Answered2 years ago

Can a foreign spouse continue to reside in Thailand after the death of their Thai partner?

Visa Rules Marital Visa Extension of Stay Retirement Visa Thai Citizenship

Lina *******

asked May 17, 2024

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If a Thai husband passes away and the wife is a foreigner, staying on a visa based on marriage, to a Thai, can the foreign partner continue to reside in Thailand after the death of their Thai partner please?

Answer summary

A foreign spouse on a marriage-based visa in Thailand can continue to stay in the country until their current visa extension expires, even if their Thai partner passes away. After expiration, they will need to apply for a different type of visa or extension, such as one based on having Thai children or retirement. Additionally, if aged over 50, they may apply for a retirement visa. Obtaining Thai citizenship is another option that can simplify residency concerns.

14 repliesnewest first

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Francis ********

Hope this is just a hypothetical question, but best wishes in any case...

2 years ago

Tod *********

Jeezuz H Christ people 😕

Let's put this to bed, as I'm not wanting to go thru ever permutation of what if this person dies, that person dies, etc 😮

IF you are on an extension of stay (marriage to a thai, marriage to a foreigner legally working here, marriage to a foreigner retired here) and the REASON you have the visa/extension changes <- as in the thai spouse/foreign spouse) dies you have until your current extension expires to FIND a new way to stay (qualify for another extension type).

2 years ago

Chris ********

If you’ve got a Thai husband you should apply for citizenship which is fairly straightforward for foreign women to get . Means you won’t have to worry about visas.

2 years ago

Peter **********

if you are over 50 you can get a retirement visa for yourself

2 years ago

Kim *********

@Peter *********

if over 50 AND retired...

2 years ago

Tod *********

This is how it works,

IF you are on an "extension of stay" based on marriage to a thai and the spouse dies, you can stay on the extension you're on until it expires (it does not cancel upon the death of a spouse).

However when it runs out you need to find a new reason to get another extension, thai children, retirement, etc and meet the requirements for that extension

2 years ago

Sesil ********************

@Tod ********

thank you for the info, Sir. It's always good to know how to get one's way around here under circumstances like this. So, how does it work if extension of stay will be based on thai children, Sir?

2 years ago

Sesil ********************

@Tod ********

no, Sir. I mean if the thai husband dies, is it the same process if one is going to get an extension of stay based on having thai children?

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Sesil *************

you would FIND an extension you could qualify for and apply for that, so if you have thai children you'd apply for a thai child extension

2 years ago

Tractor *******

@Tod ********

does the same apply to a dependant visa attached to a retirement visa?

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Tractor ******

that I do not know for certain

BUT

if I was a betting man 🙂 I would say it is interpreted the same way.

The person on the "piggy back" visa extension would be able to stay until their extension runs out but then have to switch to another extension

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Lina ******

I messaged the answer to your query earlier when I declined your post

BUT

I let it on now so you and anyone else on a married to a thai extension knows how it works

2 years ago