Can I enter Thailand as a tourist and then apply for a marriage extension of stay?

Thailand visa rules Non-O visa marriage visa extension Chile passport visa exemption expat advice immigration process in Thailand

January 21, 2023

2 years ago

Javier ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello everyone. I am sorry if this question has been asked before. My name is Javier and I am married to a Thai citizen. I lived in Thailand until June 2022 (when I left I was on my second extension of stay based on marriage). We are planning to go back to Thailand probably at the end of this year 2023. My question is if I can enter as a tourist (as a Chilean citizen I have a 3-month visa exemption) and then apply for a extension of stay based or marriage, or I should apply for a visa before in any Thai consulate abroad (applying in Chile wouldnt be an option since we are leaving the country in a few days). I hope I made myself clear. Thanks in advance! :)

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TLDR : Answer Summary

Javier, a Chilean citizen married to a Thai national, is seeking advice on whether he can enter Thailand on a tourist visa exemption and later apply for a marriage extension of stay. An answer suggests that while he can enter on a 90 day visa waiver, he cannot directly apply for a year extension from that status. Instead, he should first apply for a Non-O visa for marriage, which can streamline the process for obtaining the marriage extension.

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Tod *********

You could enter on the 90 day visa waiver stamp that Chilean passport holders get BUT you couldn't apply for the year extension from it. In order to get a year marriage extension you first have to hold a Non-O visa

It's a multi-step process in country and goes like this 🙂

1 - you come in visa waiver,

2 - you apply for the 90 day non-O visa for 2000baht

++you wait for the under review period to run down

3 - you go back and get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in

**you wait until you have 30 days or less left on that stamp

4 - you apply for a year extension for 1900baht & get a 30 day under consideration stamp

**you wait for that time to run down

5 - you go back and get the year extension inked in

OR

You BUY a 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai from the thai consulate. (you could go to a nearby consulate like Savannakhet Lao and get a 90 day non-O no issues for 2000baht and minimal documentation)

THEN you could come in get stamped in for 90 days on the Non-O and apply for the year marriage extension when it runs down for 1900baht. Getting the Non-O visa before you come here cuts several steps out of the process I outlined above

2 years ago

Javier ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

very clear, thank you so much!

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Javier *******

I'm sorry I didn't see that you won't have time to get the Non-O in your country before you come. So come in on the free 90 day visa waiver stamp, either go to Savannakhet and get the 90 day Non-O (which doesn't require proof of funds) or get your funds transferred in and apply for the Non-O here at the immigration office.

Good luck with it, sounds like you have a good workable plan with options to choose from (y)

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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