Is there a minimum passport validity requirement when applying for a non-O marriage visa extension in Thailand?

Nov 28, 2024
3 days ago
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi.

Not sure if here is the right place to ask this.

I will ask immigration when I go next month to pick up my visa extension but thought someone might know on here.

When applying for another year on my non-o (marriage) visa does immigration say there is a minimum amount of time left on the passport before it expires.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a one-year extension of a NON-O (marriage) visa in Thailand, immigration requires that your passport must not expire before the end of the extension period. If your passport is due to expire in less than a year from the date of application, your extension will only be granted until your passport's expiration date. Additionally, while many countries recommend having at least six months of validity on a passport for international travel, if you are staying in Thailand, this may not be an immediate concern. It's important to note that if your extension is tied to an expiration date, this will affect future visa applications when you renew your passport.
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Matti *********
Another angle.

If you travel overseas, many counties require minimum 6 months validity on your passport so in this case you should renew when about 7 months left.

If you stay put in Thailand then doesn’t matter.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Matti ********
not left 17 years now. I’m going to try and do about 7 month.

Keep my 1 year visa. Lose 5-6 month on the passport.

Thankyou.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks guys.

Quick response as usual.
Mike ********
They will only extend to the expiration date of the passport. So if applying for a 1 year extension and the passport expires in less than 1 year when you apply they will only stamp you to that expiration date. Personal experience. 😉
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Mike *******
really.

So either way I lose.

Wait til my next renewal and then only get 7 months visa

Or renew my passport and lose a year.
Tod *********
If your passport isn't valid for the whole year the extension would be for you only get an extension until the passport expires AND you do not get that time added back in once you get a new passport.

That "short" extension expiration date is the date you apply for your next yearly extension
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thanks.

Got the info I need. Cheers Tod.
Tod *********
@Scott ********
Many MANY years ago, if your passport was expiring before the extension ran out it didn't matter, they'd just give you the year in the old one,

THEN

They changed to giving you an extension until the passport expired but when you brought them the new passport they'd "give" the rest of the year you were shorted by the other passport running out

NOW

you get an extension valid until your passport runs out and you lose any time you were shorted.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
ok. Thanks.

So either way I lose.

Wait til my next visa renewal and then only get 7 months visa

Or renew my passport and lose a year from the passport.

Was it always like this. I thought I got the 9 months transferred onto my last passport 8 years ago. I could be wrong but I do seem to remember they added it
Ashley *********
@Scott ********
loose the year on the passport much better than having to re do the visa again.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ashley ********
yeah. That is the way. I probably can get it to 8-7 months lose if I time it right and the passport isn’t delayed.

Nice to hear from you mate.
Ellie *******
@Scott ********
, Unnecessary additional information.

When you get your new passport, your old passport is invalidated. Your extension and related stamps on the old one are transferred to the new one. Those stamps have the same dates as those stamps in the old passport, it looks like several months of "rest of extension" are transferred to the new passport after the old passport is invalidated. It doesn't mean you had an extension longer than your last passport validity or any extra period was added.

You may be able to check your stamp on one of the early pages of your passport and the expiry date of your old passport.
Scott *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
ok thanks.

I do think it’s bad they force you to do early but won’t transfer the remaining time onto the new passport.

Oh well. Looks like her the new passport before my new visa.
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