This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Is it difficult to obtain a one-year visa based on marriage to a Thai citizen?

Mar 25, 2025
8 days ago
Jose ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is a married one year visa hard to get. I am married to a Thai woman.
8,606
views
38
likes
219
all likes
95
replies
5
images
56
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
Obtaining a one-year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai citizen involves a moderate amount of paperwork and can vary in difficulty depending on various factors such as location and prior documentation. Many expats suggest that while it may seem complicated due to the required documents and potential home visits by immigration officers, it is manageable if you prepare thoroughly. Some advise using an agent for a smoother process, while others prefer to handle it independently. The general consensus is that while it requires effort and several documents, the process is definitely doable.
Alica *******
9 years now doing it. Have immigration PTSD.
Sineymily ***********
Super easy
Andrew ********
Harder than some, easier than others. Compared to a retirement extension, for example. Spouse visa is MUCH harder if you don't count the income requirements.
Richard **********
Nice name
Daniel **********
Go orchid of Siam in Bangkok they are num 1
Jirayu ***********
Troy ************
Ask her then
Craig ********
depends on what you mean by "hard". Lots of paperwork. Lots. You'll take trips to various places. They will probably come to your house and take photographs of you and your wife. But certainly doable if you are motivated to stay in the kingdom on a yearly extension and want to be eligible for a work permit.
Jose ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig *******
, I think the process should be more friendly, and easy to navigate, e.g. Panama.
Craig ********
@Jose ***********
as for friendly my experience has been that the immigration officers are extremely friendly and really want to help you. But you have to follow the rules and let them check all their boxes. And the more boxes, the better in my opinion.

Having to run around town to get marriage registrations updated, and get detailed information on the house you own or that you rent, plus pictures, plus the in-home visit by the immigration officer... all helping to keep Thailand the best place in the world. I love it
Craig ********
@Jose ***********
no i like it difficult and cumbersome... keeps the riff-raff out. Already cutting the visa exemption down to 30 days. I'm ready for them to get rid of that DTV visa next. Love it
Terence *********
Married in Thailand reasonably straightforward..However if you go married..in my case North London...and moved to LoS...bit more work and involves the MoFA...Ministry of Foreign @ Affairs...Needs to be verified by UK Foreign Office...and then countersigned at London Thai Embassy.....You have to use a UK agent since the jolly old FO dont accept single applications...Then all the confirmations goes to MOFA who will again sign it off...and then you can go for the one Year extention...Takes time but can do...sanuk..
Rod *********
have a fist full of cash helps
Mica **********
One year only married visa. Wow that's a great deal..
Mark **********
No
Will *********
Do you mean for America or Thailand?
Ning ******
if you are in bkk, the waiting time is very very long.......
Robert ********
Follow
Dave ********
Some things are complicated, but I did mine with no agent. The first time around, there are documents that you can use repeatedly for the subsequent extensions, and only a few that need to be new. There was one step that had to go through the Bureau of Foreign Affairs first time for marriage things and that was the worst part. It's FAR easier if your marriage is in Thailand and registered by your local District Office. The documents that need to be "fresh" are 1. a certification from your district office of your marriage, which essentially says that they have no divorce on file so you are still married (must be within 90 days) 2. Your updated bank book showing a deposit and your balance ON THE DAY OF YOUR APPLICATION 3. A letter from the bank ON THAT DAY verifying the funds in your account 4. Photos of you and your wife showing the house and house number and photos of you and your wife inside the living area of the house (they just say recent). Your nearest immigration office should have a list of required documents and you can just follow it cookbook style. Of course, when you go to apply there will be all sorts of other forms to fill out on the day of the application. On the plus side, they are cracking down on crooked immigration offices that are taking bribes, but on the other hand if there's a hurdle, you can't buy your way out of it. My local office changed leadership and it's a world of difference.
Chuck **********
Yes, been married 18 years but decided to get retirement visa via agent in Pattaya. Very easy and no hassle
Ulrich ******
My advice, think this over…
Toni **********************
I’ve just recently applied for mine…

Can be a bit stressful… Me & my Thai husband done it ourselves we didn’t go through an agent. I was told it is more difficult for a farang man that’s married to a Thai lady… and more easier for a farang lady that’s married to a Thai man.

Best of luck 🙏🏼
Joe **********
Nah you just prove you are both married to each other and that's it!!
Toni **********************
@Joe *********
plus a lot of paperwork
John ********
Go to a visa agent
Benny ***********
@John *******
How much?

In Pattaya
Inge ***********
No.
Ian *********
Multi entry & extension with girlfiend. gave up & went to sleep.
Brian *******
@David *********
Slight correction here. Officially 1900b, but overall you're going to spend maybe 3k baht which includes the official visit to your house afterwards. . .
Simon *********
The visa is easy, but is multiple entry so have to do a borderbounce every 3 months.

An extension of stay based on marriage needs a bit more paperwork, but you do 90 day reports instead of borderbounces.

One important thing to note, when doing an extension based on marriage, you have to sign a declaration, which basically says, if you split up with the missus, you have 5 days to leave thailand...

Safer and easier to get a new visa each year. Also if you do a borderbounce just before the visa expires, you get another 90 day stamp, so 12 month visa gives 15 month stay.
Alessandro **********
@Simon ********
where do you have to sign that kind of declaration? Anything vary from a province to another. Isn't it the form where you have to acknowledge about overstay? I don't remember having to sign anything else and I am extending my last visa since 5 years. Been using Samut Prakan and Ubon Ratchathani
Marco *******
@Simon ********
multiple entry 12 month Non O visa based on marriage it’s not available anymore since Jan 1
Mick ********
I did it all on line Yes you need a few documents but download the list from Thai immigration and prepare before you start. If you do it on line and find you are short of a doc you have a unique tracking number so you can go get the doc then carry on where you left off

I found it hassle free and easy and I'm pretty basic when it comes to computers

I think it took about 2 weeks to receive once application was in

This was my experience in the UK other countries may differ
Lee *************
Need to go to local immigration office to get correct information. Will need non immigrant O visa first, then when have open bank account, if you not have No impediment to marry form, and marriage signed off at ampour.
Igor *********
I was having problems with Thai visa ... I did change to Cambodia is much easier to get visa -cheaper & cambidians woman cost much less money 💰! Was good choice 🙏🙏🙏
David *********
tell you want 4 years until Trump is gone and they will grant you refugee status
Michael *******
Just applying for mine. A pain. But getting there!
Greg ***********
there is no one-year marriage visa. You start with a 90-days Non-Imm-O family Visa, and in Thailand you apply on Immigration for a "1-year extension of the stay permit based on being married to a Thai wife". That "one-year stay permit" is not a visa, it is a stay permit
Rob ******
@Greg **********
and then you hope you don’t get a Thai divorce, and your life insurance is cashed out
Peter **********
@Rob *****
You shouldn’t have married a hooker… 👍
Malcolm *******
It's more complicated than a retirement extension . Quite a few more docs required and a home visit . You also have to draw them a Map to your accommodation .

*****
0 Baht seasoned for 2 months in a Thai Bank account with full access to the money .
Sonny ******
Use agent, Sit back
Cris ******
I used an agent for my first year. And was very simple. This year going to try to do ourselves
Sarick **********
Very easy, you can even borrow someone else's money to put in your bank for 2 months. They don't check the origin of that money.
Chuck **********
@Sarick *********
My name is Jack Daniels
George *******
@Chuck *********
My names Jim Beam lol
Jose ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sarick *********
how about if you

are an American citizen.?
Sarick **********
@Jose ***********
if you physically live with your Thai spouse and have registered your marriage in Thailand, I see no difficulties regardless of nationalities. Thai Marriage license set, 2 month deposit of 400K in Thai bank, some family photos, Tm.30 set, Thai spouse ID set. In Bangkok office, make all paperworks 2 sets, one for the extension another set for a random visit officer.
Peter **********
@Sarick *********
… and two witnesses with ID and house book registrations. (In Sakon Nakhon)
Russ **********
@Sarick *********
that would make it a Visa goaled mule account in effect.
Roland **********
Here you can read about the general requirements! But also ask your immigrationif they have any special requirements..

About CA 10- 15 documents. But no problem if you are eligible to apply 👌good luck👍
Gardar ***************************
All depends where you gonna apply the 1 year extension, in Bangkok / Jomtien you need everything under the sun, in isan you don't need as much
Cris ******
@Gardar **************************
really??? I didn't knows there's a difference. My first year was in hua hin and it was a mountain of paperwork. But we are going to try to do it ourselves in Korat City this year.
Gardar ***************************
Rafal *************
@Gardar **************************
I also want this visa in Khon Kaen. How long did you have to keep
*****
0 baht in the account?
Gardar ***************************
@Rafal ************
i can get a letter from my embassy saying I have x amount every month and over this every year, so I didn't need to show 400k in bank
Cris ******
@Gardar **************************
that's awesome we are driving down to korat on the 1st to get paperwork
Gardar ***************************
@Cris *****
you welcome, just ask your local immigration since different from office to office. Good luck man 🙏
Cris ******
Gardar ***************************
@Cris *****
it's, I'll share the requirements from Jomtien first then Khon Kaen so can see yourself
Jon ********
@Gardar **************************
I did it in Issan and it took 3 separate trips to immigration. Not a cake walk anywhere.
Gardar ***************************
@Jon *******
sure it's not, but the requirements is way less in issan then more touristy
Jon ********
@Gardar **************************
You have done so personally or just passing on what someone else told you?
Gardar ***************************
@Jon *******
personal experience, look little bit down and you can see the different requirements from different immigration
Jon ********
@Gardar **************************
Looks easier than Issan as there you need numerous photographs of the family in front and outside of the houses. A map with directions from immigration to your house and 2 witnesses. This was the case in Khon Kaen. Regardless, marriage extensions are more difficult than retirement extensions by far.
Gardar ***************************
@Jon *******
of course more difficult then let's say retirement just pointing out the difference between two offices.
David **********
Cost 2000baht
Gregory *******
@David *********
and bribe too we do in our province
David **********
Just got one its not that hard
Mark *******
Maybe 50 pages but it is about 12 docs. And here they want 2 copies for submission. Despite what some say it really isnt that difficult
David **********
I do it every year, the annoying part is the running around
Brian *******
Did it last week. 50 documents (counted them), so a bit of work. . .
Amit ********
@Brian ******
is there a way to verify the marriage online
Brandon ************
Brian *******
Brandon ************
@Brian ******
There is no way to certify a marriage for use in applying for a Thai visa or extension online. Outside of Thailand it requires multiple government agencies and the embassy. Inside of Thailand it requires going to the Amphur. None of that can be done online.
Brian *******
@Amit *******
No idea. A copy of the certificate needs to be provided, as well as "sighting" of the original!
Frank **********
@Brian ******
wow your immigration office must be tough. I don't think I even submitted 25.
Michael *********
@Brian ******
needs financial proof?
Brian *******
@Michael ********
Bank book and statements showing 3 months history and the last 2 months balance in excess of 400k baht. Dated the day of your application and including a signed letter from the bank stating that these docs are all true and correct!
John **********
@Brian ******
not forget to copy every page of your bankbook!
Michael *********
@Brian ******
thank you, mate
John **********
@Michael ********
you must have a copy of your bank book and papers from the bank also
Nathan ******
@Brian ******
at least, and in duplicate.

A half hour of just signing them!
Brian *******
@Nathan *****
Agreed. My wording should have been "50 A4 sheets" 😉
Jo **********
@Brian ******
oh that’s more than LTR are you sure
Brian *******
@Jo *********
I might be old, but I can still count. . .
Jo **********
@Brian ******
that’s ok
Brandon ************
It's a little complicated but not too bad. You'll need to check your local embassy website to see what you require, or check your local immigration office to see their requirements. The most difficult can be the proper proof of marriage if you married outside of Thailand, and the required funds in the bank.
Ingvar *******
@Brandon ***********
and yearly visit from three IM officers and a neighbour they can trust with copy of the neighbour ID card.

But this is the only real extension, because no agent is can do it for you. 😍
Rick *********
@Ingvar ******
We only had a one off visit from immigration when first applied for visa, never yearly.
Arne *********
@Ingvar ******
i lived here for many years but never seen IM officers at our house 🙂
Ingvar *******
@Arne ********
every year, maybe different in other IM office.
Arne *********
@Ingvar ******
yes i think so
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else