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Has Phuket Immigration removed the B3 million insurance exemption for OA visa holders?

OA VisaInsurance RequirementsPhuket ImmigrationExemptionsVisa RulesThailandRetirement Visa
Aug 9, 2024
6 months ago
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Not sure if this has previously been shared or communicated. Phuket immig has now removed the B3m insurance exemption/ waiver for the OA visa holders who arrived before Nov 2019. I wasnt able to verify this with an officer as I was unable to get past the gatekeepers they now employ, and I stopped bringing my insurance policy several years ago. They say it was gazzetted in sept last year surprised not to see anything in the media about it 🤔
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Recent discussions indicate that Phuket Immigration has eliminated the B3 million insurance exemption for OA visa holders who arrived before November 2019. There is confusion among expatriates regarding the accuracy and the implications of this policy change, as it appears not to have been widely reported in the media. While some participants in the discussion cite that it was announced last September, others are unsure of its validity, especially since they have not seen official updates from the Phuket Immigration Volunteers or the immigration office.
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George *************
Phuket Immigration had been an outlier, allowing those who held Non-OA visas or extensions from before the effective date of the change to continue under the old rules. That is, they were grandfathered from the then-new mandated insurance requirements. One of a few immigration offices to adopt that position. Sad if they have changed this long-standing policy.
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@George ************
 also Jontien so must be strict in tourist spots
6 months ago
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
This came from a gatekeeper couldn’t get near an Immig Officer, hope to get some clarity over the weekend, I have the cover, but haven’t taken it for the last 3 years as they said not required…..I can’t find anything on line about this and don’t recall anything in the media……
6 months ago
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Michael *******
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George *************
If true, the guidance from Phuket Immigration Volunteers hasn't been updated yet:

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6 months ago
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Alf ***********
The waiver was for those who already had an O-A visa when the insurance requirement came.

As this is now 5 years ago an an O-A visa is only valid for 1 year, it doesn't apply to anyone.
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
Must be very fresh then, because this is from last month...
6 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Stephan **********
 the statements made on this website of the Phuket Immigration Volunteers, might not be accurate. Immigration can change their interpretation of the rules any time
6 months ago
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was told yesterday that it changed in Sept last year, seems odd that the volunteers would not have picked up on this, and they are in the front line of grumpy retiree’s…..
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Nongnuch *******
 I know... but if the change is from last year already they would have changed it, no?
6 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Stephan **********
 one would assume so, but this is Thailand
6 months ago
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Nongnuch ********
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Bob **********
Great news if it’s true I got rid of my O-A didn’t need it when I got it but changed for my 3rd year
6 months ago
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Greg *********
@Bob *********
 Curious why you changed, you doing a personal funding of your medical costs?
6 months ago
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Bob **********
@Greg ********
 yes the policies aren’t all that great I self insure over here if it’s serious I have insurance in the states costs about 2000 baht blood tests and see my Dr at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya
6 months ago
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Greg *********
@Bob *********
 That’s cool, thanks for the info.
6 months ago
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Greg *********
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Phil ******
Widely reported in media
@Michael ******
 . I can send a link if you wish easy to google it
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Phil *****
 Yes... send a link, please... I can't find it.
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Stephan **********
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91/new-visa-promotions-retiree-insurance-reduced#
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Phil *****
 Seems to be the wrong link... this one is just about the change of the coverage... back to 400k/40k.
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Stephan **********
 it does state this in the article

"Under the cabinet's resolution on Tuesday, each long-stay visa applicant in this age group is required to have health cover of only 440,000 baht - 400,000 baht for inpatient treatment and 40,000 baht for outpatient cover."

Please credit and share this article with others using this link:
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View our policies at
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and
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91/new-visa-promotions-retiree-insurance-reduced?fbclid=IwY2xjawEiocVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHaNfwyfblesu7yZwbIR0YdEZUrUUKfRUGY7dkT9AzuMTkXeWaH7ylKKlaA_aem_33Em7mbdnTnU7GoEJS-R_g. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.
6 months ago
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
 separate issue, the Phuket insurance quidelines as George has pointed out are an outlier, they have not required Insurance on O-A for pre 2019 arrivals…..I suspect I have been fed BS by our friends at immig what’s new there…..
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Michael ******
 my understanding is the OA and OX visas are issued in your home country Immi office and they need the insurance. Non O based on retiremement issued within Thailand has no insurance requirement
6 months ago
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
 that’s correct, but for some reason Phuket decided not to impose this on O-A visa holders who arrived before 2019 ( we came in 2018) - I have the required insurance, but stopped taking the cert to immig 2 years ago as they werent interested in it and said not req - until yesterday but I suspect it’s BS as there is nothing to support what I was told. guidelines from immig volunteers also specify that only arrivals after 2019 on O-A require insurance……hence my initial question…..
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Michael ******
 ok see I don't really no specific immis as use here in Bangkok and Buriram. I've seen lots before that individual immi offices impose there own rules.
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Phil *****
 Well... that's not what this post is about... that's a whole different story.
6 months ago
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George *************
@Stephan **********
 Yes, this was a Phuket Immigration Office-specific policy to grandfather those having continuously held Non-OA visas and extensions from before the mandated insurance requirement came into effect.
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Stephan **********
 no its buried down
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of the article.

I have quoted it verbatum
6 months ago
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Stephan ***********
@Phil *****
 What you quoted is about the reduction of the coverage from 3 million to 400k. Can we, at least, agree about that?

But as I told you already... that's not the point, that's not what the OP is talking about, it has nothing to do with the coverage.
6 months ago
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Phil ******
@Stephan **********
 oh
6 months ago
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Phil ******
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Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Must have missed it, could have been away thanks for confirming
6 months ago
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Michael *******
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