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Can I apply for a Non-O visa in Thailand while on a visa exemption, and what are my options for staying longer?

Non-O Visa Visa Exempt Thailand Immigration Border Runs Thai Marriage Visa Retirement Visa Bank Account Requirements

Nov 11, 2025

3 days ago

Andie ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Couple of questions if I may. I'm in Thailand now,on visa exempt. I'm  married to a Thai for 22 years, she has UK citizenship. We've lived in the UK holidaying in Thailand amongst other places never staying more than 3 weeks so visa never been an issue. Now I've retired we want to spend longer in Thailand, maybe buy a place, we're thinking halk/half, UK winters in Thailand. UK summers in UK. We're here now and intention is to stay here until May, spending a month 6 weeks in various places while we decide where to settle. So first question, can I get a non O while I'm here, seems tricky catch 22 as non 0 requires bank account, and to get bank account requires visa and which non O would be best, marriage or retirement, seems marriage as requires less financial commitments but I defer to your expert advice. I'm thinking forget the non O until we return UK next May and then get it in UK in readiness for returning to Thailand next November, but if can do it while here, we will for ease. Next question is border runs, since I'll need to to stay here until May and we planned to holiday in Viet Nam, Laos anyway. Could I do border runs after 60 days rather than extending 60 to 90 days, I realise that would be 2 border runs needed to reach May rather than one, but that doesn't bother us and saves us 1900 baht to spend on a trip if my thinking is correct? Also, I have a certificate of residency from Thailand immigration since were staying with my wife's family while we're here, if that helps with the first question. Thanks all.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The individual seeks advice on obtaining a Non-O visa while currently in Thailand on a visa exempt status. They are married to a Thai citizen and want to extend their stay in Thailand until May, possibly applying for either a marriage or retirement visa. Key considerations include the financial requirements for each visa type and the challenge of opening a bank account without a long-term visa. The discussion includes the feasibility of doing border runs instead of extending their current stay, with several options suggested, such as applying for a Non-O visa from a neighboring country.

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Martin **************

Does your wife also still have her Thai nationality? That makes a difference for the possibilities you have.

2 days ago

Andie ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Martin *************

Yes she has both Thai and UK citizenship

a day ago

Martin **************

@Andie **********

Okay. Assuming you were married in the UK, let the marriage certificate legalize in the UK about 1½ -2 months before you go to Thailand again. First at the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then at the Thai Embassy. Apply for a Non-O visa and mention it's for marriage (not retirement). When you arrive in Bangkok, the certificate must be legalized by the Thai Ministry of FA. For that you need a Thai translation, done in Bangkok by a certified translator (you could do it in the UK, but then it's not sure that it will be accepted by the Thai Ministry). You can also authorise the translator to do the legalization; for that you need a copy in accordance with the original from the UK Embassy. But you can also go to the second floor of the MFA building, there is a translation office. Make an appointment beforehand online with the MFA for the day after (it's often busy, so for the same day is risky). After legalization register the marriage certificate in the Amphoe of your wife's address. You get a Kor Ror 22 which you need for extension of the Non-O visa based on marriage, which you can do after two months after opening a bank account (see below). Important: don't forget to let your wife register your stay on her address with a TM30 within 24 hrs after your arrival there . You could do that online, but the website is very complicated. Best go to the Immigration Office together, she can fill in a TM30 there. If the UK Embassy doesn't provide an affidavit regarding your income (I'm lucky because I'm Dutch, the Dutch Embassy does), you should open a bank account shortly after your arrival and put 400,000 baht on it. It should be clear that the deposit is from the UK. To be sure that the bank doesn't refuse to open an account, you can get a Certificate of Residence from the Immigration Office, which you can collect when you are there for the TM30.

It seems a lot, but when you prepare well, but it's doable.

For your present situation I wouldn't worry: normally two border runs are allowed, as long as it's clear you're a tourist.

18 hours ago

Reply to

Martin **************

Gregory *********

If i were you. Go to another country for a month. Apply for 90 day non O retirement. Come back on that. Can show funds in overseas bank to apply. Open up bank account on that with a few thousand baht. Then next time you come after 6 nonths away get another one 90 days add

*****

0 before and season. Extend for 12 months. Leave after 6 months with reentry permit. Come back and extend before 12 months is up. So you can stay 6 months every year no issue and 6 months in uk.

2 days ago

Andie ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Gregory ********

thanks for that very interesting

2 days ago

Reply to

Andie ***********

Donald **********

If you’re intending to go to Vietnam and Laos anyway, why not apply for a Non-O when there. Can get advice as to what might be quickest? On return to Thailand on a Non-O, open a bank account and deposit your funds. Retirement is a simpler process than Marriage provided you have the funds.

2 days ago

Grace ************

As you've already noticed, both the retirement and marriage Non-O routes become tricky when starting from visa exempt, mainly because opening a Thai bank account normally requires a long-term visa first. It creates that catch-22 situation.

We assist with both retirement and marriage Non-O visas, and we can also help with opening a bank account while you are on exempt entry or a tourist visa if your intention is to convert to a Non-O from within Thailand.

If the goal is to stay until May without leaving, the retirement route is usually the most straightforward when going through an agency. It allows everything to be completed within a few days: bank account, Non-O conversion, and the one-year extension. The marriage route is also possible but tends to take longer, and if you rely on an agency for yearly renewals it often ends up costing more over time. The marriage route is best if you plan to work in Thailand or are comfortable handling future renewals yourself.

If you'd rather not convert inside Thailand, another option is to apply for the Non-O in a neighboring country such as Laos (Vientiane or Savannakhet), Vietnam, or Malaysia. That is quite common. You could also wait and apply in the UK before returning later in the year if that fits your travel timing better. Both approaches are valid.

Regarding border runs, yes, you can do runs instead of extending to 90 days. If you already plan to travel to Vietnam or Laos, that works fine. Just keep in mind that border runs have become more strict in 2025. Doing one or two is usually fine, but if you do it repeatedly, immigration may start asking questions about your intent to stay long term (we do offer pre-screening services to avoid issues).

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2 days ago

Andie ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Grace ***********

Thank you but I figure if your able to open a bank account and do all this so easily, I must be able to do it myself, so I'll try.

2 days ago

Reply to

Andie ***********

Nongnuch ********

Every year, you could come on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa, if you fulfill the financial requirements of the Royal Thai Embassy London. This visa is very easy to apply for. . . . You will get stamped in for a 90-days stay permit. Before these 90 days expire, apply on Immigration for the 60-days "family visit" extension. (for this your marriage needs to be registered in Thailand because Immigration wants to see a Kor Ror 22 marriage registry freshly printout from the Amphur) . . 90 plus 60 = 5 months in Thailand . . while it is not half/half, I thought you maybe like the simplicity of this visa option which doesn't need any money deposit in a Thai bank, you don't need to apply for the 1-year extension (nobody will enforce you do!) and you avoid all the paperwork that would come with applying for an extension

2 days ago

Andie ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

thank you, very interesting

2 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Andie **********

and of course, another good option that doesn't need any agent or any money in your bank account, neither in England nor in Thailand, you also could apply for the multi-entry 6 months Tourist Visa in England every other year. It allows unlimited entries during the 6-month visa validity. On each entry you get stamped in for 60 days. You can either extend them for 1900 THB with 30 more days, or you do a border run and get stamped another 60-days stay permit upon re-entering. If you do a border run shortly before the visa validity expires, you get stamped in for 60 days for a last time - and this would give you almost 8 months of stay. You might reach exact 180 days by this method, because as the 6-month visa validity starts on the day the visa gets issued, people mostly will lose a few days if not a week or two of the visa validity before they fly to Thailand - and you could catch up those days lost by doing a last border run before the visa validity expires.

2 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Mally *******

You can extend another 60 days if married to a thai not just the 30 day extension,which will give you 60 + 60