What are the advantages of obtaining a retirement visa if married to a Thai national?

I read as a "farang" if you get divorced in Thailand everything works against you legally?

I guess it depends on how much you pay additionally for your wife.

Put the house in her name!

go for retirement visa if you start your sentence with "IF" Beside, having a retirement visa gives you independency.

You are looking for retirement visa. I.e. you are above 50. So you can apply for retirement visa, that is very easy to get. So why you are thinking to marry?

Rent everything house car motorcycle and don’t forget the prenup 🤔

retirement visa is easier I guess; and can't see any advantages of married visa

The retirement visa is actually easier to get.

If she dies or divorces you you can stay here

You need less money only 0 instead of 800k... But therefor for you have a lot of more headache, immi want Pics you make Hi.. or come your romm ..or your wife angry and you Go home or ... And....

Get a Thai Passport and you don’t need a visa.

Dangling on a string

Yes. You aren't dependant on your Thai spouse for your legal residency in the kingdom.

Yes the marriage visa is more hassle ,but remember Thai immigration love to mess around with the rules and I think that you are one layer above with a marriage visa ,If they choose to make life more difficult, for example insisting on a very expensive medical insurance for elderly applicants, it will surely be for the retirement visa.

Just a feeling as like everyone else who knows but I think the marriage one is more secure

I have been married to a Thai citizen for 26 years have lived in Thailand for 11 years and have been on retirement visa for all of that time the reason being if my wife should pass away before me my visa will not be affected

Yes Retirement Visa is smooth and possible if you are above 50.

Please try to take a good Agent & proceed.

Good luck 👍

Dont do it i meant done it twice

remember if you will divorce with o visa you have to leave the country beware

No advantages if go for a retirement visa, but you can apply for a family extension based on Thai family (married or Thai kids) that has a lower financial requirement.

It makes life easier but I was advised very strongly not to go for a marriage visa. Just get the standard Non O. Being married makes things alot easier in the paperwork division and life in general.

F

If you are over 50

Yes

A retirement visa may be easier for now but there are already reports of more questions being asked and home visits being required. A significant amount of baht is also tied up for a longer period than it is on a marriage extension. In addition, I've seen reports that some immigration offices won't accept the income method for a retirement extension.

Stay on the Marriage visa you get more rights

The only advantage is that you don't need your wife to help you extend your visa each year. But you only need 400K in the bank for 60 days, compared with 800 K for 60 days. I am on a marriage visa.

Not really, no.

None

Yes there is.

Yes big one

Your ATM

Will be a lot lighter

Are you eligible for Thai healthcare if you're married to a native Thai?

No

none. Depends on your relationship. reporting can be done on line. Where do you live?

Retirement visa = less paperwork, but more money required.

Marriage Visa = more paperwork, less money required, but if you get divorced you may have to leave and get a retirement visa. Also the wife can use it as leverage against you in arguements.

If I show enough income do i need to sit money in a bank?

I’m here on a marriage visa … there is a little extra paperwork… the advantage you only need 400k in your bank vs 800k … if that matters to you 🤷‍♂️

I’m here because I am married so it seems like that was the right visa for me 👍

They are separate visas….no.

As long as your over 50 years of age

Always contact the Immigration office near you. I've been told that the offices in Bangkok are not as accommodating as Chonburi. It reminds me of the DMV in California.

A mountain less paperwork required to get a retirement visa, I always had the non o marriage, as soon as I turned 50 I switched it to retirement as it's so much easier 😉

If you are 50+ y.o. and you do not plan to have work permit in Thailand retirement visa is much better.

Use the marriage visa, it is more work for the immigration officers. They need to make a marriage visa easier.

I rather get retirement visa much easier don’t need to depend on marriage license of someone. I recently, got approved for multiple entry tourist visa for 6 months. Process is straightforward pay the fees done.

There are both advantages and disadvantages. With marriage based Non-O and subsequent annual extensions of stay you have less requirement for money in bank or monthly income but down side is it is tied to the marriage should anything bad happen, divorce or death your basically done when the current extension of stay expires and you then have to leave Thailand and apply for a new visa.

What if you divorce?

You will enter Thailand on a 90-days Non-Imm-O family visa, and will receive a 90-days stay permit.

Before these 90 days expire, you need to apply for the “1-year Extension of Stay Permit based on being married to a Thai wife”

Immigration will call it a “visa extension”, but actually they don’t extend any non-existing visa, they are extending the 90-days stay permit to a “one-year stay permit”. The visa itself actually has become invalid for further use upon your entry

You can apply for a “1-year extension of stay based on marriage with a Thai wife” 30 days (45 days on some immigrations such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai) before the end of the 90-day stay permit you got stamped

To do this, your marriage must be recognized and registered in Thailand. Because Immigration will ask you to present a freshly printed Thai marriage registry document from the Thai Amphur. It is called Kor Ror 2, or Kor Ror 22 (whichever applies to your marriage)

In addition to other documents, a financial evidence must be provided:

Either

You have a Thai bank account in your sole name and a deposit of a minimum of 400,000 Baht. The money must have seasoned for 2 months on the day of application,

or

You got a legalized statement of your country’s embassy in Bangkok/or of a honorary consul, about a regular monthly income of at least 40,000 Baht (a so-called income affidavit)

Some embassies, like the U.K., the U.S. and the Australian embassy, don’t issue affidavits of income any more. In this case, Immigration will ask you for a bank statement of 12 months of consecutive money transfers coming in from abroad over a minimum of 40,000 THB. So, in the first year, you won’t easily get around the 400,000 Thai Baht account deposit method.

It is, however, ABSOLUTELY necessary to see what your local office says. Because contrary to the retirement extension, it is almost impossible to get a marriage extension based on 12 months of transfers from abroad of a minimum of 40,000 THB a month. Most Immigrations only accept 40,000 THB monthly if they are earned from working inside Thailand, or the 400,000 THB in your Thai bank account.

The combination method, which is accepted for the application to the “retirement extension”, a mix of a deposit plus income, is not possible for an extension based on being married to a Thai wife.

You will need to present (this list might not be accurate nor complete, as some requirements are Immigration specific, and you need to visit your Immigration right after you have entered and ask for their handout list)

*** a copy of your passport detail page

*** a copy of the entry stamp

*** a copy of the pdf. visa document

*** a copy of the most recent TDAC (if applicable)

*** a filled out TM7 form (can be had on Immigration)

*** two signed memorandi of understanding (which you get on immigration

*** photos showing your wife and you in front of your house, with house number visible

*** Hand-drawn map of the location of your house. Some Immigrations accept a printout of google maps and geo-data

*** 1900.- THB application fee

*** a freshly printed Thai marriage registry document

If you meet all the requirements, immigration will stamp your passport or clip a paper into it, stating “application under consideration. Please visit us” . . . and a date, in most cases 4 weeks away

Within these 4 weeks, Immigration will visit you and your wife at home, they might ask your neighbors whether you are really married and live there.

As soon as the “under consideration” period has expired, you can pick up the passport from immigration with the completed and stamped one-year extension of stay permit.

It is recommended to buy at least one single re-entry permit for 1000.- THB (you need to bring two passport pics for that) because should you exit Thailand during the one-year Extension of Stay Permit period, the re-entry permit keeps your extended stay permit alive

The big advantage for me is my wife phones them 1 week before i want to do it and asks what has changed this year. Saves you a wasted journey. Phuket immigration is quite good actually, friendly, happy, just one bad 🍎 in the last 23y and two i would avoid but i think they've been moved on last year cos i not see them.

No. It's easier and cheaper to do a marriage visa. I'll be doing that in the next 10 months

I am on my sixth marriage extension. There is a lot of paperwork but I normally leave the lot to my misses and she is good at it by now. When dealing with the IO again my wife speaks Thai with them and they usually joke around. This BS about a few visits a year we only ever got one but IO can visit any of us at will and they do . But they know my address and wife so never come near us but raid local rentals. Good luck.

Im married to a thai and would like to visìt thailand for a few months. Im retired in my own country where we live together for the last 20 years What should I do about long stay in thailand next year?

Yes but do it been there and married twice

Yes do it. Keep independent.

Financially no unless you want to show 800,000 in the bank instead of 400,000 baht every year…

The marriage visa is not hard and the immigration home visit is nothing to be afraid of. They are nice and polite

I've been on a marriage extension for 15 years, have a template set of documents that just need printing, add a new application form, the updated bank info and a 10 min visit to the Umphur for a Tor Ror 2, all ready to go. I've been using the same photos for 10 yrs.

The only downside is the continual requirement of a witness.. they ask the same 2 questions to the same person every year...

Only had 1 visit from Immigration, when I applied for the first time.

As for the 400k, unlike the retirement where, I believe, you must leave 400k in the bank at all time, you can use all of the 400k as long as its back in the account for the required months prior to application.

Go with the retirement visa.

If you get a marriage visa, and the marriage, Jan, you have to leave the country.

With the retirement visa, there’s no dependency on anyone else.

Yeah. The advantage is you will be broke after 6 months. You will be bled dry

No

It is possible to legally work on the type O extension based on Thai wife, and after working legally for at least three years, and paying your Thai income tax, plus other requirements, you can apply for permanent residency, or directly for Thai citizenship, never having to deal with immigration again. You can never do this on any retirement visa, or extension. That is a big difference most aren't even aware of.

Retirement visas are generally easier, but with a marriage visa you can get a work visa. And cost less for your yearly requirements of 800k baht is only 400k baht a year * or 40k a month instead

I'm on a retirement Visa now, much easier than marriage visa. Too many visits & rules.

No, it's better to do your retirement visa on your own if you are considered using a marriage visa.

Able to get a work visa on a marriage visa ?

I'm can do both, but am on marriage Visa for two reasons...have to keep less money in the bank, and she does all the grunt work for me (basically my agent)😆

Yes. Its easier

"If I hold a Thai Non-Immigrant O-A visa, do I have to report to the Immigration office in person every 90 days?"

You do not need to report in person, as the so-called "90-day reporting" in Thailand can be handled in several different ways.

Although holders of a Non-Immigrant O-A visa are legally required to confirm their address every 90 days, the Thai Immigration Bureau offers easier alternatives to visiting the office in person.

Options for 90-day reporting:

Online: You can complete the report via the Thai Immigration Bureau’s official e-reporting website or mobile app. Online reporting generally needs to be done between 15 and 1 day before the deadline.

By mail: You can send the necessary documents and forms (TM.47) via registered mail to your local Immigration office. This must be done well in advance (usually at least 15 days before the deadline).

Authorizing another person or an agent: You can grant power of attorney to another person or use a visa service company (agent) to visit the office on your behalf.

In person at the office: This remains an option if other channels do not work. When visiting the office, the report can usually be filed 15 days before or 7 days after the official due date without incurring a fine. Important points to remember:

Resetting the counter: The 90-day counter resets whenever you leave Thailand and return. A new 90-day period begins on the day you re-enter the country.

TM.30 notification: Before submitting your 90-day report, ensure that your landlord or hotel has filed the mandatory TM.30 accommodation notification for your address, as the system or the official will require this information to be up to date.

Yes whist you married or get mature visa

Orignally the 400kthb did not need to be there for 2 months. The day before was fine, I think its changed and its 2 months. Mine has been no seasoning for 10 years

It’s just a bit more paperwork if you give them what they want it’s ok

Cheaper, by half, than a retirement visa.

She dumps you you can stay on a retirement vice marriage visa

Retirement better because you go married visa soon as she tell immigration she wants a divorce your visa cancelled straight away retirement it’s not

Try a marriage visa instead

Retirement, cannot get a work authorization.

Marriage is half the money and can work with a WP

Married to a Thai. Do the 400,000 first year but put 40,000 bhat every month in your account then evidence it in second year. No need for the 400,000 bhat in bank account for second year. Check with your local immigration how they want it evidenced.

400k baht in thai bank instead of 800k that’s the only + i can see

Extension of a Non-O Marriage visa is just a headache. Even you have prepared everything perfect down to the details, the IO of the day has some special requirements. It could be how you have signed all the copies or you have signed something that is not a copy, or the paper or orientation of the pictures, or something else. You are 90% sure that the IO for you this day will make up something. And you will have to fix it same day as your bank statement is only valid the same day or you have to go bank again. When finally everything is perfect, they let you wait 2-3 hours just to show you that they have the power. If you complain about anything, you will just not get your extension.

It’s much easier than marriage visa I now been on for 4th year really fill out online notification form of stay 3 times, 4th time when you do it in person at immigration with yearly paperwork which not much you also do your 4th notification easy

Annual extensions based on retirement require less paperwork. Almost no chance for them to do a home visit. No photos needed. And you can do it all in a single visit to immigration.

For marriage extensions you need a lot of paperwork, proof of your marriage, your wife must attend with you, you'll need witnesses (some offices require in person, others require signed copies of their ID cards and a form, while others require them to be present at the home visit), a certain number of photos in various areas of your home with you and your spouse, and after you apply for the extension they'll give you a date to return after a month or so to get the actual extension, so at least 2 visits to immigration each year.