Can I apply for a marriage visa while on a tourist visa in Thailand?

Marriage Visa Tourist Visa Non-O Visa Visa Application Process Expats in Thailand

Nov 25, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm married to a Thai lady and we are going back to Thailand. We plan to register our marriage in Thailand. 

 Can I apply for a marriage visa while I'm in Thailand on a tourist visa or should I do an exempt visa?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is inquiring about the possibility of applying for a marriage visa while they are on a tourist visa in Thailand, specifically in the context of their marriage to a Thai citizen. The discussion includes suggestions regarding the advantages of using a tourist visa for more time in Thailand, the benefits of applying for a marriage visa before traveling, and the necessary steps to legally register their marriage.

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Pertti *************

I did Apply non o spouse visa in my own country and we register marriage now in thailand and extend visa after registration.

a year ago

Tony ******

You need to get you marriage certificate certified in your state before you come

a year ago

Graham ******

Why not apply for one before you travel, could make opening a Thai bank account easier if you don't yet have one?

a year ago

Robert *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graham *****

I think the marriage has to be registered in Thailand in order to apply for the marriage visa. I already have a bank account in Thailand.

a year ago

Frank **********

The process to register a foreign marriage in Thailand took around 6 months for us... We got married in the US, and started the process immediately with an agent to cover all of the work in the US. Getting the documents authenticated by the local county registrar where we were married, and then the State, and then the State Department, and then the Thai Embassy was about 4 months... Then once we had the documents sent to Thailand, I had to get a certified copy of my passport picture page at the US Embassy, then the wedding certificate and passport had to be translated and authenticated at the MFA before the local amphur would register the marriage and provide my wife with the change of status and name change. That was around 2 months. Anyways, it may take longer than a tourist visa allows if you try to do it all from Thailand, especially if you didn't already get the Thai Embassy that covers wherever you married to authenticate your marriage certificate yet...

a year ago

Frank **********

This is the breakdown I had in my notes... There were additional costs, such as having to go to the Embassy in Chiang Mai because the Bangkok Embassy had a two month waitlist at that time, and the Amphur boss was doing a holiday fund raiser, but those expenses are not part of the normal process for most people... probably...

With an agent in the US

Texas Secretary of State: 1-2 business days, $90

US Department of State: Approximately 8 weeks, $145 (including agency fees, USDoS fees, and FedEx of documents to and from)

Embassy Legalization: Approximately 2 weeks, $175 (including agency fees, Thai Embassy fees, and FedEx of documents to and from)

International Priority shipment to Thailand of documents via DHL: 5 business days, $95

No agent

US Embassy passport certified copy (by appointment at the embassy, $50)

With an agent in Bangkok

Translation and MFA Certification of marriage certificate and copy of certified passport (1-4 weeks after appointment is set dependent on agency or in person processing, ฿6500 baht)

No agent

Amphur registration (by appointment in my area (about 1 week, ฿300 baht)

a year ago

Frank **********

And expensive, too... :)

a year ago

Jo **********

@Frank *********

my god what a process

a year ago

Frank **********

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a year ago

Reply to

Frank **********

Nongnuch ********

@Robert ********

for the application to the 90-days Non-Imm-O marriage visa in your home country, your original marriage documents are sufficient. Only when applying for the "1-year extension of stay permit" on the Immigration in Thailand, you will need a marriage certificate (Kor Ror 22) that shows your marriage has been registered in Thailand as well. The 90 days stay permit you get by entering with the visa, should leave enough time to achieve translated & legalized documents by your country's embassy in Bangkok and get them approved by the Thai MfA

a year ago

Graham ******

@Robert ********

It can be done at the Embassy but if you have the bank account it shouldn't matter

a year ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Brandon ************

They are both tourist status, but a tourist visa will give you more time to get things squared away.

a year ago

Reply to

Brandon ************