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Answereda month ago

Should I tell the immigration officer I'm getting married when entering Thailand on a tourist visa?

Miew *******
asked Sep 18, 2026
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I am about to enter Thailand on a tourist visa with my Thai fiancé. I want to get married in Thailand then apply for a marriage visa in country. I have all the requirements and I know the steps once I am in the country. My question is do I tell the immigration officer my purpose of visiting is getting married?

I am asking because my I was not let in the last time I tried to enter visa free. While I never overstayed I had stayed the maximum amount every time for over 2 years. I also did not have an onward ticket that time because as I was coming back from the US with the intention of us flying to Hanoi together shortly after and I wanted to book our tickets together, I know that was a big mistake.

I have seen conflicting information and clarification would be very helpful
Answer summary
The user plans to enter Thailand on a tourist visa with their Thai fiancé to get married and then apply for a marriage visa (NON-O visa) while in the country. However, they had previous issues with entry and are unsure whether to disclose their marriage plans to the immigration officer. The conversation reveals varying opinions on whether mentioning the intention to marry is advisable, noting that past entry issues may complicate the process. It is recommended to have proof of funds and onward travel, as well as to act quickly after getting married to apply for the marriage visa.
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Ian ******
Ian ******
I recently got married in Thailand and it took nearly 6 months, appointment at your embassy for the affirmation of your passport, translation in to thai then appointment at the ministry of affairs the you have the waiting list at the local office to get married, if you think you'll get all this done in either the 60 day tourist visa or even with the 30 day extension, 1 thing I noticed in Thailand they are not quick at legal processes
Bob **********
Bob **********
A lot of offices require 3 months of marriage,telling the IO while entering means absolutely nothing if they let you in get married immediately get all your paperwork in order wait get an extension if you haven’t had any recently the go to Laos or Vietnam and apply for your non-o based on marriage then you’ll need the 400k in a bank for your 1 year extension
Dca *****
Dca *****
For many local Thai Immigration Offices inside Thailand and even a number of Thai Embassies or Thai Consulates outside Thailand, being newlyweds with a new Thai Marriage Certificate from a local Thai District Office "Amphur/Khet Office", the foreign spouse (foreign husband) needs to be Married a couple months before they will entertain an Application for a Non–O Visa/E–Visa based on Marriage to a Thai Spouse (Thai Wife) or Extension of Stay based on Marriage to a Thai Spouse (Thai Wife) and would need to take that "honeymoon period" into consideration if you're gonna Extend your upcoming Stay (after getting married) or make another Entry into Thailand
Tod *********
Tod *********
𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗳𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲.

So you mean you are buying a real tourist visa from the thai consulate via the online eVisa website BEFORE you wing your way here, correct?

𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆. Unfortunately that isn't gonna work out because as a rule at most offices (Bangkok immigrations for sure) you have to be married 2 months before you can apply for an in country Non-O visa based on marriage to thai national

𝗠𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱?

You're coming in as a tourist, so anything you tell them about what you want to do after you're here most likely won't matter..

𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗜 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲.

So you also have a denial of entry and you have an extensive previous entry/stay history as well :/

Remember even having a valid tourist visa doesn't guarantee you get in to the country. All that guarantees is IF they let you in they have to give you 60 days like people get on tourist visa entries..

Not a lot you can really do, you say you're flying IN with your thai 'bride to be' so that might help, also make SURE you have proof of funds 20K baht in CASH (in case you're asked) AND make sure you have proof of onward travel in 60 days (as in a booked ticket OUT within the number of days you will be stamped in for)

Face it you have a sketchy entry stay history, with a denial of entry so if they're going to hassle you they'll ask for onward travel and proof of funds..

Even with those things (real visa, onward travel, proof of funds) and your bride-to-be in tow it won't guarantee you get in.. That's gonna come down to the officer you're standing in front of when you stamp in..

All you can do is be prepared and try.. It'll either work or it won't

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