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How do you transition from a DTV to a Marriage Visa in Thailand?

DTV Visa Marriage Visa Visa Transition Thai Immigration Visa Requirements Permanent Residency Work Permit

Aug 6, 2025

3 days ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Has anyone change to Marriage visa from DTV?  

Do you need to cancel dtv, leave the country and come back first?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion revolves around transitioning from a DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) to a Marriage Visa in Thailand. Users share insights about the necessity of canceling the DTV prior to transitioning, with mixed opinions on whether switching to a Marriage Visa is beneficial. Some participants caution against the hurdles involved with the Marriage Visa, citing the extensive bureaucratic requirements, including financial evidence and home inspections. Others suggest alternatives like waiting for visa expiration or considering a Retirement Visa for those over 50, as a simpler option. The consensus leans towards preserving the DTV due to its convenience and fewer requirements compared to the Marriage Visa.

DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the DTV 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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Anonymous ******************

Unless you want to apply for Permanent Resident.

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James ********

These are the common found requirements for the one year extension of stay as Married to Thai... Suggest you follow the Thai Visa Advice forum.... it has helpful information about the Thai Visa and one year extension as Married to Thai. Be sure to read the many posts from those who are Married to Thai and their experiences with obtaining the Non O Visa and its one year extension of stay.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you so much sir

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Anonymous *************

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Dave ***********

Why not wait until your DTV expires and get the value out of the money you already spent? You can live in Thailand more or less the same, with the added bonus of multiple entry.

Plenty of time to work out what is the best type of visa for your longer term living in Thailand.

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Steve *******

Marrying a Thai? Let the fun begin 😜 😂

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Scooter *****

stay on dtv why change to marriage you need to have 400.000 baht in Thai bank

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Christopher ***********

Another troll post. Already has a DTV so knows all about the visa categories. He’s prompting an error or controversial comment to engage in long and painful questioning.

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Anonymous ******************

@Christopher **********

another troll comment. Both my husband and I have dtv. We do not know about marriage visa because we are both not married to thai. No brainer.

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Luit *****************

@Christopher **********

Why should someone with a DTV know everything about all other visa?

Sometimes when I do see the questions of DTV applicants, I wonder if they know anything at all about visa and staying in Thailand.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Christopher **********

I am genuinely curious because I am planning to get married to this Thai lady that I have been dating for years.

Just trying to get some more information about marriage visa.

I see you married to a beautiful Thai lady.

I'd be appreciated if you have some information to share. 🙏

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James ********

Anonymous participant do yourself a BIG FAVOR...keep the DTV visa. You'll be glad you did 😊

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Anton ********************

Anonym deltagare stay on DTV. Why Hassle with another visa that just takes time and money and only difference is you can stay ”forever” without leaving but need to report 400k on bank every 90? Days.

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Greg ********

@Anton *******************

When doing 90 day report you do not show any funds in a bank account. That comes at initial application and renewal.

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Ron **********

@Anton *******************

not the only reason. Can work towards a work permit. Also if married you have to have less Thai employees per foreigner working.

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Anton ********************

you don’t need marriage visa for work permit. That’s like going to see a doctor to get a subscription for a headache (which you can find at pharmacy) 🤦‍♂️

Second one I never heard about, thank you.

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Ron **********

@Anton *******************

sorry what I meant was. You can have the marriage visa and also get a work permit. DTV you would need to cancel first I believe and get onto another visa type first before being allowed a work permit.

So yes if you were starting a business say. The amount of Thai employees required for that person reduces if you are married. Bearing in mind there is a monthly cost to have employess. Especially if those employees are not really working and just to hit the requirements. 👍🏻

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Ron **********

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Jay ******

Don’t change to marriage visa it’s the biggest headaches of all visa in Thailand (together with Thai child visa), an obstacle course of requirements and immigration coming to inspect your home to see if you’re really live together and questioning neighbours etc.

I’m married myself to a Thai wife but I will never ever get a marriage visa because there’s many and far better visas to have that has far less requirements and intrusiveness in your privacy.

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Julien ****

I agree. I have Thai wife and baby. My cousin has a wife and baby and he has to renew his visa every year and it is a pain. I have a DTV and super easy.

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James ********

Wise advice ✅

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

What visa do you recommend if not DTV or Marriage visa?

AFAIK the inspection stuff only requires just the first time when you apply for this visa and when you move to new province.

Personally I have no problem with the inspection stuffs.

Could you tell me more on what else could be the hassles?

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Jay ******

Anonymous participant well, immigration will talk to your neighbours and there’s no guarantee that someone is jealous or envious of you or dislikes you and say things to sabotage for you.

And every year when you extend your visa you have to do the whole process again with all the documents and copies of them and new photos of you and your wife in each room in the house and outside the house. And marriage visa and Thai child visa requires much more documents and documentation than any other visa.

But if you prefer that headache every year over and over again then do it.

Many of my friends are so fed up with all that hassle that they now changed to retirement visa instead.

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James ********

Yep 👍 Spot On ✅

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Luit *****************

How many years did you have marriage visa and to what other visa did you change?

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Jay ******

@Luit ****************

I refuse to get marriage visa because of the mountain of requirements and headache it brings. Have many friends went thru that obstacle course already.

Now I have ED-Visa because I want to learn to read and write Thai. After that I will use retirement visa or work visa with work permit

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Luit *****************

So you don't have own experience with marriage visa, just telling stories you heard from others.

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Jay ******

@Luit ****************

I have lived here permanently for 16 years and was just about to apply for marriage visa but when I saw the requirements I changed my mind, then I asked around among my friends that lived here longer than me and they confirmed my suspicions. I don’t hang in bars and listen to drunks. If I open my mouth facts come out or I stay quiet. Just check what this groups experts say about my comments in this thread and you can see that they agree with me 100%. I know Thailand better than most Thai people and I was giving you good advise, what you do with it I couldn’t care less, but please go get a marriage visa and find out for yourself 😂😂😂

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Luit *****************

I have thought about Thai marriage visa, but we are not married, so it is impossible, unless we marry.

I also heard stories about it, but I was interested in real first hand experiences.

But for now as long as I am working, I will stay on DTV, and after that I think retirement is the best option.

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Jay ******

@Luit ****************

I think that is wise of you, myself I can’t wait to turn 50 in 2.5 years so I can get the retirement visa. It’s a walk in the park compared to marriage visa.

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Jay ******

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Jay ******

Anonymous participant why would you change your DTV-Visa? Best advice I can give you is to wait until your 5 years have finished before you change.

If you’re 50 years old or more the best option is Retirement Visa.

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Jay ******

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Anonymous ******************

There is no point in changing Non O from DTV unless you intend to work or start a business in Thailand.

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Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant 187 there is another reason, divorce lol

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Anonymous ******************

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Jef ********

Out of Interest why would you cancel your DTV to get a marriage visa ? Are you planning to work ?

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

just decided to stay here long term possibly start business here and also don't want to boarder bounce or do extension every 6 month

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James ********

Anonymous participant then do it 👍

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Jay ******

Anonymous participant you still have to do 90-day report every 90 days.

And with DTV you don’t have to do extension, it’s much easier to just bounce a border

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AuthenticPas************

Anonymous participant if u do business u need to cancel marriage visa to change to work visa.

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Greg ********

AuthenticPassionfruit644 Not true at all (As well as there being no such visa as a "Work Visa")

To work he needs a "Work Permit" and they can be obtained on an "O" Visa for marriage.

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Greg ********

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Jef ********

Anonymous participant fair enough mate 👌

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Jef ********

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Tore *********

many benefits, no need to border bounce, work permit possible, easier to get and maintain Bank Account. Among others

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks

do you have marriage visa too?

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Tore *********

Anonymous participant im on DTV

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Tore *********

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Jef ********

And you have to cancel your DTV where you applied for it 👌

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James ********

where's that said?

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Jef ********

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James ********

thank you for your helpful reply. This is a new question.

It appears the key is how you got the DTV visa.

Note the different instructions. If you obtained it from a Thai Embassy, such as Sydney Australia, contact them. (DTV Visas were issued with a Pasted Thai Visa Certificate into your passport).…then with the beginning of the Evisa online application system, the Thai Visas are now ISSUED by email notification.

So...the question is....

Who do you contact to cancel the DTV visa ?

From your reply, contact the Thai Embassy or Consulate where you applied for the DTV visa.

Thanks again...

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Jef ********

⬆️ correct mate

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Jef ********

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Jef ********

I know someone who has switched visas, they had to cancel there DTV at the consulate of application

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Jef ********

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DTV_Be*******

Yes you will have a visa change from dtv to non-o

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DTV_Be*******

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