Can my spouse join me in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa if she is under 50?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Retirement Visa Spousal Visa Visa Options for Expats in Thailand Long-Term Stay in Thailand

Dec 23, 2023

a year ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello all, new to the group and thank you for the add.

I have a question regarding a non-immigrant O visa (retirement) and having my spouse(not Thai) join me:

I am able to meet the non-immigrant O visa requirements (50+, funds in Thai bank, etc), however, my wife is not yet 50 y/o so technically can not apply for her own non-immigrant O visa....is there a way to have my wife stay in Thailand long term with some sort of spousal exemption or "tag along" (for lack of a better term) on my non-immigrant O visa?

Or would she have to meet the requirements for a different type of long term visa (looking at 1 year term, plus future renewals).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user inquired about the possibility of having their spouse accompany them in Thailand on a Non-Immigrant O visa for retirement, given that the spouse is under 50 years old and does not meet the age requirement for the visa. Commenters suggested that while options like the Non-O dependent visa exist if the primary visa is a Non-OA or Non-OX, there are no current options for a trailing spouse visa based on being a foreigner married to another foreigner under the retirement visa category. Thus, the spouse would need to qualify for a different type of long-term visa independently.

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.
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Ellie *******

If you can get Non-OA, Non-OX, or LTR-P, your spouse can get Non-O dependent on you…

a year ago

Andy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ellie ******

thank you that info. I should be able to get a Non-OA visa in my home country without too much hassle. I will have to do a little investigating once we return home in March.

a year ago

Reply to

Andy *********

Tod *********

You used to be able to get those "trailing spouse" Non-O's issued in Penang Malaysia but they stopped doing it and they were the only one around here that did it

Which means it appears no thai consulate in the west OR S/E Asia issue a Non-O visa based on a foreigner being the spouse of another foreigner who is on a retirement visa (Non-O).

There's no option to get that visa inside at the immigration office either...

She'd have to qualify for a visa/extension on her own

a year ago

John **********

@Tod ********

could they not both get Non-O visas prior to leaving their home country? One based on being over 50 and one based on being dependent then just a case of getting the extensions inside Thailand?

a year ago

Tod *********

@John *********

they will not issue non-O visas based on someone being the trailing spouse of a person who gets a Non-O for retirement reasons

a year ago

John **********

@Tod ********

thanks. that's quite a severe change then. Also looks like they'll only consider it for the Non-OA if the trailing spouse doesn't qualify in their own right.

a year ago

Tod *********

@John *********

they'll issue it pretty trouble free for trailing spouse when someone gets an OA visa

a year ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Andy *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

thank you for the reply. I will look at a Non OA and see if there is any provision with that option

a year ago