Answered6 months ago
How does getting married to a Thai national affect my Non-Imm O-A visa?
I am on a Non-Imm O-A (over 50) visa and will be getting married to a Thai national later this year.
Could someone please explain how my visa will change? Thank you.
Could someone please explain how my visa will change? Thank you.
Answer summary
Getting married to a Thai national does not automatically change your Non-Imm O-A visa status. However, you have the option to switch to a Non-Imm O visa based on marriage. Many expats choose to maintain their retirement visa for simplicity, as it avoids additional health insurance requirements and reduces potential complications. If you decide to switch to a marriage visa, you must follow specific procedures and meet financial requirements.
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Houssem *******
Congrats in advance on your marriage 👍
When you marry a Thai national while on a Non-OA, your visa doesn’t automatically change, but you can later switch to a Non-O (Thai spouse) extension in Thailand.
In many cases people either:
continue with retirement extension, or
switch to marriage-based extension (which has different requirements)
The timing and process matters a lot to avoid issues, so if you want, I can connect you with a visa team in Bangkok to guide your transition properly.
When you marry a Thai national while on a Non-OA, your visa doesn’t automatically change, but you can later switch to a Non-O (Thai spouse) extension in Thailand.
In many cases people either:
continue with retirement extension, or
switch to marriage-based extension (which has different requirements)
The timing and process matters a lot to avoid issues, so if you want, I can connect you with a visa team in Bangkok to guide your transition properly.
Phil ********
OPHoussem Riden I believe that I need to stay with a retirement visa to save my a lot of hassle should, god forbid, she dies before me, and the switch to Non-O will save me having to buy designated insurance. When the time comes I will certainly contact you. Thank you.
Taki****
Has no effect on visa status. If you don't need the financial advantages stay with retirement visa is far less stressful at re-newal time.
Nev *******
Marridge in thailand all the thai lads and lasses just shack up.
Nev *******
Cheaper
อามานด้า ******
I would recommend to change extension based on marriage. You can work on that visa and then if you make enough you easily apply for Thai citizenship
Nita **********
That’s what I told my husband too. I’m Thai, we’re both over 50, and we both have dual citizenship living abroad. I told him the retirement visa is probably the easiest route — no need to change everything just because you’re married. Much simpler.
Bob *********
Nita Califano Same here, married to Thai wife, both dual nationals living in Australia, moving to Thailand later this year, will only apply for over 50 retirement visa, much easier than applying for marriage visa.
Nita **********
Bob Conolly 100 percent !!!!
tington********
Don't do it 😂😂😂 don't go live in the village 😕😕😕😕 enjoy your single life 😄😄😄
Malcolm ********
Many of my married friends don't go down the marriage visa route, they just stay with retirement visa
Terence **********
It will get better and longer
Robert ********
Only if you want to change it
Nongnuch ********
So, you entered Thailand on a 1-year multi entry Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa.
What is completely unclear as you did not mention, if you are still is within the original 1-year visa validity, or if you already are on a 1-year extension of the stay permit.
Regarding your question, if a marriage to a Thai wife would change your visa-status, the simple answer to this is, NO, a marriage doesn't change anything of your visa-status.
If you want it changed, you need to get off your current stay permit, you would have to invalidate it by exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit.
Only after your current stay permit is expired, you can apply for another visa, like for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, or for the 90-Days Non-Imm-O Family Visa (which is the one for foreigners married to a Thai wife).
Each of these come with their own financial requirements, but you should be aware that none of the Non-Imm-O visa classes come with a mandatory health insurance (which is mandatory with your Non-Imm-O/A visa status)
What is completely unclear as you did not mention, if you are still is within the original 1-year visa validity, or if you already are on a 1-year extension of the stay permit.
Regarding your question, if a marriage to a Thai wife would change your visa-status, the simple answer to this is, NO, a marriage doesn't change anything of your visa-status.
If you want it changed, you need to get off your current stay permit, you would have to invalidate it by exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit.
Only after your current stay permit is expired, you can apply for another visa, like for the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa, or for the 90-Days Non-Imm-O Family Visa (which is the one for foreigners married to a Thai wife).
Each of these come with their own financial requirements, but you should be aware that none of the Non-Imm-O visa classes come with a mandatory health insurance (which is mandatory with your Non-Imm-O/A visa status)
Phil ********
OPNongnuch Kamdee I have lived in this wonderful country for over 8 years, on my over-50 O-A visa, extending it yearly using the “monthly income” method. I do not need anything to change but it would be nice if I didn’t have to pay for the health insurance required by immigration. It is expensive and honestly it excludes a lot of my body and half of my limbs 😁. I was hoping that by getting married, immigration would allow me to change to O visa and remove the need for that particular health insurance. In fact the officer at my immigration office hinted strongly that that is something I should do. But I don’t actually want to have to leave the country and jump through all the hoops. Right now I’m thinking “if it isn’t broke, don’t try and fix it”.
Nongnuch ********
Phil Taylor again: You CANNOT invalidate the O/A Extension of Stay on Immigration. The invalidation is a MUST BE part of the process. You NEED to EXIT Thailand at least ONCE. You can visit your Immigration and ask which steps you must undertake in order to achieve a Non-Imm-O status and the subsequent 1-year extension of stay permit. MAYBE they offer you an easier path
Nongnuch ********
Phil Taylor you can try to use your 12-months of transfers statement when applying for the "change of visa type", as the rules officially accept either deposit OR income. Ask your Immigration how to proceed. Find the requirements for the "change" from a visa-exempt entry to a 90-days Non-O Visa on this website. Marriage is number 6, and Retirement is number 9 . . . . . . .
*******************************************
Phil ********
OPNongnuch Kamdee Thank you so much for this. As it will require the lump sum in the bank as opposed to the evidence of monthly income, then this is not something I will pursue. Finding close to £18,000 isn't going to happen unless I take it as a drawdown from my personal pension - which I think is not something my financial advisor would endorse! The irony is that i have 8 years worth of evidence of regular income which is now of no use as I would have invalidated the Extension of Stay and would not get the option to use the monthly income method until the 1st anniversary of the new O visa, if I went down that route. Thank you once again.
Nongnuch ********
the biggest adavantage of this step: you jump off the mandatory insurance requirement. Now you are free to choose any insurance company, or keep self insured
Nongnuch ********
Phil Taylor the only way to jump off the O/A status is by invalidating the current stay permit. It CANNOT be done on Immigration. This is normally done by exiting Thailand without a re-entry permit. Then in either your home country or in one of Thailand's neighbour countries like Laos or Vietnam, you can apply for a 90-Days Non-Imm-O family or retirement visa. Alternatively, MUCH EASIER, you EXIT Thailand without a re-entry permit, and re-enter Thailand visa-exempt. You will get stamped in for 60 days. You visit Immigration and apply for the "change of visa type" from the visa-exempt entry to the initial 90-days Non-Imm-O Visa (Married or Retirement). You would need to show (in case of retirement) that you ALREADY hold 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account, or show (in case of married) you already hold 400,000 THB in your Thai bank account. You need to prove that the money came from abroad, and you need to show a rental contract. There is no seasoning requirement for the deposit at this point. The application to a change costs a fee of 2000 Baht. The 90-days Non-O visa will be issued for "14 days under consideration", after this waiting period you visit Immigration and pick up the visa-stamp. And up from 30 days (or 45 days on some Immigrations), assoon as the deposit has seasoned in your account for 2 months, you can apply for the "1-year extension of the stay permit" on Immigration, which costs a fee of 1900 Baht.
Graham ******
It will not change, you will still be over 50
Ole ***************
Your visa was used when you enter Thailand, so dont worry about the visa. The Non O retirement visa gave you 90 days stay in thailand. After that you applied for a temporary stay on TM 7 (application for extension of temporary stay in the kingdom), This is NOT a visa, if you want to change your temporary stay to based on family, it is a easy process, they will first give you 1 month under concideration before approve your extension, this is the time they need to check if all is real and ok.
Steve *******
Ole Kristoffersen He has a Non Imm OA visa, it's a 1 year multi entry visa
Ole ***************
Steve Greir OK, then he can make a extension based on family when the 1 year stay the visa gives him expires
Nongnuch ********
Ole Kristoffersen he did not enter Thailand on a Non-Imm-O Visa. You should READ what he wrote. He entered Thailand on a 1-year multi entry Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa. And it is completely unclear if he still is within the original visa validity, or if he already is on a 1-year extension of the stay permit. His question was if a marriage to a Thai wife would change his visa-status, and the simple answer to this is, NO, a marriage doesn't change anything of his visa-status, unless he takes measures to change it by himself.
Kool *******
Something to seriously consider is that under the type O visa extension based on Thai wife you can get a work permit without having to change to a type B visa extension. Also, if you work in Thailand, making more than bt40,000 a month, with other requirements (that don't matter if you don't legally work), you can apply for permanent residency, or directly for Thai citizenship, after just three years, and paying Thai income tax. You can not do any of this on any retirement visa extension. Just something to think about if this, with your wife, will be your permanent home.
Bernard *********
Dont change it ! Better keep the retirement one...
Peter *********
It will only change if you change it
Arild *********
You need get your current visa expired and apply non-o from another country
Tawan *********
Not worth it to change your visa coz of the marriage status.
Potpon******
Stay with the retirement visa
If the marriage doesn’t last you get 7 days to leave
If the marriage doesn’t last you get 7 days to leave
Brandon ************
Potpong_Life I've never heard of an instant divorce.
You'll have a LOT of warning before you have to find a new reason for extensions if it's because of divorce.
Also, once you do divorce, there's no 7 days. Your extension is invalid as of the moment the divorce is final.
But you can just go apply for a new extension based on retirement that day. You don't have to leave at all.
You'll have a LOT of warning before you have to find a new reason for extensions if it's because of divorce.
Also, once you do divorce, there's no 7 days. Your extension is invalid as of the moment the divorce is final.
But you can just go apply for a new extension based on retirement that day. You don't have to leave at all.
Bill *********
Potpong_Life I was just going to say the same thing! After the marriage has run its course, do you want to have your longevity in Thailand be based on a moody female? Absolutely positively keep yourself independent when it comes to visas and immigration issues.
PeacefulSe**********
You don’t need to change your visa.
John **********
Getting married does nothing to change your visa status
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