm a bit confused as to the sequence of when to apply for the health insurance via Cigna or AXA, and when to apply for the O-A (which require the insurance). 

 

Assuming, that I'm going to be allowed get insurance . Do I just guess on the dates I want to start the insurance, something like 2 months ahead of travel?   Then waited an undefined period of time for acceptance, then only apply for the O-A after my presumed date of travel and insurance is accepted ? 

 

btw, for someone with existing US coverage, any suggestions on which carrier to use for 2 years of acceptable O-A insurance?   I guess then there'd be no need to carry "travel insurance" as I usually do.

 

I applied for the health insurance to start on the day I travel to Thailand next time.

 

For me it only took a few days before it was accepted by AXA. I chose Deductible Per Disability : 300,000 THB. About 8500 THB for one year.

I don't really need this health insurance but since it's a demand for this visa I just bought the cheapest I could find. 

 

I only stay 3 weeks per trip and my Norwegian travel insurance coverage is very good. 

Leaving Suvarnabhumi tonight for the first time on this visa. Can I use the automatic passport control or is it best to go through a Immigration officer? 

2 hours ago, Namplik said:

Leaving Suvarnabhumi tonight for the first time on this visa. Can I use the automatic passport control or is it best to go through a Immigration officer? 

Anyone/Everyone can go through the automated exit gates.  No reason to see an officer.  They'll likely direct you to the gates if you try.