Answered4 years ago

Can I change my retirement visa to a marriage visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Visa Types Retirement Visa (0-A)Marriage Visa (Non-O)Visa Application Process Work Permit Immigration

Michal ************

asked Aug 8, 2022

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Hello Everyone

I have moved to Thailand with my Thai wife last year in October on a retirement 0-A multiple entry 12month visa. 

As I will be starting a business next year (and will be applying for a work permit then) I was told I need to change my visa to the marriage to Thai national one. 

My entry stamp stay is valid until 0ct 03. 

Do I need to leave Thailand and apply again for the marriage visa from Laos or Vietnam for example or could this be done without leaving the country at the immigration office? 

Ideally I would like to effect the change without the need to leave Thailand. 

Thanks a million in advance for your kind help.

Answer summary

The user is currently in Thailand on a retirement 0-A multiple entry visa that is valid until October 3rd. They are seeking to change to a marriage visa to enable them to apply for a work permit after starting a business. Comments indicate that it is not possible to change this visa status within Thailand and suggest that the user must exit the country to apply for the marriage visa at a Thai consulate, or alternatively, re-enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption before applying for the marriage visa.

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Tod *********

SO your plan should be just after the 12th of Sept (when the visa is expired) exit the country, stamp out on the entry stamp you have (wihtout buying a re-entry permit) so that stamp cancels, THEN go to one of the thai consulates I mentioned (Savannakhet or HCMC) and get a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai. Come back in get stamped in for 90 days, and then 2 months after that apply for the year extension.

That gets you OFF the OA entry stamp, gets you ON a Non-O visa based on marriage and will allow you to get a work permit

4 years ago

Tod *********

or as you said, because you have two passports you could FLY out exiting on the polish passport and either go to a thai consulate and buy a 90 day Non-O visa on the UK passport OR just fly back in visa exempt on the UK passport and then start the process inside the country for the initial 90 day Non-O and then the year extension

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Michal ***********

I know exactly what you have and what you are on, I am trying to get YOU to understand it

THIS stamp is what lets you stay in thailand right now NOT the visa

4 years ago

Tod *********

AND looking at the OA visa you have it is valid until Sept 12th 2022, SO that means you need to leave the country AFTER that date (so you don't have a valid visa in your passport while you're trying to apply for a NEW visa)

4 years ago

Tod *********

You cannot go from that stamp to ANYTHING inside the country that you are wanting to (Non-O based on marriage) it cannot be done

You need to leave the country, stamp OUT on the OA visa entry stamp, GO to a thai consulate and BUY a new 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage and come back

4 years ago

Tod *********

nope you appear to be on a year long entry stamp (the little stamp you got for a year when you entered the country on an OA visa) that can't be changed to anything inside the country.

You would need to exit the country. You could go to a thai consulate in another country and apply for a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage (that consulate doesn't require proof of funds to issue a Non-O visa).

OR

you go to the border stamp out of thailand, stamp in and out of another country, and stamp back IN to thailand <- telling the people at passport control you DO NOT want another year entry stamp on your OA visa, but want to enter on a 30 day visa exempt entry. After you got that you could go to the immigration office and apply for an in country 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage by showing 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only, and after you get that you could apply for the year extension once the money is seasoned for 2 months in your account here

4 years ago

Michal ************

@Tod ********

thanks so much. I have money in my Thai account for over a year so no issue with that. Do you think I could get a 12 month marriage visa in a consulate for example in Vietnam given that I meet all the funds and marriage requirements?

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Michal ***********

remember a 12 month multi-entry Non-O visa from a thai consulate requires you to exit re-enter the country every 90 days so unless you're okay with bouncing out and back ever 3 months, just get a 90 day single entry and then apply for the year extension based on marriage at the immigration office

You could go to the thai consulate in Savannakhet Lao OR the thai consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and get a 90 day single entry Non-O based on marriage, they don't require proof of funds at those consulates and only minimal documentation

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Michal ***********

you're on a year ENTRY STAMP, the VISA is a totally different thing and you can't switch off that entry stamp to another visa type or extension other than for the reason you have the OA visa.

You would LEAVE get OFF this entry stamp, GO buy a new Non-O visa based on marriage at one of the consulates I mentioned then enter on it and get stamped in for 90 days

you aren't gonna do anything that you are wanting to do inside the country on that year entry stamp from the OA visa. You HAVE to exit

4 years ago

Michal ************

@Tod ********

I have arrived on Oct 5th 2021 and I am allowed to remain until Oct 4th 2022 since it is a 12month stay multiple entry visa valid for one year. I have been doing my 90 day reporting and that’s it.

4 years ago