Can I get a one-year extension for visiting Thai family without financial requirements?

Mar 2, 2022
3 years ago
Dine *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Good evening

I'd like to check my understanding. When in Thailand you can apply for an extension of stay based on visiting Thai family (no financial requirement). This extension is one year. Is this correct?

Also, are you allowed to work on said extension of stay? I'm moving to Thailand to marry my long term girlfriend but due to the 2 month seasoning for the 400,000 baht there wont be enough time to apply for it off a 30 day visa exemption + one 30 day extension. I have just come back from working aboard and couldn’t get the 60 day tourist visa.

Any advice would be appreciated

Regards
1,184
views
2
likes
26
all likes
13
replies
2
images
6
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The visiting Thai family extension is actually only for 60 days and is limited to specific circumstances, requiring a tie to a Thai family member. You cannot work on this visa without a permit. To seek a longer stay, you should consider switching to a Non-O visa based on marriage, which has its own financial requirements and must be applied for within a certain timeframe.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Dine *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Very grateful for everyone’s help. Thank you.
Steve *******
The extention for visiting Thai family without financials is 60 days NOT 1year.
Michael ********
Michael ********
@Brandon ***********
and
@Steven **************
above have answered your question.

But added your post to two useful topics.

You need to contact your countries embassy to get your freedom to marry paperwork, this took me ages to get appointment (British) and as work offshore on repairs most of time was back to work before could get appointment. Was nearly two years after our Thai wedding until we did the civil wedding that is required for the paperwork.
Paul *****************
Canot stay 1 Year canot Work without Work Permit
Brandon ************
The visiting Thai Family visa is a 60 days. And you actually have to have Thai family. If you're not married yet and you don't have any other ties in Thailand, you won't qualify for it.

If you are going to apply in the country for a Non-O based on marriage, then you will be applying for a switch from visa exempt to Non-O, which is valid for 90 days. Within these 90 days you would get the 400,000 baht into a Thai bank account in your name only for 2 months, and then once you have that done you apply for the year long extension.

You can receive a work permit and work on a marriage visa, but you cannot on a visiting Thai family visa.

There is a lot involved with getting married and getting the paperwork together to apply for marriage visa, and you need a certain number of days left on your existing stay, so you're going to need to act fast if you plan on doing this all in a single trip.
Dine *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thank you for your considered reply Brandon. Just to confirm one thing. When you switch from a visa exempt and apply for the extension of stay based on marriage, you are given 90 days to do this as part of the application?
Brandon ************
@Dine ******
the Non-O based on marriage that you switch to is a 90 day visa. That's to give you time to get the money in an account for 2 months.
Dine *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
This can be done within Thailand? I can't seem to find much about the requirements except health insurance.
Brandon ************
@Dine ******
Yes, due to Covid you can change from visa exempt to non-O inside of Thailand.
Dine *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thank you. Would I need to be married to be able to met the requirement for the 90 day non-o or can I get married during those 90 days?
Brandon ************
@Dine ******
you must already be married and have all the documents and everything ready to be able to apply.
Steven ***************
1. F1. Visit thai family extension is 60 days, not one year.can use it only once per visa.

2 . you can work on a spouse visa/extension but you still need a work permit first. No exceptions.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else