Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video states, we are discussing the Thai Retirement Visas. The reason I thought of making this video is I was reading a recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Pattaya Grapevine: Immigration Melody. I kind of like that title, it is kind of catchy. Under one of the subheadings: The end of insurance. Quoting directly: "Compulsory COVID Insurance ends July 1 for anyone entering Thailand. But those applying for Retirement Visas at Thai Embassies still need comprehensive Medical cover. Details on individual Embassy sites. Whether you need such cover to extend such a Visa for twelve months at Immigration depends on which kind it is: O/A Yes and O No. It's quite a jumble." 

Yeah, it is a little bit confusing, especially for outsiders. The O-A Retirement Visa, that is the O Annual Retirement Visa which is issued at Thai Embassies and Consulates outside of the Kingdom, those type of visas Yes you have insurance requirements. As we have noted those insurance requirements are changing and going up substantially in the fourth quarter or they have been announced that they are going to go up substantially in the fourth quarter of 2022. Meanwhile, the O Retirement Visa continues to not have a requirement associated with insurance. I know there are some that are kind of worried about this. My personal opinion is I don't see anything in the immediately foreseeable future and by that I mean the preceding 12 to 24 months which leads me to believe that there is anything to worry about along that line at all. Now that being said, I have been wrong before and that is kind of an exercise in speculation but long story short, no I don't really see where they are going to be looking to change the O Visa regulations pertaining to retirees in Thailand. 

So the thing to take away from this video, yes it is a little bit confusing. For those who find themselves kind of at a loss as to what to do, it may not be a terrible idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight and guidance into how best to proceed.