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What are the experiences of expats over 50 bringing their under 50 wives to Thailand on a dependent visa after obtaining a non-O retirement visa?

Non-O Retirement Visa Dependent Visa Visa Process Thailand Immigration Expat Experiences Visa Regulations Marriage Visa Dependent Spouse Visa

Apr 2, 2025

a month ago

Jaden *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Has anyone here, over 50, brought their wife who is under 50 to Thailand.   They got a non-o retirement visa and the wife got a dependent visa.   I read this process of getting a depedent visa could be difficult and may not be successful, so I'd like to know about other people's experience doing this.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

This discussion addresses the experiences of expats over 50 who brought their younger wives to Thailand on dependent visas linked to their Non-O retirement visas. Several commenters shared their personal experiences, highlighting challenges such as recent policy changes that affect the issuance of dependent visas for spouses of Non-O retirees. Key points include the necessity of secured marriage documentation, the current difficulty in obtaining dependent visas, and mixed advice from immigration officers on the best approaches to secure the visa.

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Mio *******************

Yikes, I am so confused. I think I am in the same situation.

I was told at Jomtien immigration to go out of the country and apply for the 90-day visa based on marriage and then to extend it once I was back in Thailand. I showed them my husband's passport/retirement visa and they confirmed the process. I even asked if it was better to do the guardian visa option (I have 2 kids in school), and the immigration officer told me the spouse/dependent visa was the best choice.

So here I am, in Cambodia, waiting for the e-visa to be approved. I hope this wasn't a waste of time.

a month ago

James ********

@Mio ******************

please update us when you have a decision in Cambodia. Thanks 👍

25 days ago

Reply to

James ********

Julane *******

I managed to get a dependent Visa based on Husband have his O extension in April 2023. But later that year, overseas embassies stopped issuing the 90 day O visa (which is necessary to get first in order to covert to a dependent visa).

Getting an OA retirement visa seems to be the only way to get a dependent spouse visa now.

Good luck. Once I got mine, it's been easy to extend though.

a month ago

Colin *********

@Julane ******

in sure that

@Tod ********

will correct me if I'm wrong (or delete my comment), but the Non-O Visa is still available at Embassies/Consulates overseas. I think it was the Non-O 12 month Multiple Entry Visas that are no longer available.

a month ago

Tod *********

@Colin ********

you cannot get a Non-O visa issued to a spouse of a non-O visa/extension holder based on retirement, they do not issue Non-O trailing spouse visas for that reason at all

a month ago

Mohamed *******

@Colin ********

I was planning on getting a retirement visa when I turn 50 with my wife as dependent. Is it still possible to do ? Either in Thailand or one of neighboring countries? Thank you

a month ago

Tod *********

@Mohamed ******

nope can't get that visa any longer, YOU can get the Non-O and year extension your foreign wife cannot

a month ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Mohamed *******

@Julane ******

what's the difference between O and Oa ? Thank you

a month ago

Colin *********

@Mohamed ******

Non-OA Visa application fee is about double the price, requires a Police Clearance, Health Insurance and maybe one or two other things that the Non-O doesn't require. It also has to be applied for in one's own country of residence, where the Non-O, you can apply for within Thailand, or any overseas Embassy or Consulate.

a month ago

Julane *******

@Colin ********

I tried to get the necessary 90 day non O visa in 3 different countries (where I lived and then the country of my passport...neither would issue it). I finally got it in a neighboring country (Malaysia) which no longer issues them (based on trailing spouse/dependent).

a month ago

Reply to

Julane *******

Tilly ***********

We had it! We needed an original marriage certificate that was stamped and signed by the city who issued this document, Dutch ministry of foreign affairs and Thai Ministry based in the Netherlands. (They all needed to verify each other stamps 🙃)With this document and my husband’s paperwork I got the visa without need for the double income.

a month ago

Ellie *******

@Tilly **********

, and when was it?

a month ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

Wayne *******

Did it and successful extension 7 years in a row including daughter.

a month ago

Tod *********

@Wayne ******

not recently you didn't (as in you didn't get a new Non-O visa issued to your spouse or family)

As I said it's been WAY over a year or more since the consulates AND the immigration offices stopped issuing those "piggy back" Non-O visas to spouse/family of Non-O visa/extension holders based on retirement

a month ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Unless I am greatly mistaken there are zero successful reports of foreigners on Non-O's based on retirement getting their foreign spouses a 'trailing spouse' Non-O either inside the country OR at any thai consulate in the last year or more 😮

They stopped issuing 90 day Non-O visas for that reason (spouse of a foreigner on a Non-O visa/extension based on retirement) a good while back.

a month ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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What happened with my dependent retirement visa application in Thailand?

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