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Can I switch from a Retirement Visa to a Marriage Visa and what challenges might I face?

Jul 5, 2025
9 days ago
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I have read in these forums that once you use an agent, you will have a difficult time switching to DIY. I had an agent do my Retirement Visa because I didn't have the 800,000. Then I got married and my wife wants to do the Marriage Visa based on my pension. We got the checklist from immigration and she talked to the guy there. She insists that if we give him all the papers, there won't be a problem. Has anyone else tried this? I'm not really interested in hearsay. Does anyone have any actual experience or documentation indicating there would or wouldn't be an issue?

UPDATE: My wife could not be persuaded, so I let her drag me to Immigration. She was trying to figure out the paperwork, and after two tries, I had an Immigration Captain explain to her that we would have to show the $800,000 for the Retirement Visa before she issued the new Marriage Visa. The Captain cornered me when she sensed that was an issue, and I had to confess to using an agent. She then confirmed that I could leave and come back and start over. I was pooping my pants though.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the challenges of switching from a Retirement Visa obtained through an agent to a Marriage Visa, particularly when financial requirements for the Retirement Visa were not met. The author is concerned about proving the necessary financial resources for the new visa, including maintaining an 800,000 Baht balance. As exemplified by comments in the thread, experiences vary by immigration office, and many users share insights on the necessity of meeting specific banking conditions, the risks involved in attempting a visa switch, and the complications introduced by using an agent.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
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  • 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.
Henrik *****
Why use a agent anyway. It’s corruption.

Take control of your own life, and do it yourself.
Bent *************
Go ask Immigration!

Here you only get lots of hearsay.
Sujy *********
@William ********
You mostly received bad info so far (except from Wylie below). You have to cancel your visa with your current agent, bounce, and come back to start over on marriage visa. Boucing alone is not enough, the visa need to be canceled (voided) before bouncing. Since you used an agent to by-pass financial requirement, this is the procedure to not get into any trouble while applying for Non O based on marriage. You have to cancel the visa before leaving no matter what. You will get a 2 weeks grace period when the visa get canceled where overstay doesn't count (a 2 weeks stamp).
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sujy ********
I know the information is all over the place. Can I ask where you got your information?
Sujy *********
@William ********
I've been using agents for 15 years. It's my own experience. A reputable agent will tell you to cancel first before leaving Thailand. Most people who answered so far have never used an agent in their life / have no idea what they are talking about. They throw buzz words and quote the law. Using an agent to by-pass is not doing it the lawful way, so their BS doesn't apply to you. You are using a bribe to get the Non O and extension.
Steve ***********
If you don't have 400k baht, why did you get married? Is your wife HiSo?
Egger *******
If you get divorced anytime with marriage visa you have to leave Thailand.
David *******
Every immigration office is different. Go to your local office and ask them. It is the only way. They are usually very helpful.
John *********
From what I understand at Ratchaburi immigration, you need to deposit B400k for the first year of a marriage visa. Then you can switch to the B40k per month deposit to your account.

If one can’t get B400k or B800k, then that person who has little money needs to spend an extra B25k-B60k additionally every year. Without my Thai wife I could not have gotten it done on a timely basis.
Ally ************
@John ********
It's B40k monthly income for a married visa.. whereas its B65k for a retirement visa.. just to clarify your numbers 😉
Chris *******
Simply.

Because you used an agent to "fix" the money issue, you will not likely be able to "change reason of extension ".

You did not qualify and cannot prove you did.

This will be compounded if the agent did not arrange this visa in your current location.

Check your stamp and see if it is from your local office, if it is not your chances of success is even slighter.

You will have to leave and start again.

OR talk to your agent again and continue on the "hamster wheel".

Best advice , try BUT have plan B ready if it fails.

Maybe the office will make it possible ata cost of course.

TIT
Chris *********
For the monthly option you need to show in your THAI bank account, monthly money transfers from overseas, you must also have a minimum of 12 months of this happening
John **********
Seems to me there are a number of issues here and they will all need addressed in one way or another. I'm guessing you used an agent due to not having the 800k baht in a Thai bank account? If so it is normal for immigration to check that you have honoured the requirements for your current extension and you will fail this check if you didn't have 800k baht in your account for 3 months after obtaining the extension and never going below 400k baht at any point during the year, that's why people get stuck with agents. Usually the only way to get out from under the agent is to leave the country and start over. But let's assume you did have the money in the bank...

Will you have a full 12 months of a minimum of 40k baht each and every month at the time you will apply for the next extension? If not you can't use monthly income as the US embassy won't certify your income. If you do have the full 12 months will your local immigration office accept monthly income? An increasing number of offices will no longer accept that for an extension based on marriage.
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
yes, I have the 12 months but I'm worried about them checking my retirement visa because I didn't have the money in there very long. I wanted to be safe and leave and come back but my wife is very stubborn and says it's not necessary. I was looking for someone that actually did this and got in trouble, so I could convince her to not risk it.
John *********
@William ********
put more faith in your wife.
John **********
@William ********
only the immigration officer can tell you that. I know at my office they check this very carefully, that's why they insist on a full 12 months of bank statements (I usually get 13 months as if I'm even one day short they won't accept them)
John **********
I guess you could try it and see but leave enough time to go and start over again. But they probably won't let you use monthly income if you do.
Chris *********
@John *********
the embassy doesn't have to certify income if the history is in your Thai Bank
John **********
@Chris ********
I think that's what I said?
Paul ******
I had no problem doing myself after first year of retirement visa . Done it all with the wife's help .
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *****
did you use an agent the for the retirement visa?
Paul ******
@William ********
first time used agent for marriage and retirement managed to do it all at same time .but did involve going to thai embassy two times..only seen the agent once . Sent passport . Back about three weeks later . Then went to local office in phon phisia. And got married .
Marty *********
Rubbish
Andy ********
You are absolutely correct that going from using an agent is hard but it isn't impossible. The first two things you need to look at are:

1. Because you have a 1 year extension based on 800k Baht in a Thai bank. When you apply for your next extension you must show 800k in a Thai bank on the day you applied (2024) and that 800k Baht was maintained for the next 3 months. Then for the remainder of the year the balance did not drop below 400k.

2. Will your immigration office allow you to extend for the reason of being married to a Thai national based on income. Some (most) offices require the money to be generated in Thailand therefore you will probably need a work permit. Some offices also require you to be married for a minimum amount of time.

If you can satisfy the above then ask for a list of requirements. It is a much longer list than the retirement but once you have done it once you can just repeat in future years.

Good luck.
Ally ************
@Andy *******
Sorry to pull you up my friend.. but the deposits to your Thai bank account to justify a switch to the income method do not need to come from earned income in Thailand.. they can come from an overseas source and that source does not need to be disclosed.. they just need to see deposits above the threshold level each and every month.. with no breaks in the chain of deposits.. meaning 12 deposits of at least 40,000 baht for the married visa.. ie. you can't evidence 11 deposits that add up to the same 480,000 baht over the year.. because you remitted 80,000 one month and missed a month along the way.. any break in your regular monthly deposits will disqualify this method for that year and you'd have to use the 400k savings method instead 😉
Andy ********
@Ally ***********
as I said the source of the income for a marriage extension depends on the particular office. I know this because I am on a marriage extension myself and my office does not allow income from outside Thailand. I very much doubt it is the only one as have read it many times on this forum.
Ally ************
@Andy *******
This rule would mean that you can only get a non-o married visa if you are working in Thailand and have an earned income.. or a pension from a former employer in Thailand.. it would automatically preclude any foreigner (who is married to a Thai) who's primary income is an overseas pension from ever obtaining a married visa.. there are millions of married foreigners in exactly this situation who hold and have held married visa's for many years.. and I'm one of them.. so i very much doubt there is a single immigration office in the whole of Thailand that has such an impossible rule.. my best guess is that you are mistaken because something got lost in the translation.. unless i see this written down on an immigration visa application checklist.. or it appears as an advisory on their website.. then i have to consider your claim is without basis.. you are at liberty to believe your own interpretation of course.. but I'm afraid it completely belies all logic to think a man who is under 50 and legally married to a Thai.. cannot live here with his wife unless he has an income from a Thai company.. surely you can see how ludicrous that would be ?!?!

Ps. Are you reading other misleading posts.. or are you implying that admin has endorsed this opinion.. if the latter then please direct me to the relevant text.. because i doubt this has been stated by any credible source!
Andy ********
@Ally ***********
if you don't believe what I am telling you that is fine.
Michael ********
The married visa is no problem at all, a few foto copys 3 pitures and your bank statement with at least 40k a month.
Julian *******
@Michael *******
it’s far more involved, includes marriage certificates, letters from local obidor , map from home to immigration office , photos of you and your wife outside your home and inside the home , plus more.
Lloyd *********
@Julian ******
how long ago did you do your conversion?, and where?
Julian *******
@Lloyd ********
phang Nga and I have not done it yet. I’m preparing, going from elite visa to marriage visa , we were married 13 years ago in London where we met.
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Julian ******
yes, i know, but the financial requirements are less and my wife is very good with paperwork and stuff.
Michael ********
@William ********
I take the fotos at home drive to town get the letter from the Obidor go the copy shop copy my paperwork print fotos finished and ready to go to the Immigration. Its about 7 documents x 2 copys.
Michael ********
I forgot the letter from the Obidor and the Map, Thanks I do it every year.
Colin *********
Find the nearest immigration office to where you live, go and ask them for the paperwork for a extension of visa being married you need 400,000 buats in account for 3 months before the renewal ,(second time of renewal) first time 2months)
Graham ******
@Colin ********
2 months not 3
Colin *********
@Graham *****
you first applied, that's 2months first extension the next one is 3months, and 3months for every extension after
Ally ************
@Colin ********
Actually, i have to concur it's 2-months prior (and 2-months post) for a non-o married visa regardless of whether it's your first or a subsequent application.
Graham ******
@Colin ********
wrong, stop spreading misinformation
Colin *********
All depends on the immigration office as to which they use chachoengsao immigration office 3months before
Damo ***********
Classic example of a d1ck doing things the wrong way, and wants to correct it... you made your bed.. get out of Thailand if you do not satisfy the requirements.... ps. Immigration troll these FB groups.. so hope you not using your real name haha
John *********
@Damo **********
there is no conspiracy on the part of Thai immigration.
Damo ***********
@John ********
hmm ok... I think.
Steve *******
@Damo **********
Stop chatting bullsh*t!
Damo ***********
@Steve ******
taking a short break from your lady-boy? Not talking to you butthead
Steve *******
@Damo **********
Move on and get yourself a life keyboard warrior!
Jordan *****
@Damo **********
yeah, I bet immigration officers look at what is posted here. After 25 years of visiting my bet is that they don’t give a shiet
Damo ***********
@Jordan ****
you should not be hard to find
Eric **********
@Damo **********
and you are not hard to find..

Seacraze condo building A
Damo ***********
@Jordan ****
roll the dice
Michael ******
@Damo **********
what rubbish you talk
Damo ***********
@Michael *****
was not talking to you ... go find your own conversation... stop butting into other people's..
Ally ************
You will be switching both the reason for the visa.. from retirement to marriage.. as well as the financial obligation.. from savings to income.. at the same time.. if you were simply extending on the same basis.. ie. for retirement.. then you shouldn't have a problem.. but there is a possibility that immigration consider the switch of basis to marriage as a first application under that category.. and then deny you use of the income method.. because it can only be used from the first extension onwards.. so you need to check this out.. if you did not have your own funds in place when you submitted your last application.. and used an agent to solve that problem.. then you should also be aware that immigration may want to check that the funds remained in the account for the requisite period after the visa was issued.. which could lead them to re-checking that the seasoning of funds was also met last time around.. if you now have the 400k sum in the bank it may be better to abandon the idea of 'switching' altogether.. if you just leave and re-enter the country near the visa expiry date.. without a re-entry permit.. you will re-set the clock.. and can apply for the married visa without connecting it to your previous retirement visa.. thereby alleviating the scrutiny that a conversion might draw.. but again , your original plan might work.. provided the IO you get on the day is not as diligent as one of his colleagues may be!
Wylie *******
I think when most people talk about it being difficult to switch from an agent to DIY all it means is you will unlikely be able to simply apply for another extension since the agent got you around the financial requirement. When you go to get your new extension you will need to prove you fulfilled the requirements of the last one. You will need to show that the 800k remained in your account for 3 months after you got your last extension and it didn't go below 400k the rest of the year. If you can't provide the documents to show that, then you will have to start over.
Rok ********
@Wylie ******
and if you cannot show you maintained the funds the visa is void and technically you would overstay for 1 year at the next extension. Technically … anyone having an experience.
Sujy *********
@Rok *******
@Wylie ******
You can't start over without leaving the country. You have to cancel the visa with your agent and then bounce and come back to start over without the use of an agent.
Wylie *******
@Sujy ********
you dont have cancel a non-o visa or non-o extension, as long as you don't have a reentry permit. Simply leaving the country will cancel the permitted to stay stamp. I've done this before intentionally to start over so my renewal date would line up at a more convenient time of the year for me.
Sujy *********
@Wylie ******
If you use an agent to by-pass the proof of funds, you have to cancel before leaving Thailand. I had to do it before.
Wylie *******
@Rok *******
good question, not sure how that part works. I could see that being an issue if one just went to immigration to start over vs bouncing out to a neighboring country and applying for the non-o while there.
Colin **********
Unfortunately the only way you will know if your going to have difficulties is when the immigration officer checks your passport. There have been several cases reported that the agent has used an office outside the province and they have been told to ho back there.
Stuart *********
You may not want hearsay, but unless you specify the actual office you use then others direct experience will probably be useless as each office has their own requirements that can differ quite a bit.
Jeremy ********
If you didn’t have the ฿800k then do you have the ฿400k for the marriage visa?
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
no, we're doing the 40k per month option
Jack ****************
@William ********
I am on marriage visa. DIY not agent. It was a big pain, but as people say it's a bit different at every office. For us it was critical to make friends with one of the officers and that was difficult because he had been a dick to me previously. But we got through it. My understand is that the monthly income option is only available after the first year. So you probably will need to use an agent or pay a bribe to get the initial visa then use your pension to maintain it in subsequent years. Feel free to PM me.
Graham ******
@William ********
so you need an Embassy affidavit or salary paid in Thailand
Ken ********
@Graham *****
either, you need proof of income, it can be do ne without those too
Graham ******
@Ken *******
they are the only options
Ken ********
@Graham *****
i don't have a salary paid in Thailand. Or do you mean, salary paid into Thailand, with a foreign transfer. No an affidavit from the embassy. I do send income to Thailand, through Wise.
Graham ******
@Ken *******
Virtually no Immigration Offices now accept the 40k monthly transfers
Ken ********
@Graham *****
i only use one, have done for 15 years. All the time I've been here I've used the 40k a month, except a couple of years I used the 65k. Which ones don't do it, be good for others to know.
Graham ******
@Ken *******
that's called grandfathering where you continue to use the same method despite changes
Ken ********
@Graham *****
well, it still does the 40k a month. If it's not available nowadays, I'm sure a lot will move away to another country, which seems a bit crazy
Jeremy ********
@Ken *******
Cambodia $300 for a year visa that can be extended every year for perpetuity

Or you can buy their $250k golden visa and apply for citizenship after 5 years
Ken ********
@Jeremy *******
I'm staying Jeremy. Thsnks
Jeremy ********
@Ken *******
you’re the one saying move to another country

So I was just trying to educate on the process in Cambodia
Ken ********
@Jeremy *******
cant find my comment Jeremy, but, i believe i said, no wonder people are moving to other countries, or something along that line. Lol. Idk where my comment went too
William *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
I got the checklist, and it's on there. It just says I need a bank statement.
Reinhard ********
@Ken *******
This is a problem.The income from abroad must be a pension or something like that and has to be confirmed by your embassy or consulate .Sending it allone with wise will not be accepted.
Graham ******
@Reinhard *******
correct, Embassy affidavit or salary from work in Thailand
Ken ********
@Reinhard *******
many embassy/ consulates have stopped doing them, under the data protection laws. Hence we don't use them anymore for visas
Ken ********
@Reinhard *******
it is accepted, I've been doing it for many years. I had rental income. It wasn't easy, but it was accepted. It became more difficult when the embassy stopped doing the checks, butvits possible. Im living proof.
Reinhard ********
@Ken *******
Right.I'm lucky that German embassy does it.
Ken ********
@Reinhard *******
yes, very much so Reinhard
Doug *******
@Ken *******
Off subject but I’ve been trying to use Wise but it says Thailand is not one of the countries available for affiliating a bank account?
Ling *****
@Doug ******
that's not right. I have 2 Thai bank accounts and I use Wise to transfer to them both, no problems.
Ken ********
@Doug ******
everyone i know uses Wise Doug
Doug *******
@Ken *******
That has been my impression. I must be misinterpreting something when I try to enter account info from a Thai bank. 🤷
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