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What are the best options for long-term stays in Thailand considering visa rules and marriage status?

Retirement visa Thailand Non-O visa Visa extension Thai immigration rules Marriage in Thailand Thai bank account requirements Proof of income for visa

Jun 30, 2025

14 days ago

Doug **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I built a house on my wife's property 2 1/2 years ago. We winter there 5 months and 7 months in the U.S.  According to the Royal Thai Consulate I can apply for a yearly renewal retirement visa as follows:  retirement income plus money in bank for 60 days equals 800,000 bht. I used to go to Laos to get re stamped but almost didn't get back last time. Not doing the border bounce.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The post discusses the challenges of extending a stay in Thailand on a retirement visa, particularly emphasizing the requirement of having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account for 60 days. The comments suggest alternative approaches, such as applying for a non-O visa based on marriage and securing a 60-day extension for visiting family, highlighting the importance of proper marriage registration in Thailand for visa extensions and advocating against the reliance on embassy guidance.

NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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Jeremy ********

Why not just apply for citizenship if you’ve been married for 3 years and on a retirement visa

One main reason for the passport other than not doing the 90 day reporting

Is the ฿30 healthcare at govt hospitals

Good luck

14 days ago

Darin ********

@Jeremy *******

between my wife and l we do the TM30 which is not really required anymore if live full time in Thailand as long as your mandatory 90 days ( TM47 ) is up to date and I do that online at zero cost. At the moment retirement visa l find less hassle as the marriage verification process can be quite frustrating depending!

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Darin *******

it is needed in case you travel internationally

Maybe you wake up on a random day and say you know what I want to go to the casino in Macau/dimsum in HK/skiing in Japan/expo in Singapore/shopping trip in Dubai/etc etc etc …

when you return from your international trip you have to once again fo to immigration for your “first” 90 day report

Yes I said “first” because in essence it’s your first one since you returned to Thailand

13 days ago

Reply to

Jeremy ********

Darin ********

@Jeremy *******

Thailand citizenship is extremely difficult and a very long process especially if you are on a retirement visa even when married to a Thai woman as l am.

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Darin *******

when you’re retired…

You might as well do something rather than nothing

It might be the spark to keep you going

13 days ago

Reply to

Jeremy ********

John **********

@Jeremy *******

you can't get citizenship on a retirement visa. On a marriage visa you have to work inside Thailand for 3 years

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@John *********

if you get the right lawyer anything and everything is possible

14 days ago

Chris **********

@Jeremy *******

Must speak thai fluent?

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Chris *********

from what I have found out is just enough to make a basic everyday conversation and answer questions

It’s not to the extent of giving a PHD dissertation

14 days ago

Sarah ******

@Jeremy *******

Speaking from personal experience?

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Sarah *****

it’s crazy simple for Women to gain Thai citizenship Vs men

14 days ago

John **********

@Jeremy *******

its certainly easier as the financial requirements fall on the Thai man

13 days ago

Jeremy ********

@John *********

hence the reason why I said it’s easier for females as compared to men to get Thai citizenship

Don’t believe me read the royal gazette and do a common sense analysis of the names

13 days ago

Sarah ******

@Jeremy *******

How do you know? I haven't heard of any women gaining citizenship based on marriage/retirement.

14 days ago

Jeremy ********

@Sarah *****

read the royal gazette and Yuu will see way more female names than men’s names on there every time

14 days ago

Reply to

Jeremy ********

Brandon ************

NEVER listen to anything an embassy tells you about getting an extension in Thailand. Extensions are done by immigration which is a completely separate government agency that has nothing to do with the MFA and they don't know each other's rules.

If you want 5 months in Thailand, you can apply for a 90-day non-O visa based on marriage from the embassy before you leave. Once you're in Thailand, you can then apply for a 60-day "visiting Thai family" extension based on your wife, which should get you around the 5 months you are looking for.

You'll need to make sure your marriage is registered in Thailand if you want to apply for that extension, or make sure you get your marriage certificate legalized properly by the Thai embassy before traveling to Thailand if it's not already registered.

If you do it this way, you won't have to show proof of funds in Thailand. The way the embassy mentioned would require you to have 800,000 baht in your Thai bank account as you cannot use proof of income because the US embassy does not do income verification.

14 days ago

Cris ******

@Brandon ***********

I did the 90 day non o based on marriage. I still I needed to show 400k

14 days ago

Brandon ************

@Cris *****

yes but not in Thailand

14 days ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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