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How can I change my son's tourist visa to a Non-O dependent visa without going back to Laos?
Non-O VisaTourist VisaVisa ChangeDependent VisaImmigration ProcessThailand Visa RulesVisa for Stepchildren
Nov 5, 2025
6 months ago
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTERPlease help I need advice. I have a non-O spouse visa,  I applied for mine and my son(17) both non-O visa from the embassy in Laos. They granted my non-o visa, but they gave my son a tourist visa.. I was told in this group that with the tourist visa I could get the non-o without having to cross back into Laos.. but I went to immigration today(Nong Khai) and they told me they can’t do it.. they said I have to start over and do the e-visa again and go back to the embassy in Laos.. so my question is- is there something that I’m supposed to say or possibly go to a bigger immigration office(Udon Thani) please tell me how can I get his visa fixed without doing the whole process over again? I’ll add that he is the step child so my Thai husband isn’t on his birth certificate but I tried to explain that on the e-visa but it’s hard because there’s no way to message back and forth you just have to add it in when you send the documents. Thank you 🙏🏻
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has a Non-O Spouse visa and applied for both theirs and their 17-year-old son's Non-O visas from an embassy in Laos. While they received a Non-O visa, the son was granted only a tourist visa. The user was informed that it might be possible to convert the tourist visa to a Non-O dependent visa without leaving Thailand, but local immigration officials have denied this. The user seeks advice on how to rectify the son's visa situation without restarting the whole application process.
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.
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Thomas ***********
Go to imigration in phuket town quit useing small by the book educated offices thai are not multitaskers and have very limited scope of intelligence around red tape its common woth most all adians
Corinna *******
If stepfather is not listed in birth certificate if he wants parental rights need to obtain kho ro 11 at family court with a lawyer. What about the real/biological/legal father? Can't he obtain non o dependant visa for him? Thanks for the question. I have thai child and not married, trying to get non o for me soon to. You solved my problems of how to find out to change visa type.
Corinna *******
@Greg **********
do you know if the rental contract should start three months before application? I assume so, as rental receipts 3 months prior are requested.but then it won't last for a full year... Confused...Greg ***********
@Corinna ******
her problems apparently resulted from her using an original birth certificate of her son on a Thai authority (be it an embassy or an Immigration office) These Thai authorities only accept foreign documents if they are certified (legalized) by a Thai entity. . . you are fine if you hold an original Thai birth certificate that lists you as being the mother of a "half Thai child" . . you can use it for an application to a "dependent" Non-O visa for your childCorinna *******
@Greg **********
thanks. I downloaded the pdf and tm87 application form will try to apply with visa exemption stamp. Don't know if in Krabi they will take the application for Non O.Reply to
Corinna *******
Reply
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Corinna ******
his biological father is deceased and we don’t want to have him removed from the birth certificate. 😞Reply to
Summer ******
Reply
Corinna *******
F
Greg ***********
the requirements on how to "change" from the tourist visa or from a visa-exempt entry, to the initial "90-days Non-Imm-O Family Dependent Visa", are described in the .pdf under number 8 of the Immigration website regarding the "change of visa type" . . . . print it and take it to Immigration, the requirements are listed both in Thai and English and if you are lucky, Immigration is willing to accept your son doing the "change of visa type" . .
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
yes seems like that’s the issue. My son turns 18 in less than a year and he’s returning to America. What about getting the tourist visa 2 times (6 months).. can we do that through immigration?Greg ***********
@Summer *****
no, a 6-months multi entry Tourist Visa can only be applied for in the country of your residence, so for him this would be the U.S.A.Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and being polite about it. Thank you ☺️Reply to
Summer ******
Reply
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
thanks for the clarificationJan ******************
@Summer *****
Good luck, but it’s generally well known that a few immigration offices don’t process Non-O applications in-country.Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Jan *****************
yes and I’m aware that’s why we went to Laos to apply.. I was told in this group that I could change a tourist visa to non-o at the immigration officeJan ******************
@Summer *****
Ok, I understand. Most immigration offices allow Non-O applications to be done in-country. Applying in Laos is quite straightforward and quick — I know someone who got their Non-O within two days this week.Greg ***********
@Jan *****************
her problems apparently resulted from her using an original birth certificate of her son on a Thai authority (be it an embassy or an Immigration office) These Thai authorities only accept foreign documents if they are certified (legalized) by a Thai entityReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Greg ***********
while your 90-days Non-Imm-O Family Visa is a done & dusted things, because you are married to a Thai husband, you son has no family connection to your husband. That's why he only can apply for a 90-days Non-Imm-O "dependent" Visa based on being the son of somebody on a Non-Imm-O Family Visa. Normally he could do the "change of visa type" from a tourist visa to the 90-days Non-Imm-O Dependent Visa on Immigration inside Thailand. However we are aware that some Immigrations won't touch the "change of visa type" process not even with a pair of tweezers. The Immigration who turned you down are one of these Immigrations because they are unsure which are the requirements. . . these are listed under Number 8 on this Immigration website .. . . . But please be aware that this Non-O Visa is limited to children only until the age of 20 . . . . . .
*******************************************
Your problem is how to change your location and find an Immigration who is willing to accept itJohn **********
I guess you tried to apply for a Non-O dependant visa for your son? Or was it some other type of Non-O? Did you provide proof of relationship?
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
so my son can’t get a non-o though a step parent? 😞 This is so stressful 😩 thank you so much for all your help John 🙏🏻John **********
@Summer *****
no step relatives do not count. If your husband had officially adopted him it would be differentSummer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
his dad is deceased so we don’t want him removed from the birth certificate and he turns 18 in less than a year so I don’t think it’s worth it to go through all the trouble. Thanks so much.Reply to
Summer ******
Reply
Andreas *********
@Summer *****
for THAI authorities, you need an official proof that you are your son's mother - which means you need your son's original (foreign) birth certificate leagalized by either a Thai embassy in your home country or by you country's embassy in Bangkok and then co-legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign affairs in Bangkok. Only such Thai officially recognized birth certificates can be used for visa-applications on Thai embassies outside of your home country, or on Immigration inside Thailand. . . . . . . . Just a reminder in a vice-versa case: No government or statesside authority inside the USA would recognize an original Thai birth certificate, wouldn't they? . . . that's what "legalizations" are for, like "notary certified" documents, and since there are no notaries in Thailand, it must be certified by an Thai government bodySummer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
you seems a little hostile. I’ve never moved out of the country before so how would I know and as a born citizen I wouldn’t know anything about what the US requires either. But thanks for the info.Reply to
Summer ******
Reply
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
no. We never took his birth certificate to the Thai embassy in America. I’ve never heard of doing that. I just filled out the e-visa and they asked for my marriage certificate and my son’s birth certificate. I cropped the picture to just show my name because the file was too big for the whole picture and they replied and asked to see the fathers name so I sent that and explained that it’s not my husband my sons father is deceased and my husband is the step fatherJohn **********
@Summer *****
I should have done this before but I've just looked at the requirements for a Non-O on the Thai embassy in Laos and your situation is not covered from what I can see unless you are working or studying in Thailand?Reply to
John **********
Reply
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
my name is on it and I’ve never changed my nameJohn **********
@Summer *****
I wouldn't even mention your husband on his application. He's your dependant, not your husbands. I assume the birth certificate was authenticated by the Thai Embassy in the country that issued it?Reply to
John **********
Reply
Summer ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
yes dependent- I sent my marriage documents and his birth certificate showing the father’s name as they requested. His father is deceased my Thai husband is his step father.. I tried to explain this in a little message sent with the documents John **********
@Summer *****
I assume your name is also on the birth certificate. So have you changed your name since then?Greg ***********
@Summer *****
the "stepfather" thing is nothing official, that's why it does not play into an application for a Non-O Visa. Only you being his mother is relevantReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Sylvia ********
Non O visa you need to be over 50 years old, your son is too young
Mikkel *******
@Sylvia *******
No.. That's only the non O based on being over 50 years old (aka retirement visa). There are several other non O visas where age is irrelevant.Sylvia ********
@Mikkel ******
ok apologiesReply to
Sylvia ********
Reply
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