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Should I choose a retirement visa or a marriage visa for marrying my Thai fiancé?

Jan 20, 2025
2 months ago
Stanley **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am a U.S. citizen, I will be marrying my Thai fiance sometime this year. Which should I do, retirement or marriage visa?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the choice between applying for a retirement visa or a marriage visa as a U.S. citizen planning to marry a Thai national. Many contributors highlight that the retirement visa generally involves less paperwork and fewer requirements, albeit with a higher financial threshold (800,000 baht in a Thai bank account) compared to the marriage visa, which requires 400,000 baht. However, the marriage visa allows for obtaining a work permit, crucial for those wishing to work in Thailand and potentially pursue Thai citizenship. Opinions diverge, with some stressing the ease of the retirement visa and others emphasizing the benefits of the marriage visa, particularly for those who intend to work and build a future in Thailand.
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Bill ********
Don't get married and travel.....
Hathaway *************
Retirement, if things ever go south you're still good to stay.
Bob **********
You have to be married to get the marriage visa retirement is easier but requires more banked funds
Bullock *********
we all know why a thai women would marry someone who looks like this 🤷 poor thai women
Shane *******
@Bullock ********
atleast the guy shows his real picture. Where's your picture bollocks oops I meant bullock 😂. Or do you look like an animated hip hop buddha?
Mark *********
It is my understanding that you are not able to use the monthly income method under a marriage visa. as a retired visa recipient I can transfer $65,000 baht a month from overseas and do not have to keep $800,000 baht in the bank. since I'm going to use about that much a month for expenses anyway to me this is better than having a dead 800,000 in a bank account. You are not allowed to have that $800,000 restricted in any way which limits you to non-interest bearing accounts. Good luck!
Marianne ********
@Mark ********
You can use monthly income under a marriage extension, but it might be difficult for your initial visa and first extension. But from the 2nd extension it should be pretty smooth sailing if you've got a monthly deposit of at least 40k.

Monthly income for farang men need to be 40k or for marriage visa.
Graeme ******
Don't get Married with out

a Prenuptial
Jonny *********
Retirement
Tore *********
Also consider DTV if you travel often. By far cheapest, but more suitable if you travel outside Thailand from time to time
Will ******
Retirement. I hope marriage works out but don't ignore what people are saying. You can have the best intentions but things can go very wrong to the point where you no longer recognize the person you married. Just make sure your future wife is 100% onboard with your future plans here, ie say you see yourself living in Phuket but she wants to stay near her parents. Or family are involved in every decision.

I can't stress this enough.
กะลาสี *****
As many have already told you, a retirement visa is easier with regard to the paperwork but you must maintain twice the bank balance and you cannot work on the retirement visa. I've been married to my Thai wife 8 years next June and living in TL 7 years as of last month. We have a fantastic marriage. My wife is awesome. It's easily the best relationship I've ever had and I've had my share, including a divorce many years ago. I'm retired so I have no need for the work permit so I've decided to remain with the retirement visa. I considered switching to the marriage visa a while back but then I saw on the news where a Thai woman married to a Farang man died and he was on the marriage visa. He had to report her death to immigration immediately and they gave him 7 days to exit the country, since his wife was now dead and therefore he was no longer married. I think if my wife were to pass, the very last thing I would want to be dealing with would be immigration. I'd be busy planning a funeral and all the things involved with it and obviously mourning the death my wife. My wife is 12 years younger than I am, she's slim, exercises nearly every day and eats super healthy. I think it's unlikely she will die before me but hey, you never know, she rides a scooter and this is TL. Odds are if I switched to the marriage visa everything would work out fine but I guess I just like the autonomy of knowing that my ability to stay in country isn't all based on my marriage. That's my 2¢ on the matter. I wish you and your future bride all the best and I hope you are as happy as I am. Cheers ~ Bill
Robert *********
Darren Raine Good to here a positive marriage to Thai woman story. Wishing both good health and many happy days together.
Rum****
@Robert ********
yup, we are out there...👍
กะลาสี *****
@Robert ********
thank you very much!
Sunida **************
My husband who is US citizen and I married in USA and if we want to do marry visa when he live in Thailand. We need to marry and get certificates from Thailand also, right?
Peter **********
@Sunida *************
you have to get your US certificate translated to thai, then register at the MFA then get a korror 22 from your amphur
Sunida **************
@Peter *********
thanks so much
Philip *******
The question then is how effective are prenups? Is there anyone with history of winning with a prenup agreement in the Thai courts? Lawyer recommendation? Cheers. May you see nothing but winning.
Andy *********
Keep away from marriage worst thing you could ever do many fail and end up skint
Paul *******
@Andy ********
in many countries.
Derek *********
Retirement can still be obtained using the 65k per month deposit no need to keep even 400K in the bank
Steve ********
@Derek ********
not for the first one
Tore *********
@Derek ********
im pretty sure the US embassy have stopped issuing the statements, you you’d have to wait until extension for that
Steve ********
@Tore ********
correct, they do not. However, after your first retirement visa expires, you can then show 12 months of bank statements showing the 65k a month. I believe that is correct.
Tore *********
@Steve *******
thats what I mean. So you can only do the monthly from extension.
Steve ********
@Tore ********
ahhh, I see it.
Derek *********
@Tore ********
Embassies are not involved anymore
Tore *********
@Derek ********
you don’t need affidavits? When did that change?
Steven *******
@Tore ********
You can show a pattern of international transfers and convert to that method.
Tore *********
@Steven ******
when extending yeah, that was always the case.
Steven *******
Walter *******************
@Derek ********
How do you show proof had to be deposit in a Thai bank?
Walter *******************
Walter *******************
can it be American bank?
Derek *********
@Walter ******************
I think not as you have to show funds being deposited into Thailand
Kim *********
@Walter ******************
photo copies of your Thai bank account transactions and a statement from the bank
Joseph *******
Retirement is better, if you have the means. But … If Thai citizenship is on your horizon AND/OR you want to apply for a work permit, go with Married option.
Randy ******
Buy a water buffalo as a wedding present
Eric **********
@Randy *****
Don’t do it they get sick so often!
Charles **********
Retirement is easier
Timothy *******
Definitely Retirement visa
Peter *********
Retirement easier to do
Troy *******
Get a lawyer to write a prenuptial agreement because those birds are all about money and family—— not western husbands. You have been warned.
Peter ********
@Troy ******
well said!!
Greg *********
@Troy ******
ok farang 🤣
Julien ****
@Troy ******
Nika Kaus prenups don't work in Thailand and difficult to enforce in the western world if you have children
Troy *******
@Julien ***
sadly you are absolutely correct.
Randy ******
Troy *******
dude just looks and acts naive. He needs help mate.
Nika ******
Do prenuptial agreements first 🤗
Julien ****
@Nika *****
prenups don't work in Thailand and difficult to enforce in the western world if you have children
Nika ******
@Julien ***
sucks to be him in this case
Julien ****
@Nika *****
same shit in Northern America. Divorce cost much less in Thailand to a man than back home.
Nika ******
@Julien ***
I know, unless you broke and nothing to split
Bri ****
List of requirements depending on circumstances. Marriage Visa.
Paul *******
I’ll probably change over to the marriage visa later this year. The extra paperwork doesn’t sound that difficult. We are O.K. If immigration want to come and visit.
Brandon ************
@Paul ******
you'll also have to make 2 trips to immigration. First to apply. Then you'll receive an "under consideration" stamp which is the time they'll use to visit your home and talk to your neighbors. Then you go back again to get your extension stamp.
Paul *******
@Brandon ***********
that's OK, it's a 1 hour drive. Plus we can visit Makro and stock up on sausages. 😀😀😀😀
Nick *******
@Paul ******
Yeees sausages, top of the list everything else is secondary 😂😂😂
Wanneeta **********
Wanneeta **********
Ohh God!
Lucky ******
Yule *******
@Lucky *****
lol…poor Stanley…I hope not🙏
Hathaway *************
@Lucky *****
How original, did you think of that all on your own?
Gregory ********
Never mind the visa—why do you need to get married🙈🙈🙈🙈🤪🤪🤪🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭
Gregory ********
Retirement—marriage big mission—from MY experience
Mark **********
Follow the requirements for that on your government website. Or your country might not recognise the marriage
Pertti *************
Spouse visa give you route to citizenship aplication after 3 years if you work and pay taxes🙏
Michael ********
@Pertti ************
Visa has nothing to do with it, only the work permit taxes and actually being married
Pertti *************
@Michael *******
you can't work with retirement visa👌
Pertti *************
@Michael *******
you can apply WP with spouse visa💦
Kool *******
@Michael *******
with the only two options the OP listed, the type O based on Thai wife has a lot to do with it.
Michael ********
@Kool ******
Just being married is enough my friend got his citizenship and he was on Non B with work permit. Having a marriage visa would have made no difference otherwise he would have done it
Kool *******
@Michael *******
that is true, but has no reference to the OPs question.
Michael ********
@Kool ******
No but i was clarifying on Pertti comment because its slightly misleading and nothing to do with OPs question
Marianne ********
@Michael *******
it does have to do with OPs question.

He wanted opinions and comparisons of the two types of visa reasons.

One let's you work in Thailand with a work permit, and opens a path to citizenship ( if you also fill other requirements )

The other does not.

That is the comparison. It is relevant.
Marianne ********
IF you are in the position of being able to and wanting a job in Thailand, a marriage visa will allow you to get a work permit.

This opens up a path towards citizenship for you.

The retirement visa does not do this.

You need more money in the bank for Retirement.

for Marriage visa you just need to show proof of marriage, proof of finances, some weird and somewhat intrusive photos of you as a couple( or family ) in various places in your home and whatever else your specific immigration office requires you to deliver as documents.

Shouldn't really be much harder than a retirement.

I would personally go for marriage.
Kevin *******
@Marianne *******
I have been wondering about this specific point. Does the "marriage visa" actually put you on the path to getting permanent residency and maybe someday citizenship?

On its face it seems like it wouldn't -- isn't it still a Non-Imm-O visa with extension of stay? The "Non-Imm" part being self-explanatory.
Marianne ********
@Kevin ******
The reason for your Non-O and extensions matter.

If the reason is marriage, AND you work with a work permit and make the minimum required income. Then you have a path towards citizenship. You can skip Permanent Residency too.

There are more requirements, of course.

But the path itself is there.
Daren *********
As stated above, you only need 400,000 baht for the marriage extension in the bank. Yes, there is a lot of paperwork, but it is easy to do. No need for any agent as you will need to collate all the paperwork anyway.
Wal *********
RUN
Jon ********
Having had a marriage extension and a retirement extension I can say unless you are planning to have children or cannot afford the retirement extension (400K/800K) the retirement Visa extension is the way to go. Much less paperwork and you will not be controlled by your wife if things go bad.....Divorce would negate the Marriage Visa extension.
Bill *********
@Jon *******
Great answer: Retirement Visa is reliant on myself which is 100% iron clad. Anything else would be sketchy; not wise to have your future controlled by someone else.
Rolf *********
Retirement!

Marriage visa is a hassle, you need to take photos of your home inside and outside with you and the wife (with kids too if have any), immigration will come and check at least one time yearly and talk to your neighbours to investigate if you’re really married and live there and so on. And keep 400k in Thai bank account in your name for 2 months before applying.

Retirement visa you put 800k in bank but not many other requirements.

I marry my gf next month and will use ed visa for 3 years until I’m 50 and can get retirement visa due to all the hassles with marriage visa.
Ernesto ********
@Rolf ********
taking pictures and having visitors doesn’t seem like a hassle.
Kim *********
@Rolf ********
not much of a hassle - taking a few photos and get a visit and the other requirements were no problem - took a while though.
Rolf *********
@Kim ********
exactly, and you have to do that every year. Ok if they come check your home, but question the neighbours? I rather do retirement visa without photos and interrogations of neighbours 😂😂😂
Kim *********
@Rolf ********
I have no problems with the neighbour interviews as I prefer to call it 😅 But maybe they have 😅
Rolf *********
@Kim ********
let’s say one neighbour find it intrusive and say something that hurts your process? Or maybe one neighbour don’t like you for some reason, it could happen no matter how nice and/or respectful you are. Just saying
Kim *********
@Rolf ********
well it's more than one they talk to and the point is to verify that I live where I say I live so I see no problem with that
Rolf *********
@Kim ********
I lived in Thailand for 12 years and I’ve learned the hard way that it’s never a problem here, until it is… And when something suddenly becomes a problem it’s a big problem 😂
Kim *********
@Rolf ********
all right 👍
Brandon ************
@Rolf ********
most non-university ED visas can only go for 2 years on the same subject. Might want to look at the DTV instead
Rolf *********
@Brandon ***********
have a school that can extend up to 3 years, but yes DTV is an option I might use otherwise
Brandon ************
Anyone who can choose would always choose retirement based on it being much easier. The ONLY time marriage is better is if you plan on working in Thailand, since you can still get a work permit on marriage visa but work is prohibited on retirement visa.
Sarah ******
@Brandon ***********
Is this a fairly new thing then? In the past when I was married and working, I had to convert my marriage visa to a 'non - b' visa - (Going back about 15 years )
Dca *****
@Sarah *****
No, those on a Non-O Visa (Married to a Thai citizen) and Extension based on Marriage to a Thai Citizen can obtain a Thai Work Permit without the need for a Non-B Visa, as others have commented, businesses obscure this fact so that they have both your Non-B Visa and any Extension along with Work Permit tethered to them.
Sarah ******
@Dca ****
In that case, I think each Immigration office makes up its own rules. I was based in Sriracha at the time and back then there were only a handful of foreigners in the area.
Dca *****
@Sarah *****
Well, yes, each of the nearly 80 Thai Immigration Office across the country do have discretion on their own requirements and interpretation of rules....
Faye *********
@Sarah *****
technically you have never had to convert to a non B to get a work permit when you are on a non O due to marriage, a lot of places that employ people prefer it and will say they have to (even asking immigration to state the same) so that your visa is tied to their company.
Kool *******
@Sarah *****
no, it is not new. It is just that many businesses do not know how to deal with marriage extensions, as then they can't hold the visa extension as a threat if you don't work.
Brandon ************
@Sarah *****
I don't know anything before Covid as that's when I first started visiting Thailand.
Terary **********
I asked a visa agent the same question. They told me the price of each

10,000 - retirement

65,000 - marriage

You'll find the marriage visa is about that much more difficult. If you like adventure you can do it yourself to save a few bucks.
Fąndn *******
@Terary *********
how does the 10k bhat retirement visa works ?
Darren *******
BART I was told. If you have that then open account put
*****
in and and can do yourself easy or I think it’s about
*****
a month and got to have had the money going in for 2 months and bit more complicated so against do.

There loads of rumours going around. My friend reckons he’s paying a 2000 pounds and getting a 5 visa? So no having to renew?
Darren *******
@Terary *********
If you don’t mind me asking,what visa Agent quoted you 10.000-retirement. Is that with 800.000 being deposited in bank account. Or the 60.000 coming in monthly.

I Have a Thai bank account now as went and opened myself but being quoted 20.000 to get retirement visa and I have visited a few places.
Steve *********
@Darren ******
I'm trying to understand and learn all these requirements. Is that 800,000 Thai Baht or US dollars.
Ken ********
@Steve ********
Thai baht
Steve *********
@Ken *******
thanks for the info 👍
David *******
@Terary *********
Which agent and where was the 10,000 for retirement visa please
Willem ****
James Sing

Not need to have. It depends. I not have money in the bank and still already many years a extension of stay based om retirement. Nothing new.

Read the financial requirements!!!
Ralph *******
@Willem ***
You just need to meet the monthly income requirement.
Willem ****
Willem ****
@Terary *********
Both 1900 baht as a DIY.
James ******
@Willem ***
wow and I thought you had to have money in the bank. This is something new.
Jordi ********
@James *****
Depending on what paperwork you need, if stuff needs to be legalized, it can add up a bit. But nothing near paying an agent for anything. Just be prepared for a couple of trips to immigration since it is never okay the first time.
Gregory *******
@Terary *********
do it yourself need a friend who can speak Thai and you can do .
Brenton ******
@Gregory ******
well you must be marrying a person who can speak Thai
Willem ****
@Gregory ******
No need a friend who speaks Thai. Just DIY
Michael ******
Either one has its benefits. Marriage is cheaper but more paperwork involved. Retired visa not dependent on spouse but need to leave twice the money in the bank.
Ludwig ***********
Gerry Myers with a marriage visa you can apply for a work permit, with a retirement visa you can’t.
Michael ******
Gerry Myers
Gerry *******
@Michael *****
thanks that’s great.
Chang ******
Gerry Myers marriage visa can't work at all . No no no
Michael ******
@Michael *****
yes, I was in the same boat. Got a marriage vise
Ludwig ***********
@Michael *****
Marriage gives the possibility to work, retirement doesn’t.
Gerry *******
@Ludwig **********
can you confirm this is true? I am married to a Thai and we will be moving to Thailand in 2 to 3 years. I am of retirement age but would love to work a little bit if I could.
Michael ******
@Ludwig **********
Good point 🙏
Brandon ************
@Michael *****
All extensions are 1900 baht. Neither one is cheaper.
Kim *********
@Brandon ***********
he talks about 400k versus 800k in the bank
Kool *******
@Brandon ***********
the type O based on Thai wife does have cheaper financial requirements.
Lyndon ************
@Brandon ***********
yes, if you completely ignore the money stuck in the bank.
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