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What are the best visa options for a UK national wanting to live in Thailand with a Thai spouse?
Non-O VisaElite VisaMarriage VisaVisa ExtensionThailand ImmigrationHealth Insurance RequirementsCovid-19 InsuranceExpatriate Advice
Feb 18, 2021
5 years ago
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI am a UK national currently in London and want to get back to Thailand to be with my Thai wife. I will be 80 next month which effectively rules out any sort of visa that requires health insurance since the only quote I have been able to get would cost more than getting an Elite visa. I think there are two possible routes and I hope someone can confirm that I have understood the health and financial requirements properly.
1. Get an O visa from the London Embassy that would require only that I have the relevant income/funds in my UK bank account and the $100,000 Covid cover (90 days) and other requirements for the COE (with no other medical or police check required for the visa). When I get to Thailand I immediately open an account at Bangkok Bank in my name only and transfer in 400k THB using Transferwise. After it has been there two months I apply at my local Immigration office for a 12 month extension of stay based on marriage. At this stage no insurance is required, not even Covid. Our home is in Samut Prakan so presumably I apply there. Before I get the visa I start regular transfers of 40k THB a month so that I can make the next renewal using income.
2. Apply for an Elite visa, for which no insurance is required other than the Covid cover for the COE. I would have the choice of getting the visa affixed in my passport in London or of travelling to Thailand with a TR visa (no insurance required) and getting the visa affixed at Changwattana (again no insurance). An added advantage of the Elite would be their assistance in organising driving licence, yellow house book and 90 day reporting. If I followed this route, I would only need 60 days Covid cover but I would need an onward ticket out of Thailand (or would it be better to go for an O visa instead of TR). Could I apply for a marriage extension at the end of the 5 year Elite visa (assuming I am still alive, in Thailand and the rules haven’t changed!)?
I’m sorry for such a long post but I have done a lot of research on this and other forums and want to be sure I have understood it all properly before starting the process. Any advice greatly appreciated.
[And please no more trolls telling me that at my age I should just stay at home and forget Thailand.]
1. Get an O visa from the London Embassy that would require only that I have the relevant income/funds in my UK bank account and the $100,000 Covid cover (90 days) and other requirements for the COE (with no other medical or police check required for the visa). When I get to Thailand I immediately open an account at Bangkok Bank in my name only and transfer in 400k THB using Transferwise. After it has been there two months I apply at my local Immigration office for a 12 month extension of stay based on marriage. At this stage no insurance is required, not even Covid. Our home is in Samut Prakan so presumably I apply there. Before I get the visa I start regular transfers of 40k THB a month so that I can make the next renewal using income.
2. Apply for an Elite visa, for which no insurance is required other than the Covid cover for the COE. I would have the choice of getting the visa affixed in my passport in London or of travelling to Thailand with a TR visa (no insurance required) and getting the visa affixed at Changwattana (again no insurance). An added advantage of the Elite would be their assistance in organising driving licence, yellow house book and 90 day reporting. If I followed this route, I would only need 60 days Covid cover but I would need an onward ticket out of Thailand (or would it be better to go for an O visa instead of TR). Could I apply for a marriage extension at the end of the 5 year Elite visa (assuming I am still alive, in Thailand and the rules haven’t changed!)?
I’m sorry for such a long post but I have done a lot of research on this and other forums and want to be sure I have understood it all properly before starting the process. Any advice greatly appreciated.
[And please no more trolls telling me that at my age I should just stay at home and forget Thailand.]
TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK national seeks advice on obtaining a visa to return to Thailand to reunite with their Thai wife. They consider two options: obtaining a Non-O visa from the London Embassy or applying for an Elite visa. They clarify health insurance requirements and financial stability, exploring options for transitioning to a marriage-based extension of stay after the Elite visa term. Community responses offer various insights and alternatives, emphasizing the importance of understanding different visa categories and requirements.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks everyone for the helpful advice. I now have the peace of mind to start the process. I'll go for the marriage option flying with Emirates. One final question: am I right in thinking the 400k has to show as coming from abroad? Thus I can't use money I already have in Kasikorn.
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for very clear explanation.
Ellie *******
When you apply for yearly extension using banked money option, your fund doesn't have to be international transfer, since you will be on Non-O based on marriage when you enter Thailand.
Funds have to be shown as International transfer when you apply in-country non-O visa (from tourist, etc) or you use monthly income option for 1 year extension without workpermit.
Funds have to be shown as International transfer when you apply in-country non-O visa (from tourist, etc) or you use monthly income option for 1 year extension without workpermit.
Jonathan *******
@Geoff *******
if it’s a lump sum it doesn’t have to come from abroad. I did the Non O based on marriage and it was a domestic transfer and all was ok. This was in Bangkok.James ********
@Geoff *******
Be sure to book a return ticket for one year from your flight to Bangkok on Emirates. That gives you one year free health insurance 😊And as you already have the 400,000 in your name only Kasikorn Bank account...get a bank statement of balance letter from Kasikorn to show Thai Immigration along with your bank book when you apply for your one year extension as married to Thai.
@
Tod *******
s Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@James *******
Unfortunately I can't do that as it's a joint account but I was thinking of transferring the money to a new account in my name only. But it wouldn't show as coming from abroad - does it have to come from abroad? I know 40k a month does but I'm not sure about the 400k.James ********
Reply to
James ********
Reply
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks. I need it!
Rob ********
Good luck, hope it works out for you,
Benjamin ******
Wouldn't another option be to get a Single Entry Non-O visa based on marriage to a Thai National, get the COVID-19 insurance, and then get a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national.
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
But surely this is my option 1. Or have I missed something?Benjamin ******
@Geoff *******
you’re right, that is option 1, however “non-o” is a catch all classification for “other”. You can get a non-o for being over 50 OR a non-o for being married to a Thai national. Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
Thanks for the clarification. I was thinking of non-O based on marriage. I think London Embassy calls that O and the retirement one O-A. The latter being no good because it requires insurance. Benjamin ******
@Geoff *******
there are, sadly, lots of different type of “retirement visas”. There is the Non-o, Non-oa, Non-ox, etc. For non-o visas, they can be for retirement, marriage, volunteer, raising half Thai children, etc.
It’s a headache!
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
OK, clear now. Reply to
Geoff ********
Reply
James ********
@Benjamin *****
yes...good point.But do that AND FLY ON EMIRATES...WITH RETURN TICKET one year out...see my reply
Reply to
James ********
Reply
James ********
Another idea came to mind...
Do not buy the COVID ONLY policy....saves you 12,160 Thai baht 😊
Fly on Emirates Airline to Thailand....
If you buy one way ...it gives you 31 days FREE travel insurance
But if you buy a RETURN TICKET...
FOR ONE YEAR from date of your initial flight
You will get ONE YEAR TRAVEL INSURANCE issued by AIG Travel Guard at no added flight cost.
This gives you one full year of $100,000 health insurance in Thailand...
Never have to use the return flight...
But can get free change of ticket for use up to two years 😊
Do not buy the COVID ONLY policy....saves you 12,160 Thai baht 😊
Fly on Emirates Airline to Thailand....
If you buy one way ...it gives you 31 days FREE travel insurance
But if you buy a RETURN TICKET...
FOR ONE YEAR from date of your initial flight
You will get ONE YEAR TRAVEL INSURANCE issued by AIG Travel Guard at no added flight cost.
This gives you one full year of $100,000 health insurance in Thailand...
Never have to use the return flight...
But can get free change of ticket for use up to two years 😊
James ********
Forget both options...
Neither one is good for you...the New Non O retiree visa also has an insurance requirement which you cannot meet.
Thanks to Ben ...a better option:
Get a Non O Married to Thai visa
Gives you 90 days on arrival
Then do the transfer of 400,000 and apply for the one year extension based on marriage to Thai.
If added time was needed
You can get a 60 days family visit extension for 1,900 Thai baht from Thai Immigration.
Get the government sponsored COVID ONLY policy...
Issued to age 100.
Get three months...
For UK citizen is 12,160 Thai baht....is one option re insurance
But better yet...FLY EMIRATES ON A ONE YEAR RETURN TICKET
FREE HEALTH INSURANCE😊
You then can rejoin your Thai wife soon.
Neither one is good for you...the New Non O retiree visa also has an insurance requirement which you cannot meet.
Thanks to Ben ...a better option:
Get a Non O Married to Thai visa
Gives you 90 days on arrival
Then do the transfer of 400,000 and apply for the one year extension based on marriage to Thai.
If added time was needed
You can get a 60 days family visit extension for 1,900 Thai baht from Thai Immigration.
Get the government sponsored COVID ONLY policy...
Issued to age 100.
Get three months...
For UK citizen is 12,160 Thai baht....is one option re insurance
But better yet...FLY EMIRATES ON A ONE YEAR RETURN TICKET
FREE HEALTH INSURANCE😊
You then can rejoin your Thai wife soon.
**********************************************
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@James *******
Thanks for the Emirates info. If I did that would I get proof of the insurance in time to use it in applying for the COE? Apart from that your suggested alternative option is surely my option 1? The Covid insurance you quote is the one I intended to get anyway.James ********
I will look for detailed info from others and post..steps to get CoE using the Emirates insurance certificate
James ********
@Geoff *******
do not buy the COVID only online.You can get the Emirates policy info quickly to give to Thai Embassy for your visa /CoE
Reply to
James ********
Reply
Benjamin ******
You're almost right...
> Could I apply for a marriage extension at the end of the 5 year Elite visa (assuming I am still alive, in Thailand and the rules haven’t changed!)
Probably not. I never heard of anyone going from an elite visa to an extension of stay based on marriage. However, if your health is still good enough, in 5 years, you should be able to border hop, enter on a visa exempt, and then get the Non-O visa based on marriage, or go to Savannakeht, Laos and get a Non-O visa there.
I am assuming in 5 years borders are reopen as normal
> Could I apply for a marriage extension at the end of the 5 year Elite visa (assuming I am still alive, in Thailand and the rules haven’t changed!)
Probably not. I never heard of anyone going from an elite visa to an extension of stay based on marriage. However, if your health is still good enough, in 5 years, you should be able to border hop, enter on a visa exempt, and then get the Non-O visa based on marriage, or go to Savannakeht, Laos and get a Non-O visa there.
I am assuming in 5 years borders are reopen as normal
Geoff ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
Thanks for that. Good advice. Reply to
Geoff ********
Reply
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