Spouse Visa In Thailand: All You Need To Know
Finding love can take you places, and sometimes it leads you to the Land of Smiles, Thailand. But love’s journey doesn’t stop at borders; it navigates through paperwork and policies. Worry Not! We’ve got you covered!
This guide is your compass to acquiring a spouse visa in Thailand, turning those romantic sunsets on the beach from a dream into your everyday reality. Let’s start your journey to a life filled with Thai spices and everything nice.
Let’s dive in!
What Is A Thai Marriage Visa?
For the past few years, Thailand has been deemed one of the best countries in Southeast Asia to retire, work and settle.
This has caused a lot of foreign influx in the kingdom and with this, some foreigners are fortunate to find true love in the kingdom thus resulting in marriage.
Certainly, the couples would like to stay together in Thailand and for that, foreigners need to acquire Thai Marriage Visas.
A Thai marriage visa can be obtained if a foreigner is married to a citizen of Thailand, it is with the same level of visa as the Non-Immigrant Visa “B” or Non “B” visa for working.
However, the Thai Marriage Visa is exclusive to those who have a Thai wife or spouse citizen. This visa is under the type of Non-Immigrant Visa “O” or Non “O”.
Certain requirements have to be met for the wife or spouse of the Thai citizen to be able to secure a Thai spouse visa or Thai wife visa.
What this means is that, first, you have to apply for a Non-Immigrant “O” Visa for Thailand from a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad.
At this point, you will receive a 90-day visa, which you can use to travel to Thailand. Then, after you enter Thailand with the Thai Marriage Visa, you can apply to extend it to one year at the Thailand Immigration Department.
However, it is not only the spouses of Thai citizens who can apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa.
Who Else Is Eligible For Marriage Visa In Thailand?
As the name of the visa itself, a Thai Marriage Visa can be obtained by those who have registered marriage with a Thai Citizen.
After the Marriage Registration in Thailand, the foreigner will be eligible to apply for a Thai Marriage Visa or Non-Immigrant “O” visa under the category of Thai Spouse.
Getting this type of visa is quite easy and the process and requirements are straightforward, but all of the documents must be authenticated and certified before you apply for a Thai Marriage Visa.
You should seek legal assistance when applying for this type of visa to avoid the hassle and tedious process involved in getting this visa.
Note: When you register Marriage with a Thai Citizen, it doesn’t automatically grant you the Thai Marriage Visa, you have to apply for it at the Immigration Office and provide the required documents for the visa application.
Furthermore, you must also be qualified for Immigration to grant you this visa.
What Is The Overview Process For a Thai Marriage Visa?
The process for a Thai Marriage Visa is quite straightforward. You will be eligible to apply for this visa once you settle your Marriage Registration with a Thai Citizen.
After the Marriage Certificate has been issued to you by the District Office, you can already proceed with the Thai Marriage Visa Application.
You must first secure a substantial amount of days left on your visa before you apply for the Marriage Visa, we highly advise at least 15 days left on your visa.
Remember, you can convert your visa to a Thai Marriage Visa after you have secured all the required documents.
After you secure the Marriage Registration Documents and your current visa still has substantial days left, you must remember that you should also have 400,000THB deposited in a Thai Bank account.
This should be at least 2 months before the Thai Marriage Visa application.
Or you can provide evidence of monthly income above 40,000THB per month. Please do note that for the year 2021, a lot of Embassies in Thailand no longer issue this letter.
In this case, you need to prove it by tax payment in Thailand or we call it PND.1 and PND91.
The process is quite straightforward, as long as you follow the requirements and procedure for the visa, it will be an easy job.
The initial visa that will be given to you is valid for 3 months, before the period expires, you can renew it for a 1-year extension yearly as long as you comply with the requirements of the Thai Marriage Visa.
What Are The Thailand Marriage Visa Requirements?
The documents that you have to submit when you apply for a Thailand Marriage Visa at the Thai Embassy/Consulate in your country are:
- Your passport, which is valid for at least another six months, has at least two blank visa pages. If you’re applying for a one-year visa, your passport should be valid for at least another 18 months.
- Photocopy of your passport
- A completed and signed Thailand Non-Immigrant O Visa application form. You may be able to download it from the website of the embassy/consulate or get it there if you apply in person.
- Passport-sized pictures of yourself, with the following specifications:
- White background
- Taken within the last six months
- You must have a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
- Your entire face must be fully visible
- Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes and even then, only if it does not cover the face
- Glasses are allowed only if they do not cover your eyes and do not have heavy frames
- The number of pictures depends on the specific Consulate or Embassy (in most cases, four should be enough)
- Copy of the Marriage Certificate (legalized/notarized and signed by the spouse)
- Copy of your Thai spouse’s passport and Identity Card (signed by the spouse)
- Proof of your Thai spouse’s financial status. They must submit bank statements showing at least 400,000 Thai Baht in total or a monthly income of 40,000 Thai Baht
- Payment for the visa processing fee
The documents you need when you extend your Marriage Visa in Thailand include:
- Your passport and a copy of your passport;
- Your marriage certificate
- Bank statements from your spouse’s account showing at least 400,000 Thai Baht in total or a monthly income of 40,000 Thai Baht
- A map showing your address of residence in Thailand
- Your spouse’s house registration papers (Tabian Baan)
- Pictures showing you and your spouse together (including pictures inside your house and outside showing the house/apartment number)
- Copy of your Thai spouse’s passport and Identity Card
Note:
The Immigration authorities reserve the right to request any additional documents as they see fit.
The documents you submit have to be either in Thai or English. If they are not, you must translate them by an authorized translator and submit both versions.
Several of the documents you submit have to be legalized by the relevant Embassy/consulate or notarized before you submit them.
How To Apply For A Thailand Marriage Visa?
You have to get a Marriage Visa for Thailand from one of the diplomatic representation offices of Thailand abroad (a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate).
The application process is as follows:
- Contact the Thailand Embassy or Consulate where you will submit the visa application.
- You can also visit their website if one is available. Learn about the opening hours, working days, and their preferred method of paying for the visa fee.
- Make an appointment, if one is required.
- Collect the required documents for a Thai Marriage Visa.
- Submit the documents and visa application.
Depending on which Embassy/Consulate you apply to, you can apply:
- In-person
- Through the post, in which case you have to enclose a pre-paid and self-addressed envelope
- Wait for the application to be processed.
- Collect the passport and visa. If you apply by mail, they will be mailed back to you.
How Much Does The Thai Marriage Visa Cost?
The cost of a Thailand Marriage Visa changes depending on which embassy or consulate you are applying to due to changes in local currency.
However, you should expect to pay the following amounts (in approximate):
- The fee for a single-entry visa: is 2,000 Thai Baht
- The fee for a multiple-entry visa: is 5,000 Thai Baht
In addition to the change in currency, different representative offices also have their requirements when it comes to the method of paying for the visa. You may be asked to pay in cash or through a bank transfer.
How Long Does It Take To Process A Thailand Marriage Visa Application?
The processing time for a Thailand Retirement Visa depends on the specific representative office through which you apply.
In most cases, the processing time is about 5 – 10 business days, although some offices process visas in as little as two days.
What Is The Validity Of A Thailand Marriage Visa?
A Thailand Marriage Visa is issued for a maximum duration of 90 days, for single or multiple entries.
If you have a single-entry visa, you can only enter the country once within those 90 days. If you have a multiple-entry visa, you can enter multiple times within the duration of the visa.
However, after you enter Thailand, if you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you should apply for an extension of stay from the Thailand Department of Immigration before your visa expires.
After Arriving In Thailand With A Marriage Visa
All expatriates in Thailand have to comply with certain rules.
After entering Thailand on a Marriage Visa, you first have to get an extension of your stay, so you can be allowed to stay long-term.
Then, you have to apply for a re-entry permit, so that you may leave and re-enter without your visa becoming void.
And finally, every 90 days that you continue to live there, you have to report your address and stay to the Immigration Department.
Extending Your Stay
The Marriage Visa that you obtain from an Embassy or Consulate is valid for a maximum of 90 days.
So, if you want to continue to live in Thailand with your spouse, you have to get a one-year extension on your visa. You can get an extension from the Bureau of Immigration in Bangkok.
Before the visa extension ends, you can apply to extend it for another year. Once you have lived in Thailand for three years through visa extensions, you become eligible for Thai Permanent Residency.
Getting A Re-entry Permit
Once you get the visa extension, you should also get a Re-Entry Permit, which can be issued for a single entry or multiple entries.
The purpose of the Re-Entry Permit is to allow visa holders to leave Thailand without forfeiting their visas.
If you do not get a Re-Entry Permit before leaving Thailand, you will have invalidated your single entry, and you won’t be allowed back in unless you get another visa.
90-Day Report
In addition, every foreigner who lives in Thailand long-term has to submit a 90-day Report to the Thai Immigration authorities, declaring their stay.
So, every 90 days that you live in Thailand, you have to go to your local office of the Thailand Immigration Department and report your address.
Can You Work In Thailand With A Non-immigrant Visa?
A Thailand Marriage Visa issued on its own does not allow the holder to work. Anyone who wants to work in Thailand has to get a Thai Work Permit from the Thailand Ministry of Labour.
However, while some claim that you can get a Thai Work Permit while holding an O Visa, you may have to convert your existing visa into a Thai Work Visa before you can apply for the work permit.
If you have found an employer, ask them for more information, as they are likely to be experienced in handling work permit applications.
Alternatively, ask the Immigration authorities or the Ministry of Labour for more information.
How Can You Renew Your Thai Marriage Visa?
When you first apply for a Thai marriage visa, you will receive a 90-day visa for travelling to Thailand.
After this period, you have to contact the Thailand Immigration Department for a Thailand marriage visa extension that lasts one year.
You can extend your marriage visa every year as long as you are married to a Thai national.
Therefore, if you want to continue to live with your spouse in Thailand, you have to renew your stay permit every year.
Extending your stay requires a Thailand marriage visa renewal. For it, you have to register your application at the Bureau of Immigration before your actual marriage visa expires.
After you have lived in Thailand for three years with a Thai marriage visa, you will be eligible to apply for a Thai Permanent Residency.
Meanwhile, you are allowed to live and work in Thailand. Indeed, a Thailand marriage visa does not offer permission to work.
However, the holder is allowed to apply for a work permit at the Thailand Ministry of Labour.
What Happens To Your Visa If You Get A Divorce?
In the event of divorce, the validity of your marriage visa will be forfeited and you will have to leave the country immediately.
In some cases though, you may be allowed to stay in the country until your current marriage visa expires.
Is Thailand A Good Place To Live As An Expat Couple?
Thailand has long been known as a land of smiles, but it has much more to offer.
Its beautiful natural scenery, low cost of living, great and diverse food, and thriving expat and digital nomad communities make Thailand one of the best places to live as an expat.
Single, married, or with kids, you can find the best places to live in Thailand easily. A lot of people have already done it, and they never regret it.
It is home to a growing economy, job opportunities, a high-quality health system, and great international schools.
Despite its ageing population, Thailand has a growing population, fuelled by a recent influx of migrant workers.
The United Nations says the exact number of migrants living in Thailand is difficult to determine, due to a large number of migrants being undocumented.
Expat expectations depend on whether they have moved for their career or to enjoy their golden years relaxing on a tropical beach in the glow of a warm sun.
Thailand is an ancient country with an often wild and vibrant past.
To better understand Thailand today, you need to understand what has gone before and how the country’s history has influenced the present.
Conclusion
As we wrap up this guide to securing a spouse visa in Thailand, remember that the path to love may be intricate, but it’s always worth the journey.
With the right paperwork and a little bit of patience, you’re not just getting a visa; you’re opening the door to a new chapter with your loved one in a country rich in culture and warmth. So, take a deep breath, and let’s make those shared sunsets a permanent fixture in your life.
Love United!
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