Thai Visa Insurance Requirements

TL;DR: Insurance requirements are set/checked at the issuing embassy/consulate and can change. LTR visa: health insurance covering USD 50,000, or SSO eligibility, or qualifying bank deposit. O-A visa: many posts require 400,000 THB IPD / 40,000 THB OPD (Chicago example). Requirements vary by embassy - verify on the issuing post's website.

Before You Start

Critical Point: Embassy Variation

Insurance requirements are NOT set by Thai immigration. They're determined by individual Thai embassies/consulates. The same visa type can have completely different insurance requirements depending on where you apply.

Always verify: Requirements change frequently. Check the specific embassy/consulate website where you'll apply, not general information.

Two Illustrative Examples

1. LTR visa (set by BOI):

• Health insurance covering USD 50,000, OR
• SSO eligibility (if employed), OR
• Qualifying bank deposit
• Source: BOI Long-Term Resident visa

2. Non-Immigrant O-A (example: Chicago post):

• 400,000 THB IPD (inpatient) coverage
• 40,000 THB OPD (outpatient) coverage
• Sometimes additional COVID coverage required
• Source: Thai Consulate Chicago
• Note: Other posts may have entirely different requirements

Documents You'll Need

Insurance Certificate Requirements

• Language: English or Thai translation required
• Coverage details: Must clearly state minimum coverage amounts
• Policy validity: Must cover entire requested visa period
• Insurer information: Company name, policy number, effective dates
• Geographic coverage: Must explicitly include Thailand

Policy Verification Checklist

✅ Coverage amounts meet embassy minimums
✅ Policy duration covers visa validity period
✅ Thailand coverage explicitly included in policy area
✅ Insurance company is licensed (verify via OIC)
✅ Documentation in accepted language (English/Thai)
✅ Certificate format meets embassy specifications

Specific Visa Types

Long-Term Resident (LTR) Visa

Set by: Board of Investment (BOI) Requirements: LTR visa requirements

Option 1 - Health Insurance:

• Minimum coverage: USD 50,000 equivalent
• Scope: Medical treatment in Thailand
• Documentation: Insurance certificate with English translation

Option 2 - SSO Eligibility:

• Requirements: Legal employment with SSO contributions
• Verification: SSO benefit confirmation letter
• Coverage: Basic medical benefits through SSO system

Option 3 - Financial Guarantee:

• Amount: Sufficient funds demonstration (amount varies)
• Documentation: Bank statements from recognized institutions
• Verification: Must show capacity for medical expenses

Non-Immigrant O-A (Retirement Visa)

Set by: Individual embassies/consulates Example: Thai Consulate Chicago requirements

Chicago Post Requirements:

• IPD coverage: 400,000 THB minimum (inpatient)
• OPD coverage: 40,000 THB minimum (outpatient)
• Policy duration: Must cover 1-year visa period
• Additional: May require COVID-19 coverage (verify current requirements)

Other Posts May Require:

• Different coverage amounts
• Additional coverage types
• Different documentation formats
• No insurance requirement at all

Other Visa Categories

Tourist Visas & Visa Exemption:

• Current status: Generally no insurance requirement
• Recommendation: Travel insurance still advisable
• Embassy variation: Some posts may impose requirements

Non-Immigrant O (Family/Marriage):

• Standard: No insurance requirement
• Exceptions: Some embassies may require coverage

Non-Immigrant B (Business/Work):

• Visa stage: Typically no insurance requirement
• Work permit stage: Employer may need to provide coverage

How to Verify Requirements

Step-by-Step Verification

1. Identify your applying embassy/consulate (where you'll submit application)
2. Check embassy website for current insurance requirements
3. Call/email embassy if website unclear or outdated
4. Confirm specific amounts and documentation format
5. Verify policy meets requirements before visa application

Documentation Preparation

• Obtain policy certificate in required language
• Verify coverage amounts match embassy requirements exactly
• Check policy dates cover entire visa period
• Confirm Thailand coverage explicitly stated
• Prepare additional documents as required by specific embassy

Common Pitfalls

Outdated Requirements

• Embassy websites: May not reflect latest changes
• Third-party advice: Often based on old or different embassy requirements
• Forum posts: Personal experiences may not apply to your embassy

Policy Mismatches

• Coverage amounts: Falling short of embassy minimums
• Geographic exclusions: Policies that don't cover Thailand
• Policy periods: Not covering full visa validity
• Documentation format: Wrong language or missing details

Insurer Issues

• Unlicensed insurers: May not be accepted by embassies
• Limited recognition: Some insurers not accepted by specific embassies
• Policy wording: Unclear or ambiguous coverage terms

Where to Verify

LTR Visa Requirements:

• Official source: BOI LTR portal
• Updates: Monitor BOI announcements for requirement changes

O-A Visa Requirements (example):

• Chicago post: Thai Consulate Chicago
• Other posts: Check specific embassy where you'll apply

Insurance Company Licensing:

• Verification: Office of Insurance Commission
• Consumer protection: OIC hotline 1186 for disputes

Note on Variability: Requirements vary by embassy/consulate; verify on the issuing post's website. Requirements can change without notice.

Need Visa Insurance Help? Our team understands embassy-specific requirements and can connect you with licensed insurers who provide compliant policies. Contact us for embassy-specific guidance.