Unanswered3 months ago

Can I change the reason for extension from a non-B visa to a marriage visa in Thailand?

NON-B visa Non-O visa Visa extension rules Thai marriage visa Thailand immigration policy Expats in Thailand

BronzeDo*********

asked Aug 6, 2026

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I have a non B visa and went to Cheang Wantta to enquire about changing “extension of stay” from “business” to “marriage to Thai spouse”. I enquired with the officers at front counter, the Business visa counter (M zone) and the non-O visa extension (L1 zone). All officers in the 3 zones said it is not possible to change reason of extension. I showed them my documents, bank book etc. All 3 officers said must cancel my non B visa and re-apply a new marriage visa everything from scratch. Not possible to change the “reason for extension”.

I know i cannot change the visa, but i thought i could change the reason for extension. Is there something i missed?

Summary so far

The user has a non-B visa and attempted to change their extension of stay reason from business to marriage with a Thai spouse. However, they were informed by immigration officers that it is not possible to change the reason for an extension and must instead cancel their visa and reapply for a marriage visa. The comments reflect recent changes in immigration policy where many are facing similar challenges, indicating that one must exit the country to apply for a new visa type rather than changing the reason for an extension.

7 repliesnewest first

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Ry ******

I had to leave the country to cancel my Non-B and re-enter on a tourist visa then apply for my Non-O 🙄

3 months ago

Tod *********

@Ry *****

you can't cancel a Non-B extension by leaving the country :/ you cancel an extension at the immigration office before you leave.

You can stamp OUT on a 90 day Non-B which cancels that entry stamp

3 months ago

Aleksandr *********

@Tod ********

and what happens if just leave?

3 months ago

Tod *********

@Ry *****

yep, that was the correct process (y)

3 months ago

Ry ******

@Tod ********

yea you’re right. I forgot I had to go to immigration to cancel - then leave the same day and return on a tourist.

3 months ago

Tod *********

@Aleksandr ********

if you are on an extension based on employment or education and leave with it canceling it officially at the immigration office, you just stamp out, but that doesn't cancel an extension.

If/when you come back and go to get a new long term extension immigrations will see the "open" (uncanceled) extension and fine you (up to a max of 20k baht).. before they will get you get the new extension.

3 months ago

Tod *********

This is not the first time that people have recently been told they cannot change the reason for an extension. It is happening at more and more immigration offices..

In the past you'd cancel the extension based on employment and then immediately apply for a new yearly extension based on marriage to a thai / retirement etc.

However quite recently I have had several people both in Bangkok and Chiang Mai be told they cannot change the reason for an extension any longer inside the country and instead would need to cancel the current extension they were on (if it was one by employment or education) and then either exit/re-enter free stamp to apply in country for the Non-O visa, OR go to a thai consulate in a nearby country to apply for the Non-O before they came back in.

Sorry that happened to you, as I said it is a recent occurrence or change in policy

3 months ago