Do you need a police clearance certificate for a Non-O visa application in Penang?

Apr 16, 2018
7 years ago
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've just been told that you need a police clearance certificate if you want to apply for a non-o visa in Penang. It's supposed to be a brand new regulation that has been introduced just a couple of days ago. Does anyone know if it's true?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The recent rumour regarding the need for a police clearance certificate for the Non-O visa application in Penang has sparked diverse opinions. Some users confirmed they had to provide one in past applications, particularly if linked to employment (Non-B visa). However, others reported successfully obtaining a Non-O visa without this requirement as recently as a few months ago. It seems that practices may differ among individuals and can vary based on specific circumstances or consular regulations.
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Lindsay **********
Its easy enough to get, just in case you end up needing one
Robert *******
@Tony ********
You DON'T need a police background check or criminal check to get inside Thailand the one year Extension of Stay based on marriage.
Tony *********
So do you need a criminal record check in Thailand.

To get a non o extension based on marriage.

I also read its not from the passports holders own country.

Not that it concerns me but might help others.

So if you do have to have a police check in Thailand to get a non o extension based on marriage keep your nose clean.
Biff *******
They've got some funny old squirrels in the various Amphur offices around the country! Our marriage registration took 3 DAYS of going back and forth every day to find that the Balat (Amphur section boss) wanted different things each day. First I had the 'wrong type of visa' then it was something about my wife's house registration, then it was because she was from another province which apparently 'made it more difficult'.

Turns out all he wanted was a bottle of whisky! If he'd told me that on day one we would've been done and dusted right there and then! Hey ho, that was 7 years ago now but yeah, squirrels!
Tod *********
Like I said
@To**
, Andy's post was about needing a police check so they could REGISTER their marriage at the Phuket Amphur. It's just a squirrelly requirement down there. No other Amphur that I am aware of requires it.
Tod *********
NO, you do not need a police check from any country to get a 90 day Non-O visa OR a yearly extension of stay issued inside the country at the immigration office
Tony *********
Andy steel posted that on the 16th of January.
Tony *********
Thats a old post i saved
Tony *********
Ok pulled my comment out the other topic and just going to copy it into here .

Ok obviously done something wrong so just use this as a learning experience. Went to Phuket Amphoe to arrange a date in Feb for the wedding and have been made to get a criminal record check thru finger prints . One month for the check to come back . Up to as they need to send to Bangkok .

Not any great problem as not in a rush just means I have to do a visa run as a single not a married . Was hoping to get on the one year marriage visa next time
Tod *********
That's not for any visa, that's a police background check required by the Phuket city hall for foreigners to register weddings there. Nothing to do with any visa stuff at all
Joe ***********
Vientiane - Thai Embassy / Consulate is now requiring a Police Background check for a Non Imm O 90 days - for age 50 or over. As per Tod's answer to a question I posted the other day. Penang following suit would not be a big surprise.

Question of the OP - Where or from whom did you hear this about Penang?
Tony *********
As your talking about police checks.

Did i read in this group you also need a police check in Thailand.

And not the passports holders own country for a non o extension based on marriage.
Tod *********
I believe you read wrong. You don't need any police checks inside the country for extensions of stays or Non-O visas.

You need a police check from thailand AND your country to get a Non-B visa in penang,
Tod *********
It seems that the thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur also wants a police background check to issue a single entry 90 day Non-Immmigrant Type O visa based on being over 50 (retirement).

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Richard *******
@Tod ********
I am guessing then that the work around here would be simply to arrive on an SETV and then change that into a non-imm O with the correct funds/paperwork.
David **********
@Tod ********
OK I understand thanks, only a thought
Tod *********
@David *********
consulates sell visas outside the country and are run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office.

Immigration's sells visas and extensions inside the country and is run by a division of the royal thai police. Two totally different entities which probably never ever communicate to each other
David **********
That will be interesting if they all follow suit, and perhaps in Thai also, and if it will effect future extensions? Don't want to sound like a nai Sayer haha
Char ******
I got turned away with a cleared criminal record check from Thailand. I had to bring one from my home country. This was in February.
Alan *********
@Tod ********
Hi Tod, Great work you are doing here! Yes I showed my Thai Bank Book with 400k in it
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
It was a spouse visa. Non-o. I'm married and we've got a son.
Tod *********
@Frankie ****
to get a Non-O based on what?
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Last time I was in Penang I had to show
*****
0 baht to get 3 months.
Tod *********
@Aimie *****
ahh, okay, that makes sense, they require that for Non-B's down there.
Char ******
Sorry no no typo non b
Tod *********
@Ai***
and you were applying for a Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) right?
Tod *********
@Alan ********
, just curious did you show the 400K baht in a thai bank account for that visa?
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alan ********
Great stuff, Alan
Alan *********
I got a non o 90 day multiple entryVisa based on being father of Thai child from Penang last week. No police check was asked for
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
In Thailand you just never know what you're in for. lmao
Char ******
@Frankie ****
always hey!
Char ******
Lucky! I got told 'we cant accept Thai one, we dont know if you are a criminal in your own country" Luckily I had an old one from June they accepted with me. Classic... depends on which officer you get!
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I guess the enforcement of the regulation is very selective.
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Aimie *****
Sorry to hear that. I applied for non-o too. That was also in February but I got my visa despite the fact that I didn't have a police clearance certificate.
Char ******
@Frankie ****
yep penang. It was for a non O.
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Aimie! What kind of visa did you apply for? Did it happen in Penang?
Andrew ***********
Its been around for a while. A friend was denied a visa some months ago because of no police check certificate.
Darren *********
August last year (2017)
Tod *********
@And***
, Wow, good to know (y)
Andrew ***********
It was a non o based on retirement at Penang. He did this about 5 months ago.
Tod *********
what type of visa? what thai consulate? in what country? :O

The requirement for a police report to get a 90 day single entry Non-O based on being over 50 (retirement) from thai consulates in S/E Asia has NOT been a policy for very long at all.
Tod *********
I wouldn't doubt that it is being asked for, BUT I wouldn't jump on the band wagon that it is either.

Many people mistakenly ask for a "retirement visa" when they're applying at a thai consulate and to a consulate worker the ONLY visa sold as a retirement visa is a Non-Immigrant Type O-A (Long Stay) visa which does require a police check and a medical certificate.

A 90 day Non-Immigrant Type O visa <- which you will use inside the country to get a yearly extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement) as a rule does NOT (or did not) require a police check.

However with that being said, Vientiane is now requiring a police check for 90 day Non-O's issued based on being over 50 (retirement).
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
The guys who told me about this came back from Penang a couple of days ago.
Tod *********
Colin Bottoms You can't get a Non-O-A visa in Penang unless you're a resident of Malaysia.
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Colin Bottoms
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
Thanks, you've been a great help.
Robert *******
Well use this link to get the Police clearance:
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Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm not sure,though
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
No visa. Stamp, I think.
Robert *******
On what visa did they come back into Thailand?
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Robert *******
And they all had their application denied because the did not have the Police clearance?
Neil *******
I have had non B, non O and Ed visas but have never been asked for a police check.
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Some teachers I know applied for non-b. They didn't get it because they didn't have a police clearance certificate. I'm just wondering if the same thing applies if you want non-o
Sarah ****************
The police check was easy enough. Its just making surr you have the paperwork in place before you go. For me i had to take a letter of intent so they knew it was for a teachers role. Yours will likely differ but that's where my help runs out. Sorry.
Sarah ****************
No worries. My non b has been a very very long process but it has finally completed 😄 yay. Good luck
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sarah ***************
Thanks, Sarah.
Sarah ****************
Without it i couldn't apply for non b.
Sarah ****************
2 months ago
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sarah ***************
How long time ago was that? Last time I was in Penang was 3 months ago. Back then I got a non-o without showing a police certificate.
Sarah ****************
I had to for non b :)
Sean *************
I made my visa in Penang, last August and police clearance was part of the checklist then (for teachers).
Sean *************
Haha!
Richard *******
@Sean ************
Sorry buddy, but the OP asked about a specific visa. If they had asked about buying a ford sierra, would you have replied with a listing of a ford escort ????
Sean *************
@Richard ******
, to provide background information on the Penang visa experience, including requirements and where to find the information.

Did you skip dinner? Why the tone?
Ansel ********
I had to have FBI fingerprint records search nine years ago, but nobody has ever asked to see it. I still have it just in case...
Neil *******
I don't know but i will say as much as it is a bollock ache, it is about time. It always amazes me that you need a syphilis test for a work permit but not a criminal background check for a visa?
Sarah ****************
That's good to know.
Richard *******
@Sarah ***************
In 38 years here, I have never had to provide a blood sample for a driving test !
Mark **********
You still do not need to do any lol
Sarah ****************
@Mark *********
blood test doesn't bother me just seems a strange requirement haha
Mark **********
@Sarah ***************
you can get a medical certificate without taking a blood sample from most clinics for 80 baht
Neil *******
The last test was last August.
Sarah ****************
maybe 1 blood sample...4 tests?
Sarah ****************
When was that? I got told 4 for work permit but also a few before i can take driving test?
Neil *******
I only had to do 1.
Sarah ****************
Yeah i heard this. 4 blood tests before grant a permit?
Neil *******
Just edited
Robert *******
syphilis test for a Visa?
Frankie *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks, Robert. I will.
Robert *******
First time I hear of it, who told you? You can contact
@Jim **************
, he is a very well know visa agent in Penang.
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